President Cyril Ramaphosa will on Saturday, 09 February 2019, officiate a land restitution ceremony that will mark successful claims by 10 Gauteng communities who will be presented with title deeds and financial compensation.

Hosted by Minister of Rural Development and Land Reform Ms Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, the ceremony will be held at the Moretele Recreation Park in Mamelodi, Tshwane, at 10h00 under the theme “Land Restitution at Work – Reversing the Legacy of the 1913 Native Land Act”.

The land claims totalling R203 million were facilitated by the Commmission on the Restitution of Land Rights to the benefit of communities in the cities of Tshwane, Johannesburg, and Ekurhuleni.

 Title deeds will be handed over to the Mahlangu and Malobola families while financial compensation will be presented in respect of nine claims which include:
• the Dukathole community;
• Ebenezer Churches;
• Motshile Jacob Mathabe;
• Franspoort 332 JR Claim;
• Hondsrivier 508 JR – Msiza family claim;
• Kafferskraal Land Claim;
• Tweefontein 491 JR – Mahlangu Family;
• Tweefontein 491 JR – Ntuli Family, 
• and Vygeboschlaagte 236 JQ – Rodman community claim.

These groups lost their land when they were abruptly removed from their properties by pre-democratic administrations who acted in terms of the widely resisted 1913 Natives Land Act.

The handover ceremony will include the presentation of title deeds to the Nanduna Community Property Association in the City of Tshwane to whom 142 hectares of land will be restored.

To date the Gauteng Provincial Land Claims Commission has settled 11 012 claims out of a total of 11 437 lodged in 1998.

President Ramaphosa has consistently outlined that land redistribution, restitution and reform will be remedied through due process that will enable South Africa to develop and maintain food security, and to grow the agricultural sector.

Details of the Land Restitution ceremony are as follows:
Date: 09 March 2019
Time: 10:00
Venue: Moretele Recreation Park, Mamelodi, City of Tshwane 

Media are advised to RSVP on 06 March 2019 by 16h00 to Mr Tshepo Diale on 071 850 1751 / tshepo.diale@drdlr.gov.za and Mr Sibusiso Lubisi on 076 793 1658 / sibusiso.lubisi@drdlr.gov.za. 


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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

President Ramaphosa will update the nation about government's processing of evidence emerging from the Commission of Inquiry into Allegations of State Capture, as well as developments around the power utility, Eskom, when he replies to questions in the National Assembly today, 7 March 2019.

Putting questions for oral or written reply are some of the measures employed by Parliament to fulfill its Constitutional obligation to maintain oversight over the exercise of executive action, including the implementation of laws. 

 Accordingly, President Ramaphosa is expected to unpack government’s plans for Eskom, including measures to stabilise the power utility’s finances,   ensure the security of electricity supply and develop long-term sustainability for the utility through restructuring and other initiatives.

The President will also provide an update on legislation regarding the functions and powers of traditional leaders in South Africa. He is expected to indicate whether government will give effect to the December 2000 Cabinet Committee recommendations on the amendment of Chapters 7 and 12 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996, for the purposes of clarifying the role of traditional leaders.

Following the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation’s reply on 14 November 2018 on the downgrading of the South African Embassy in Israel to a liaison office, the President is expected to outline progress on the matter.

Details of the National Assembly engagement are as follows:
Date: 07 March 2019
Time: 14:00
Venue: National Assembly, Parliament, Cape Town


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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

President Cyril Ramaphosa has offered his warm congratulations to accomplished business leader Ms Mpumi Madisa on her naming as Chief Executive Officer-Designate of the international services, trading and distribution company, Bidvest.

As part of Bidvest’s leadership succession plan, current CEO Lindsay Ralphs will retain this role until Ms Madisa takes office in July 2020 to become the first woman to lead this major industrial group which is a Johannesburg Stock Exchange Top 40 entity, employs 137 000 people and has a market   capitalisation of R72bn.

Ms Madisa is a former Chief Director in the Gauteng Provincial Government who joined Bidvest in 2003 and went on to hold various senior management   and executive board director positions such as general manager business development, divisional director business development, corporate affairs   director and sales and marking director.

Ms Madisa is a Board Director of 16 Bidvest subsidiaries, a board director of Adcock Ingram and a board director of Business Leadership South Africa.

She holds a Master’s degree in Finance and Investment from the Wits Business School as well as a BComm Honours degree in Economics and a BSc in Economics and Mathematics from Wits University.

Bidvest named Ms Madisa as CEO-Designate on the eve of International Women’s Day, which is being observed today, Friday, 8 March 2019.

Welcoming this announcement, President Ramaphosa says: “The emergence of Mpumi Madisa as Chief Executive of a major corporation in our economy is a significant personal achievement that also signifies a new advance in gender transformation in business.

“Ms Madisa’s life and career trajectory is an inspiration to all of us, while Bidvest’s succession plan sets an example for many companies, especially at the level of the JSE Top 40, in the development of human capital and the transformation of our society.

“Ms Madisa’s appointment is therefore an occasion for celebration and for renewed commitment to accelerated change and progress in the highest echelons of our economy.”


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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

President Cyril Ramaphosa has officially launched the Good Green Deeds campaign in Buffalo City, Eastern Cape. Good Green Deeds is a nationwide initiative to encourage South Africans to take responsibility for keeping the environment clean.
 
President Ramaphosa also visited a black woman-owned recycling enterprise AfriWaste, and took part in a clean-up at a taxi rank in Mdantsane.
 
Prior to the Good Green Deeds launch, the President led the launch of the Operation Phakisa on Chemicals and Waste, which has a number of detailed action plans that need to deliver results by 2023.
 
They include increasing the total contribution of the waste economy from R24.3 billion to R35.8 billion and creating 127,000 new direct and indirect jobs.
 
The plans also include providing support to 4,300 SMMEs with 70% targeted at youth and at least 30% targeted at women; and ultimately seeing more than 20 million tonnes of waste diverted from landfill.
 
President Ramaphosa emphasized that the waste sector had the potential to make a significant contribution towards economic growth and job creation, particularly at a time when the country had embarked upon a path of economic revitalization and renewal.
 
A number of companies made pledges at the event in support of green economy initiatives. Amongst the pledges received was an investment of R227m over the next three years by Coca-Cola Beverages South Africa and Coca Cola Peninsula Beverages to stimulate recycling industries; and R27m by global electronics giant Samsung towards e-waste management initiatives.
 
President Ramaphosa lauded efforts by the private sector as well as the international donor community to aid in South Africa’s transition to a low-carbon, inclusive and climate change resilient future.
 
Calling on citizens, business, industry, labour and civil society to work towards a common goal, President Ramaphosa called on all South Africans to perform just one Good Green Deed a day such as recycling waste, or conducting clean-up activities.
 
President Ramaphosa called on young people in particular to take the lead in being part of ward-based environmental education and awareness raising.
 
Describing a clean environment as ‘an important source of national pride’, the President said: “let us take ownership of this country that is South Africa, and of this planet that is our only home by keeping South Africa clean.”
 

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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

President Cyril Ramaphosa has authorised the publication of the report of the High Level Review Panel on the State Security Agency (SSA), which has assessed the mandate, capacity and organisational integrity of the agency.

The Presidency has shared the report with a range of stakeholders including Minister of State Security Ms Dipuo Letsatsi-Duba, the Inspector-General of Intelligence, Dr Setlhomamaru Dintwe, and Parliament’s Joint Standing Committee on Intelligence.

The  review panel was appointed in June 2018 to assess the structure of the SSA relative to its mandate and enquire into its systems and capacity.

President Ramaphosa asked the panel to identify all material factors that contributed to current challenges in the State Security Agency so that  appropriate measures could be instituted to prevent a recurrence.

The main objective of the review panel was to assist in ensuring a responsible and accountable national intelligence capability for the country in line with the Constitution and relevant legislation.

At a gathering with SSA leadership and staff in Pretoria on 15 February 2019, the President gave an undertaking that the report of the review panel would be published for the benefit of all South Africans, including the intelligence community.

The report would also be the subject of engagement with Parliament’s Joint Standing Committee on Intelligence, the Inspector-General of Intelligence and the Auditor-General.

The panel was chaired by Dr Sydney Mufamadi and included nine other members with a wide range of senior level experience and expertise in law, security studies, civil society, academia, the intelligence and security community and other arms of government.

The panel comprised:
• Dr Sydney Mufamadi 
• Prof Jane Duncan 
• Mr Barry Gilder
• Ms Siphokazi Magadla
• Mr Murray Michell
• Ms Basetsana Molebatsi 
• Mr Andre Pruis
• Mr Silumko Sokupa
• Mr Anthoni Van Nieuwkerk
• Prof Sibusiso Vil-Nkomo

A key finding of the panel is that there has been political malpurposing and factionalisation of the intelligence community over the past decade or more that has resulted in an almost complete disregard for the Constitution, policy, legislation and other prescripts.

It proposes the urgent development of a National Security Strategy as an overriding basis for redefining and refining the concepts, values, policies, practices and architecture involved in South Africa’s approach to security. 

This review should consider the separation of the SSA into two services – a domestic and a foreign service – with prudent delineation of scope.

With regard to investigations and consequences, the panel recommends that the President instruct the appropriate law enforcement bodies, oversight institutions and internal disciplinary bodies to investigate all manifest breaches of the law, regulations and other prescripts in the SSA as highlighted by the report of the panel, with a view to instituting, where appropriate, criminal prosecution and/or disciplinary proceedings.

President Ramaphosa has expressed his appreciation for the panel’s dedication to their task and for producing insights and recommendations that will enable open engagement on the role and character of the intelligence community in support of South Africa’s national development objectives and international relations.

A redacted version of the High Level Review Panel on the State Security Agency has been declassified and can be viewed at https://bit.ly/2ELYzQ8.

The report has been redacted for public consumption in view of the fact that the full report contains the names and identities of persons who cannot be named at this point, as well as details of operational matters that would compromise the work of the State Security Agency.


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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

President Cyril Ramaphosa will travel to Harare, Zimbabwe, to Co-Chair the Third Session of the Bi-National Commission (BNC) with his counterpart, President Emmerson Mnangagwa  of the Republic of Zimbabwe.  The BNC  is scheduled to take place on 12 March 2019.

The BNC is preceded by a Senior Officials’ meeting that took place from 7– 8 March 2019 and a Ministerial meeting on 11 March 2019.

The two countries conduct their bilateral relations through a structured Bi-National Commission (BNC) established in 2015.

During the BNC, the two Heads of State will review the bilateral cooperation between the two countries as well as review progress made with the implementation of bilateral Agreements. 

To date, the two countries have signed forty five (45) Agreements, which cover a wide range of fields, including trade and investment, health, labour, migration, defence, taxation, tourism, scientific and technological cooperation, water and environment.

Trade cooperation between the two countries is at a high level to the extent that South African exports to Zimbabwe in 2018, amounted to approximately R30.8 billion, while imports from Zimbabwe amounted to approximately R3.6 billion, thus placing Zimbabwe among South Africa’s top trading partners on the Continent.

South Africa and Zimbabwe have good bilateral political, economic and social relations underpinned by strong historical ties dating back from the years of the liberation struggle.

President Ramaphosa will be accompanied by the Ministers of International Relations and Cooperation, Ms Lindiwe Sisulu,  Defence and Military Veterans, Ms Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, Trade and Industry, Dr Rob Davies, Home Affairs, Mr Siyabonga Cwele;  Transport, Dr Blade Nzimande and Deputy Minister of Social Development, Ms Hendrietta Bogopane-Zulu.


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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

President Cyril Ramaphosa has, on behalf of the Government and the people of South Africa, expressed his great sadness and sent a message condolences to affected families following this morning's crash of an Ethiopian Airlines plane. 

Flight ET302/10 was on its scheduled service from Addis Ababa to Kenya when it crashed shortly after take off. The airline said the plane was carrying 149 passengers and 8 crew. 

President Ramaphosa said the thoughts of the South African people are with the sisterly people of all the affected countries, especially the sisterly people  of Ethiopia and Kenya. 

The South African diplomatic missions in Addis Ababa and Nairobi have been directed to work with the airline and ascertain whether there were any passengers in the affected plane travelling on South African passports.


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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

President Cyril Ramaphosa has this evening, 11 March 2019, arrived in Harare in the Republic of Zimbabwe where together with His Excellency Emmerson Mnangagwa, President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, will seek to strengthen mutual cooperation and deepen implementation of 45   bilateral agreements during the Bi-National Commission (BNC). 

The two Heads of State will tomorrow, 12 March 2019, co-chair the third session of the South Africa-Zimbabwe Bi-National Commission.

The BNC is preceded by a ministerial session which was held earlier today, 11 March 2019, to consider and adopt the draft agreed minutes and joint communique negotiated by senior officials on 07 and 08 March 2019. Ministers also coordinated the agenda and programme for the Heads of State  session.  

Relations between South Africa and Zimbabwe are conducted through the BNC which was established in 2015.

During the BNC, the two Heads of State will review bilateral cooperation and progress made with the implementation of bilateral agreements. 

South Africa and Zimbabwe are signatories to 45 agreements which cover a wide range of fields, including trade and investment, health, labour, migration, defence, taxation, tourism, scientific and technological cooperation, water and the environment.

In terms of trade, South African exports to Zimbabwe totalled R30,8 billion, while imports from Zimbabwe amounted to R3,6 billion.

South Africa and Zimbabwe enjoy sound bilateral political, economic and social relations underpinned by strong historical ties dating back from the years of the liberation struggle.

Deputy President Mabuza will act as President of the Republic during the President’s absence. 

President Ramaphosa is accompanied by the Ministers of International Relations and Cooperation, Ms Lindiwe Sisulu;  Defence and Military Veterans, Ms Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula; Finance, Mr Tito Mboweni; Trade and Industry, Dr Rob Davies; Home Affairs, Dr Siyabonga Cwele; Transport, Dr Blade Nzimande; Police, Mr Bheki Cele and Deputy Minister of Social Development, Ms Hendrietta Bogopane-Zulu.


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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

1. At the invitation of His Excellency, Cde Emmerson Dambudzo MNANGAGWA, President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, His Excellency, Cde Matamela Cyril RAMAPHOSA, President of the Republic of South Africa, paid an Official Visit to Zimbabwe from 11 - 12 March 2019, for the Third Session of the   Bi-National Commission (BNC) between the two countries. President Ramaphosa was accompanied by five (5) Cabinet Ministers.

2. The Third Session was preceded by the meetings of the Ministers on 11 March 2019 and Senior Officials from 7 - 8 March 2019.

3. During the meeting, the two Heads of State held discussions with a view to further strengthening and deepening bonds of friendship and cooperation between Zimbabwe and South Africa. They also exchanged views on regional, continental and international issues of mutual interest.

4. The two Presidents underlined the close and friendly bilateral ties deeply rooted in shared history, sustained and nourished through growing economic partnership, multifaceted cooperation as well as vibrant people-to-people contacts.

5. The discussions were held in a cordial atmosphere.

6. The two Heads of State welcomed the positive outcomes of the Third BNC held in Harare in 2019. They directed the Ministers and Officials to implement the decisions taken by the Heads of State to further cement the strategic bilateral partnership.

7. The two sides emphasized the importance of expanding trade and investment to drive the strategic engagement forward. In this regard, the Heads of State directed their Finance and Trade Ministers to work together to achieve these goals.

8. Zimbabwe highlighted the key initiatives taken by Government to improve the ease of doing business in the country and further informed on the country’s efforts to simplify and rationalize investment rules with the view to attract foreign direct investment.

9. The relevant Ministries agreed to consider options for expanding the standing Facility arrangement between the respective Central Banks. Other Financing Options beyond this are also being explored (for example a facility from South African private banks to the Zimbabwe private sector and guaranteed by the South African Government, with an appropriate counter-guarantee from the Zimbabwe Government).

10. They also agreed to work together on re-engagement with the International Co-operating Partners in support of Zimbabwe’s economic reform and Debt Arrears Clearance Agenda.

11. Zimbabwe expressed appreciation for the unwavering commitment of the Government and people of South Africa in calling for the removal of illegal and unwarranted sanctions which are stifling the country’s economic recovery programme.

12. The two Leaders unequivocally called for the removal of sanctions on Zimbabwe whose adverse effects have been far-reaching across the political and socio-economic spectrums.

13. The two Presidents emphasized the importance of enhancing strategic bilateral engagement, particularly in defence and security cooperation, to accomplish the common interests of the two countries and their peoples.

14. At the multilateral level, the Commission welcomed the convergence of views on regional, continental and international issues and agreed to further harmonize their positions especially in view of South Africa’s non-permanent membership of the UN Security Council and its upcoming assumption of the Chair of the African Union in 2020.

15. Zimbabwe expressed goodwill and confidence in the successful holding of elections in South Africa which will take place on 8 May 2019.

16. The two leaders expressed their deepest condolences to the Government and the people of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and all other nations on the sad loss of lives in the recent air disaster involving flight ET103.

17. At the conclusion of the BNC, His Excellency, Cde Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa expressed gratitude to His Excellency, Cde Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa and the people of the Republic of Zimbabwe for the warm welcome and hospitality accorded to him and his delegation.

18. His Excellency, President Ramaphosa extended an invitation to his counterpart, His Excellency, President Mnangagwa, to attend the Fourth Session of the BNC, to be hosted by South Africa in 2020, on a date to be agreed and communicated through diplomatic channels.

Harare, 12 March 2019

President Cyril Ramaphosa will receive the multi award-winning Soweto Gospel Choir at the Market Theatre Square in Johannesburg tomorrow, Thursday   14 March 2019.

The Choir recently won its third Grammy Award in February 2019, with the group’s album “Freedom” crowned Best World Music.

The President, accompanied by the Minister of Arts and Culture, Mr Nathi Mthethwa, will have a short interaction with the group during which he will congratulate the choir on their achievement.

Media are invited as follows:
Date: 14 March 2019
Time: 10:00
Venue: Market Theatre Square, corner Lilian Ngoyi and Margaret Singana St, Newtown, Johannesburg

Media wishing to cover the event are requested to liaise with Tsakane Khambane on 082 084 5566 or Petunia Lessing on 066 301 4645.


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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria