Programme Director, Deputy Minister Stanley Mathabatha;
Minister of Land Reform and Rural Development, Honourable Mzwanele Nyhontso;
MEC for Agriculture and Rural Development, Ms Nakedi Grace Kekana;
Representative of Waterberg District Municipality Executive Mayor, Cllr Jeremiah Ngobeni;
Mayor of the Thabazimbi Local Municipality, Cllr Andries Tshukudu;
Chairperson of Sebilong Communal Property Association, Mr Boitshoko Tselane;
Deputy Land Claims Commissioner, Mr Francois Beukman;
Provincial House of Traditional Leaders and all Hosi present from the Local House;
Commodities Sectors, Farming, and Farm Workers' Organisations present;
Agricultural Research Council and other Professional Bodies present here;
CPA and Stakeholders present;
Most importantly, the distinguished beneficiaries of Sebilong Restitution;

Good Afternoon. Avuxeni. Ndi Masiari. Dumelang!

It is always a great pleasure to set foot in this beautiful province of Limpopo. A peaceful, verdant gateway to our country’s untamed bushveld and its wildlife sanctuary and to the rich cultural history that still inspires us all.

Today marks a significant milestone. A milestone that seeks to redress the historic injustice of land dispossession endured by the majority of our people. We affirm that the struggle for dignity, for equity, and for rightful ownership is not only a matter of policy but also a moral imperative that binds us together as a nation.

We are here today to witness the handover of title deeds to the Sebilong Restitution Community.  The rightful owners of this land have long been denied their heritage. But today, history bends towards justice, and the arc of our democracy delivers on its promise.

This occasion represents an important step in the implementation of South Africa’s land restitution programme and affirms the government's commitment to addressing land dispossession in line with the Constitution.

The Sebilong Community was dispossessed of its ancestral land on Farm Zwartkop 369 KQ through a series of forced removals that took place between the 1930s and the early 1960s. These removals were driven by mining expansion, restrictive land and labour policies, and the declaration of the area as a so-called Black Spot.

As a result, families were displaced from their land, livelihoods were disrupted, and the community experienced long-term socio-economic hardship.

The land restitution claim was lodged by the late Mr Lazarus Nkale Tisane on behalf of the Sebilong Community and was processed in terms of the Restitution of Land Rights Act of 1994.

As we celebrate, we must do so in remembrance and in honour of Mr Lazarus Nkale Tisane. His legacy will live on in the soil beneath our feet and in the hearts of all who cherish freedom.

Compatriots,

The Sebilong story transcends mere geographical considerations of hectares and boundaries; it encapsulates the profound impact on families who have been displaced from their ancestral lands. It is about livelihoods destroyed and dreams deferred.

It is about the pain of dispossession that scarred generations of men, women, and children who were forced to watch others prosper where their ancestors once tilled, mined, and farmed.

Today’s handover restores ownership and secure tenure to 1 071 verified beneficiaries from 89 originally dispossessed households.

The claim was settled through a combination of land restoration and financial compensation, and a Communal Property Association was established as the legal entity to hold and administer the restored land.

Therefore, this moment is not only about the handing over of title deeds, it is about the restoration of justice, the healing of wounds, and the renewal of hope for generations to come.

The title deeds to be handed over today, provide legal certainty and form the basis for productive land use, economic participation, and long-term development.

Government remains clear that land restitution must contribute to sustainable livelihoods and local economic development.

In this regard, the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development is providing post settlement support, including funding for development initiatives and support in the preparation of a comprehensive business plan.

The aim of this support is to ensure productive use of the restored land, adhering to sound governance and development principles.

I would like to acknowledge the leadership of the Sebilong Communal Property Association for maintaining compliance with legislative requirements and for providing stability within the community.

Effective governance of communal property is essential to safeguarding restored land and ensuring that it benefits both current and future generations.

The restoration of Farm Zwartkop 369 KQ is a clear demonstration of government’s ongoing work to redress historical injustices and to advance land reform as a key element of inclusive growth and rural development.

Our Government is reversing the 1913 Natives Land Act legacy through a comprehensive land reform programme focusing on restitution, redistribution, and tenure reform. Key actions include returning land to dispossessed communities and implementing the Restitution of Land Rights Act.

This Act, passed in 1994, was designed to restore land or provide equitable redress to persons and communities dispossessed under racially discriminatory laws. Its objectives are to foster reconciliation, to enable land ownership for victims of forced removals, and to promote development through restorative justice.

Minister Nyontsho will agree with me that restorative justice serves as a mechanism to fulfill the promises of this freedom, particularly through reconciliation and addressing the legacy of systemic inequality.

As we mark Freedom Month, a time when we reflect on the sacrifices that brought us democracy and the responsibilities that come with it, we are reminded that true freedom must be lived in the soil beneath our feet. For without land, freedom remains incomplete.

I have always maintained that the handing over of a title deed is far more than a legal transaction. It is the restoration of justice for the people. It is the handing over of dignity, recognition, and justice to people who were once stripped of their land and identity. It is the return of identity, the restoration of belonging, and the renewal of hope.

As I stand and look around today, I can see hope shining through your eyes and joy that fills this gathering. I also believe that today, your ancestors who did not live to witness this day are joyful at the progress we have made. 

Their spirit walks with us, and their dream of justice finds fulfillment in this moment.

As a community, you have a huge responsibility to use this land productively. Let it be a source of food security, of jobs for the youth, of opportunities for your women and other vulnerable groups, and a source of wealth for your families.

Let the mines, the cattle farms, and the poultry projects become engines of growth that uplift the entire community.

Let the land be managed with wisdom so that it does not only restore the past but also secure the future.

To the Sebilong Communal Property Association, I say: guard this land. Use it to build a community that thrives in freedom and prosperity.
In short, let the land flourish, lefatshe ha le phele!

Together as South Africans, we must continue to strive for a nation where every citizen enjoys the fruits of justice, equality, and prosperity.

I congratulate the Sebilong Community on this achievement and wish them success as they move forward with the sustainable development of their land.

I thank you, Kealeboga, Inkomu.

The Chairperson of the Human Resource Development Council, Deputy President Shipokosa Paulus Mashatile will on Tuesday, 14 April 2026, officially launch the Gert Sibande TVET College 4IR LAB and Centre of Specialisation Millwright Workshop in the Mpumalanga Province.

The launch represents a significant milestone in Government’s efforts of advancing skills development in line with the demands of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR).

The initiative also highlights the Gert Sibande TVET College’s commitment to equipping students with future-ready technical and artisan skills, while strengthening industry partnerships and contributing to South Africa’s economic growth.

This initiative is supported by a number of key partners including SASOL, National Skills Fund and Festo, reflecting a collaborative effort to enhance vocational education and training in South Africa. 

Deputy President Mashatile will be joined by the Minister of Higher Education and Training, Mr Buti Manamela, Acting College Principal, Ms ZZ Beku; the District and Local Municipality Mayors as well as senior government officials.

Details of the launch are as follows:
Date: Tuesday, 14 April 2026
Time: 10h00 (Media to arrive for set up at 09h00)
Venue: Skills Academy and Artisan Development Centre, Standerton in the Gert Sibande District Municipality, Mpumalanga Province

Media wishing to cover the launch are requested to RSVP with Mr Oscar Kubeka on 072 079 6796 or  Kubeka.o@gscollege.edu.za.

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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria
 

President Cyril Ramaphosa has in terms of section 174(4) of the Constitution appointed Justice Nambitha Christabel Dambuza-Mayosi and Justice Katharine Mary Savage as Judges of the Constitutional Court with effect from 1 May 2026.

As directed by the Constitution, President Ramaphosa has made these appointments after consultation with Chief Justice Mandisa Maya and leaders of political parties represented in the National Assembly.

Justice Dambuza-Mayosi currently serves as a Judge of the Supreme Court of Appeal – a position she has held since June 2015 and which included an extended period of acting as President of the Supreme Court of Appeal.

Justice Dambuza-Mayosi’s career spans more than three decades in legal practice, academia and the judiciary.

Justice Savage became a Judge of the Western Cape High Court in 2015 and has served as a Judge of the Labour Appeal Court since 2024.

President Ramaphosa wishes the new judges of South Africa’s apex court well in their new roles.

The President said: “Judge Dambuza-Mayosi and Judge Savage have for decades served the cause and practice of justice with great diligence, foresight and, most importantly, clear commitment to our Constitution.

“They join the Constitutional Court in the year in which we mark 30 years since the adoption of our democratic Constitution. This anniversary is a significant moment for our nation and serves as an inspiration for our Constitutional Court to sustain the entrenchment of our national values and the supreme law that underpins them.”

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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria
 

Programme Director;
President of the Board of the American Chamber of Commerce, Mr Kuseni Dlamini;
Members of the Board of Directors;
CEO of the Chamber, Ms Michelle Constant;
Representatives of US and South African business;
Distinguished guests;
Ladies and gentlemen. 

Thank you to the American Chamber of Commerce South Africa for this invitation. 

I welcome this opportunity for engagement as we work together to strengthen economic ties between South Africa and the United States.

The American Chamber of Commerce in South Africa has been a constructive, committed and valued partner for close to half a century.

It remains a credible voice for US business in South Africa.

Importantly, it is a firm advocate for strengthening trade, investment and commercial ties between South Africa and the United States.

Since the Government of National Unity came into office, we have been focused on our apex strategic priority to drive inclusive growth and create employment. 

We see US business as integral to achieving this priority.

At the same time, the growth of our economy and the creation of jobs is good for US companies doing business in South Africa.

It creates more opportunities, expands potential markets, introduces more suppliers and expands the pool of talent from which companies can draw.

The United States has long been a major source of foreign direct investment in South Africa. 

There are more than 600 American companies operating here. 

It is estimated that US companies employ more than 250,000 South Africans.

These companies invest in South Africa because they achieve valuable returns.

They invest because South Africa has significant resources. We have large reserves of critical minerals, abundant renewable energy sources and a young and capable workforce.

This is underpinned by stable institutions, the rule of law, advanced infrastructure and deep capital markets.

Not only do these companies have access to the South African market, but they see great potential for expansion into the vast African market.

There are a number of South African companies operating in the US market, which create jobs for Americans and contribute to the US economy.

Both sides see the clear gains to be made from investing in each other's markets. 

We were encouraged by the presence of more than 600 US business leaders at the B20 Summit in Johannesburg in November last year.

This show of force on the part of US business was a resounding signal of confidence, trust and friendship. 

We also see significant opportunities for expanding bilateral trade between South Africa and the United States.

Our trade relations have historically been complementary in nature.

South Africa’s exports to the United States support the development of US industries and provide American consumers with choice.

The goods and services we import from the US in turn support the development of our economy and are helping to equip South Africa for a changing global economy.

We recently held a critical minerals forum in Washington, with key US government departments and business. 

We will continue work to develop a critical minerals framework that can ensure that we continue to be a strategic supplier of critical minerals to the US. 

At the same time, we want to develop collaborative programmes that increase investment in this important sector in our economy. 

We appreciate that our trade relations face several challenges.

The US administration has been forthright in its assessment of our trade relations and we welcome its willingness to engage with South Africa to address concerns.

Recently we have had several positive signals from the United States. 

We are actively engaged with various committees both in the House and the Senate on the renewal of AGOA.

At the same time, the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition remains engaged with the US Trade Representative.

We are committed to working together more closely and with greater focus to achieve a trade agreement that is mutually beneficial.

There is a great deal that we can offer each other and there is no reason why we can’t reach agreement on areas of difference. 

As we continue the work to strengthen economic ties, we are committed to rebuild political and diplomatic relations between our two countries.

Yesterday, I had the pleasure of receiving the credentials of the new US Ambassador to South Africa, Ambassador Bozell.

Through the engagements that have taken place since his arrival in the country, I believe we have made progress in developing a common understanding of the issues that continue for the moment to define our relationship.

Ambassador Bozell has made deepening our commercial trade a priority. 

I understand that the Ambassador wants to double the amount of US companies operating in South Africa. 

This is an ambition that we wholeheartedly support and that we hope to work together to achieve. 

South Africa is at an important moment of economic renewal. 

The measures we have undertaken over the last few years to rebuild our economy are bearing fruit. 

Electricity supply has stabilised and Eskom has been returned to operational viability. 

Together with market reforms and substantial private investment in renewable energy, we are laying the foundation for a competitive energy market that will reduce costs for households and businesses.

Through Operation Vulindlela, we have seen improvements in the efficiency of our ports and we are enabling access to our freight rail for private operators. 

We have seen a decline in the cost of broadband data alongside an improvement in access.

Far-reaching changes to our visa regime will enable the country to attract greater investment, skills and tourism.

We have embarked on a second phase of Operation Vulindlela, focusing on local government, digital transformation and reducing spatial inequality.

A particular area of focus now is on ensuring reliable access to water for households, businesses and agriculture. 

Through a National Water Crisis Committee, we are undertaking interventions to transform the provision and management of water services across the country. 

Our commitment to macroeconomic stability and prudent fiscal management has resulted in the stabilisation of public finances and has seen our sovereign risk profile improve. 

We are reforming our criminal justice system and tackling crime and corruption, so that businesses can invest and operate without fear. 

We are establishing a new criminal justice reform initiative modelled on the success of Operation Vulindlela, which will focus on combating organised crime, corruption, the illicit economy and illegal firearms.

We have allocated more than R3 trillion over the next three years to modernise and expand public infrastructure across South Africa. This includes massive investment in roads, railways, ports, dams, energy generation and transmission, and housing.

We remain committed to the transformation of our economy to drive sustained growth, reduce inequality and correct the injustices of the past.

We appreciate the contribution that US companies continue to make to the transformation effort. 

The many US companies that have been in our country for decades and the many companies that are now coming here to invest not only respect and adhere to our broad-based black economic empowerment laws.

They have also invested substantially in developing local black and women suppliers, provided training to young black South Africans and invested in social development programmes.

We are grateful for the frank and constructive engagements that we have had over the years to ensure that we advance the constitutional imperative of empowerment while ensuring that companies can effectively operate.

Through working together, we have developed innovative and practical mechanisms such as the Equity Equivalent Investment Programme.

This has enabled multinationals whose global policies prevent them from complying with the ownership element of broad-based black economic empowerment to invest in socio-economic, skills and enterprise development.

The US companies that are investing in South Africa – many of them well-known Blue Chip companies – do not see transformation as an impediment to investment.

They are not deterred by the scare tactics that are often used by our country’s detractors.

Nor are they deterred by the false claims that black economic empowerment imposes onerous costs on companies while delivering no value.

As is the case in other markets where they invest, these US companies understand our need to promote local production, to build an inclusive economy and to create economic opportunities for all our people.

We look forward to continued engagement with US companies as we work to strengthen the policies that support transformation while at the same time enabling investment and growth.
 
Last week, we held our sixth South Africa Investment Conference, at which companies made investment commitments worth a cumulative total of more than R889 billion.

This is more than what was raised at any of the previous Investment Conferences.

It is significant that around three-quarters of the value of private sector commitments is domestic capital.

This shows the confidence of South African investors in their economy.

The fact that the business people who understand our country the best are now starting to invest here at a greater scale should give encouragement to international investors.

These investments should also provide direction to where the potential lies in our economy.

South Africa offers great opportunities for multinational seeking to diversify their supply chains, especially in the midst of geopolitical uncertainty.

South Africa provides a stable, rules-based operating environment at the southern tip of a continent with the world's fastest-growing labour force and some of its most underexploited mineral wealth.

We have the infrastructure, skills and growing capabilities to seize the opportunities presented by the profound technological changes that are reshaping our world.

In conclusion, and on behalf of all South Africans, I thank you for your unwavering confidence in our country. 

Despite a difficult global environment, trade and investment relations between South Africa and the United States are strong.

We are committed to deepening cooperation and opening up new opportunities. 

I wish the American Chamber of Commerce all the best in its ongoing work to champion the interests of US companies in South Africa and to champion the growth and development of our economy.

I thank you.
 

Programme Director, Ms Nozipho Tshabalala; 

Honourable Premier of Gauteng, Mr Panyaza Lesufi; 

Ministers and Deputy Ministers present; 

Executive Mayor of the City of Johannesburg, Mr Dada Morero; 

MEC for Economic Development, Ms Vuyiswa Ramakgopa; 

MEC for Education, Sports and Culture, Mr Lebogang Maile,

CEOs of State-Owned Enterprises, from national government and the province;

Members of the Diplomatic Corps; 

Leaders of Business, Finance, Labour, and Civil Society; 

Distinguished Guests; 

Ladies and Gentlemen;

Good Morning, Dumelang, Avuxeni.
 
It is an honour to return once again to address this prestigious gathering, following the inaugural Gauteng Investment Conference in 2025.

This Conference takes place at a defining moment for our country and our economy. Just over a week ago, South Africa successfully hosted the Sixth South African Investment Conference, where government, business, and our international partners secured record investment commitments of approximately R890 billion in a single day.

These are the largest pledges achieved since the investment drive began in 2018, lifting cumulative commitments well beyond R1.5 trillion, and prompting government to set a new national investment ambition of R3 trillion over the period ahead.

The significance of the South African Investment Conference lies not only in the scale of these commitments, but in what they represent: a firm vote of confidence in South Africa’s reform trajectory, policy certainty, and in our constitutional democracy anchored by the rule of law.

However, investment conferences are not ends in themselves. 
Their true value lies in delivery, in translating commitments into projects on the ground, into factories, infrastructure, energy capacity, and above all, jobs.

It is precisely at this point of delivery that Gauteng assumes its central role. As the economic heartland of South Africa, contributing the largest share to our national GDP, and serving as a gateway to regional and global markets, Gauteng stands as the primary platform through which many of these national investment commitments will be implemented, expanded, and scaled.

The South African Investment Conference set the national direction. The Gauteng Investment Conference takes that work forward by localising investment, accelerating execution, and removing obstacles at project level. This ensure that the national vision is not only articulated, but lived, in the daily realities of growth, opportunity, and jobs. 

Many of the commitments announced at SAIC, across advanced manufacturing, the energy transition, logistics, digital services, infrastructure, and industrial localisation align directly with Gauteng’s competitive strengths: its industrial base, financial system, skilled workforce, research institutions, and world‑class connectivity.

This Conference therefore serves a distinct and complementary purpose. It moves us:
· from national pledges to provincial pipelines;
· from policy certainty to site readiness; and
· from investor intent to operational delivery.

In doing so, it transforms national ambition into provincial action, ensuring that Gauteng stands as the proving ground where investment becomes impact, and where the story of South Africa’s growth is written in the lived experience of its people.

Through the Gauteng Investment Conference, we are saying clearly to investors: South Africa is open for business and Gauteng is ready for execution.

We are determined that Gauteng will lead by example in shortening regulatory timelines, coordinating across spheres of government, crowding in private capital, and supporting investors across the full project lifecycle so that commitments translate into measurable economic impact and inclusive growth.

Consequently, Gauteng will not only advance the outcomes of the South African Investment Conference but will give concrete expression to our national objective of investment‑led growth, job creation, and economic transformation.

As we reflect on the theme “Re‑industrialising Africa’s Gateway through Investment, Innovation, and Integrated Growth,” we are reminded that we must exploit the engines of industry, channel the lifeblood of investment, and ignite the spark of innovation.

Gauteng’s role as Africa’s gateway should not only be defined by economic weight, but by its ability to create opportunity for all our people.

Re‑industrialisation is a practical, forward‑looking strategy. It recognises that productive capacity is the foundation of sustained growth. 

It must result in technology‑driven factories, expanded industrial output, revitalised industrial parks and Special Economic Zones, strengthened local supply chains, and dignified jobs at scale.

But let us be clear the industrialisation we pursue today is not the industrialisation of yesterday. It is a new industrialisation, built on four critical pillars.

First: Without reliable energy, efficient logistics, water security, and modern digital infrastructure, industrialisation cannot take place. That is why government continues to invest in stabilising and expanding energy supply, improving rail and port systems, and strengthening water and logistics infrastructure. These are the foundations of industrial growth.

Second: The future of industrialisation is as digital as it is physical. Data centres, artificial intelligence, fintech, cloud infrastructure, and digital public platforms are now the backbone of modern economies. Gauteng is uniquely positioned to lead in this space—and we must leverage this advantage to build globally competitive digital industries.

Third: Africa remains resource‑rich but value‑chain poor. We export raw materials and import finished goods. We are connected to global markets, yet insufficiently integrated within our own continent.

The African Continental Free Trade Area gives us a platform to change this—to build regional value chains, expand intra‑African trade, and industrialise at scale. Its success depends on improved cross‑border infrastructure, reduced trade barriers, aligned standards, and strong support for African businesses.

Through platforms such as this Conference, Gauteng is positioning itself as a continental execution hub, a place where AfCFTA moves from agreement to implementation.

Fourth: Industrial growth must not be exclusionary. It must unlock opportunities for young people, township economies, and small and emerging enterprises ensuring that growth translates into shared prosperity.

Equally, industrialisation does not happen without investment. Investment must translate into production. Production must translate into jobs. And jobs must translate into improved livelihoods.

This is why the Gauteng Investment Conference has evolved beyond a traditional platform. It is becoming a full investment lifecycle mechanism—from deal origination and project preparation, to financing, implementation, and delivery.

Government’s responsibility in this process is clear:
· To de‑risk investment through policy certainty, regulatory efficiency, and coordination across spheres of government;
· To crowd in private capital alongside development finance institutions and commercial lenders; and
· To ensure delivery, accountability, and project tracking.

Credibility is built not on what we announce, but on what we deliver. 

And government cannot do this alone.
We need a strong partnership with businesses that invest in skills, support localisation, integrate small enterprises into value chains, and commit to long‑term resilience.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Gauteng is a region where investors can find both returns and resilience. It offers a vibrant workforce, a commitment to enterprise development, and world‑class infrastructure.

Investment here is not a risky endeavour, it is a collaborative one, where each rand invested multiplies opportunity, strengthens communities, and builds secure futures.

As I conclude, let me issue a clear call to action:

To Investors: South Africa and Gauteng in particular is open for business and open for partnership. Africa is not a risk story; it is a long‑term growth and return story.

To Business: You are not passive participants; you are co‑architects of our industrial future. Work with us to build industries and develop skills.

To Government: We must act with urgency, coordination, and accountability, removing barriers and accelerating delivery.

And to Africa: This is our moment, not to extract, not to import, but to produce, innovate, and lead.

Let this Conference mark a turning point: from commitments to implementation; towards integrated growth that is inclusive, sustainable, and transformative.

I thank you. Ke a leboga. Inkomu.