Johannesburg- Nedlac convened a Special Executive Council meeting today, Tuesday, 11 April 2017 to assess and respond to the current challenges facing the country following the recent downgrade of the country’s investment status. The Deputy President, Cyril Ramaphosa, chaired the meeting at the invitation of the social partners.
 
The meeting was attended by Nedlac social partners comprising senior leadership of Labour, Business, Community and Government, including Ministers Malusi Gigaba and Mildred Oliphant and Deputy Minister Sfiso Buthelezi including senior government officials.
 
 The social partners welcomed the Minister and the Deputy Minister of Finance who were attending the NEDLAC Special Executive Council in their new capacities. The social partners also took the opportunity to acknowledge the sterling contribution of the outgoing Director-General Fuzile Lungisa.
 
The meeting expressed the hope that the transition to the appointment of the new Director -General will further contribute to the stability of the Treasury.
 
The meeting received a briefing from the Minister of Finance on government’s assessment of the context in which the two recent sovereign downgrades by Standard & Poor’s and Fitch Ratings occurred including steps that should be undertaken to avoid a further downgrade and a return to investment grade.
 
The meeting expressed concern about the impact the downgrades would have on the economy in general and the quality of life especially for the poor and working class, on job creation, sustainability of business, including small businesses and the ability of big companies to grow and create jobs, infrastructure projects and social reforms.
 
Informed by our past experience in dealing with the 2008 challenges of the global economic crisis, the meeting expressed confidence in the ability of Nedlac social partners to act together and constructively assist the country to mitigate the impact of the downgrade.
 
The Nedlac social partners have agreed to establish a high level task team to be briefed by National Treasury, on an ongoing basis, to co-ordinate our all-round efforts to respond to the current challenges.
 
The meeting agreed on the need for a consistent and confidence-building message that demonstrates South Africa’s commitment to accelerated inclusive growth.

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

MORIA - Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa will later today, Sunday, 16 April 2017 join thousands of congregants and church members of the St. Engenas Zion Christian Church (ZCC) in a prayer service at Moria, to celebrate Easter Sunday.
 
The Deputy President is the Patron of the Moral Regeneration Movement aimed at instilling high moral values in our society with particular reference to the youth and as part of contributing to social cohesion and the building of a peaceful, non-racial, non-sexist democratic society.
 
In this regard, the Christian Church and indeed the entire religious formations of our country have and continue to play a major role in efforts aimed at the reconstruction and development of the soul of our South African society and thus assist in laying a firm foundation for a caring society and the creation of a better life for all South Africans.
 
We believe that only working jointly and collectively with various sectors of our society, including religious formations, can we tackle the social ills that are currently afflicting our society. Indeed as South Africa our history is replete with examples of how in acting in unison and collectively we have been able to tackle and triumphed over issues that may have appeared intractable.
 
As Deputy President Ramaphosa joins the St. Engenas ZCC prayer service, his thoughts and prayers will reach out to all other denomination across the country that will equally be joined in spirt in celebrating Easter Sunday.
 
Equally, the Deputy President will take the opportunity to remind those who will be returning home following the Easter holidays to drive carefully, cooperate with the law enforcement agencies, observe the rules of the road and ensure we arrive alive!
 
Other members of the cabinet including President Jacob Zuma joined various church services across the country in celebrating Easter Weekend celebrations.
 
Media is invited as follows:
 
13h00 - Arrival of Deputy President Ramaphosa and courtesy call on the Bishop
14h00 - Church service
16h30 - End of church service
 
* Photo-opportunity
* Doorstop with media by the Deputy President

 
Issued by Ronnie Mamoepa at 082-990-4853

The Presidency
Pretoria

Pretoria- Minister of Finance Malusi Gigaba today, Tuesday 18 April 2017, briefed Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa in Pretoria on his scheduled visit to the United States of America (USA) for the forthcoming International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank Spring Meetings and further interactions with rating agencies. Deputy President Ramaphosa is the Chairperson of the Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) on reform of state-owned enterprises (SOE).
 
“Well the Minister (Gigaba) is going to the Spring IMF meetings and this (today’s meeting) is a continuous internal government briefings about  what the Minister is going to be doing. We are very very supportive of the Minister and his team as they are going to showcase South Africa to the world”, said Deputy President Ramaphosa
 
“Particularly as the new Minister this is really great and exciting for us because the world will be seeing the new Minister and team that has always handled these matters. This is great and this is what we were talking about’’ concluded Deputy President Ramaphosa
 
The Deputy President and Minister Gigaba reiterated South Africa’s commitment to inclusive growth, poverty alleviation and speedy reform of state owned enterprises.
 
The meeting in Pretoria today follows the recent briefing by Minister Gigaba to domestic investors  as well as the NEDLAC Special Executive Committee chaired by Deputy President Ramaphosa held in Johannesburg.
 
The NEDLAC meeting was held to assess and respond to the current challenges facing South Africa following the recent decisions of two rating agencies to downgrade the country to sub-investment grade.
 
Building upon past experiences particularly in dealing with the 2008 global economic crisis, the NEDLAC meeting expressed confidence in the ability of the social partners – government, business, labour and communities - collectively to act together and constructively assist the country to mitigate the impact of the downgrade.
 
A high level NEDLAC task team to be briefed by National Treasury was established and will meet regularly to co-ordinate South Africa’s all-round efforts to respond to the current challenges.

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

SANDTON – Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa will later today, Wednesday 19 April 2017, deliver a keynote address at the Black Business Council (BBC) Drive Economic Recovery Engagement Dinner at the Hilton Hotel in Sandton, Johannesburg.

The event will be attended by black chief executives and captains of industry with the objective of:

 . Developing a detailed action plan for the Black Business Council; and,
 . Pursuing the commitment of business black business to collaborate in driving economic recovery and radical economic transformation.

In this regard, government continues to provide support to Black Industrialists through research and innovation for commercialisation of new technologies, quality standards and productivity support.

Furthermore, government has established the Black Industrialists Programme to enable black industrialists to access strategic and targeted industrial sectors and value chains.

So far, more than 27 black industrialists have been supported in areas such as agro-processing, plastic and pharmaceuticals, electro technical equipment and metals sectors. As a result more jobs were created across the sectors.

Media is invited as follows:

Date: Wednesday, 19 April 2017
Time: 19H00
Venue: Hilton Hotel Sandton, Johannesburg

Issued by Ronnie Mamoepa: 082-990-4853


For enquiries and accreditation please contact, Sam Bopape on 082- 318-5251

The Presidency
Pretoria

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