President Cyril Ramaphosa has offered his best wishes to members of the Muslim and Jewish communities as they observe the beginning of a new year on religious calendars.

The President wishes Muslims Muharram Mubarak and wishes the Jewish community I’shana Tova as they commence their respective new years.

President Ramaphosa said: “All South Africans share in this celebration and this moment of rededication to the values of humanity and social solidarity that underpin these significant global faiths".

“As the new year begins, let us pray for a year of peace, happiness, unity and well-being of all in South Africa as we strive to grow SA together.”


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

President Cyril Ramaphosa will on Tuesday, 3 September 2019, hold discussions with The Elders, an eminent group of global human rights and peace campaigners and former heads of government first convened by President Nelson Mandela, on South Africa’s introduction of National   Health Insurance (NHI) as part of achieving universal health coverage.

The Deputy Chair of the Elders, Graca Machel, Gro Harlem Brundtland, former Prime Minister of Norway and Director-General of the World Health Organization, and Ricardo Lagos, former President of Chile, will visit South Africa as part of their now three-year-old global campaign in support of  universal health care.

The World Health Organisation defines universal health care as meaning all people and communities can use the promotive, preventive, curative, rehabilitative and palliative health services they need, of sufficient quality to be effective. At the same time, the use of these services should not expose users to financial hardship.

The Elders was founded by the late Former President Nelson Mandela in 2007 and have since 2016 visited countries including Tanzania, Indonesia, India and the United States to advance their belief that publicly-funded health care is the best way to meet the United Nations’ overall Sustainable Development Goal on health, and particularly to improve the health outcomes of women, girls and adolescents.

The Elders are due to meet with Health Minister Zweli Mkhize, and to engage with stakeholders, government leaders, health sector leaders and civil society in an effort to understand South Africa’s journey to Universal Health Coverage in relation to the introduction of National Health Insurance (NHI).

Parliament is currently engaged in public consultation on the National Health Insurance Bill which envisages access to health care based on values of justice, fairness and social solidarity.

On 3 September the delegation will meet the Portfolio Committee on Health at Parliament and will have discussions with President Ramaphosa on how best South Africa can introduce health reforms that will lead to universal health coverage.
The Elders will address media following their engagement with the President.

Members of the media are invited to the media briefing as follows:
Time: 13h30 for 14h15
Venue:Media Centre, Tuynhuys, Cape Town

Media RSVPs:Nangamso Gxaba on Nangamso@presidency.gov.za or 072 321 6355


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

President Cyril Ramaphosa and Deputy President David Mabuza today, Monday 2 September 2019, held their first monthly meeting with the leaders of business, labour and communities to tackle the country’s employment crisis.

The Jobs Summit Presidential Working Committee has been set up to accelerate the implementation of measures adopted at last year’s Presidential Jobs Summit to create employment, curtail job losses, provide training and work experience opportunities and unblock regulatory   and other hurdles that inhibit employment.

President Ramaphosa expects the monthly meeting of social partners to be a place where concerns can be raised in a frank and constructive manner  and where people can be held to account.

“In setting up these monthly meetings, we were motivated by the scale and the urgency of the crisis we are facing, and by the realisation that if we don’t move more quickly and with greater effect, our economy will lose more jobs than we create,” President Ramaphosa said.

“We reached important and far-reaching agreements at the Jobs Summit last year, but their effectiveness depends entirely on implementation. We know that despite the economic headwinds that we face – both globally and locally – we have the means as these four social partners to turn our economy around and create jobs,” he said.

In addition to the President and Deputy President, the committee comprises three senior leaders each from government, labour, business and community. It will meet at the beginning of each month to review progress in the implementation of Jobs Summit undertakings.

The committee agreed that each meeting should address a particular sector of the economy where intervention is needed to prevent job losses and stimulate far greater job creation. Representatives of employers and unions in each sector will be invited to make presentations on developments, challenges and opportunities.

Some of the sectors that have been initially prioritised by the committee include construction; clothing, textiles, footwear and leather, and metals and machinery.

Over the next few months, the committee will also address key constraints to greater investment and growth, such as the cost of doing business, security of electricity supply and policy uncertainty.


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

President Cyril Ramaphosa has described the figures released by Statistics South Africa that the economy grew by 3.1 per cent from April to June 2019 as a promising sign of improved economic performance.

The Stats SA figures come on the eve of South Africa’s hosting of the World Economic Forum Africa in Cape Town.

President Ramaphosa said: “We are delighted with the announcement that economic performance was much better (in Quarter 2) than in the earlier quarter.”

The President added that this growth had been achieved in various economic sectors on which government would focus in future.

“This is good news that is sorely needed, as we will be talking more and more about opportunities for South Africa, having adopted the Africa Continental Free Trade Agreement, which is due to be a major boost for the economic fortunes of our country across a number of sectors.”

The President said South Africa would leverage the free trade agreement, that provides access to a market with a population of 1,2 billion people, to “catapult various sectors of our economy to higher levels of growth”.

President Ramaphosa said South Africa’s hosting of WEF Africa was a platform for a “much broader, Africa-centric look at economic growth beyond our own shores, and how, through trade and investment, we can take up various opportunities that lie ahead”.

The President also invited South Africans to join in the discussion around the economic policy paper published recently by the National Treasury.

He said all perspectives and comments on the paper would be welcomed- and will enrich the debate around the appropriate economic strategy South Africa should be pursuing in the current climate.


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

President Cyril Ramaphosa has commended the country’s law enforcement authorities for their action which led to the arrests of two suspects linked to the brutal murders of University of Cape Town student Uyinene Mrwetyana and SA boxing champion Leighandre Jegels.
 
Mrwetyana’s alleged killer was arrested and charged with rape, murder and defeating the ends of justice. The man suspected of killing Jegels was also arrested and has since died in hospital.
 
The murder of these two young women, one at the hands of a stranger and the other killed by a man who was reportedly her boyfriend, remain a stark  reminder that the women of South Africa are not safe, either in their homes or in the streets.
 
On Monday, 2 September 2019, the body of a 14 year old girl was found in a backyard in Cape Town, adding to a grim body count of murdered women and girls across the country.
 
“This is a very dark period for us as a country. The assaults, rapes and murders of South African women are a stain on our national conscience.” President Ramaphosa said.
 
The President added: “We have just commemorated Women’s Month. Sixty three years after the women of 1956 marched for the right to live in freedom, women in this country live in fear - not of the apartheid police but of their brothers, sons, fathers and uncles. We should all hang our heads in shame”
 
In 2019, The Presidency signed the Declaration on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide with various civil society formations and has directed that urgent attention be given to its implementation, particularly on immediate measures around support to victims and access to shelters and places of safety.
 
The President has sent his deepest condolences to the Mrwetyana and Jegels families and urges all South Africans to keep them in their thoughts during this very traumatic time. The President will be meeting with the leadership of the police later on today to be briefed on, amongst others, steps being undertaken to stem the tide of gender based violence in the country.
 
 
Media enquiries: Khusela Diko, Spokesperson to the President – 072 854 5707
 
Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

President Cyril Ramaphosa will lead the South African delegation to the World Economic Forum on Africa (WEF Africa) taking place from 4 to 6 September 2019 at the Cape Town International Convention Centre.

Held under the theme “Shaping Inclusive Growth and Shared Futures in the Fourth Industrial Revolution”, the Forum will be attended by Heads of State and Government from the continent and the world, as well as global leaders from business and civil society.

Delegates will engage and share best practices on various ways to grow their economies.

The President commences his programme this morning , 04 September 2019, on the margins of WEF Africa by addressing an interactive breakfast  session hosted by Brand South Africa under the theme ‘Enhancing the ease of doing business in South Africa’.  The session will take place at the 15 on Orange Hotel.

The seminar forms part of South Africa’s effort to secure domestic and international investment of $100 billion in five years. This engagement will allow potential investors to engage with South African government and business representatives on progress towards adopting and implementing policies that will enhance the ease of doing business in South Africa.

In the evening, President Ramaphosa will attend and address the WEF Africa Country Dinner South Africa to be held at the Westin Hotel.

On 05 September 2019, President Ramaphosa will participate in sessions known as Informal Gathering of World Leaders, where discussions will focus on “Charting Africa’s path in a Multiconceptual World” and “Shaping Inclusive Growth and Shared Futures in the Fourth Industrial Revolution”.

South Africa will also host the Forum’s Mokete Cultural Soiree themed "Africa, Ikhaya lam", which will be attended by Heads of State and Government as well as senior business leaders.

WEF Africa is a platform for South Africa to profile the ways in which the country has embraced the opportunities presented by the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) and has begun to prepare for challenges arising from the interplay between technology and people.

South Africa will also learn from countries that have excelled in using technology and the Fourth Industrial Revolution to advance their economies.

A wide range of issues will be discussed at the meeting, including the future of state-owned enterprises; infrastructure; promoting female leadership; investing in mental health and achieving universal health coverage; Africa's climate change challenges; fighting financial crime; trade; education, energy; building Africa’s digital economy and contributing to inclusive growth, and reskilling workers for the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

Team South Africa’s objectives at WEFA 2019 are to:

- Position South Africa as a destination of choice with a large presence of successful domestic and multinational investors who benefit from the country’s location, infrastructure and logistics, and
- Profile investment opportunities in diverse sectors of South Africa’s economy. 

