President Cyril Ramaphosa, in his capacity as Convenor of the National Dialogue, has confirmed the nominations received from different social sectors to the Steering Committee of the National Dialogue.
 
In line with his responsibility in terms of Section 83 of the Constitution to promote national unity, President Cyril Ramaphosa has convened an inclusive National Dialogue to address the challenges confronting the country. 
 
The National Dialogue Steering Committee is responsible for setting strategic priorities and coordinating implementation of the National Dialogue process across the country.
 
In confirming the nominations, President Ramaphosa is giving effect to the decision of the First National Convention, held on 15-16 August 2025, that agreed that all identified social sectors should nominate representatives to serve on the Steering Committee.
 
This was to ensure that the National Dialogue is an inclusive and citizen-led process that accommodates all sectors that want to be involved in shaping the destiny of our country. 
 
Over the last few months, many organisations in the 33 identified sectors and 6 sub-sectors held various meetings to identify their nominees. Every effort has been made to ensure that no sector of our society is left behind.
 
In addition to the sectoral representatives, the President was invited to nominate 2 representatives and the former Preparatory Task Team and Convention Organising Committee was invited to nominate 3 persons.
 
Provision has also been made for the Steering Committee to co-opt up to 5 people with appropriate expertise and experience. This is to ensure that no voice is left out of the National Dialogue process. 
 
The National Dialogue has been convened as a citizen-led, society-wide and inclusive process to reflect on the multiple challenges our country faces, agree on a shared vision for our future in the next decades and the priority actions that should be undertaken across the different sectors of society. 

Through the National Dialogue, we seek to forge a new social compact that will unite all South Africans on the kind of socioeconomic development and transformation our country should undergo in the next decades.
 
The Eminent Persons Group, which is comprised of prominent South Africans appointed as guarantors of the integrity and inclusivity of the National Dialogue process, compiled the nominations from the sectors and presented these to the President for confirmation.
 
The Steering Committee is expected to convene early in January 2026 for its inaugural meeting and induction. Once established, the Steering Committee will be able to co-opt members as agreed by the National Convention and assist any sectors that have not yet completed their nominations process.
 
President Ramaphosa has thanked all nominees for making themselves available for the Steering Committee. “I wish all Steering Committee members well in undertaking this important task to advance the building of a free, equal, united and prosperous nation,” he said.
 
The members of the Steering Committee are:

Sectoral Nominees
1. Valentia Andrews - National NGOs / NPO Networks
2. Michelle Arendse - Khoisan Leaders
3. Ashley Benjamin - Labour and Unions
4. Dumisile Cele - Children
5. Cynthia Chishimba - National NGOs / NPO Networks
6. Rebecca Como - Khoisan Leaders
7. Duduzile Dlamini - Sex Work
8. Scelo Duma - Government Departments
9. Khanyisa Dunjwa - Health / HIV
10. Luyolo Dwesi - Youth
11. Keagen Je-ron Gertse - Represented Political Parties
12. Jimmy Ntobeko Gotyana - National NGOs / NPO Networks
13. Annette Theresa Griessel - Foundations
14. Crispin Hemson - Restorative Justice, Peace & Safety
15. Cheryl Hendricks - Women
16. Josephilda Hlope - Government Departments
17. Lance Joel - Government Departments
18. Howard Johnson - Small Businesses, Stokvels & Informal Economy
19. Moipone Jwayi - Rural & Agricultural / Land Rights
20. Marble Bore Kalembo - LGBTQIA+
21. Luzuko Khohli - Arts, Culture and Creative Industries
22. Steven Thapelo Khunou - Faith Based Organisations
23. Bosa Ledwaba - Women
24. Tebogo Legodi - LGBTQIA+
25. Lawrence Elijah Lekgowane - Transport
26. Gomolemo Lesejane - Faith Based Organisations
27. Siyabulela Lucas - Persons with Disabilities
28. Innocent Madlala - Small Businesses, Stokvels & Informal Economy
29. Mahlatse Martinah Kgaladi Magoro - Persons with Disabilities
30. Bridgemohan Maharaj - Faith Based Organisations
31. Mxolisi President Siphamandla Mahlangu - Persons with Disabilities
32. Realeboga Makgeledise - Youth
33. Thulasizwe Makhanya - Foundations
34. Octavia Thenjiwe Makhubu - Education
35. Malemolla David Makhura - Represented Political Parties
36. Thabo Makwela - Small Businesses, Stokvels & Informal Economy
37. Steve Mashiya - Foundations
38. Loungo Masire - Arts, Culture and Creative Industries
39. Kganki Matabane - Formal Business 
40. Khulekani Mathe - Formal Business 
41. Looks Matoto - Persons with Disabilities
42. Busisiwe Mavuso - Formal Business 
43. Nokuthula Caritus Mazibuko - Academia, Think Tanks & Research
44. Odwa Mbane - Formerly Incarcerated
45. Hussein Mubaarak Mbonambi - Faith Based Organisations
46. Palesa Rosemary Mboweni - Women
47. Buhle Mchunu - Academia, Think Tanks & Research
48. Charles Mcunu - Transport 
49. Promise Memela - Health / HIV
50. Mabalane Mfundisi - Health / HIV
51. Donald Mkhwanazi - Students
52. Shannon Nontobeko Mokoena - Rural & Agricultural / Land Rights
53. Busang Obakeng Molekane - Sports
54. Mzwandile Molo - Faith Based Organisations
55. David Morema - Government Departments
56. Boitumelo Mosenogi - Small Businesses, Stokvels & Informal Economy
57. Keitumetse Fatimata Moutloatse - GBVF
58. Kunene Mpho - Media, Linguistic & Communication
59. Tshilidzi Mulaudzi - Academia, Think Tanks & Research
60. Muriel Mamotala Mumba - Civic Movements & Local Organisations
61. Treasure Ndesi - Men's Sector
62. Marshall Nelson - Education
63. Nondumiso Ngonyama - Traditional Leaders
64. Beau Nkaelang - Men's Sector
65. Mbali Nkosi - Youth
66. Matthew Parks - Labour and Unions
67. Letsiri Phaahla - Traditional Leaders
68. Tshegofatso Tebogo Phakisa - Media, Linguistic & Communication
69. Zandile Phiri - Represented Political Parties
70. Romeo Qetsimani - Arts, Culture and Creative Industries
71. Nkanyiso Radebe - Restorative Justice, Peace & Safety
72. Lebogang Ramafoko - Media, Linguistic & Communication
73. Hayley Reichert - Immigration
74. Vanessa Samuel-Chetty - GBVF
75. Edward Saunderson - Sports
76. Fatima Shabodien - Restorative Justice, Peace & Safety
77. Ngaletjang Emily Shilakoe - Media, Linguistic & Communication
78. Shakespeare Mandla Sibanyoni - Rural & Agricultural / Land Rights
79. Thandeka Patience Sibiya - Immigration
80. Tolika Sibiya - Youth
81. Lisa Silwana - Youth
82. Tumi Sole - Civic Movements & Local Organisations
83. Patric Solomons - Children
84. Sandile Soxokashe - Youth
85. Sinesipho Soxujwa - Civic Movements & Local Organisations
86. Qhamisa Tengile - Small Businesses, Stokvels & Informal Economy
87. Mammatli Thakhuli-Nzuza - Arts, Culture and Creative Industries
88. Ntandane Thembelihle - GBVF
89. Gerald Twala - Labour and Unions
90. Riaan Van der Bergh - Education
91. Tanya van Meelis - Labour and Unions
92. Lee-Anne Walker - LGBTQIA+
93. Monica Woodhouse - Children
94. Xolani Benson Xala - Immigration
95. Zwakele Zondo - Rural & Agricultural / Land Rights
 
Nominees of the Convention Organising Committee
96. Boichoko Ditlhake                             
97. Tessa Dooms
 
Nominees of the President
98. Mduduzi Mbada
99. Zwoitwaho Nevhutalu

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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

President Cyril Ramaphosa has on, Wednesday 17 December 2025, received an interim report of the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry into Criminality, Political Interference, and Corruption in the Criminal Justice System.

President Ramaphosa established the Commission, chaired by retired Constitutional Court Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga, in July 2025.

President Ramaphosa will study the interim report while the Commission, which is in recess, prepares to hear further testimony from new witnesses or persons who have previously testified.

President Ramaphosa has expressed his appreciation for the interim report as well as his expectation that the Commission will, as part of its terms of reference, refer actions thought to be criminal acts for prosecution.

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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

Your Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
 
We have come to the end of our meeting. Allow me to once more thank you for your participation.
 
We also extend our appreciation to the Ministers and senior officials for the preparatory work that went into this summit - as well as to the Executive Secretary and his team.
 
Our deliberations on the developments in the Republic of Madagascar have been substantive, detailed, constructive and most importantly, outcomes based.
 
The decision we have taken to deploy a Panel of Elders and Mediation Reference Group to Madagascar evidences our collective commitment to a peaceful and stable region.
 
The Mission will engage with all the stakeholders in Madagascar to ensure there is an inclusive process leading up to the holding of free, fair and credible elections.
 
We call on all the Malagasy people to take this opportunity to deeply reflect on the challenges facing their country and choose the path of peace, unity, reconciliation and development.
 
The unity of purpose that has governed our engagements on this and other critical matters affecting our region is indeed commendable. We must continue in this vein.
 
We welcome the restoration of calm in Madagascar and have noted the national consultation processes launched by the Transitional Government on the 10th of December 2025.
 
The Summit has urged the Transitional Government led by H.E. Colonel Micheal Randrianirina to initiate an inclusive national dialogue during the transitional period that is Malagasy-owned and led. This will pave the way for fresh elections and facilitate the peaceful return of political exiles.
 
We have further called on the Transitional Government of Madagascar to ensure that the reform processes are timely, inclusive of all stakeholders, and create a conducive environment in which political exiles can contribute meaningfully.
 
AS SADC we reaffirm our commitment to remain actively engaged with the political and security situation in the Republic of Madagascar, until an elected government is established through electoral processes.
 
Inasmuch as conflict and instability in one part of the region impacts us all, cooperation is key to the region’s stability, peace and progress.
 
Lastly but certainly not least, we congratulate His Excellency President Hichilema on his election as incoming chair of the SADC.
 
I look forward to working closely with you, my dear brother as we advance the mandate of SADC in pursuit of peace, security and shared prosperity for our region and all its peoples.
 
I wish you all a blessed festive season and a prosperous new year.
 
I thank you.
 

Your Excellency Emmerson Mnangagwa, President of the Republic of Zimbabwe and outgoing Chairperson of SADC
Your Excellency Peter Mutharika, President of the Republic of Malawi and Chairperson of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security
Your Excellencies, Heads of State and Government, 
Honourable Mr. Ronald Lamola, Minister of International Relations and Cooperation of the Republic of South Africa and Interim Chairperson of the SADC Council of Ministers
Honourable Ministers, 
Mr Elias Mpedi Magosi, Executive Secretary of SADC,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
 
Good afternoon and welcome.
 
Allow me to thank you, your Excellencies, for accepting my invitation to this Extraordinary Summit - where we will be considering a report from the Chairperson of the Organ on the political and security situation in our sister country, Madagascar.
 
As you will recall, we convened a similar session during the past month to attend to an urgent issue pertaining to the leadership of our organisation.
 
In September 2025 the Republic of Madagascar experienced political challenges that resulted in the formation of a transitional government.  
 
In the light of this development, the Extraordinary SADC Organ Troika Summit convened on the 16th of October 2025 to assess the situation in the country. 
 
The Organ Troika Summit resolved to urgently deploy a Technical Mission to undertake a fact-finding mission to Madagascar. The outcome of this mission is contained in the report we will be considering today.
 
Your Excellencies,
 
The developments in Madagascar in September this year brought to the fore the urgent need to accelerate the implementation of our regional development objectives to attain our SADC Vision 2050. 
 
This vision seeks to achieve a region whose peoples live in peace and harmony and can realise their economic potential.
 
Through our SADC Protocol on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation, we seek to promote and maintain peace, security, democracy and political stability in our region. The protocol also calls for solidarity amongst our people. 
 
Over the past years, we have made progress towards achieving these goals, notably with respect to consolidating democracy, promoting good governance, ensuring electoral integrity and deepening a culture of human rights.
 
At the same time political and security challenges continue to plague parts of our region. The 
situation in the Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo remains of grave concern. We also stand in solidarity with the government and the people of Mozambique in their quest for stability and security in the Cabo Delgado province.
 
Madagascar has faced political and security challenges of a systemic nature. In 2009, SADC supported the people of Madagascar in their aspiration for democratic and peaceful future. 
 
Although important achievements were recorded, the recent developments indicate that much more work needs to be done to foster sustainable peace.
 
Like all peoples in our region and our continent, the people of Madagascar yearn for durable peace and development. We have a collective responsibility to make this a reality.
 
Your Excellencies,
 
In conclusion, this Session will also be expected to elect the interim incoming chair of our organisation, thereby ensuring that there a full and complete Troika to drive our regional peace, security and development agenda.
 
I wish this Extraordinary Summit fruitful deliberations.

I thank you

President Cyril Ramaphosa will on Wednesday, 17 December 2025, in his capacity as the interim Chairperson of Southern African Development Community (SADC), address the opening and participate in a virtual Extraordinary Summit of SADC Heads of State and Government. 

The virtual Extraordinary SADC Summit is taking place under the theme “Advancing Industrialisation, Agricultural Transformation, and Energy Transition for a Resilient SADC”, and will be preceded by meetings of Senior Officials and Council of Ministers  respectively. 

The Summit will consider the fact-finding mission report on the political situation in the Republic of Madagascar and the interim Incoming Chairperson of SADC.

President Ramaphosa will be accompanied  by  Minister Ronald Lamola of International Relations and Cooperation. 

Extraordinary SADC  Summit of Heads of State and Government opening address by President Ramaphosa will take place  as follows:
Date: Wednesday, 17 December 2025
Time: 16h00
Streaming: PresidencyZA 

The opening ceremony  will be live streamed on  PresidencyZA digital platforms.  

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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria
 

Programme Directors,
Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Mr Gayton McKenzie,
Premier of KwaZulu-Natal, Mr Thami Ntuli,
Ministers and Deputy Ministers,
Members of Parliament,
Executive Mayor of the Umzinyathi District Municipality, Cllr Thembisile Mchunu,
Chairperson of the Federation of Afrikaans Cultural Associations, Dr Carel Boshoff,
Religious, traditional and community leaders present,
Representatives of political parties,
The community of Nquthu,
Distinguished Guests,
Fellow South Africans,

Sanibonani sizwe sikaPhunga noMageba 

Dumelang Basotho baNquthu. 

Avuxeni. Ndi Matsheloni. Lotjhani. Sanibonani. Goeie môre. Molweni. 

It is an honour and a privilege to be here at eNcome Museum, eNquthu on this day that has such profound meaning for our nation.

It was here, more than 180 years ago, on the 16th of December 1838, that more than 3,000 brave warriors fell in battle in defence of their ancestral land. 

Under the leadership of uDingane kaSenzangakhona and uNdlela kaSompisi, they marched on the Voortrekker encampment at the edge of the Ncome River.

The Voortrekkers would say their victory that day came from God. They would call it Geloftedag, Day of the Vow. 

But there is the reality of history. The Zulu impi advanced with amaKlwa and iziHlangu, to be shot down with rifles, muskets and cannons. 

They were the bravest of the brave. They fought to defend their land, their rights and their sovereignty.

Commemorating the 16th of December provides us with an opportunity to confront our past with honesty, acknowledge the complexities of our shared history and commit ourselves to building a peaceful future together.

Our democracy was built on reconciliation.

South Africans bear the scars of centuries of dispossession and oppression, of resistance being met with batons and bullets. 

We recall the Battle of Ncome. The Bambatha Rebellion. The Bulhoek Massacre. The 1946 Mineworkers Strike. Sharpeville. Langa. Cato Manor. Western Deep Levels. The Trojan Horse Massacre. Sebokeng. Boipatong. 

The names of these events and places ring in our collective memory. They symbolised terrible brutality unleashed on black South Africans.

The former oppressors tried to turn South Africans against each other, fomenting violence, terror and instability that tore communities apart.

This province, KwaZulu-Natal, knows this pain all too well. The people of this province experienced decades of political violence in the 1980s and 1990s that destroyed families and led to the loss of many lives.

The majority of South Africans were victims of a political order that denied them their humanity.

And yet at the dawn of democracy, they did not choose vengeance or retribution. 

Where others wanted to break, they chose to build. Where others wanted to sow division, they chose reconciliation.

We chose this path together, not because the past does not matter, but because we took to heart the words of President Nelson Mandela, when he said: “To be free is not merely to cast off one’s chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.”

We chose the path of reconciliation because we envisioned a society where the children of the former oppressor and the oppressed could live together, side by side, without fear.

In 1994 we restored what apartheid tried to break: the dignity of every South African man, woman and child.

Since the advent of democracy, we have sought to do away with symbols that are divisive. 

This year, we return to eNcome not to reopen old wounds, but to reaffirm our promise to future generations that South Africa shall never again be divided by hatred, injustice or exclusion.

