President Cyril Ramaphosa has appointed members of the Presidential Commission on the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) which will assist government in taking advantage of the opportunities presented by the digital industrial revolution.

The task of the Commission, which will be chaired by the President, is to identify relevant policies, strategies and action plans that will position South Africa as a competitive global player.

The Deputy Chair of the Commission is University of Johannesburg Professor Tshilidzi Marwala, whose expertise spans the theory and application of  artificial intelligence to engineering, computer science, finance, social science and medicine.

In his State of the Nation Address to a Joint Sitting of Parliament on Thursday, 7 February 2019, President Ramaphosa said South Africa had chosen to be a country of the future at a time when the world was changing at a pace and in a manner that was unprecedented in human history.

He said revolutionary advances in technology were reshaping the way people work and live.

“Unless we adapt, unless we understand the nature of the profound change that is reshaping our world, and unless we readily embrace the opportunities it presents, the promise of our nation’s birth will forever remain unfulfilled,” the President said.

In the same Address, the President announced the establishment of a Presidential Commission on 4IR.

In establishing the Commission, a public consultation process was undertaken to attract eminent people who possess relevant skills and knowledge required to drive 4IR. 

The 30-member Commission, Chaired by the President, comprises eminent persons from different sectors of society and reflects a balance in gender, youth, labour and business including digital start-ups as well as digital entrepreneurships.

The commissioners (whose profiles can be viewed in an annexure at https://bit.ly/2ELYzQ8) are:

• Prof Tshilidzi Marwala (Deputy Chair)
• Prof Chris Michael Adendorff
• Ms Beth Arendse
• Mr Thulani Humphrey Dlamini
• Mr Abdul Razak Esakjee
• Dr Bernard Lewis Fanaroff
• Mr Michael Gastrow
• Mr Xolile Christopher George
• Ms Charmaine Houvet
• Dr Prince Senyukelo Jaca
• Mr Tervern Liaan John Jaftha
• Mr Mohamed Shameel Joosub
• Ms Marinda Kellerman
• Ms Nomso Kana
• Mr Baxolile Mabinya
• Mr Rendani Mamphiswana
• Ms Lindiwe Matlali
• Mr Calvo Mawela
• Ms Busisiwe Mbuyisa
• Ms Nomvula Mkhonza
• Mr Vukani Mngxati
• Mr Joseph Ndaba
• Mr Andile Ngcaba
• Dr Nompumelelo Happworth Obokoh
• Mr Rendani Praise Ramabulana
• Mr Leon Desmond Rolls
• Dr Sibongiseni Thotsejane
• Mr Gerhard van Deventer
• Mr Ben Venter, and
• Ms S’onqoba Vuba

Operational support to the Commission will be provided by a secretariat of officials of various national departments, led by the Department of Communications.

President Ramaphosa has wished the Commission well in its endeavours and has expressed his appreciation to commissioners for availing themselves to serve the nation in an important determinant of South Africa’s development trajectory in the coming years and decades.

Minister of Communications Ms Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams, who is the coordinator of government’s 4IR programme, is due to convene an induction session with appointed commissioners, after which the Commission will have its inaugural meeting with the President.


Media enquiries: Khusela Diko, Spokesperson to the President on 072 854 5707

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

Empangeni - At the invitation of Prophet Unyazilwezulu Shembe, Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa will tomorrow, Tuesday, 2 May 2017, join thousands of congregants of the Nazareth Baptist Church (Shembe) in Empangeni to celebrate the life and times of its founder leader Prophet Isaiah Shembe at eGibisile Home in Empangeni, KwaZulu-Natal at 8h30.

Details 
Date: Tuesday, 02 May 2017
Time: 08h30
Venue: eGibisile Home, eSikhawini, Empangeni, KwaZulu-Natal province
 
Enquiries: Ronnie Mamoepa 082 990 4853
 

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

President Cyril Ramaphosa will on Wednesday, 10 April 2019, hold discussions with interfaith religious leaders who are developing a values-based initiative to engender social cohesion, nation-building and societal renewal.

The engagement between the President and religious leaders from a broad range of denominations and African traditional religion is aimed at enabling  leaders of different faith groups to take leadership in renewing South African society and to “develop positive values that advance our country to the  South Africa we want”.

Interfaith leaders will present the initiative to President Ramaphosa in response to the President’s Thuma Mina call for all sectors of society and   individuals to contribute to improving social and economic conditions in the country.

Interfaith leaders believe social renewal and the positive framing of South Africa’s national character is at the heart of South Africa’s growth and renewal.

This initiative will focus on addressing disturbing social phenomena such as unemployment, inequality, gender-based violence, crime and lawlessness and violence against foreign nationals. 

This movement will motivate South Africans to coalesce around the values of tolerance and ubuntu, which are shared across the entire spectrum of South Africa’s diverse society.

The religious sector foresees itself playing a critical role within communities and in assisting government in restoring the moral fibre of society, in the restoration of common values and in advancing social cohesion.

Interfaith religious leaders wish to see this sector replicate the role the faith community played during the anti-apartheid struggle in mobilising communities, in building resilience through the provision of community-based and other services, and in giving a voice to citizens.

The meeting will conclude with the adoption of a Presidential declaration for societal renewal.

Members of the media are invited to the open session as follows:

Date: Wednesday, 10 April 2019
Time: 10:00(Media to arrive at 09:00)
Venue: CSIR International Convention Centre, City of Tshwane

Media can send rsvp to  Khutjo Sebata  on  079 898 4621 or khutjo@presidency.gov.za by sending names, media house and ID numbers by no later than 15h00 on Tuesday, 09 April 2019.


Media enquiries: Khusela Diko, Spokesperson to the President on 072 854 5707

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

PRETORIA - SADC Facilitator and South African Deputy President is expected to pay an official visit to the Kingdom of Lesotho on Tuesday, 09 May 2017, in pursuance of decisions of the SADC Summit of Heads of State and Government held in Swaziland in March this year. Lesotho is scheduled to hold general elections on 3 June this year.
 
In this regard, the SADC Summit decided that the Facilitator Deputy President Ramaphosa working in conjunction with the SADC Oversight Committee should visit Lesotho to “conduct a multi-stakeholder national dialogue before the elections of 3 June with the aim of building consensus and trust among all stakeholders and charting the way forward for the implementation of SADC decisions”.
 
Deputy President Ramaphosa will thus during the visit meet with His Majesty King Letsie III, Prime Minister Phakalitha Mosisili, the Independent Electoral Commission, opposition political party leaders, the Christian Council of Lesotho, the College of Chiefs and the NGO sector.
 
The Summit, while recognising that Lesotho is scheduled for general elections in June this year, has called on all relevant stakeholders to address the fundamental challenges facing the country and to work towards the creation of political stability of the country. It similarly mandated the Facilitator Deputy President Ramaphosa to closely monitor the political and security situation in the country during the elections.

 
Issued by Ronnie Mamoepa at 082-990-4853
 
The Presidency
Pretoria

Cape Town - Leader of Government Business and Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa will tomorrow, Thursday, 11 May 2017 make an appearance in Parliament to engage with members of the National Assembly in a question and answer session at 14h00 to highlight progress regarding implementation of various government programmes.

This will be the third time this year that the Deputy President appears in the National Assembly in terms of the revised National Assembly rules. In total the Deputy President is scheduled to respond on Thursday to six questions from various political parties which will include additional follow- up questions.

Deputy President Ramaphosa in this second term of the National Assembly is poised to offer oral replies in areas encompassing among others efforts aimed at the creation of a stable, equal and prosperous South Africa from the ruins of racial division, deprivation and underdevelopment.

In addition, Deputy President Ramaphosa will deal with issues related to the National Skills Development Strategy, the constitutional responsibilities of members of the Executive towards Parliament, the government’s local government back to basics programme as well as the electoral reform.

The Deputy President who is also the Chairperson of the South African National AIDS Council (SANAC) will also have an opportunity to highlight the work the government is carrying out in conjunction with relevant stakeholders, in tackling the HIV epidemic with specific reference to work being conducted among sex workers.


Issued by Ronnie Mamoepa at 082-990-4853

The Presidency
Pretoria

President Cyril Ramaphosa has welcomed the establishment by interfaith religious leaders of a values-based initiative to engender social cohesion, nation-building and societal renewal.
 
Approximately 400 interfaith religious leaders participated in the Presidential Interfaith Societal Renewal Colloquim in Lynnwood, Pretoria, today, Wednesday 10 April 2019.
 

The colloquim centred on a proposal by faith communities for societal renewal in South Africa. The proposal has been conceptualised as a response to  the President’s Thuma Mina call for all sectors of society and individuals to contribute to improving social and economic conditions in the country.
 
The proposal envisages a range of programmes and activities within communities of faith and broader society that will be positioned as the Presidential Societal Renewal.
 
Interfaith leaders believe social renewal and the positive repositioning of South Africa’s national character is at the heart of South Africa’s growth and renewal.
 
This initiative will focus on addressing disturbing social phenomena such as unemployment, inequality, gender-based violence, crime and lawlessness and violence against foreign nationals. 
 
The societal renewal programme will motivate South Africans to coalesce around the values of tolerance and ubuntu, which are shared across the entire spectrum of South Africa’s diverse society.
 
The engagement between the President and religious leaders from a broad range of denominations and African traditional religion enabled leaders of different faith groups to demonstrate leadership in renewing South African society and in developing “positive values that advance our country to the South Africa we want”.

On behalf of government, President signed a statement of intent developed by the colloquium that sets out the principles underpinning the proposed initiative as well as focus areas for programmes. 
 
The statement of intent also outlines possible institutional arrangements between government and the religious sector that will facilitate the functioning of the societal renewal initiative.
 
The statement of intent forms the basis of a declaration that will be signed by stakeholders awill be converted into a declaration at a future stage, based on proposals made by delegates at today’s engagement.
 
The religious sector foresees itself playing a critical role within communities and in assisting government in restoring the moral fibre of society, in the restoration of common values and in advancing social cohesion.
 
Most South Africans identify as belonging to a faith group. Approximately 43 million South Africans identify themselves as Christian, whilst over 2 million identify as African traditional belief, followed by approximately 892 000 who identify as Muslim, approximately 561 000 as Hindu, approximately 49 000 as Jewish and the rest as other religions, agnosticism or no religious affiliation.
 
Interfaith religious leaders believe this sector should replicate the role the faith community played during the anti-apartheid struggle in mobilising communities, in building resilience through the provision of community-based and other services, and in giving a voice to citizens.
 
Religious leaders are concerned, in terms of their own assessment, that the 25 years of democracy has seen a ‘retreat’ of faith-based organisations from the socio-political sphere, and their confinement to their traditional ecumenical and pastoral roles.
 
The leaders believe that President Ramaphosa’s vision of a New Dawn for South Africa, and of an active and energized citizenry that embodies the Thuma Mina spirit, complements calls by the religious and faith-based community for a reformation of a South Africa riven by social ills.
 
Closing the engagement, President Ramaphosa welcomed the initiative as part of the social compact required among social partners to address the challenges facing the country. Through this initiative, citizens strengthened the capacity of the state.
 
The President said the dialogue had touched on the “wounds of our nation” and had affirmed that religious leadership were ideally placed to help the wounds of the nation through prayer and social initiatives.
 
Delegates agreed on future engagement on the statement of intent and on the potential synergy between this initiative and the work done by the Moral Regeneration Movement which is coordinated by Deputy President David Mabuza.
 

Media enquiries: Khusela Diko, Spokesperson to the President on 072 854 5707
 
Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

Nelspruit – Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa will on Saturday, 20 May 2017, officiate and address at the graduation ceremony of the first cohort of students who registered at the new University of Mpumalanga (UMP) in 2014.
 
Deputy President Ramaphosa will officiate in his capacity as the first Chancellor of the university, having been installed in April 2016.
 
The May 20 graduation ceremony will take place at the Engwenyama Conference and Sport Resort, White River, Mpumalanga.
 
The graduation ceremony is one of the premier events of the institution and provides a symbolic occasion to reflect on the successes and progress achieved by the university in producing the requisite skills for South Africa’s economic development.
 
The ceremony will also underscore the steady progress achieved by the university in the area of research, teaching and community engagement.
 
In this regard, the University of Mpumalanga will confer about 203 qualifications in the fields of hospitality, agriculture (in plant production and agricultural extension) and others.                                                           
 
Media is invited as follows:
 
Date: Saturday, 20 May 2017
Time: 10H00 (media to arrive at 09h00)
Venue: Engwenyama Conference and Sport Resort, White River, Mpumalanga

 
For more information and accreditation please contact, Sam Bopape on 082 318 5251
 
Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

Durban – Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa will tomorrow, Thursday, 25 May 2017, deliver a keynote address at the 19th African Renaissance Conference at the Durban International Convention Centre (ICC), KwaZulu-Natal in celebration of Africa Day marking the formation of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), the forerunner to the current African Union.
 
Deputy President Ramaphosa is expected to be joined by the Premier of KwaZulu-Natal, Willies Mchunu, members of the executive council and senior government officials.
 
The 19th annual African Renaissance Conference brings together various stakeholders to focus on strategies for entrepreneurial development and promotion of international bursary exchange programme for the youth of South Africa.
 
The conference will further provide valuable information to young people and broaden their study opportunities at home and abroad through a variety of international exchange opportunities that are offered by foreign governments and other institutions.
 
In this regard, government working together various stakeholders is committed to discover innovative ways of achieving the United Nations goal on sustainable development.
 
Furthermore, government will continue to promote inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all in line with our National Development Plan.
 
The conference will also be attended by senior leaders in both private sector and government from across the African continent.
 
Media are invited to cover as follows:

Date: Thursday, 25 May 2017
Time: 09H00
Venue: Durban ICC


For enquiries please contact Sam Bopape on 082 318 5251.

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

President Cyril Ramaphosa has on Wednesday, 10 April 2019, met with retired Judge of the Constitutional Court Yvonne Mokgoro on the report of the Enquiry into the fitness to hold office of Deputy National Director of Public Prosecutions Adv. Nomgcobo Jiba and Special Director of Public Prosecutions Adv. Lawrence Mrwebi held in terms of section 12(6) of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) Act.

Having provided the President with the report on 01 April 2019, Judge Mokgoro used the opportunity today to present bound copies of the report and the evidence compiled and to answer any questions of clarity the President may have had on the report.

President Ramaphosa expressed his appreciation to Judge Mokgoro, Advocate Kgomotso Moroka SC and attorney Thenjiwe Vilakazi for their diligent and  timely work.

The President has shared the report with Advocates Jiba and Mrwebi and requested them to submit any representations they may have in response to the findings to the President by Tuesday, 16 April 2019.

President Ramaphosa established the Mokgoro Enquiry in October 2018 and placed Advocates Jiba and Mrwebi on suspension with full pay pending finalisation of the inquiry.

The report of the enquiry will only be publicly released once Advocates Jiba and Mrwebi have had an opportunity to consider it, make their representations and the President has considered such representations.


Media enquiries: Khusela Diko, Spokesperson to the President on 072 854 5707

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

Boksburg - Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa will tomorrow, 02 June 2017, deliver the closing address at the Inaugural Indigenous and Traditional Leaders Indaba in Boksburg, Ekurhuleni.

The Indaba is held under the theme "Unity in Diversity – Together moving South Africa Forward for an inclusive prosperous future”.

The Indaba, organised by the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, is attended by various stakeholders including traditional leaders, indigenous leaders, senior and principal traditional leaders, Kings, members of Contralesa, government and members of the academia.

The Indaba provides a platform for stakeholders to discuss and address issues affecting the important institution of traditional leaders and their communities as well as the role of traditional leaders in radical economic development and land matters.

Media is invited as follows:

Date: Friday, 02 June 2017
Time: 09h00 (address at 10h00)
Venue: Birchwood Hotel, Boksburg, Ekurhuleni

 
Enquiries: Terrence Manase on 0823386707 or Legadima Leso on 083 378 9495

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria