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

President Cyril Ramaphosa offers his deep condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of Mr Marius van der Merwe, a Brakpan-based security industry member and former Ekhurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department official who recently testified before the Madlanga Commission.

Mr Van der Merwe was shot multiple times in full view of his family outside their Brakpan home on Friday evening, 5 December 2025.

The President extends his deep condolences to the family of Mr Van der Merwe and wishes them strength for their recovery from a deadly trauma.

President Ramaphosa said: “While our law enforcement agencies establish the circumstances leading to this heinous act, I am appalled and saddened by this attack on a former public servant who recently served the cause of justice and integrity by testifying at the Madlanga Commission.”

President Ramaphosa established the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into Criminality, Political Interference, and Corruption in the Criminal Justice System, better known as the Madlanga Commission, in July 2025.

President Ramaphosa said: “My thoughts are with the deeply traumatised family who came under attack last night.

“They faced death in circumstances that suggest Van der Merwe's brave testimony angered elements in our society who want to undermine the rule of law and set back the quest for truth and consequences in the fight against corruption.

“Amid this trauma we must remain resolute to end corruption and bring to justice those who have done wrong and are plotting to do more.

“As government, we will redouble our efforts to protect whistleblowers, including witnesses before the Madlanga Commission and the Commission itself, as they serve the nation with bravery in the face of criminal threats.

President Ramaphosa urges law enforcement agencies to undertake a thorough investigation and to ensure that the perpetrators face justice.

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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

Deputy Chairperson of the Presidential Climate Commission, Mr. Crispian Olver,
Ministers,
Commissioners,
Members of the Presidential Economic Advisory Council,
National Planning Commission Commissioners,
Representatives of the South African Local Government Association,
Representatives of NEDLAC,
Directors-General,
Members of the PCC Secretariat,
Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

Good Morning, it is good to be here.

I am honoured to attend this 20th session of the Presidential Climate Commission; and to pay tribute to the outgoing Commissioners whose work has elevated our country’s voice and stature in the global climate effort.

Since it was established five years ago, this Commission has not only ably stewarded and shaped our domestic policy debates.

The Commission’s evidence-based recommendations, inclusive processes, internationally-respected thought leadership and engagements with international partners have raised South Africa’s profile in multilateral forums. This is particularly so with respect to the climate finance negotiations.

It would be no understatement to say that the past five years have seen our reputation grow as a respected, principled, and above all pragmatic contributor to the global climate effort.

By convening business, labour, civil society, academia and government around the Just Transition, the Commission has helped shape conversations around equity, transition financing and the various dimensions of climate action not just domestically but globally.

The prominence accorded to a just transition at the recent G20 Summit bears testimony to this.

The G20 Leaders’ Summit pledged to amongst other things increase the quality and quantity of climate finance to developing economies, and support country platforms like the Just Energy Transition Partnerships. We also saw substantial sums pledged to expand renewable energy across Africa.

We know that these are challenging times for global climate action.

Nine years since the signing of the Paris Agreement and with just five years to go before the world aims to meet the Sustainable Development Goals - countries of the world are way off track on climate goals.

According to the World Meteorological Organisation, last year was the warmest year on record. We are on a trajectory to exceed the 1.5 degree Celsius warning limit.

Despite this dire warning being sounded by experts for years, there has been noticeable climate action backsliding in a number of countries, including in the Global North.

The state of climate financing for vulnerable countries remains perilous, hampering the ability of these countries to scale up their levels of ambition for both mitigation and adaptation.

In this ever-uncertain environment, South Africa stands proud.

We have not wavered on our commitments, and have in fact scaled up our climate action.

In July 2021, the PCC delivered the first set of recommendations on South Africa’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), advocating for more ambitious emissions targets with lower transition risk.

A year later, based on recommendations from the Commission, we released our Just Transition Framework, that sets out the actions that government and social partners will take to achieve to facilitate the transition to a low-carbon, climate resilient economy and society.

It contains outcomes to be achieved over the short-, medium, and long-run. On the advice of this Commission we have been clear that the Just Transition must find expression in the Medium Term Development Plan,  Annual Performance Plans as well as in the budget processes of  every department.

Furthermore, sectoral policies, including around energy, agriculture and industrial policy, should be aligned with a robust climate regulatory system.

The Framework lays out the skills development, economic diversification, social support, governance and finance mechanisms required to make low carbon economy a reality.

It also highlights the need to provide comprehensive social security safety for displaced workers and communities.

In 2023 the Commission supported the release of the Just Energy Transition Implementation Plan 2023-2027.

This Plan, developed under the guidance of the Commission and international partners, is what we have been able to take to the international climate finance community and international forums as tangible proof of our resolve to walk the talk on climate action.

It covers the necessary reforms, investments and concrete projects for the energy transition, with a strong focus on social justice.

At COP30 in Brazil last month, having a credible, tangible plan in place to support meeting our climate targets bolstered South Africa’s credibility, and lent weight to our commitment to equity, ambition and international cooperation.

The passage of the Climate Change Act last year was a crowning achievement for our country. One that was brought into being with the support of a wide range of stakeholders across society, including the Commission.

This is not all.

As we have worked to overcome a debilitating energy crisis, this Commission has lent its counsel to the restructuring of the energy sector, notably Eskom – and to aiding government in resolving contradictory policy pronouncements.

The Commission has initiated a three-sector study into water, built environment and agriculture, and into the development of an adaptation and resilience investment plan.

It has held consultations around the updated Integrated Resource Plan; supporting the development of municipal JET readiness assessments; and working on a Climate Finance Landscape report.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

This is an extraordinary effort and feat for a mere five-year period. And what I have listed is by no means exhaustive.

South Africa continues to be one of the most vocal voices on the global stage for equity, inclusivity and justice in the climate effort; and the work of this Commission has amplified our voice.

Our climate diplomacy has focused on forging strategic partnerships and employing innovative approaches to scale up climate action; whilst at the same time making the firm case for the developmental space and energy security needs of developing countries.

The phrase, ‘leave no one behind’ has underpinned the tone of our national effort.

And as we mark five years of the Commission, we are proud to say that the currency of this phrase continues to rise in the international climate deliberations. This is thanks to your work.

When we established this Commission, we agreed that its mandate was to provide independent advice and facilitate a common understanding of a just transition, cognisant of the socio-economic, environmental, and technological implications of climate change.

It was a response to a growing national consensus that South Africa’s climate transition must be just, inclusive, and responsive to the needs of vulnerable communities.  

The PCC has fostered inclusive dialogue and helped negotiate solutions to some of the country’s most complex and contested climate and development challenges.

Through structured social partnership processes, it has helped to align diverse interests around common goals such as the phase-down of coal, investment in renewables, and the protection of livelihoods—ensuring that policy decisions are not only evidence-based, but also socially legitimate and widely supported.

Over the past five years the PCC’s engagements have helped surface local priorities, identify socio-economic risks, and co-develop solutions that reflect the realities on the ground.

It has been an exciting five years, but they certainly haven’t been easy.

Whilst South Africans are feeling the impact of climate change, many still feel disempowered.

We need to work harder to allay their fears by co-creating models that include participation, decision making and implementation in the transition.

That only happens when there are new jobs, new opportunities, reimagined local enterprises, and above all when there is energy access, improved quality of life and a clean and safe environment for all.

With many stakeholders ready and eager to be part and contribute to achieving the just transition, we need stronger partnerships, increased awareness and accessibility by our communities, workers, youth, women, and the people with abilities.

By embedding sustainability, climate justice, and long-term resilience into our planning and investment decisions, this Commission has contributed to securing a climate-resilient and economically inclusive future for all—particularly for the youth.

As we look to 2026 and beyond, South Africa stands at an important point in its climate and development journey.  

The task now is to scale up and speed up implementation to deliver the outcomes our people need.

Today, I take pride in recognising the outgoing Commissioners. Many of you did this work in addition to other responsibilities, and yet you have stayed the course, ensuring all decision-making was inclusive and consensus-based.

We receive the Commission’s Five-Year Legacy and Review report with gratitude. I have no doubt that it will in time to come serve as a seminal reference work and important contribution to our domestic and international climate action efforts.

You have done your country proud, and for this we thank you.

I am considering the nominations for the new cohort of commissioners, and hope to announce their appointment in due course.

I have the utmost confidence that the new Commission will continue to put the vision set ourselves five years ago into practice.

As a country, we remain committed to moving forward with courage and determination to ensure that the Just Transition leaves no one behind.

I thank you.