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Deputy President Mashatile pays a courtesy call on President Emmanuel Macron in France
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Deputy President Shipokosa Paulus Mashatile has today, Wednesday 22 May 2025, paid a courtesy call on the President of the French Republic, His Excellency Emmanuel Macron at his residence, Palais de I’Élysee. 

The Deputy President was accompanied by Ministers, Deputy Ministers and business leaders from South Africa and France. The meeting followed a successful investment conference where commitments were made to upscale trade relations between the two countries. 

South Africa remains committed to a global trade and investment environment that aims for sustainable and impactful global economic growth, despite the geopolitical challenges.

The meeting with President Macron focused on strengthening trade and diplomatic cooperation as well as cooperation in multilateral fora. The importance of economic cooperation between the two countries is about bridging the gap between the south and north, thereby creating a trade equilibrium. 

During the meeting, the Deputy President indicated that the presence of over 400 French companies employing over 65 000 South Africans is a testimony to the value proposition that South Africa offers. 

However, the Deputy President noted that in the past 2 years, there has been a decline in bilateral trade, underpinned by a decline in both imports and exports. Therefore, it was prudent that South Africa intensify efforts to increase bilateral trade through business-to-business engagements.

The inaugural SA-France Investment Conference is then viewed as a step in the right direction to expand on existing cooperation and identify new areas of cooperation with a specific focus on trade and investment. The Conference will continue on a biennial basis to further take stock of established partnerships and explore other areas of cooperation. 

In response, President Macron welcomed the Deputy President and his delegation and appreciated the decision of South Africa to strengthen trade and bilateral relations. He reiterated the commitment for France and South Africa to continue to work together in various multilateral platforms for diplomacy and peace. President Macron also confirmed that he will be coming to South Africa to attend the G20.

In conclusion, the two leaders agreed that this engagement will further cement the bonds between the business sectors in South Africa and France and further unlock more potential investments.


Media enquiries: Mr Keith Khoza, Acting Spokesperson to the Deputy President at +27 66 195 8840

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

 

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Statement of Mr Mcebisi Jonas
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The Presidency acknowledges recent commentary regarding Mr. Mcebisi Jonas and deems it prudent to provide clarity.

Initial interpretations of procedural matters, communicated in good faith, have been amended following confirmation that Mr. Jonas holds a valid visa for travel to the United States of America.  

No formal concerns or substantive inquiries related to his professional responsibilities have been brought to the attention of this office.  

Mr. Jonas contributed to preparatory engagements ahead of the meeting between President Cyril Ramaphosa and President Donald Trump, including consultations abroad. His absence from Washington, at his own request, has no bearing on the President’s official programme.

 

Media enquiries: Vincent Magwenya, Spokesperson to the President - media@presidency.gov.za

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

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Programme Advisory: President Ramaphosa White House Programme
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President Cyril Ramaphosa is scheduled to meet with United States President Donald Trump this morning at 11h30 EDT (17h30 SAST) at the White House, in Washington DC.

Order of Proceedings: 

President Trump receives President Ramaphosa
Time: 11h30 AM (17h30 SAST)

President Ramaphosa signs visitors book 
Time: 11h35 AM (17h35 SAST)

Working Lunch with President Trump
Time: 11h45 AM (17h45 SAST)

Bilateral Meeting between President Ramaphosa and President Trump
Time: 12h45 PM (18h45 SAST)
Note: This element will include interaction with the media
 
President Ramaphosa departs the White House
Time: 13h30 (19h30 SAST)


The South African delegation will comprise of the following Cabinet Ministers, members of business and eminent South Africans. 

South Africa:

Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ronald Lamola,

Minister in The Presidency, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni,

Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, Parks Tau,  

Minister of Agriculture, John Steenhuisen, 

South African Professional Golfer, Mr Ernie Els,

Founder of Richemont and Chairman of Remgro, Mr Johann Rupert,

South African Professional Golfer, Mr Retief Goosen,

Business Unity South Africa (BUSA) Vice President, Adrian Gore, and Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) President, Zingiswa Losi, are also in Washington DC to provide strategic support to President Ramaphosa and the South African delegation. 


United States of America:

Vice President of the United States of America, HE JD Vance,

Secretary Pete Hegseth, U.S. Department of Defense,

Secretary Howard Lutnick, U.S. Department of Commerce,

Deputy Secretary Christopher Landau, U.S. Department of State,

Susie Wiles, Assistant to the President and Chief of Staff,

Elon Musk, Special Government Employee, U.S. Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE),

Dr Massad Boulos, Senior Advisor for Africa, and Senior Advisor to the President on Arab and Middle Eastern Affairs.

 

Media enquiries: Vincent Magwenya, Spokesperson to the President - media@presidency.gov.za

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

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Keynote address by Deputy President Shipokosa Paulus Mashatile on the occasion of the South Africa - France Investment Conference, France
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Programme Directors, Deputy Minister Alvin Botes and Ms Sonja de Bruyn;
Ambassador of South Africa to France, H.E Mr Nathi Mthethwa;
Ambassador of France to South Africa, H.E Mr David Martinon;
Ministers Motsoaledi, Creecy, Ndabeni, De Lille, and McKenzie;
Deputy Ministers Manamela, Godlimpi, and Graham-Maré; 
Minister of Commerce, Mr Laurent Saint-Martin and Representatives of the French Government here present; 
CEO of Africa Global Logitics, Mr Phillipe Labonne, business representative and leaders from France and South Africa;
Panel Members and senior Government officials, from The Presidency;

Ladies and gentlemen, 

I am here with my delegation, of ministers, deputy ministers, senior government officials from both the public sector and CEOs of state-owned enterprises as well as business leaders, to consolidate existing business and new economic trade relations between South Africa and France. 

Hence, the theme for this conference is "Advancing South Africa-France economic relations," with the aim of encouraging collaboration. It offer investors the opportunity to explore diverse investment opportunities in key sectors, such as agriculture, mining, green manufacturing, and tourism, while also fostering new trade and investment avenues, exchanging ideas, and forging partnerships to drive our economies forward. 

Ladies and gentlemen,

May is Africa Month, and as we deliberate, we must acknowledge Africa's significant role in the global economy and its developmental journey. 

Historically, Africa was a trading hub, with routes traversing the continent and linking it to the rest of the globe. The most well-known were the trans-Saharan routes. African trade routes played a crucial role in the exchange of goods, ideas, and culture, shaping African societies' history and contributing to economic growth. This demonstrates that African progenitors comprehended and envisioned a prosperous, integrated continent in which economic growth is beneficial to all.

South Africa is committed to achieving our forebears' vision of a better Africa. We believe that cooperation and global integration are crucial for economic, social, and political progress. We understand that by enhancing integration and collaborating with countries like France, we can promote inclusive economic growth.

We are determined to continue enhancing this relationship. This is because our partnership in trade and investment has already created jobs and boosted economic growth. It has been a cornerstone of our economic development, and today, we have the opportunity to explore new avenues for collaboration, investment, and growth. 

In this era of unprecedented challenges and opportunities, South Africa stands at the crossroads of a fundamental economic transformation. Our country is committed to driving a bold agenda that ensures prosperity, stability, and progress for all. 

As the world pivots to greener forms of energy, South Africa is undertaking one of the most ambitious energy transitions on the continent. With our abundant solar and wind resources, and supported by the $8.5 billion Just Energy Transition Partnership, we are creating space for strategic investments in renewable energy infrastructure, green hydrogen, battery energy storage, and skills development. 

Another important area for collaboration is on critical transition minerals, including rare earth elements, lithium, vanadium, and cobalt. These minerals are abundant in South Africa, and through beneficiation and ethical extraction, we hope to move up the value chain. In this regard, we are looking to our international partners, including France, to bring advanced technologies, innovation, and sustainable practices to this space.

We welcome partnerships with French companies like Sanofi to scale local manufacturing capacity, support technology transfer, and invest in regional health resilience. We would like to build on existing partnerships such as the ongoing collaboration between Sanofi and Biovac for the production of Hesaxim and the new tech transfer partnership signed at the launch of the GAVI Accelerator.

Equally, promising is the hemp and cannabis economy. South Africa is developing a regulatory framework that encourages investment, research, and commercialisation in this sector, which has the potential to spur industrial innovation, revitalise rural economies, and create thousands of jobs. We believe that French expertise in agritech and pharmaceuticals can play a significant role in this regard.

Ladies and Gentlemen, I would like to thank French companies for their ongoing investment and commitment to the South African economy and the region. Since the first SA Investment Conference hosted in 2018, French companies have committed more than R70 billion, with the majority of projects either completed or being implemented.

 Announcements included investment in renewable energy generation capacity by the likes of Engie, EDF, and Total Energies, as well as investment in manufacturing, retail, agribusiness, and the services sector. 

On the trade side, we need to extend our trade basket, and South Africa will be a partner for high value-added products. To this end, we have a list of the top 100 products that we would like to introduce to the French market through inward buying missions, exhibitions, and sourcing.

Ladies and gentlemen,

South Africa remains a competitive business and investment hub despite global economic challenges. Our goal is to unlock significant opportunities across various sectors, promoting sustainable economic growth and inclusive development while maximising trade and investment opportunities.

We are committed to policy certainty, regulatory reform, and facilitating ease of doing business through our One Stop Shop platform. We are working across government and with the private sector to resolve bottlenecks and accelerate high-impact investments.

We have curated an investment project book of $40 billion of private and public sector projects that are ready for investment. I urge you to have discussions with Deputy Minister Zuko Godlimpi and the DTIC team to explore these investment opportunities.

As we attract more investment and increase trade in various sectors, it is crucial that we also possess the necessary skills to match the investment. We appreciate French partnerships in skills and internships and are eager to see more of these initiatives. 

In South Africa, we have introduced the National Skills Development Plan (NSDP) 2030 to ensure a skilled workforce with the right competencies for economic growth and social development. With the increasing importance of digital technologies, we are investing in digital skills, AI, data science, and cybersecurity.

In this regard, we are also modernising government services through investing in digital public infrastructure.

We have a long-term infrastructure investment programme in partnership with the private sector, labour, and civil society. The plan is to spend over R940 billion on new and existing infrastructure over the next three years.

In conclusion, South Africa, strategically placed at the tip of the African continent, is an important investment site, both for the market prospects inside its boundaries and as a gateway to the rest of the continent, which has a population of around one billion people.

We wish to collaborate with France by investing in infrastructure like ports, power, and manufacturing to promote local value-added and trade through the African Continental Free Trade Area.

South Africa’s G20 Presidency under the theme ‘Solidarity, Equality, Sustainability’ aims to boost investment and trade in the country and across Africa. We will focus on fostering inclusive growth through trade, addressing global challenges like climate change and food security, and promoting green industrialisation and resilient supply chains. 

We consider France not only as a friend but also as a strategic partner in achieving our vision of shared growth. On the margins of the G20 Summit, we will host the Presidential Investment Conference and look forward to seeing you. 

Ladies and gentlemen,

Together, we can unlock immense potential and create shared prosperity for our nations. I am confident that this gathering will serve as a catalyst for deeper collaboration and open up new horizons for our bilateral relations.

I urge all participants to actively participate in discussions, share insights, and develop action plans to enhance our economic relations.

I thank you.

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Deputy President Mashatile engages with South African and French businesses in a Roundtable Breakfast Dialogue
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Deputy President Shipokosa Paulus Mashatile has, today, 20 May 2025, engaged with South African and French businesses during a Roundtable Breakfast Dialogue hosted by MEDEF International in Paris.  

MEDEF is France’s largest business federation, representing over 750,000 companies, from SMEs to large multinationals. It plays a central role in promoting French economic diplomacy, supporting private sector development, and facilitating international investment and trade relationships.

The Business Dialogue is an important platform for businesses from both countries to expand on existing cooperation and identifying new areas of cooperation with a specific focus on trade and investment.

Addressing the Business Dialogue, the Deputy President said, "The South African Government has committed to spending more than R940 billion on infrastructure over the next three years. This funding will revitalise our roads and bridges, build dams and waterways, modernise our ports and airports, and power our economy. Moreover, investors have an opportunity to collaborate with the South African Government by investing in infrastructure such as ports, rail, electricity, and manufacturing to improve local value-addition and boost trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area."

The Deputy President also touched on the European Union-SA Summit, which took place in Cape Town in March 2025, where there was an announcement of the EU investment package of around R90 billion to support investment projects in South Africa. 

In addition, the Deputy President met with Mr Thierry Deau, Group CEO of Meridiam and Chairman of the Global Long-Term Infrastructure Investors Association. 

Meridiam is a global investment firm specializing in public infrastructure, with assets under management exceeding €12 billion. It focuses on long-term investments in transport, energy, social infrastructure, and environmental projects, with a commitment to sustainable development and inclusive growth.

During the meeting, the two discussed, among others, the importance of collaboration with various stakeholders, including infrastructure investors, policymakers, and academia, as being crucial for promoting responsible and long-term private capital deployment in public infrastructure.

In conclusion, the Deputy President indicated that he is certain that South Africa and France can achieve new heights of prosperity through strengthening their economic links and encouraging closer cooperation. 


Media enquiries: Mr Keith Khoza, Acting Spokesperson to the Deputy President at +27 66 195 8840

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

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President Ramaphosa arrives in the United States of America for his Working Visit
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President Cyril Ramaphosa has this afternoon, Monday 19 May 2025 arrived in Washington DC for his Working Visit.

The purpose of the visit is to reset and revitalise bilateral relations between South Africa and the United States (US). In this regard, the visit will focus specifically on reframing bilateral, economic and commercial relations.

On Wednesday, 21 May 2025, President Ramaphosa will meet with President Donald Trump at the White House.

President Ramaphosa will be accompanied by the following Ministers: Mr Lamola, Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ms Ntshavheni, Minister in The Presidency, Mr Tau, Minister of Trade, Industry Competition, Mr Steenhuisen, Minister of Agriculture and Mr Jonas, Special Envoy to the United States of America.

 

Media enquiries: Vincent Magwenya, Spokesperson to the President - media@presidency.gov.za

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria


 

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Deputy President Mashatile arrives in France on a Working Visit
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Deputy President Shipokosa Paulus Mashatile has this morning, Monday, 19 May 2025, arrived in Paris, the capital city of the Republic of France, on a Working Visit.

The visit is aimed at reinforcing South Africa’s historic and warm bilateral relations with France by expanding on existing cooperation projects, as well as identifying new areas of cooperation with specific focus on trade and investment.

The Deputy President’s visit follows a recent visit by Minister of  International Relations and Cooperation, Mr Ronald Lamola, on 16 May 2025 to co-chair the 9th Session of the Forum for Political Dialogue (FPD) where the status of bilateral political relations between the two countries was discussed, including matters of mutual interest relating to international developments. 

Deputy President Mashatile will participate in the SA-France Investment Conference, where South Africa would intensify cooperation in the fields of infrastructure development; science, technology and innovation; education and skills development; as well as improve the already strong people-to-people links between the two countries and increase the flow of tourism to South Africa from France.

France is the 14th largest investor in South Africa, with about 400 French companies investing in sectors such as financial services, renewable energy, rail, chemicals, oil and gas, to mention but a few.

French companies have played a pivotal role in the Presidential Investment Conference. Since the first Presidential Investment Conference hosted in 2018, French companies have committed more than R70 billion with the majority of projects either completed or being implemented.  

As part of his programme, Deputy President Mashatile will pay a courtesy call on His Excellency Mr Emmanuel Macron, President of the French Republic, meet with captains of industries and conduct site visits to the Suez Global Waste Management Company and Dassault Systèmes.

Deputy President Mashatile is accompanied to France by Dr A Motsoaledi: Minister of Health; Ms S Ndabeni-Abrahams: Minister of Small, Business Development; Ms B Creecy: Minister of Transport; Mr G McKenzie: Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture; Ms De Lille: Minister of Tourism; Mr A Botes: Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation; Mr B Manamela: Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Training; Mr Z Godlimp: Deputy Minister Trade, Industry and Competition; and Ms S Graham-Mare: Deputy Minister of Electricity and Energy.

On his arrival, the Deputy President was received by South Africa's Ambassador to France, Mr Nathi Mthethwa.

 

Media enquiries: Mr Keith Khoza, Acting Spokesperson to the Deputy President, on 066 195 8840.

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

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President designates Minister Gwede Mantashe as Acting President
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President Cyril Ramaphosa has, in terms of Section 90(1)(b) of the Constitution, designated Minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources Gwede Mantashe as the Acting President of the Republic of South Africa from 18 to 22 May 2025.

This designation flows from the simultaneous Working Visits by President Ramaphosa and Deputy President Paul Mashatile to the United States of America and the Republic of France respectively.


Media enquiries: Vincent Magwenya, Spokesperson to President Ramaphosa – media@presidency.gov.za

Issued by:  The Presidency
Pretoria
 

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Message of condolences on the passing of Member of Parliament and NEC Member of the ANC Honourable Lungi Mnganga-Gcabashe
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I have learned with great sadness of the passing of the Member of Parliament, Honourable Lungi Mnganga-Gcabashe, who passed away on Saturday, 17 May 2025. 

Honourable Mnganga-Gcabashe was a principled and disciplined Member of Parliament in the National Assembly between 2014 - 2019 and 2024 until her departure.

She has served as the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Public Enterprises, and most recently as the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Tourism. In the past week, Honourable Mnganga-Gcabashe participated in the Africa Travel Indaba, hosted by the Department in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal. A true testament to her commitment to the country and serving South Africans. 

Her commitment to a non-racial, non-sexist and prosperous society has guided her path and contribution to the struggle against apartheid through the United Democratic Front, Natal Organisation of Women and during the course of our democracy in legislative structures. 

I would like to send my heartfelt condolences to her family, friends, and comrades.

May her soul rest in peace, and may the contributions she has made to the struggles for gender equality and non-racialism remain etched in the history of our country.

 

Media enquiries: Mr Keith Khoza, Acting Spokesperson to the Deputy President on 066 195 8840

Issued by: The Presidency 
Pretoria

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Eulogy by President Cyril Ramaphosa at the reinterment of Mr Philemon Pearce Dumalisile Nokwe
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Programme Director, 
The family of Duma Nokwe,
Ministers and Deputy Ministers,
Members of Parliament,
Leadership of the African National Congress,
Leadership of the Alliance,
Stalwarts and veterans of the liberation struggle,
Members of the legal fraternity,
Religious and community leaders,
Comrades and friends, 

Good Morning, 

Today is a solemn occasion. It is a moment both of sadness and joy. 

It is a homecoming of one of our own, one of the finest sons of our soil, who gave everything for the liberation of South Africa and her people. 

Duma Nokwe: leader, brother, comrade in arms, Mkhonto, welcome home. 

We are here to receive you as your comrades, as your compatriots, to the free South Africa of your dreams. 

We inter you at your final resting place alongside your beloved wife, Mrs Vuyiswa Malangabi-Nokwe. 

Today is not as we would have wished it to be. 

We would have wished to receive you home in life. 

We would have wanted to be there, in our great numbers, as you stepped back on South African soil. 

Yet we cannot turn history’s tide. 

We cannot erase the great indignity to which you were subjected, taking your last breath in exile, far from a home to which you could not return. 

The poet Breyten Breytenbach called exile “the elsewhere that cannot be reached”.

It remains a source of great sadness that Duma Nokwe passed away in exile. 

He never got to set foot on the soil of a liberated, democratic South Africa. 

Many, many more of our brave men and women were pursued, persecuted and hunted down by those who had exiled them. 

Others were tortured and killed and lie buried in unmarked graves. 

Advocate Duma Nokwe, you have returned to your people in the quiet dignity of death. 

You bring with you the spirits of our many other fallen heroes. 

As we pay tribute to you today, we honour them too. 

They were denied the right to return in life, but today we break their exile and inter their spirits in the land for which they gave their all. 

Duma Nokwe dedicated his life to the liberation of South Africa from the tyranny of apartheid. 

He was a youth activist who rose to become the Secretary General of the African National Congress. 

The apartheid regime tried in vain to thwart his activism. 

He was jailed, banned and restricted. 

He was dismissed as a teacher for his involvement in the Defiance of Unjust Laws Campaign. 

Yet nothing could crush his spirit nor temper his determination. 

He decided to enter the legal profession, believing in the power of the law as a shield for the vulnerable, as an instrument of change. 

He entered a profession that was designed to exclude black people. 

And yet he persevered, becoming the first black advocate to be admitted to the Johannesburg Bar. 

The late George Bizos said that Duma Nokwe’s admission to the bar was a moment that cracked the façade of white legal supremacy. 

Even as he reached this pinnacle, the regime continued to hound him, refusing to allow him to take chambers with his white colleagues in Johannesburg. 

He would not be cowed.

He used his legal skills to defend those who stood up against tyranny. 

In Long Walk to Freedom, President Nelson Mandela describes how, after the declaration of the state emergency in 1960, Duma Nokwe became both a defendant and the advocate for the defence in the treason trial.

This was after the lawyers from the defence team decided to withdraw in protest against the harassment they were facing from the authorities. 

Duma Nokwe and Madiba helped the accused to conduct their own defence. 

Of the trial, Madiba wrote: “Our case was far more than a trial of legal issues between the Crown and a group of people charged with breaking the law. It was a trial of strength, a test of power of a moral idea versus an immoral one.” 

Duma Nokwe’s legal expertise was brought to bear in shaping the views of the liberation movement around constitutionalism and democracy. 

He was a mentor to young black lawyers, and today this noble legacy lives on with the Duma Nokwe Group, the advocates’ chambers. 

In recognition of the eminent position he occupied in the legal profession, we have posthumously conferred the silk status of senior counsel on Advocate Duma Nokwe.

In doing so, we are correcting a grave injustice done to one of our foremost legal practitioners.

We are making a declaration that his legal legacy did not end in exile, nor does it end today. 

We are confirming our belief in his conviction that the law is to be used not merely to secure courtroom victories, but to achieve profound, lasting change. 

In court, Duma Nokwe was an advocate for justice.

Outside the court, in the streets of our nation, in the capitals of the world, he was a respected and beloved advocate for freedom.

His voice – emphatic, compelling and sincere – resonated as powerfully through the halls of the United Nations as it did across the airwaves of Radio Freedom.

He wielded his words as instruments of liberation.

He sought to persuade, to empower and to inspire.

As a person, as an activist, as a leader, he was known for his humility and understanding, for his integrity and his unyielding commitment to the cause of humanity.

As he returns to the soil from which he was born, let us embrace all that Duma Nokwe represented and embodied.

At this time, when we strive to make a fundamental break with the many ghosts of our past, let us hold to the values that defined him and that make us so unique as a people: courage, empathy, understanding, tolerance. 

We still have many more journeys to undertake. Our freedom is not yet fully formed. 

Let us affirm that as South Africans we are all of the same soil. 

We will never renege on the promise of equality, justice and freedom for all, as promised by our Constitution. 

We will continue to build a South Africa in which no-one – neither black nor white, neither woman nor man – feels themselves a pariah in the land of their birth. 

We owe this to the spirit and legacy of the great Duma Nokwe, who stood for non-racialism throughout his life. 

Like many of his time, he cherished a dream he never got to see fulfilled.

It is incumbent on us, the living, to ensure that the legacy of Duma Nokwe lives on. 

May his spirit rise. May it guide us in the hard work that lies ahead and may it inspire us. 

Duma Nokwe was a revolutionary. He was a servant of the people. He was a man of unwavering principle, of great courage and of unmatched selflessness.


As we honour Duma Nokwe today, let us rededicate ourselves to fulfilling his dream of a non-racial, non-sexist South Africa that will forever remain democratic and free. 

Hamba Kahle, Mkhonto. Rest in eternal peace. 

I thank you.
 

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 Union Building