The President and his delegation will further highlight that South Africa has prudent macro-economic policies; is restructuring its state owned enterprises to position them to grow the economy; is striving to improve its competitiveness through a commitment to create an enabling environment for trade and investment; remains committed to innovations and technologies that will advance the country and the continent into the 4th Industrial Revolution, and is also strongly committed to the African development agenda.

The President will be joined by the Deputy President David Mabuza, the Ministers of Finance; Health; Trade and Industry; Small Business Development; International Relations and Cooperation; Human Settlements; Higher Education and Training; Communications and Digital Technologies; Transport; Public Works and Infrastructure; Environment, Forestry and Fisheries and Public Enterprises.


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

President Cyril Ramaphosa has described the confrontation outside Brackenfell High School in Cape Town as deeply regrettable, and has called on all parties involved to act responsibly.

On Monday, 09 November 2020, a violent confrontation broke out between a group of parents from the school and members of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF). 

The EFF members were protesting against alleged racism at the school.

“At this most important and difficult time for matriculants not only at Brackenfell High School but around the country, the spectacle of parents and protestors coming to blows at the school gate is deeply unfortunate,” President Ramaphosa said.

“It is the right of every South African to engage in peaceful protest, and any actions to suppress the right to freedom of expression, particularly through violence and intimidation, must be roundly condemned,” the President said.

“What happened today brings back hurtful memories of a past we should never seek to return to,” President Ramaphosa said.

The President added that allegations of racism levelled against the school needed to be urgently investigated.

“We should be ever mindful of the extent to which our actions, both publicly and in private, undermine the cherished principle of non-racialism upon which our democracy was founded,” President Ramaphosa said.

The President has called on all parties concerned to exercise restraint and to resolve their differences peacefully and through dialogue.

“We should not allow what has transpired at Brackenfell High School to be used by any groupings who want to cause racial polarisation,” the President said.


Media enquiries: Tyrone Seale, Acting Spokesperson to the President – media@presidency.gov.za 

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

President Cyril Ramaphosa calls for restraint in Brackenfell 10 Nov

President Cyril Ramaphosa will address the nation on the matter of public and gender-based violence in a message that will be broadcast on radio and television at 18h00 today, Thursday 5 September 2019.

The broadcast follows a personal address by the President earlier today to thousands of protesters who had marched to Parliament to express their anger at gender-based violence.

The President welcomed the protesters’ demands for tougher measures against men who abuse women and assured demonstrators that the criminal  justice system will deal more harshly with perpetrators.


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 people of South Africa expressed his sincere condolences to the people and government of the Republic of Zimbabwe following the passing of Founding President Robert Gabriel Mugabe.

President Mugabe, Zimbabwe’s first post-independence President, passed away in Singapore at the age of 95.

Paying tribute to President Mugabe, President Ramaphosa said: “South Africans join the people and government of Zimbabwe in mourning the passing of a liberation fighter and champion of Africa’s cause against colonialism.

“Under President Mugabe’s leadership, Zimbabwe’s sustained and valiant struggle against colonialism inspired our own struggle against apartheid and  built in us the hope that one day South Africa too would be free.

“During the decades of our own struggle, Zimbabwe’s liberation movement supported our own liberation movement to fight oppression on multiple fronts. After Zimbabwe achieved independence, the apartheid state brutalised and violated Zimbabwe as punishment for supporting our own Struggle.

“Many Zimbabweans paid with their lives so that we could be free. We will never forget or dishonor this sacrifice and solidarity.”

Early in his life, President Mugabe won a scholarship to Fort Hare University where he obtained the first of his seven academic degrees.

President Ramaphosa also acknowledged the role President Mugabe had played in advancing regional solidarity, integration and development through Zimbabwe’s participation in the Southern African Development Community.


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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

President Cyril Ramaphosa has expressed his sadness at the passing away of former Springbok rugby wing Chester Williams who passed away today, Friday 6 September 2019, at the age of 49.

Chester Williams earned national and international acclaim with his contribution, alongside that of recently deceased wing James Small, to South  Africa’s triumph in the historic 1995 Rugby World Cup.

Most recently, Mr Williams established himself as a highly successful coach who led the University of the Western Cape to victory in the 2017 Varsity    Shield.

President Ramaphosa has offered his sincerest condolences to the family, friends, former teammates and teams with whom Williams shared his life.

“Chester Williams’s death at this tender age leaves all South Africans bereft of a rugby hero and national role model who still had a great deal to offer his sport and his country,” said President Ramaphosa.

“We will miss the humility and joy of life with which Chester conducted himself during an illustrious career that inspired hundreds of thousands of South African children who had previously been excluded from rugby, to take up the game.

“We salute him for the extraordinary achievements he recorded in a life that has sadly ended prematurely.”
 

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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria