President Cyril Ramaphosa has directed the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) to investigate multiple allegations of maladministration, improper or unlawful conduct and intentional or negligent loss of public money concerning the National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS).

The NHLS is the largest diagnostic pathology service in South Africa with the responsibility of supporting the national and provincial health departments in the delivery of healthcare.

The Service provides laboratory and related public health services to over 80% of the population through a national network of laboratories.

The allegations of wrongdoing pertain to the period between 1 July 2015 and the present.
In a proclamation in terms of the Special Investigating Units and Special Tribunals Act of 1996 (Act 74 of 1996), the President has directed that   allegations be investigated and that civil proceedings emanating from such investigation be adjudicated upon.
The SIU investigation will cover:

 • the provision of end user computer hardware and related maintenance and support services for a period of three years in terms of Tender RFB 027/15- 16;
 • the provision of a multi-protocol label switching wide area network (MPLS WAN) service to the NHLS for a period of three years in terms of Tender RFB  030/15-16;
• the leasing of motor vehicles for the NHLS for a period of five  years in terms of Tender RFP 001/15-16;
• the replacement of water, sewer and drainage pipes in terms of Tender RFP1455602;
• the  renovation of the library at the National Insitute of Occupational  Health in Braamfontein in  terms of Tender RFQ 1438906;
• the renovation of the virology laboratory at Charlotte Maxeke Academic Hospital in terms of Tender RFQ 1481824;
• the renovation of toilets at the National Institute for Communicable Diseases in terms of Tender RFQ 0695750;
• professional services for the construction of a refectory at the National Institute for Communicable Diseases in terms of Tender RFQ 1409815;
• professional services  for  the design,  project  management  and the certification of renovations and structural changes to the Ermelo Laboratory in terms of Tender RFQ 706002;
• the replacement of the waterproofing at the Centre for Enteric Diseases in terms of Tender RFQ 0961241;
• the renovation of the Centre for Respiratory Diseases and Meningitis in terms of Tender RFQ 1486702;
• professional  services  for the design,  project  management  and the certification of renovations and structural changes to the Diagnostic Media Products Building in terms of Tender RFQ 1351823; and
• construction of a kitchen and function area in terms of Tender RFB031/16-17, which was re-advertised as Tender RFB062/15- 16.

Any unlawful or improper conduct by the employees or officials of the NHLS or applicable service providers will be examined by the SIU.


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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

President Cyril Ramaphosa has authorised the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) to investigate alleged wrongdoing within the Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality or by service providers in the city’s procurement of or contracting for vehicles - known as the “red fleet” - from Fire Raiders (Pty) Ltd in a   2014 tender valued at R86,4 million.

Whistleblowers have alleged that while the costs associated with the purchase of the “red fleet” were paid over to the service provider, delivery was   not effected.

The President has referred allegations to the SIU in terms of Section 2(1) of the Special Investigating Units and Special Tribunals Act of 1996 (Act No 74   of 1996).

The SIU has been authorised to investigate any alleged serious maladministration in connection with the affairs of the municipality; improper or unlawful conduct by employees or officials of the municipality; unlawful appropriation or expenditure of public money or property, and unlawful, irregular or unapproved acquisitive acts, transactions, measures or practices that have a bearing on state property.

The SIU will probe whether municipal employees or officials or contractors or service providers had acted in a corrupt manner; engaged in fraudulent, unauthorized, irregular or fruitless and wasteful expenditure, or had acted in a corrupt manner or unduly benefited themselves or other persons or entities.

The investigation will cover the period between 1 January 2009 and the present will look into suspected intentional or negligent loss of public money or damage to public property; possible offences under the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act and unlawful or improper conduct which has caused or may cause serious harm to the interests of the public.

These terms of reference will apply also to allegations of wrongdoing regarding repairs and maintenance work at fire stations in the City of Johannesburg; the procurement of closed-circuit television equipment and related services from SOS Protecsure National Division CC, and the procurement of or contracting for office accommodation and furniture for the city’s Integrated Operations Centre.


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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

On behalf of the Government and the people of South Africa, President Cyril Ramaphosa sent a message of condolence to the government and the people of New Zealand following the massacre that took place at two mosques in Christchurch on 15 March 2019.

“The Government and the people of South Africa convey their deepest condolences to the families who have lost their loved ones and wish all the injured a speedy recovery.

The South African Diplomatic Mission in Wellington has been directed to provide consular assistance and support to any South Africans affected” said  President Ramaphosa.


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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

President Cyril Ramaphosa will tomorrow, Wednesday, 20 March 2019, deliver the keynote address at the Zion Christian Church’s handover ceremony of their refurbished and extended facilities of the Marobathota High School and Evelyn Lekganyane Clinic in Zion City, Boyne in the   Limpopo Province. 

This initiative is a demonstration of active collaboration between government and social partners to realize the five urgent tasks identified by President Ramaphosa in the State of the Nation Address earlier this year. These tasks include improving the education system and developing required skills as well   as improving the conditions of life for all South Africans, especially the poor.

Media details
Date:  20 March 2019
Time: 14h00
Venue: Marobathota High School, Zion City, Boyne, outside Polokwane, Limpopo Province
RSVP: Terrence Manase on 082 338 6707  


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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

President Cyril Ramaphosa will deliver the keynote address at the 25th commemoration of Human Rights Day tomorrow, Thursday, 21 March 2019.

The national event will take place at the George Thabe Sports Ground in Sharpeville, Vereeniging, Gauteng, under the theme “The Year of Indigenous Languages: Promoting and Deepening a Human Rights Culture”. 
 
Human Rights Day has its origins in the events that unfolded at Sharpeville and at Langa in the Western Cape on 21 March 1960, when apartheid security forces cracked down on peaceful marches that opposed pass laws that had been imposed on black South Africans.
 
On that day, an anti-pass march at the Sharpeville police station came to a brutal end with the mass killing of peaceful protesters. Later that day, in   Langa, police baton-charged and fired teargas at the gathered protesters, shooting three and injuring several others.
 
The Sharpeville Massacre, as the event has become known, signalled the start of armed resistance in South Africa and prompted worldwide condemnation of South Africa's apartheid policies. 

Since the advent of democratic governance in South Africa 25 years ago, Human Rights Month has been leveraged as a vehicle to foster social cohesion, nation building, national identity, socio-economic development and to combat racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and all related intolerances.
 
The objective of Human Rights Day 2019 is to amplify efforts to preserve, promote and revitalise endangered languages, to affirm that South Africa is committed to human rights for all, and to emphasise that the Bill of Rights promotes linguistic diversity and encourages respect for all language rights.
 
Media Programme is as follows:

Part 1

Wreath-laying Ceremony
Time: 09h50
Venue: Sharpeville Memorial Site

Part 2

Keynote Address by President Ramaphosa
Time: 11h30                          
Venue: George Thabe Sports Ground

RSVP: Nangamso Gxaba - 072 321 6355

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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

President Cyril Ramaphosa has intensified government’s campaign against corruption and state capture with a proclamation establishing an Investigating Directorate in the Office of the National Director of Public Prosecutions to address allegations emerging from current and recent commissions of inquiry, and corruption-related crimes in general.

President Ramaphosa has proclaimed the establishment of the Investigating Directorate in terms of Section 7(1) of the National Prosecuting Authority Act, 1998 (Act No.32 of 1998). This has been done on the recommendation of the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services, the  Minister of Police and the National Director of Public Prosecutions.

The new directorate will investigate common law offences including fraud, forgery, uttering, theft and any offence involving dishonesty.

The directorate will also attend to statutory offences including but not limited to contraventions of:

• The Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act 6 of 2000;
• The Prevention of Organised Crime Act 121 of 1988;
• The Protection of Constitutional Democracy against Terrorist and Related Activities Act 33 of 2004;
• The Public Finance Management Act 1 of 1999;
• The Municipal Management Act 56 of 2003;
• The Financial Intelligence Centre Act 38 of 2001; and
• Any other statutory offence involving dishonesty.

In addition, the directorate will investigate any unlawful activities relating to serious, high profile or complex corruption including but not limited to offences or criminal or unlawful activities arising from the following commissions and inquiries:

• The Zondo Commission of Inquiry into Allegations of State Capture, Corruption and Fraud in the Public Sector including Organs of State promulgated under presidential proclamation No. 3 of 2018 in Government Gazette No. 41403, 25 January 2018;

• The Nugent Commission of Inquiry into Tax Administration and Governance by the South African Revenue Service (SARS) established by presidential proclamation No 17 of 2018 published in Government Gazette No. 41562 constituted on 24 May 2018;

• The Mpati Commission of Inquiry into Allegations for Impropriety regarding the Public Investment Corporation established by presidential proclamation No. 30 of 2018, as published in Government Gazette No. 41979 of 17 October 2018; and

• any other serious, high profile or complex corruption case referred to the new directorate by the National Director, in  accordance with Section 28(1)(b) of the NPA Act.


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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

President Cyril Ramaphosa has directed the Minister of Transport, Dr Blade Nzimande, to urgently resolve the challenges plaguing commuter rail agency, the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa).

The President held a meeting with Minister Nzimande at Tuynhuys in Cape Town on Tuesday 19 March 2019 following the President’s first-hand experience of the difficulties regularly experienced by commuters when the President boarded a train from Mabopane to the Tshwane CBD earlier   this week.

Among the challenges raised at the meeting was the deterioration of infrastructure and unacceptable delays of train services, which often result in commuters arriving late for work, school and other commitments. Passenger and driver safety also received attention.

The President stressed the need for a safe, reliable and integrated public transport system to support the country’s economic development aspirations. 

While appreciating that Prasa is currently implementing one of the largest urban rail modernisation programmes in the world, the agency’s failure to implement its turnaround plans and, in the process, pay due attention to critical rail operational functions, is a cause for concern. 

The President has directed immediate action to strengthen governance by stabilising the leadership cohort at Board level and filling critical vacancies, including that of the Group Chief Executive Officer. 

The President has also called for practical and urgent action to bridge the gap between the turnaround strategies developed and their day-to-day implementation. He directed that a capable and skilled team of specialists should be established to conduct due diligence on the rail network to determine the extent of challenges.

Urgent action is required to accelerate the implementation of the R172 billion modernisation programme meant to eliminate challenges occasioned by aged infrastructure. 

Minister Nzimande is expected to make announcements in due course on the delivery of these commitments and other actions to be undertaken to restore service performance at Prasa.

The President has further welcomed the imminent introduction of 24 new train sets in Gauteng to augment the 18 new sets delivered last year, emphasising that this intervention will go a long way to improve train availability and performance.

The increase in rolling stock availability from 160 to 260 sets during the current financial year is expected to alleviate the burden in other parts of the country.

President Ramaphosa accepts that there are longstanding challenges at Prasa that will require substantial resources and several years to address, but believes there are immediate steps that can and will be taken to increase efficiency and improve the daily experiences of commuters.

President Ramaphosa said: “There is no reason why commuters should have to endure frequent delays or feel unsafe on our trains. This is a problem that we can work together to solve.”


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

Issued by:The Presidency
Pretoria

President Cyril Ramaphosa will be handing over title deeds to more than 50 households of Ebenhaeser, Beeswater in the Western Cape Province, this Saturday, 23 March 2019.

Taking place under the theme “Restoring dignity through land reform” the settling and finalising of land claims is part of the Land Reform programme which is part of the transformative principles of our Constitution.

The President will be accompanied by the Minister of Rural Development and Land Reform, Maite Nkoana-Mashabane to hand over title deeds for the  3990 hectares of 178 Vanrhynsdorp Beeswater commercial farmland. The beneficiaries are the direct descendants of the Griqua Community that  established themselves on the Farm since 1926.

The community entered into a lease agreement with the then landowner in 1938-1940 but due to racial laws and practices, did not have the necessary permit to purchase the land.  The community of Beeswater was forcibly removed from an undivided portion of the remainder Farm Vanrhysdorp, situated on the Western side of the Zoutrivier in 1960. The community was eventually relocated to the Coloured Area of Vredendal in 1981.

The Beeswater Communal Property Association have indicated their desire to resuscitate livestock and or game farming, possible agricultural activities as the first claim settled in the Western Cape to direct descendants of the indigenous Khoi community a cultural village and ultimately to resettle their community to the land that is rich in cultural history.

Earlier this month the President officiated over the Gauteng Land Restitution Ceremony in Mamelodi, east of Pretoria. The ceremony marked the successful claims by 10 Gauteng communities who were presented with title deeds and financial compensation.

The Western Cape (Ebenhaeser) Presidential Handover Ceremony is scheduled to take place as follows:
Date: Saturday, 23 March 2019
Time: 10H00
Venue: Ebenhaeser, Matzikama Local Municipality, West Coast District

Media who intend covering the event should liaise with Tsakane Khambane on 082 084 5566


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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

President Cyril Ramaphosa has expressed his deep sadness at the passing away of Princess Irene Thandekile Buthelezi, the spouse of Inkatha Freedom Party President Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi.

The President’s thoughts and prayers are with Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi and children Prince Nthuthukoyezwe Zuzifa, Princess Phumzile Nokuphiwa  and Princess Sibuyiselwe Angela, as well the family’s many grandchildren.

Following a long illness, Princess Irene Buthelezi passed away at KwaPhindangene, KwaZulu-Natal, early on Monday 25 March 2019. She was 89 years of age.

President Ramaphosa has also extended his condolences to the Inkatha Freedom
Party by whom Princess Irene was held in the highest esteem.

President Ramaphosa said: “On behalf of the government and people of South Africa, I offer Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi my deep sympathy at the loss of a partner, soul mate, confidante and advisor of many decades’ standing. The loss of one so close and special at this late stage in life is a great sadness.

“It is my wish that Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi and his family will reflect with fondness and pride on the many years during which Princess Irene Buthelezi served as a tower of strength to her family and community”. 


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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

President Cyril Ramaphosa will tomorrow, 26 March 2019, deliver his welcome address at the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Solidarity Conference with the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic or Western Sahara.

The conference follows a decision taken at the 37th Summit of the SADC Heads of State and Government, held in Pretoria in 2017 to convene the Solidarity Conference with Western Sahara. It will be officially opened by the Chairperson of SADC, His Excellency Dr Hage G. Geingob, President of   the Republic of Namibia.

The SADC Solidarity Conference with Western Sahara seeks, among other things, to reaffirm the right of the people of Western Sahara to self-  determination in line with the principles of the Charter of the United Nations (UN) and applicable documents of the Organisation of the African Unity  (OAU) and African Union (AU) as well as champion the implementation of the UN resolutions and OAU and AU decisions to allow the people of Western Sahara to exercise their right to self-determination.

At the end of the conference the SADC Heads of State and Government and participating Heads of State and Government from other regions as well as political party formations and other organizations are expected to issue a Declaration on Western Sahara.

The SADC Solidarity Conference with Western Sahara will also be attended by the former presidents and international organizations.

The conference is preceded by a one day meeting of the SADC Ministers and Ministers from other participating countries and regions as well civil society organizations and political party formations currently taking place in Pretoria.

Details are as follows:
Date: Tuesday, 26 March 2019
Time: 09h00 (Media to arrive at 08h00)
Venue: The Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO), OR Tambo Building,  460 Soutpansberg Rd, Rietondale, Pretoria

NOTE: Only accredited media will be allowed access into DIRCO Building


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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria