Your Excellency, President Boko,
Vice President of Botswana Ndaba Gaolethe,
Ministers,
High Commissioners,
Colleagues and Friends,

As we conclude the deliberations of this session of the Bi-National Commission, I wish to express my appreciation for the insight and wisdom with which you guided our discussions. 

The report of the Commission captures the scope of our strategic and fraternal relations. 

It affirms that our bilateral relations remain strong. 

It lays the basis for effective implementation in the months ahead.

The agreements we are signing today give practical and legal expression to our cooperation. 

In our deliberations, we have identified priority areas to will scale up economic partnership between our countries. 

Levels of bilateral trade and investment must be substantially increased. 

We must explore more opportunities in agriculture, while working together to resolve some of the challenges we have experienced in this area.

South Africa and Botswana continue to deepen cooperation in other important areas, such as in vaccines.

We welcome the commitment by South Africa’s Agricultural Research Council and the Botswana Vaccine Institute to conclude a cooperation partnership in the production of vaccines to fight animal diseases, including food and mouth disease. 

Mr President, 

We thank you and your government for facilitating the delivery of significant doses of vaccines to our country to combat the outbreak of food and mouth disease.
 
We are committed to address immigration difficulties affecting, among other others, students from Botswana and business people from South Africa. 

We should direct our respective Ministers of Home Affairs to develop a sustainable resolution of these matters by September this year. 

Working together within SADC, South Africa and Botswana will continue to promote regional integration, including through investment in infrastructure and manufacturing.

We will continue to promote social, cultural, educational and scientific ties. 

It is also critical that the region promotes peace, stability and security. 

South Africa and Botswana should continue to work for a global order based on peace, stability and respect for international law. 
 
We conclude this session of the BNC inspired by the vision of our forebears, who laid a firm foundation for a great relationship forged through struggle, sacrifice and unity. 

The strong bonds of friendship and cooperation are founded on our shared desire to fulfil the promise of a brighter future for our two nations and for our region.

We once again express our deep appreciation for the warmth and hospitality extended to us during this State Visit and Bi-National Commission. 

We were embraced with Botho, consistent with the traditions of this great country of Botswana. 

I look forward, Your Excellency and Dear Brother, to hosting you in South Africa for the seventh session of the Bi-National Commission. 

Pula!

Ke a leboga.

I thank you.
 

Programme Director, Mr Masibulele Tolofane;
Councillor T Rossouw;
Community leaders and representatives;
Representatives of the Al Imdaad Foundation;
Ms Bianca Mankayi;
Residents of Vredenburg and surrounding communities;
Members of the media;
Ladies and gentlemen.
Good morning.

It is both a privilege and a deeply meaningful moment for me to return to Vredenburg.

Earlier this year, I had the honour of visiting Louisville Secondary School, where we handed over a digital library to support teaching and learning and to expand opportunities for young people in this community. That visit was about investing in the future of our children. Today, I return under very different circumstances, but with the same message: government is here, government is listening, and government is committed to improving the lives of our people.

Today, we gather to stand in solidarity with families and communities affected by the severe weather conditions that have devastated parts of the Western Cape.
Over the past several days, a powerful cold front has brought torrential rain, flooding, and freezing temperatures to communities across the province. Homes have been damaged, livelihoods disrupted, and many families have been left vulnerable and uncertain about what tomorrow may bring.

When disaster strikes, it is often the poorest and most vulnerable who are affected the most. For them, the loss of a roof, a bed, school uniforms, food, or basic household items is not a minor inconvenience. It is a major setback that threatens dignity, security, and hope.

That is why government is intensifying relief efforts in all affected areas across the country. Working with the National Disaster Management Centre, provincial and local governments, and community-based organisations, we are mobilising resources to provide immediate assistance and longer-term support.

Ladies and gentlemen, Today's handover is one example of these efforts.

In partnership with the Al Imdaad Foundation, we are providing relief packages and essential supplies to affected residents to help meet immediate needs and to offer some comfort during this difficult time.

This initiative demonstrates an important truth: when government and civil society work together, we can respond more quickly, more effectively, and with greater compassion.

I would like to express my sincere and heartfelt gratitude to the Al Imdaad Foundation for sponsoring this disaster relief programme.

Your generosity is a powerful expression of ubuntu.

Your commitment to humanitarian service reminds us that compassion has no boundaries and that, in times of crisis, our greatest strength lies in our willingness to help one another.

Thank you for answering the call to serve.

Ladies and gentlemen,

Programme director, This year is of special significance for our nation.

In 2026, South Africa marks 30 years of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa.

For three decades, our Constitution has served as the foundation of our democracy. It affirms that every person in this country has inherent dignity and equal worth. It guarantees the rights to housing, healthcare, education, social security, and access to information. Most importantly, it places a duty on government to work tirelessly to improve the quality of life of all citizens and to free the potential of every person.

Our Constitution is more than a legal document.

It is a living covenant between the people and the state.

It reflects the values for which generations of South Africans struggled and sacrificed: equality, justice, accountability, and freedom.

It reminds us that democracy must not only exist in law, but must be experienced in the everyday lives of our people.

This year, we also commemorate 30 years of SASSA and South Africa's social assistance system.

For three decades, social grants have provided a vital lifeline to millions of South Africans, including older persons, persons with disabilities, children, and vulnerable households.

SASSA has become one of the most important instruments through which our democratic state protects the poor and reduces inequality.

For many households, a social grant is the difference between hunger and a meal, between despair and hope.

The story of SASSA is the story of a caring state that recognises that the true measure of progress is how we treat the most vulnerable among us.

Today's relief effort is rooted in the same principle.

Whether through disaster assistance, social grants, education programmes, healthcare services, or economic support, government remains committed to ensuring that no South African is left behind.

As we celebrate these milestones, we are also reminded of the power and responsibility that every citizen carries.

Ladies and gentlemen, South Africa will soon hold local government elections.

These elections are important because municipalities are responsible for delivering many of the services that affect our daily lives, including water, sanitation, roads, electricity, housing, and local development.

I therefore urge every eligible citizen to ensure that they are registered to vote.

Do not underestimate the importance of your vote.

Many South Africans fought, sacrificed, and even gave their lives for the right to vote.

When you vote, you honour that sacrifice.

When you vote, you make your voice heard.

When you vote, you help shape the future of your community and your country.

Democracy does not end on election day, but elections remain one of the most powerful tools we have to strengthen accountability and deepen participation.

To the people of Vredenburg and the wider West Coast, let me assure you that government stands with you.

We see your struggles.

We hear your concerns.

And we are committed to working with you to rebuild homes, restore livelihoods, and strengthen your community against future challenges.

We know that the road to recovery is not always easy.

But we also know that South Africans are resilient.

We know that when we unite around the values of compassion, solidarity, and shared responsibility, there is no challenge we cannot overcome.

Let us continue to embody the spirit of ubuntu.

Let us continue to support one another.

Let us continue to build a South Africa where every person can live in dignity, security, and hope.

Together, we will recover.

Together, we will rebuild.

Together, we will move our country forward.

I thank you.
 

Programme Director, Mr Linton Mchunu;

Your Excellency, Former President of the Republic of South Africa, President Thabo Mbeki;

The Chairperson of the AU Commission, H.E. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, represented by Honourable Phillipus Katamelo, Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly of Namibia and Member of the PAP;

The Chief Executive Officer of the African Union Development Agency AUDA-NEPAD, H.E. Nardos Bekele-Thomas;

UNISA Principal and Vice-Chancellor, Prof Puleng LenkaBula;

Distinguished Ministers, Deputy Ministers and Members of Parliament, represented here this morning,

Leaders of Political Parties and Representatives of Regional Economic Communities,

Our valued development partners from the private sector, civil society, and the diaspora,

Recipient of Order of Ikhamanga in Silver, Jonathan Butler;

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Good Morning,

Twenty-five years ago, in Abuja, President Thabo Mbeki stood before Africa and the world and declared that the tasks we face on the continent are the same as those we face at home: poverty, underdevelopment, marginalisation, illiteracy, disease, and instability.

Many of us could still recall the great African giants who were there, Olusegun Obasanjo of Nigeria, Abdelaziz Bouteflika of Algeria, Hosni Mubarak of Egypt, and Abdoulaye Wade of Senegal, all nodding in affirmation, bearing witness to a truth that bound us together.

In that hour, NEPAD was born as Africa’s own pledge. It was born to promote accelerated growth and sustainable development, to eradicate widespread and severe poverty, and to halt the marginalisation of Africa in the globalisation process.

As we mark Africa Month and celebrate twenty-five years of NEPAD, we return to that founding vision: an integrated, prosperous, and peaceful Africa, driven by its own citizens and representing a dynamic force in the global arena. This vision, rooted in Pan-Africanism, is driven by the goal of empowering the continent to control its own destiny.

We gather today at a time when South Africa has, over the past few weeks, observed acts of violence against foreign nationals. While acknowledging concerns about illegal foreign nationals involved in crime, we strongly condemn the anti-migrant protests and xenophobic violence and urge law enforcement to address these issues through legal means, not mob violence. 

These violent acts, as mentioned by President Cyril Ramaphosa, are shameful and do not reflect the views of South Africans or government policy. We must therefore, stand together as government, traditional authorities, civil society, and migrant communities to combat this violence. Such collaboration is crucial in affirming the dignity of all African lives.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Today, AUDA-NEPAD functions as the main execution arm of the African Union’s Agenda 2063. The Agency emphasises the importance of African self-determination and focuses on building democratic societies, enhancing intra-African trade, and utilising local resources for development.

To foster a new development consensus, AUDA-NEPAD identifies three essential pillars: regional integration to strengthen unity and economic collaboration; African ownership, promoting the idea that Africa's future should be shaped by its own people; and continental renewal to ensure democracy, industrialisation, and social cohesion, which are vital for peace and dignity.

This consensus links the promise of Abuja to the aspirations of Agenda 2063, emphasising the need for renewed energy and bold leadership. It advocates for deepened regional integration with the African Continental Free Trade Area as a foundation for prosperity, affirming African ownership of resources and policies. The AUDA-NEPAD serves as a key instrument to bridge vision and implementation, ensuring that Africa's development is driven from within rather than imposed externally.

However, we must also acknowledge that progress has not always occurred at the pace or scale required to transform the material conditions of our people. Significant gaps remain in infrastructure development, industrialisation, productive capacity, energy access, logistics, digital connectivity, implementation capability, and regional economic integration. This moment, therefore, calls upon us to move beyond reflection and toward practical conversations about delivery at scale.

As the special envoy to South Sudan, I have directly observed the profound desire for peace among its people. This yearning is not a far-off goal, but a daily hope reflected in their voices and expressions. They look to us for mediation and solidarity to ensure that peace is swiftly achieved. Their longing for peace is rooted in years of conflict and displacement, yet it is fuelled by a steadfast belief in the potential for renewal. 

The people of South Sudan convey that peace encompasses not just the absence of war, but also the presence of dignity, opportunity, and reconciliation. Their hope serves as a compelling call to action, urging us to transcend divisions and prioritise the future of their children in our endeavours.

South Africa’s call for peace extends far beyond our own borders, far beyond South Sudan, and far beyond the continent. We call for peace in Europe, where the war between Russia and Ukraine continues to claim lives and destabilise the global order. We call for peace in the Middle East, where the struggle between Israel and Palestine, and the wider tensions across the region, demand dialogue, justice, and reconciliation. We call for peace in Afghanistan and Pakistan, where instability has robbed generations of the security they deserve. We call for peace in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where communities long for an end to violence and the chance to rebuild their lives.

Our history teaches us that peace is possible, even after decades of war, oppression and struggle. Our future demands that we never tire in the pursuit of peace, for it is the promise we owe to Africa and to humanity.

South Africa emphasises that peace and development are linked to dialogue and partnership, as demonstrated by the National Economic Development and Labour Council (NEDLAC). This platform unites government, business, labour, and civil society to shape policies that promote inclusive growth and social justice, highlighting that development should be participatory and prosperity shared through consensus.

This spirit of dialogue is not confined to South Africa. It is the same spirit that must animate Africa’s continental agenda. Just as NEDLAC connects diverse voices to build a common path for national progress, so too must Africa connect its regions, its economies, and its people to build a common path for continental renewal.

Africa’s market boasts more than 1.4 billion people across fifty-four countries. The African Continental Free Trade Area represents the largest free trade area in the world by population and presents a historic opportunity to reshape Africa’s economic future. Yet intra-African trade still accounts for only approximately 15 percent of total African trade, which remains insufficient for a continent seeking genuine economic sovereignty and long-term resilience. Africa cannot continue exporting raw materials while importing finished products at a higher value, because this model exports jobs, industrial capacity, technological upgrading, and opportunity outside the continent. 

To this end, the African Continental Free Trade Area presents one of the most catalytic opportunities available to the continent today. By strengthening the movement of goods, services, capital, people, innovation, and technology across borders, Africa has the opportunity to build stronger regional value chains, expand industrial production, lower the costs of trade, attract investment, and ensure that African wealth increasingly circulates within the continent. 

African ownership becomes meaningful when our developmental ambitions are translated into practical delivery through infrastructure, logistics, industrialisation, financing mechanisms, and capable institutions.

Connecting Africa for development means breaking down barriers that fragment our economies, investing in infrastructure that links our markets, and empowering our people with skills and opportunities that transcend borders. To improve trade under AfCFTA, AUDA-NEPAD must enhance customs systems by digitising and harmonising border procedures with the AfCFTA Secretariat, establishing compliance timelines and penalties.

The future of Africa depends on beneficiation, manufacturing, processing, logistics integration, energy cooperation, and digital industrialisation. It requires African economies to move up the value chain by producing more of what they consume and processing more of what they extract. According to StatAfric, energy insecurity and infrastructure deficits continue to drag down the manufacturing and distribution efficiency. Closing this energy gap would require an estimated R3,16 trillion annually, with less than half of the African population having reliable access to electricity.

More than half of Africa’s energy supply relies on fossil fuels, leaving businesses vulnerable to volatile energy markets and risks during the global energy transition. In 2023, renewable energy investment in Africa totalled around R247.5 billion – only 2.3% of global renewable energy investment.

Many African countries continue to be net food importers while having the potential for greater agricultural production. Rapid urbanisation is underway, which is changing the demand patterns towards more processed foods and changing consumer purchasing towards supermarkets. Imports of food have supported urbanisation in the absence of a domestic agricultural surplus. However, food in African cities is around 35% more expensive. If food production is not treated as an industrialisation question to manufacture and supply the processed food products demanded by urban consumers, African countries will record growing trade shortages in processed food products.

The next phase of Africa’s growth must therefore be driven by productive transformation, stronger regional value chains, and deeper continental integration that keeps wealth, production, innovation, and investment circulating within Africa. 
Addressing these constraints requires a coherent policy framework that promotes skills development, productivity, investment, infrastructure improvement, technology transfer, and competitive standards in international markets.

Programme director, I must reiterate that achieving the goals of Agenda 2063 requires viewing regional integration as a practical endeavour rather than just a policy exercise. South Africa, in its chairpersonship of the Agenda 2063 Ministerial Follow-up Committee, will continue overseeing the implementation, coordination, monitoring, and evaluation of our continent’s fifty-year development blueprint.

Our chairpersonship coincides with the Decade of Acceleration (2024–2033), the period of the Second Ten-Year Implementation Plan. The technical foundation has been laid, but critical gaps remain. South Africa intends to use its chairpersonship to close them. It is our vision that South Africa contributes to building integrated African value chains connected to ports, rail corridors, logistics hubs, energy systems, digital infrastructure, and manufacturing ecosystems. Our automotive sector, mineral beneficiation capabilities, renewable energy transition, financial institutions, agro-processing capacity, and growing digital economy can all serve as anchors for regional integration and industrial expansion. South Africa must therefore continue championing an African development model that moves beyond commodity extraction toward value addition, industrial growth, and productive transformation. 

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Successfully "stitching together" the continent hinges on the expansion of logistical networks, including high-capacity, interconnected road corridors that facilitate the movement of goods and people, transforming isolated economies into a competitive market. Moreover, African leadership and priorities must shape development, emphasising the role of the private sector and financial institutions. African capital needs to partner with AUDA-NEPAD in constructing critical infrastructure. 

Regional integration cannot exist without modern infrastructure. Africa, therefore, requires accelerated investment in transport corridors, rail modernisation, ports and logistics systems, energy transmission infrastructure, broadband connectivity, and digital public infrastructure. Infrastructure is not simply a technical matter; it is the foundation of competitiveness, industrialisation, and regional trade. Without efficient logistics systems, African producers cannot compete effectively. Without reliable energy, industrialisation cannot occur at scale. Without digital connectivity, Africa risks exclusion from the future global economy. 

The evolving geopolitical environment, changing global trade patterns, technological disruption, debt pressures, and climate-related vulnerabilities all require Africa to rethink how it positions itself within the global economy while protecting its developmental interests and advancing Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want.

Speaking of development finance institutions, Africa must therefore continue advocating for reform of the global financial architecture, including fairer representation within the IMF and World Bank, debt restructuring mechanisms, and financing models that recognise the developmental realities and vulnerabilities of the Global South.

This platform is therefore both timely and necessary because it allows leaders from government, business, development finance institutions, academia, regional bodies, and strategic partners to reflect on what must now be done differently to accelerate implementation and strengthen delivery. 

African countries must strengthen domestic resource mobilisation, regional development finance institutions, sovereign wealth mobilisation, and blended infrastructure financing mechanisms. African development must increasingly be financed on African terms and guided by African developmental priorities. This requires stronger coordination between governments, development finance institutions, private investors, and regional institutions capable of supporting long-term productive investment.

As we gather in this moment, we must also recognise that Africa’s unity is a strategic necessity in a world increasingly defined by new poles of power. In this growing multipolar order, where global dynamics are reshaped by competition and consolidation, Africa cannot afford fragmentation or isolation. Our strength lies in solidarity, in speaking with one voice, and in pursuing shared objectives that transcend borders.

This roundtable therefore aims to forge a new consensus for NEPAD's initiatives, emphasising the necessity of execution. By developing infrastructure through our resources, we are not just improving connectivity; we are laying the groundwork for a unified and prosperous Africa.

Esteemed Guests, 

South Africa’s approach to international relations and continental engagement remains guided by its national interest, which is fundamentally rooted in advancing the development and prosperity of its people through inclusive economic growth, sustainable industrialisation, regional cooperation, and strategic partnerships that produce tangible developmental outcomes. 

In this regard, South Africa remains committed to ensuring that its partnerships with African institutions, development finance institutions, strategic global partners, and the private sector deliver practical outcomes that improve the lives of ordinary citizens, strengthen implementation capacity, expand economic opportunity, and contribute meaningfully toward sustainable development across the African continent. 

Now is the time to build on the native land. Not tomorrow, Not next year, but Now!

Thank you, Asante Sana, Obrigado, Inkomu.
 

Your Excellency President Duma Gideon Boko, 
Ministers and Deputy Ministers from both delegations 
High Commissioners of our respective countries
Senior Officials,
Members of the Media
Ladies and Gentlemen.

Dumelang!

It is a great pleasure to be here at home among our Brothers and Sisters, the people of Botswana. 

The warm welcome that has been extended to us are testament to the spirit of friendship, solidarity and cooperation that underpin our strategic relations. 

We oversee this historic sixth session of the Bi-National Commission in the shadow of the passing of one of Botswana’s finest, Former President Festus Mogae, who was laid to rest in a befitting and deeply moving manner. 

We are inspired by his remarkable life and contribution to continue to deepen cooperation between our two nations.

Our ties have been shaped by centuries of cultural affinity and a shared ancestry. 

We trace our histories to the great societies of the Batswana and Nama people, whose migratory movements laid a foundation for the geographical spaces that make up our countries today. 

Neither colonialism nor apartheid could divide us or thwart our common destiny. 

We cannot forget the enormous sacrifices that Botswana made in standing in solidarity with the people of South Africa in their struggle against apartheid.

Botswana provided refuge to our freedom fighters. 

Botswana spoke for our cause on international platforms, ensuring that our voice was not silenced but amplified. 

We will never forget your acts of bravery, principle and support.

Botswana is one of the beacons of democracy in our region and continent.

It is a model of stability that, under your leadership, Mr President, is charting a path towards sustained prosperity and an assured future. 

The Bi-National Commission continues to provide a valuable mechanism through which we should align our interests, strengthen existing collaboration, identify new areas of cooperation and move our relations to a higher level. 

There are strategic opportunities we should pursue to expand bilateral trade and investment. 

We need to ensure that our trade is more balanced. 

South Africa wishes to attract a greater diversity of products from Botswana. 

A number of South African companies have expressed a desire to invest more in Botswana, creating more jobs, transferring skills and contributing to revenues of this country. 

We want to deepen cooperation in agriculture. 

South Africa’s agricultural sector wants to be a partner as Botswana grows its own agricultural sector and consolidates its food security. 

Among other things, we need to address the challenges which led to the imposition of import restrictions on agricultural products from South Africa. 

We should direct our Ministers of Agriculture and Trade to develop proposals on resolving these challenges and submit these by December 2026. 

We commend Botswana for the implementation of your 12th National Development Plan, which is anchored on economic diversification and a transition towards more export oriented and private-sector driven growth. 

We follow with keen interest your commitment to the development of several Special Economic Zones, which will attract the necessary foreign direct investment, expand your economy, create more jobs for your people and sharpen competitiveness. 

You will find ready and reliable partners from South Africa as these zones gain traction.

Our countries are both endowed with vast mineral resources. 

These strategic minerals are now the focus of intense global interest. 

Some of these minerals are key components in the manufacturing of batteries for electric vehicles and more powerful computer microchips. They are vital for the development of the green energy and digital economies. 

As owners of these minerals, we should beneficiate these products ourselves, creating opportunities for our peoples. 

Botswana is leading the way by refining and polishing your diamonds in the country. 

Continued cooperation between South Africa and Botswana in energy is paramount if we are to meet the energy needs of our people, develop our productive sectors, power our economies and drive industrialisation. 

We must cooperate on issues of electricity access, petroleum resources and coal. 

Investment in renewable energy will also assist us in diversifying our energy mix. 

Investments in priority infrastructure projects are vital in enhancing bilateral economic opportunities and enabling greater regional integration. 

One such venture is the Mmamabula–Lephalale Rail Link Project, which stands out as a strategic priority for our two countries. 

This initiative has the potential to unlock significant economic value for both countries. 

We must expedite the agreements needed to implement the project.

Other critical ventures include the proposed Lesotho–Botswana Water Transfer Project and the Ramotswa Transboundary Aquifer. 

These initiatives will support water security into the future, while enabling sustainable growth and development. 

We are not only interested in the passage of resources and goods between our countries.

We need to work towards the seamless movement of our people in a predictable, coordinated and secure manner. 

We welcome Botswana’s plans to establish a One Stop Border Post at Tlokweng/Kopfontein. 

This will help reduce congestion at the border, facilitate trade and enhance the efficient movement of people and goods between our countries. 

As we deepen our collaboration, we must work together to tackle transnational organised crime across our borders.

Together, we must to deal with such threats as cybercrime, arms smuggling, human trafficking, drug smuggling, illegal mining, money laundering, illicit financial flows and wildlife poaching. 

South Africa has been entrusted with the responsibility of Chair of SADC from August this year. 

During our tenure, we will continue to champion the cause of regional integration, peace, stability, development and the prosperity of our region. 

Since the dawn of democracy in our country, we have sought to welcome and integrate immigrants from other African countries and from beyond our continent. 

Most of these people have integrated into South African society forming a vital bridge between South Africa and their countries of origin. 

At the same time, we have experienced a high influx of undocumented immigrants. 

This phenomenon has intersected with economic hardship and unemployment experienced by many of our people, contributing to tensions between some local communities and foreign nationals. 

Recent events in South Africa have once more brought to the fore the faultlines that all of us on the African continent must address. 

While appreciating the hardship in some of our communities, we have strongly condemned those of our citizens who took the law into their own hands. We have accordingly directed law enforcement agencies to protect every person in our country and uphold the rule of law.

We welcome the call for a regional and continental discussion on the issue of migration. 

This discussion should consider all the factors that drive migration, including the responsibilities of countries of origin and transit countries.

The prospects for enhanced development on our continent depends on the existence of a peaceful, stable and secure environment. 

In this regard, the volatile situation in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo is of concern. We must safeguard the territorial integrity of this sisterly country and support all parties in finding a negotiated solution. 

South Africa remains concerned about the civil war in Sudan, which has led to massive loss of lives, destruction of infrastructure, devastation of the economy and the creation of a major humanitarian crisis. 

We are also concerned about the the political impasse and instability in neighbouring South Sudan. 

The operationalisation of the African Standby Force is becoming increasingly more urgent. 

Conflicts in many parts of the world continue to adversely impact on global peace and security. 

There is a clear challenge to multilateralism and international law. 

It is therefore important to work tirelessly to reform the global institutions of governance, so that these reflect the diversity of the membership of the United Nations. 

In conclusion, I am of the conviction that this sixth Bi-National Commission provides us with the impetus to galvanise and deepen our cooperation. 

The exceptional work carried by our Officials and technical experts, under the guidance of the Ministers, has reinforced the path of collaboration. 

The reports we are about to receive from the Ministers will no doubt outline the priorities that need focus and will allow us as the Presidents to give strategic direction towards the full realisation of our mutual interests.

I thank you once again for your warm hospitality and for hosting this important session. 

I look forward to fruitful discussions.

Ke a Leboga 

I thank you.

Your Excellency, President Duma Gideon Boko,
First Lady Kaone Tumalano Boko,
The Mayor of Gaborone,
The Speaker of Parliament of Botswana,
Honourable Ministers,
Distinguished Guests,
Bo Mma le Borra,

Dumelang!

Allow me to express my sincere appreciation for the distinct privilege and honour of being invited for this historic State Visit. 

This is no ordinary State Visit. It is a coming together of brethren from the same family. 

We are one people, born of the same soil and bound together by a shared history.

On behalf of the government and people of South Africa, we convey our deepest sympathies at the passing of one of Botswana’s greatest sons, His Excellency Former President Festus Mogae. He was a gentle giant, and illustrious African and a global statesman. 

Your loss is our loss. He will leave an indelible mark. 

President Mogae came in the footsteps of a remarkable array of great Batswana leaders, who have led a proud, resourceful and heroic people with a glorious history.

President Boko, 

We commend the vigour and vision with which you are leading Botswana on a path of modernisation and towards a future of sustained development and prosperity. 

You can count on South Africa — a reliable neighbour, friend and partner — as you continue along this path. 

Together, we are part of SADC, a community of nations that played a pivotal role in the liberation of South Africa from the crime of apartheid. 

Botswana was an ally and friend of the South African people in our quest for justice, democracy and human rights for all.

Botswana provided solidarity, support and refuge to our people during our days of need, sometimes at a great cost to yourself.

We continue to experience the dynamism of the ties between our peoples forged through a common history, heritage and geography. 

Our fortunes are intertwined and the possibilities of our cooperation are endless.

The levels of trade and investment between our two countries are substantial.

There is much scope to expand commerce between our countries and to achieve greater balance in the volume and value of trade. 

We must work together to seize the opportunities presented by the African Continental Free Trade Area and to strengthen cooperation within SACU. 

South Africa stands ready to partner with Botswana as you march towards the diversification of your economy. 

We therefore look forward to the Botswana–South Africa Business Forum taking place tomorrow. 

The sixth session of the Bi-National Commission, which we will co-chair tomorrow, will deliberate on the many and diverse areas of bilateral cooperation that underpin our collaboration.

I thank you for this wonderful dinner and the enchanting cultural and musical displays this evening. 

My delegation and I will long remember the hospitality you have extended to us. 

You are a true friend and Brother and our peoples remain forever together.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Please join me in raising a toast:

To the good health and success of His Excellency President Duma Gideon Boko, to the continued prosperity of the Republic of Botswana and its people, and to the enduring bonds of friendship and partnership between the peoples of South Africa and Botswana.

Ke a leboga go menagane.

Pula!

I thank you.

Deputy President Paul Mashatile will on Thursday, 21 May 2026, deliver a keynote address at the NEPAD @ 25 Business Breakfast scheduled to take place at Mariott Hotel in Century City, Cape Town.
 
The event is hosted by the African Union Development Agency – NEPAD (AUDA-NEPAD) in partnership with the Thabo Mbeki Foundation as part of Africa Month commemorations and to mark the 25th Anniversary of NEPAD.
 
The engagement will bring together leaders from government, business and development institutions to reflect on NEPAD’s contribution towards Africa’s development, integration and governance agenda over the past 25 years.
 
The Deputy President is expected to highlight government’s commitment towards advancing Africa’s development agenda, in line with his delegated responsibility as South Africa’s Special Envoy to South Sudan and leading peace missions on the continent.
 
The programme will also feature reflections by former President Thabo Mbeki and remarks by Dr. Nardos Bekele-Thomas, Chief Executive Officer of AUDA-NEPAD.
 
Details of the event are as follows:
Date: Thursday, 21 May 2026
Time: 10h00
Venue: Marriott Hotel, Century City, Cape Town
 
Members of the media wishing to attend are requested to confirm attendance for accreditation purposes with Ms Tshiamo Selomo (The Presidency) on 066 118 1505 or Millicent Kgeledi (AUDA-NEPAD) on 083 266 1829
 

Media enquiries: Mr Keith Khoza, Acting Spokesperson to Deputy President Mashatile on 066 195 8840
 
Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

The Deputy Minister in The Presidency, Nonceba Mhlauli in partnership with the Al Imdaad Foundation, will on Thursday, 21 May 2026, lead a disaster relief programme in Vredenburg, Saldanha Bay, in the Western Cape.

The programme is part of government’s efforts to provide support to communities affected by recent flood disasters and adverse weather conditions. 

During the visit, Deputy Minister Mhlauli will hand over relief packages and essential supplies to affected residents.

Members of the media are invited to attend the official handover as follows:

Date: Thursday, 21 May 2026
Time: 09h00 – 12h30
Venue: George Carriages, Vredenburg, Western Cape.

Media enquiries: Mandisa Mbele, MandisaM@Presidency.gov.za  082 580 2213

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

Deputy President Shipokosa Paulus Mashatile will on Thursday, 21 May 2026, respond to Questions for Oral Reply in the National Assembly, Cape Town, on matters related to his Delegated Responsibilities.

In line with a constitutional mandate for Members of Cabinet to account to Parliament for the exercise of their powers and performance, Deputy President Mashatile will answer questions on issues related to the Government’s efforts in implementing rapid response interventions on service delivery and trouble-shooting service delivery hotspots in the country with the view of improving governance in municipalities across the country.

Following the recent announcement on the adjustment of fuel prices based on current local and international factors with effect from the 6th of May 2026, by the Minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources, the Deputy President will apprise Members about Government’s interventions aimed at protecting and enhancing the long-term sustainability and profitability of small-scale farmers, particularly those located in rural and undeveloped provinces, in the face of persistent fertiliser and fuel price volatility. 

On the question of the roll-out of the District Development Model (DDM), the Members of Parliament will be updated on the effective and well coordination of the different spheres of government, which aim to improve the functioning of municipalities and challenges faced by communities. This includes efforts made to align budgets and investments in healthcare. 

The Deputy President will further respond to questions on Agriculture and Land Reform, and measures that are being implemented by the Security Cluster to deal with organised crime and gang related violence in the Western Cape.

The Oral Replies session will take place as follows: 

Date: Thursday, 21 May 2026
Time: 14h00 
Venue: Nieuwmeester, Dome, Cape Town

The session will be streamed live on Parliament TV (DSTV Channel 408), Parliament’s YouTube channel, Facebook and X (Twitter) pages. 

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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

President Cyril Ramaphosa will on Wednesday, 20 May 2026, undertake a State Visit to the Republic of Botswana which will culminate in the Sixth Session of the Botswana and South Africa Bi-National Commission (BNC) in Gaborone.

On the two-day State Visit occasion from 20 to 21 May, President Ramaphosa and President Gideon Duma Boko will co-chair the Summit of the Sixth Session of the South Africa-Botswana Bi-National Commission (BNC).

The Summit will be preceded by a Ministerial Meeting on 20 May 2026, and the Senior Officials Meeting.

The primary objective of the State Visit and BNC is to deepen and strengthen the existing bilateral partnership between the two countries.  

The Sixth Session of the BNC represents a critical opportunity to reinforce the strategic partnership between South Africa and Botswana. 

While the relationship remains strong, it is evolving in response to new economic realities and shifting global dynamics.

A Business Forum that will be held on the margins of the BNC will strengthen private sector collaboration and facilitate business-to-business exchanges. 

South Africa and Botswana share a historically grounded and mutually reinforcing relationship, rooted in solidarity during the liberation struggle, when Botswana provided support to South African freedom fighters. 

This legacy, combined with geographic proximity and shared cultural and linguistic ties, has shaped a durable partnership that continues to expand across multiple sectors.

The BNC serves as a central institutional mechanism through which this relationship is structured and advanced, enabling coordinated cooperation and sustained dialogue at political, technical, and economic levels.

Bilateral trade and investment remain the cornerstone of the economic cooperation between the two countries. South Africa is Botswana’s largest trading partner, accounting for over 50% of Botswana’s imports.

In 2025, total bilateral trade amounted to approximately R 82 billion, with South Africa exporting goods to the tune of R73.5 billion to Botswana and with imports from the country amounting to R7.7 billion. 

South Africa is also Botswana's largest supplier of agricultural products.

In 2025, of the country’s R15 billion agricultural imports, R14 billion were from South Africa. 

South Africa has a significant corporate presence in Botswana with more than 100 South African companies operating across key sectors, including in financial and banking services, retail and wholesale, mining and mineral beneficiation, infrastructure, construction and logistics, freight, manufacturing and automotive value chains as well as the hospitality and tourism industries. 

South Africa’s Development Finance Institutions (DFIs) such as the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) and the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) have also developed a pipeline of projects for financing in Botswana.

The DBSA’s aggregate portfolio of investments under consideration in Botswana represents a total project value of approximately R6.5 billion, demonstrating meaningful scale and impact.

The two countries will explore renewable energy opportunities in support of Botswana’s effort towards increasing renewable energy to 50 per cent by 2030, creating opportunities for cooperation in renewable energy, grid integration, and capacity building. 

The State Visit takes place against the backdrop of a political transition in Botswana, following the transition to a new administration in October 2024.

The State Visit signals the new government’s intention to consolidate relations with South Africa while maintaining continuity in bilateral engagement. It also offers South Africa an opportunity to strengthen its strategic relations with Botswana. 

It is envisaged that the two countries will, during the upcoming engagements focus on High Impact Priority Projects. A number of new agreements will also be signed during the visit. 

The State Visit and BNC schedule will take place as follows:

Date: Wednesday 20 May 2026
Time: 14h00
Venue: Royal Area Conference Centre, Tlokweng.
Media programme and social media streaming: (Subject to change)

Wednesday 20 May 2026 media programme: Day One

Airport arrival and State Visit ceremony: 15H00 (photo streaming)

Tour of the Botswana Vaccine Institute: 16h00 (photos/video streaming)

State Banquet: 19h00 

Thursday 21 May 2026 media programme: Day Two

Official Opening of the 6th Session of the Bi-National Commission: 10:00

(Media to be present for the opening session and thereafter exit)

Closing Ceremony of the Bi-National Commission: 13h00

Remarks by President Ramaphosa and by President Boko

Media engagement:
Photo opportunity for signing of Agreements
Media Q&A Session
Official photo opportunity
Departure (photos to be shared on social networks)

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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

Deputy President Paul Mashatile,
Ministers and Deputy Ministers,
Members of Parliament,
Chancellor of the National Orders, Ms Phindile Baleni,
Members of the Advisory Council on National Orders,
Members of the diplomatic corps,
Recipients of the National Orders and their families and friends who are with us here today,
Distinguished Guests,
Fellow South Africans, 

We have gathered here this morning to honour those among us who, in many diverse ways, have shaped the country that we call home.

This occasion calls to mind the words of the American poet William Ralph Emerson in his work titled: ‘A Nation’s Strength’. 

He writes that a nation’s strength is not found in fortune, pride or even the sword: 

“Not gold, but only men [and, we add, women]
Can make a people great and strong;
Men [and women] who for truth and honour’s sake
Stand fast and suffer long. 

“Brave men [and women] 
Who work while others sleep,
Who dare while others fly, 
They build a nation’s pillars deep
And lift them to the sky.” 

Today we honour men and women who have lifted to the sky our greatest aspiration: to build a democratic South Africa founded on equality, justice and dignity for all.  

It is an aspiration carried by our forebears long before democratic South Africa was born.  

When the first democratic Constitution of South Africa was signed into law 30 years ago, this aspiration became the cornerstone of an edifice that had been built by generations of patriots. 

Like those patriots, the people that we honour today have helped to give life to the dream of a free and just South Africa.  

Their activism has extended to music, politics, sports, literature, culture, medicine, science, education and the advancement of human rights.

In their many fields of endeavour, they have made an invaluable contribution to our national life. 

By honouring them today, we are recognising that the pillars of our democratic order are deep, firm and unshakeable because of the many great South Africans who built them. 

The Order of Ikhamanga is awarded to South Africans who have excelled in the fields of the arts, culture, literature, music, journalism and sport.  

The fact that so many of the recipients of National Orders this year are musicians, filmmakers, authors, playwrights and athletes reflects the enduring ability of sports, arts and culture to capture the hopes and triumphs of a nation.

It is a testimony also to the diversity and richness of the South African experience and the many ways in which the life of our nation is interpreted and expressed.

The Order of Mapungubwe recognises South Africans who have attained excellence and exceptional achievement for the benefit of the country and beyond. 

The achievements of all our recipients this year speak to our country’s growing international standing as a global centre of scientific and medical best practice.

Their achievements remind us that scientific endeavour is inseparable from the pursuit of human progress and well-being.

We seek knowledge not for its own sake, but to protect lives, to improve health and to build a better life for all.

The Order of the Baobab recognises South Africans who have played a formative role in business and the economy, in science, medicine and technological innovation, and in community service.  

This year’s recipients have made their mark across a range of fields that were the building blocks for the society we have today. 

The Order of Luthuli recognises dedication to a non-racial, non-sexist and democratic South Africa.

It recognises the men and women whose activism lit the path to our freedom and to those who continue to keep that flame burning. 

This National Order is one we particularly cherish, for we are determined to honour our veterans and stalwarts while they still walk among us. 

Though the passage of time has robbed us of many of the brave men and women who were at the forefront of the struggle for liberation, we celebrate those who are still here: to tell their stories and to impart a living legacy to the next generation.

I would like to acknowledge the families present here today and thank them on behalf of all South Africans for lending us these great sons and daughters of the soil.

By bestowing this award, we affirm once more that the story of our freedom should not pass into distant legend but should continue to be carried by successive generations into the future. 

The Order of the Companions of OR Tambo recognises eminent foreign nationals for friendship shown to South Africa.

We did not win our freedom alone. 

We were carried by a great tide of human solidarity that stretched across our continent and the globe. 

We owe a great debt to the many leaders, peoples and nations who supported us.

By honouring them with National Orders we reaffirm our enduring commitment to peace and friendship with all nations, based on our shared values of equality and dignity.

We welcome our recipients of the Order of the Companions of OR Tambo who are with us today and the families of those who have passed away.

On the day that the Constitution was adopted 30 years ago, I said that it is the mirror of South African society, reflecting both the history from which we have emerged, and the values of human dignity, equality and freedom we now cherish. 

By equal measure, those men and women who are today are being bestowed with the highest accolade this country can give, are also a mirror of South African society.  

Their life works and their achievements reflect those same values we hold dear and that continue to guide us along our journey as a people. 

Just as our constitution was written from the contributions of millions of South Africans, it is the people of South Africa who decide who is bestowed with a National Order.  

In a land of innumerable heroes and heroines, the South African people have decided that it is these men and women they will lift to the sky. 

This is the greatest honour.  

Under the powers vested in me by the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa (1996), I now confer the Order of Ikhamanga, the Order of the Baobab, the Order of Luthuli, the Order of Mapungubwe and the Order of the Companions of O.R. Tambo.

The recipients shall henceforth be honoured as esteemed Members of the Orders.

The people of South Africa salute them all.

I thank you.