Sabuyisana ngo 1994. Sisabuyisana ngo 2025. Sisazoqhubeka nokubuyisana ngoba siyisizwe esisodwa – sonke siyizakhamuzi zaseNingizimu Afrika. 

(We reconciled in 1994. We are still reconciling in 2025. We shall continue to reconcile our differences because we are one nation – we are all South African citizens)

Together, we have overcome great challenges but still a lot remains to be done.

Here in the Umzinyathi District Municipality, eNquthu and eMsinga are some of the most underdeveloped rural areas in KwaZulu-Natal. 

We must tackle stubbornly high youth unemployment in a different way. Young people should not have to cast their eyes to big cities for better opportunities. Jobs must be created in our rural towns and villages.

This area is rich in heritage. It known as the ‘custodian’ of the Battlefields of the Zulu Kingdom.

This is a place that should attract travellers from near and far.

It is the youth of this area who should be welcoming, accommodating and feeding these visitors. 

Akuxoxwe ngobuqhawe besizwe, kubukelwe besina, bese kukhokhwa imali ezothuthukisa izindawo lapho lamasiko agxile khona.

(Stories of brave warriors must be told, the cultural dances watched, then payments made to uplift the communities who are the custodians of the heritage).

Fellow South Africans,

There are those, inside and outside our country, who are trying their utmost to paint a false picture of us as the South African people.

They do not tell us what the surveys say: that the majority of South Africans are hopeful about the state of our democracy. They do not tell us that the majority of South Africans believe race relations have improved since 1994.

They do not show the pictures of African, white, Indian and coloured children learning together, studying together and playing together.

They do not want to talk about the friendships, neighbourliness and kindness shown by black and white towards each other.

They don’t want to play all the social media clips we are seeing of young Afrikaners in veldskoens dancing to amapiano, and white teenagers speaking fluent isiZulu with their friends.

Our country’s detractors are not talking about successful land restitution, of communities sharing the land and of successful black farmers.

Instead they are painting a false picture designed to sow fear and hatred. We must not let them succeed in their efforts. 

Uma siqhubeka sakha isizwe sethu saseNingizimu Afrika sibumbene – akekho oyokwazi ukutshala imbewu yokucwasana phakathi kwethu. 

(If we continue and together we build our nation as South Africans, there will be no one who will be able to plant the seed of discrimination and exclusiveness amongst us.) 

We are a country of many diverse views. People understand our history in different ways. And they experience the reality of the present in different ways.

We must not try to hide these differences. We must speak about them and continue to work to bridge them.

As a country, we have embarked on a National Dialogue to bring all South Africans together to forge a shared vision of our future – and to agree on the actions we must take together to build that future.

No person, no group and no community must be excluded from that dialogue.

Let us use the National Dialogue to resolve our differences and to find common ground.

By so doing, we will be able to confront the many challenges facing our nation, such as poverty and inequality, crime and corruption, and gender-based violence and femicide. 

For as long as the majority of black South Africans live in poverty, for as long as inequality persists, our country will not find true reconciliation.

Our pursuit of inclusive economic growth and job creation, our efforts to reduce poverty and bring down the cost of living, are essential for reconciliation.

We cannot be reconciled as a people if our communities are terrorised by criminals and deprived of what is due to them by corrupt officials.

We cannot build a nation that is at peace with itself for as long as violence against women and children continues.

This goes against everything that our ancestors, the brave warriors here at Ncome and elsewhere, gave their lives for.

It is time that the men of our country harness the warrior spirit of our people to protect women and children and to say: “Not in our name.” 

In many of our cultures and traditions an offence against a woman was not permissible. It was deemed as disrespect for the entire family.

Killing a woman was an abomination. Not only did such a killing take her life but the lives of all the children she was still going to give birth to. 

Sizofike sithini kokhokho bethu ngegazi elingaka Labantu besifazane esilichitha nsukuzonke? 

(What are we going to tell our forefathers about the blood of women we shed daily?)

The Day of Reconciliation is about advancing reconciliation, justice and nation-building. As black and white, as young and old, but also as men and women.

Real men do not abuse women and children. Real men protect women and children.

We are a country of diverse cultures, languages, beliefs and traditions.

Here eNquthu, we have a beautiful and diverse community that is an integral part of our rainbow nation.

Here, a person can be as proud of their Basotho heritage or their Zulu culture or their Afrikaans language as they are of their South African identity.

The apartheid regime tried to turn South Africans against one another, but they did not succeed. 

The son of this very soil who has made a name for himself in the whole country through Maskandi music, Imfezi Emnyama, proudly wears the Basotho blanket and a hat on some of his CD covers because he grew up in a part of the country where there was no discrimination against other peoples.

I’m talking about umfokaKhumalo, uMashobane. 

In the song Nibizelwe, Imfezi Emnyama ithi: 

Kutheni silwa sodwa maAfrika Amahle 
(Why are we fighting amongst ourselves beautiful Africans)
Kutheni sixabana sodwa …. 
(Why quarrels amongst us)

May his stirring song remind us that we are one people, united in our diversity.

Today is a day of commemoration for all of us, black and white. Our upbringing and culture may influence how we interpret the history of this day, but of one thing we can be certain: we have come a long way.

We have many challenges, but let us be proud that we are a united nation that faces those challenges together.

During the December holidays we gather together as families. May we also find time to reconcile as families – as uncles, aunts, brothers, sisters, mothers, fathers and grandparents. Healthy families produce healthy communities. 

Let us enjoy the festive season safely. Let us not drink and drive. Let us report crime when we see it, and help keep each other safe.

Let us work together for a better South Africa, which belongs to all who live in it, black and white, men and women, young and old.

May God bless South Africa and protect its people.

I thank you.
 

A snapshot of Government’s performance in 2025

December is a silly season in South Africa. It’s a season where there is a scarcity of news and whoever has an opinion about the performance of Government, publishes it on the different platforms.

Some opinions are far-fetched, some are constructive, some are critical and others are emotional.

Nevertheless, this time of the year makes for interesting reading.

In the United Kingdom, where the term originated, the silly season is associated with the summer Parliamentary recess, while in our country it refers to the shut down over the festive season.

While some opinion-makers started their assessments soon after the successful hosting of the G20 Summit in November, the majority will follow over the next few days.

Most assessments are done by media houses and the results are either a boost for a politician or a negative score with consequences to those in close proximity to a politician.

The beauty of these assessments is the safeguards in our Constitution which protects freedom of speech and the media.

In light of the scarcity of news, it is apt for Government’s voice to be heard. It is important to note that the information is voluminous and this is just a snapshot of successes.

One can rightly ask what is the yardstick we should use for Government. That is easy. The document to study is the State of the Nation Address (SoNA) and in this instance, it is the SoNA 2025 delivered by President Cyril Ramaphosa in February of this year.

In his address, President Ramaphosa, announced that the Government of National Unity has adopted the Medium-Term Development Plan (MTDP) for the period 2024-2029. The MTDP which sets out three key priorities of Government,

These priorities are to drive inclusive growth and job creation; to reduce poverty and tackle the high cost of living; and to build a capable, ethical and developmental state.

The President said the immediate task was to grow our economy so that we can create jobs, reduce poverty and improve the lives of all South Africans.

The emphasis on the economy is reminiscent of the famous slogan by James Carville, a strategist in Bill Clinton’s presidential campaign in 1992 when he wrote, “It’s the economy, stupid.”

The green shoots for an economy recovery are visible. Some key indicators are:

The rand holding its own against major currencies and has breached the level of R17 to the US dollar.

GDP grew by 0.5% in the third quarter meaning that the economy is expanding. Much remains in the pipeline to achieve a higher growth rate given its centrality to attaining the country’s developmental aspirations.

Unemployment for Quarter 3 was down by 1.3 percentage points to 31.9% with the construction sector the major contributor with 130 000 new jobs out of the total of 248 000 new jobs.

Government will spend R1 trillion over the next three years on infrastructure projects.

Stability of energy supply is central to this turn around and we should be building on the successes thus far to the next level.

This year the Youth Employment Service reached the milestone of 200 000 young South Africans funded and placed into quality first-job experiences.

SA achieved its first rating upgrade in 20 years when the ratings agency, Standard and Poor upgraded the country’s foreign currency long-term sovereign credit rating to BB from BB-. In addition, the local currency long-term sovereign credit rating to BB+ from BB.

The International Monetary Fund lifted its growth forecast for the country to 1.3% in 2025 and 1.4% in 2026 from 1.1% and 1.2% respectively

Phase 2 of Operation Vulindlela is gaining traction. The results of this initiative led by President Ramaphosa to unlock growth and remove obstacles in areas that impedes on growth are starting to filter through.

Tourism is on an upward trajectory and the number of foreign visitors increased by 18% year-on-year from 2024. SA Tourism reported that most visitors were from the US (331 378), followed by the UK, Germany, the Netherlands and France.

The South African Revenue Service has collected a net revenue of R924,7-bilion by 30 September of this year. This is a year-on-year growth of R78,6-billion and an overall surplus of R18 billion against its printed estimates.

Yes, there are challenges, but Government is not afraid to confront them. Local government remains a challenge and President Ramaphosa and the Cabinet have met with seven of the nine provincial executives to address key issues in this sphere.

Accusations of corruption in the criminal justice system are before the Madlanga Commission. The Justice, Crime Prevention and Security Cluster is continuously looking at measures to fight crime and keep citizens safe.

The GNU priorities to reduce poverty and tackle the high cost of living. In this regard, we are particularly seized with intervention on assisting households cope with food price volatility, as well as the measures to make public transport affordable. Rising cost of living has become a challenge in many parts of the world, as we have learnt from the G20 engagements.

In conclusion, this is not a review of Government but it is a high-level glance of successes and issues challenges since 6 February 2025.

The silly season, indeed has highlighted the need for Government to improve its communication with its key stakeholders, the people of South Africa and the media.

Furthermore, the measures introduced by the 6th Administration in 2019 are beginning to bear fruit. The focus is for the GNU to accelerate this process and ensure that the green shoots of the economic upswing gain momentum and touch the lives of all South Africans for the remainder of this MTDP period.

 

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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

Presidential Spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya, will on, Monday, 15 December 2025, host a media briefing to update the public on the President’s programme and address topical issues of interest.

Members of the media are invited as follows:
Date: Monday, 15 December 2025
Time: 10h30 (Media arrival at 9h30)
Venue: Media Centre, Union Buildings, Pretoria

RSVP: Members of the media wishing to attend the media briefing in person are requested to submit their details to Patience@presidency.gov.za. 

Media following remotely can text their questions to Patience on 083 376 9468. 

The media briefing will be streamed live, and the link will be shared prior.

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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria
 

President Cyril Ramaphosa will on Tuesday, 16 December 2025, deliver a keynote address at the national commemoration of Reconciliation Day.

This year’s commemoration takes place at the Ncome Museum, Nquthu Local Municipality, within the uMzinyathi District in KwaZulu-Natal. 

The Department of Sport, Arts and Culture (DSAC) and the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government will lead this year’s national event under the theme: “ Reaffirming Reconciliation for Future Generations. ”

This year’s theme enshrines on the call for South Africans to deepen commitment to unity, healing, forgiveness and nation-building for shared future.

The selection of the Battle of Blood River heritage site at the Ncome Museum signifies the value of cherishing unity and peace collectively as South Africans.

The fierce battle between the Voortrekker invaders and the Zulu forces unfolded 187 years ago in 1838 and marked a historical episode that shaped differing and often divisive commemorative customs for more than a century.

However, as a part of redressing the past injustices in South Africa, the democratic government redefined the day in 1995 as the National Day of Reconciliation onwards.

That was a unifying effort to transform the day from a symbol of division into a transformative platform for truth, justice, dialogue, healing and a shared nationhood. 

Hosting the 2025 programme at Ncome reaffirms this commitment and invites the nation to engage honestly with its complex past while advancing a future rooted in inclusion, understanding and unity.

The commemoration will take places as follows:
Date: 16 December 2025
Time: 08h00
Venue: Ncome Museum, in Nquthu KwaZulu-Natal Province

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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria
 

The Deputy Minister in The Presidency, Mr Kenny Morolong, will deliver a keynote address at the Meta for Government engagement in Sandton.

The session is convened under the theme “A Government in Conversation”, and will bring together Government communicators and digital specialists for a day of discussion, collaboration and knowledge-sharing aimed at strengthening digital public service delivery in South Africa.

Event details are as follows:

Date: Tuesday, 9 December 2025
Time: 09h00 – 16h00 
Venue: Inanda Club, Forrest Rd & 6th Ave, Inanda, Sandton

Those wishing to attend are encouraged to register using this link: https://forms.gle/J1uCWbzC12thAH2F8

 

Media enquiries: Mr Wandiswa Nyawuza on 067 237 3630 or Ms Kabelo Tsiane on 072 793 2538

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria