Your Excellency Mokgweetsi Masisi, President of the Republic of Botswana,
Your Excellencies High Commissioners of both South Africa and Botswana,
Honourable Ministers and Deputy Ministers,
Business Leaders,
Members of the Media,
Ladies and Gentlemen, 

Thank you for joining us on the conclusion of what has been a successful and highly productive South Africa - Botswana Business Roundtable. 

I would like to thank His Excellency President Masisi for the warm reception given to me and my delegation.

The delegation comprises government Ministers and Deputy Ministers, representatives of our state-owned companies and financial institutions, and leaders from the South African business community. 

It has been 28 years since South Africa and Botswana established formal diplomatic ties. 

Even as our bilateral relations have grown stronger over the years, we want to see far greater levels of trade and investment between our two countries.  

As we noted earlier, South Africa’s foreign direct investment stock in Botswana reached $5.1 billion last year.

There have been important investments by Botswana in South Africa.

Between 2003 and 2021, there were nine such FDI projects, which attracted capital investment of R3.9 billion and led to the creation of over 2,000 jobs. 

In today’s discussion we got to hear the perspective of members of the Botswana business community on doing business in South Africa.  

This included representatives from companies that already have a presence in South Africa, and it has been refreshing to hear of their optimism about expanding their businesses in South Africa. 

The South African business delegation includes representatives from a wide range of sectors including pharmaceuticals, automotive, manufacturing, agriculture and others. 

Like all countries in the region and indeed the continent and the world, our economy was hard hit by the COVID-19 pandemic.  

We have affirmed that deepening intra-African trade and investment, and taking advantage of the opportunities presented by the African Continental Free Trade Area, can hasten an inclusive and sustainable economic recovery for the region and for our continent. 

His Excellency President Masisi and I agreed that we need to encourage business in our respective countries to invest in catalytic development projects, particularly infrastructure.  

It has been pleasing to have representatives of our respective state-owned companies share their perspectives on the importance of infrastructure development to our common industrialisation efforts. 

As South Africa we reaffirmed our commitment to supporting our fellow countries on the continent, including Botswana, to reach their industrialisation goals. 

This can be done through strategic investments into other parts of the continent by our companies, financial institutions and state-owned companies.  

A major point of discussion today was around alignment towards a common plan of action by the Southern African Customs Union, of which Botswana and South Africa are members, for the operationalisation of the AfCFTA. 

We expressed confidence at the work being done around creating industrial value chains in SACU, which would have great benefits for our respective economies. 

We see great potential in leather and leather products, fresh produce, meat and meat products, textiles, clothing, cosmetics and essential oils.  

As Botswana and South Africa, we have agreed that our respective economies stand to gain substantially from the development of these value chains.

This Business Roundtable has been a good starting point for us to begin strategising and aligning our efforts in pursuit of common prosperity, greater reciprocal trade and much higher levels of investment.   

I am extremely pleased it has gone well and we look forward to the reports of our respective officials on the progress of the various initiatives we have agreed on today. 

I thank you.

His Excellency President Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa will tomorrow, Friday, 14 October 2022, depart South Africa for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for a State Visit to take place on 15-16 October 2022.

President Ramaphosa’s visit is at the invitation of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, His Royal Highness (HRH) King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud and he will be hosted by HRH Crown Prince and Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Mohammad bin Salman bin Abdulaziz al Saud.

Diplomatic relations between South Africa and Saudi Arabia were formalised in 1994 with four South Africa’s democratically elected Presidents having visited the Kingdom to date.

The late President Nelson Mandela visited the Kingdom in 1998; President Thabo Mbeki visited in 2007; President Jacob Zuma visited in 2016 and President Cyril Ramaphosa visited in 2018.

The Republic of South Africa and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia enjoy a strategic bilateral partnership based on cordial and fraternal relations. 

The discussions would focus on export market opportunities for South African produce and on South Africa as an investment destination as well as an entry point into Southern Africa and beyond within the context of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

It is envisioned that the various deliberations will provide renewed impetus to strengthened economic cooperation in identified priority sectors, notably agriculture, defence, energy, and transport, further underpinned by regular high-level engagements between the two countries.

The recent 9th session of the South Africa-Saudi Arabia Joint Economic Council held from 3-4 October 2022 launched the South Africa-Saudi Arabia Joint Business Council.  

The Joint Business Council brings together leading business people from both countries to deepen economic ties as Saudi Arabia is the largest source of imports from the Middle East region. 

Total bilateral trade between South Africa and Saudi Arabia amounted to R66 billion in 2021.

President Ramaphosa will also participate in high-level business engagements with leading businesspersons as well as institutional and private investors.  In this regard, the President will deliver the closing remarks at the Saudi Arabia - South Africa Investment Forum and participate in Saudi Arabia – South Africa Investment Roundtable.
 
The high-level meetings will also afford the leaders an opportunity to discuss bilateral, continental and global issues, and to reaffirm their commitment to further cooperate closely on multilateral issues.

President Ramaphosa will be accompanied by Ministers Naledi Pandor of International Relations and Cooperation; Thoko Didiza of Agriculture, Rural Development and Land Reform; Ebrahim Patel of Trade, Industry and Competition; Gwede Mantashe of Mineral Resources and Energy and Fikile Mbalula of Transport. 


Media enquiries: Vincent Magwenya, Spokesperson to the President - 082 835 6315

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

President Cyril Ramaphosa will host President Brahim Ghali of the Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) for a State Visit on 18 October 2022 in Pretoria.
 
The visit aims to strengthen the already existing good political relations fortified by the strong historical ties dating back from the years of the struggle against colonialism and apartheid.
 
The two Presidents will exchange views on recent developments related to the question of Western Sahara, including the mobilization of regional, continental and international support toward finding a sustainable resolution to the Western Sahara conflict in line with the provisions of the 1991 Ceasefire Agreement.
 
In 2019, South Africa hosted a Solidarity Conference for the region's support of self-determination.
 
The South African government remains concerned about the impasse in a dialogue toward finding a lasting solution that will provide for the self-determination of the people of the Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic in line with the relevant AU and UN resolutions and the objectives and principles of the Constitutive Act of the African Union.
 
South Africa remains steadfast in its support for the Saharawi people and continues to provide humanitarian and material support to alleviate the harsh living conditions that they have continued to suffer.   
 
The State Visit will take place as follows:
Date: Tuesday, 18 October 2022
Time: 10h00 (Media arrival at 08h30)
Venue: The Union Buildings, Pretoria 
 
Members of the media wishing to cover the State Visit should sent their details to Shadi Baloyi on 072 571 6415/shadi@presidency.gov.za by Thursday, 13 October 2022 at 16h00. No RSVPs passed the deadline will be accepted. Media not accredited will not be allowed access in the Union Buildings.
 
 
Media enquiries: Vincent Magwenya, Spokesperson to the President- 082 835 6315
 
Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

The Presidency has received the amended version of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into Allegations of State Capture Report, which incorporates corrections made by Chief Justice Raymond Zondo, who chaired the Commission. 
 
The release follows the granting of permission by the Pretoria High Court on the 4th of October 2022, to allow Chief Justice Zondo to make corrections to the final volume of the report which was submitted to the Presidency in June 2022. 
 
The amended reported is available and can be downloaded from the Presidency’s website: www.thepresidency.gov.za.
 
 
Media enquires: Mr Vincent Magwenya, Spokesperson to President Cyril Ramaphosa on 082 835 6315
 
Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

President Cyril Ramaphosa will on Thursday, 13 October 2022, address the Agri SA Congress 2022 which is themed “Growing Local”.
 
The event will be held at the Maslow Time Square Hotel, Pretoria.
 
Agri SA was established in 1904 and has become the biggest group of agricultural organisations in South Africa with membership including provincial affiliates, commodity organisations, and corporate members. 
 
The agriculture sector is seeking to address threats to the country’s food security, including persistent supply chain constraints from the COVID-19 pandemic, increases in fuel, shipping and fertiliser costs, disruptions to electricity supply, rural safety, market access and the impact of natural disasters among other challenges.
 
The 2022 Congress is an opportunity for the agriculture industry to deliberate on the challenges it faces and to showcase achievements, opportunities for growth and solutions that will foster food security and contribute to broader economic development.
 
Congress delegates will engage on such issues as making agriculture masterplans work for local growers; sustainable infrastructure for locally grown food; making the local environment sustainable for local food production into the future, and strengthening food producers’ capacity to process locally grown produce.
 
The President’s participation and address will take place as follows:
Date: Thursday, 13 October 2022
Time: 10:00–12:00 (Keynote address at 11:00)
Venue:  The Maslow Time Square, 209 Aramist Avenue, Pretoria.
 
Members of the media who wish to cover the event are requested to RSVP on or before Wednesday, 12 October 2022 at 13h00 with the following details; Full names, name of institution they are representing, ID or passport number, mobike number, and email address to Naledi Malatji on naledi@presidency.gov.za / 078 633 6302.
 
 
Media enquires: Vincent Magwenya, Spokesperson to the President - 082 835 6315
 
Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

President Cyril Ramaphosa, due to changes to his programme, will regrettably, no longer address a gathering marking the commissioning of a state-of-the-art plastics production plant by the ALPLA Group, a leading international manufacturer.
 
The President will be represented by the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Ms Barbara Creecy.
 
The event is scheduled tomorrow, 12 October 2022 at the ALPLA Production Plant at Lanseria, Gauteng.
 
In his 2020 State of the Nation Address, President Ramaphosa positioned infrastructure development and the establishment of new cities as means to stimulate the economy and increase employment.
 
The ALPLA investment is a key contribution to the Lanseria Smart City masterplan.
 
The ALPLA Group’s US$50 million commitment will not only drive sustainability and recycling in the country, but will create and sustain 350 jobs, with an apprenticeship programme that will train 36 mechatronics and recycling technicians for ALPLA operations across southern Africa. 
 
The apprentice programme will commence in 2023 with the first 12 South African apprentices from local communities beginning their training in the plastics technology and machining technology trades in the ‘Future Corner’ training centre in Lanseria.
 
In the new headquarters for Sub-Saharan Africa, the ALPLA group is merging five previous plants which were located in Harrismith, Denver, Isando, Kempton Park and Samrand.  The new location in Lanseria features 35 000 square metres of covered production, administration and storage space, another 12 500 for future expansion, and 30 000 square metres of roof area equipped with solar panels.
 
ALPLA is one of the leading companies for plastic packaging and recycling. 
 
Around 22 100 employees produce tailor-made packaging systems, bottles, closures and injection moulded parts at 177 locations in 45 countries.
 
The new plant will produce bottles, closures and special packaging for the food, personal and home care, chemical, cleaning agent and pharmaceutical industries – a total of around 3.5 billion pieces per year.
 
ALPLA uses six different technologies, including injection and compression moulding, injection stretch blow moulding and extrusion blow moulding. In addition to international corporations, ALPLA also supplies smaller local companies with plastic packaging solutions.
 
 
Media enquiries: Vincent Magwenya, Spokesperson to the President – 082 835 6315
 
Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

President Cyril Ramaphosa is preparing to undertake a number of bilateral and multilateral engagements in coming weeks in which he will advance partnerships for growth and development in South Africa and for global solidarity, security and inclusive prosperity.

South Africa’s programme of economic diplomacy is a key lever for the realisation of the Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan (ERRP) to rebuild the economy.

At the multilateral level, South Africa seeks to advance its national interest – the well-being and development of all citizens - as well as the development priorities of developing countries including the SADC region and the African continent, and to promote an equitable rules-based multilateral system.


OCTOBER

In October, President Ramaphosa will host President Brahim Ghali of the Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic for deliberations in Pretoria.

President Ramaphosa will also welcome Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez of Spain to Pretoria for discussions on relations between the two countries.

Still in October, President Ramaphosa will undertake a Working Visit to the Kingdom of Saudia Arabia, in fulfilment of a planned visit the President postponed in April 2022 to focus on Government’s intervention in the KwaZulu-Natal flood disaster.

Saudi Arabia is South Africa’s second largest trading partner the Middle East and largest source of imports from the region. The exchange of political and business visits, as well as trade and investment exhibitions and seminars by both countries in the past years have had a positive effect on trade and investment trends.


NOVEMBER

In November, President Ramaphosa will participate in the global climate change conference, COP 27, to be held at Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt.

Heads of State and Government, government delegations, non-governmental organisations, private sector delegates and other representatives will engage at the global conference on action on climate and sustainable development goals; adaptation and resilience; climate4 finance; education and youth; gender; innovation, and land use, as part of deliberations on mitigating climate change and securing sustainability for future generations.

President Ramaphosa will subsequently undertake a visit to the Republic of Kenya for his first engagement with recently elected President William Ruto with a view to expanding trade between the two countries and enhance people-to-people relations between two significant economies in their respective regions.

Still in November, President Ramaphosa will participate in the G20 Summit in Bali, Indonesia, where leaders of the world’s major developed and emerging economies will hold discussions on global priorities advocated by Indonesia during its term as the G20 Presidency.

These priorities include the global health architecture, sustainable energy transition and digital transformation.

Together, the G20 members represent more than 80 percent of world GDP, 75 percent of international trade and 60 percent of the world population. 

Later in November, President Ramaphosa and First Lady Dr Tshepo Motsepe will honour an invitation by His Majesty King Charles III of the United Kingdom to undertake a State Visit to the United Kingdom.

The State Visit follows visits at this level to the United Kingdom by Presidents Mandela, Mbeki and Zuma since the advent of democracy and follows visits by King Charles III and the Queen Consort to South Africa.

South Africa and the UK are strategic partners with a broad and vibrant relationship, led by a commitment to liberal values, democracy and the rule of law.

The two countries share a wide array of mutual interests and continue to deepen collaboration to resolve global challenges.
 

DECEMBER

In early December, President Ramaphosa will host President Nicolás Maduro of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela for bilateral discussions in Pretoria.

Venezuela is a strategic partner of South Africa in Latin America, especially in the context of South-South cooperation as well as the potential for future economic partnership due to its abundant oil and gas reserves.

The Presidency will provide closer details of these engagements, including dates, closer to these events.
 

Media enquiries: Vincent Magwenya, Spokesperson to President Ramaphosa – 082 835 6315

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

President Cyril Ramaphosa will on Wednesday, 12 October 2022, address a gathering marking the commissioning of a state-of-the-art plastics production plant by the ALPLA Group, a leading international manufacturer.
 
The event will be held at the ALPLA Production Plant at Lanseria, Gauteng.
 
In his 2020 State of the Nation Address, President Ramaphosa positioned infrastructure development and the establishment of new cities as means to stimulate the economy and increase employment.
 
The ALPLA investment is a key contribution to the Lanseria Smart City masterplan.
 
The ALPLA Group’s US$50 million commitment will not only drive sustainability and recycling in the country, but will create and sustain 350 jobs, with an apprenticeship programme that will train 36 mechatronics and recycling technicians for ALPLA operations across southern Africa. 
 
The apprentice programme will commence in 2023 with the first 12 South African apprentices from local communities beginning their training in the plastics technology and machining technology trades in the ‘Future Corner’ training centre in Lanseria.
 
In the new headquarters for Sub-Saharan Africa, the ALPLA group is merging five previous plants which were located in Harrismith, Denver, Isando, Kempton Park and Samrand.  The new location in Lanseria features 35 000 square metres of covered production, administration and storage space, another 12 500 for future expansion, and 30 000 square metres of roof area equipped with solar panels.
 
ALPLA is one of the leading companies for plastic packaging and recycling. 
 
Around 22 100 employees produce tailor-made packaging systems, bottles, closures and injection moulded parts at 177 locations in 45 countries.
 
The new plant will produce bottles, closures and special packaging for the food, personal and home care, chemical, cleaning agent and pharmaceutical industries – a total of around 3.5 billion pieces per year.
 
ALPLA uses six different technologies, including injection and compression moulding, injection stretch blow moulding and extrusion blow moulding. In addition to international corporations, ALPLA also supplies smaller local companies with plastic packaging solutions.
 
The address by the President will be live streamed on all PresidencyZA Digital platforms just after 15h00.
 
A media pool arrangement is in place and further enquiries should be directed to ALPLA, Erik Nielsen (Senior Communications Manager) on +43 (0)5574 6021 701 / erik.nielsen@alpla.com.
 
 
Media enquiries: Vincent Magwenya, Spokesperson to the President – 082 835 6315
 
Issued by: The Presidency 
Pretoria

President Cyril Ramaphosa will later today, Wednesday, 05 October 2022, officially open the newly constructed Little Flower Early Childhood Development Centre (ECD) in Nkantolo within the Winnie Madikizela-Mandela Local Municipality in the Eastern Cape Province. The centre had been operating for several years from a shack structure.  
 
The construction of the centre is part of the Vangasali campaign which is a partnership between the Nelson Mandela Foundation and the Department of Basic Education to enhance ECD service delivery in the country. Phase 2 of the Vangasali campaign, which is on-going, is aimed at standardising ECD registration across the country through the introduction of streamlined processes and a pathway to registration. Phase 3 of the Vangasali campaign is aimed at assisting those ECD services who in the absence of intervention will not be able to meet even the basic registration requirements.
 
The partnership was born out of the need to focus on ECD in order to overcome the country’s development challenges.  It was realised that lack of ECD provisioning is a major determinant of intergenerational poverty; and that this issue was cast as a soft issue rather than treated as urgent and fundamental to achieving a just and equitable society.
 
President Cyril Ramaphosa hannounced in 2018 during his SONA addresss that he would contribute half of his Presidential Salary to the Nelson Mandela Foundation. This money was utilised for work on Early Childhood Development which demonstrates its importance.
 
A media pool arrangement is in place and the event will be broadcast and streamed live on Presidency and the Nelson Mandela Foundation digital platforms.
 
 
Media enquires: Vincent Magwenya, Spokesperson to the President – 082 835 6315 or media@presidency.gov.za  
 
Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

President Cyril Ramaphosa will on Thursday, 06 October 2022, address the 2nd Women Economic Assembly (WECONA), taking place under the “Unlocking gender-responsive value chains for a resilient economy”.
 
The event will be hosted at the Department of International Relations and Cooperation’s OR Tambo Building, Soutpansberg Rd, Pretoria.
 
The President launched the inaugural WECONA in October 2021.
 
The establishment of the Assembly arose from one of the pillars of the National Strategic Plan (NSP) on Gender-based Violence and Femicide (GBVF), which advocates the economic empowerment of women as one of the main means to bring an end to GBVF in South Africa.  
 
The private sector, civil society and women’s organisations, businesswomen and government have partnered to form WECONA.
 
The Assembly facilitates the participation of women-owned businesses in core areas of the economy through preferential procurement, among other initiatives.
 
Since its launch in October 2021, WECONA has sought to engage industry leaders to set gender transformation targets in each sector, implement existing commitments and establish game-changing interventions that will increase procurement from women owned businesses.
 
This second session of WECONA will showcase how the public and private sectors have implemented their commitments towards gender transformation in industry value chains.
 
It will further promote the realisation of the objective that 40 per cent of public and private sector procurement be contracted with women-owned businesses.
 
The President’s participation and address will take place as follows:
Date: Thursday, 06 October 2022
Time: 09:00 – 12:00 (Keynote address at 11:05)
Venue:  OR Tambo Building, Soutpansberg Rd, Rietondale, Pretoria
(Department of International Relations and Cooperation)
 
MEDIA ACCREDITATION: A media release inviting media to register for accreditation by no later than 01 October 2022 was issued on 30 September 2022, media accreditation is therefore finalized. For accreditation enquires you can contact Tsakane Khambane on 082 084 5566.
 
 
Media enquires: Vincent Magwenya, Spokesperson to the President - 082 835 6315
 
Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria