Speaker of the National Assembly, Honourable Thoko Didiza,
Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces, Honourable Refilwe Mtshweni-Tsipane,
Deputy President Paul Mashatile,
Former President Thabo Mbeki,
Former Deputy President and Former Speaker, Baleka Mbete,
Former Deputy President, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka,
Former Chairperson of the NCOP, Amos Masondo,
Chief Justice Raymond Zondo,
Deputy Chief Justice Mandisa Maya,
Executive Mayor of Cape Town, Geordin Hill-Lewis,
Heads of Institutions Supporting Democracy,
Esteemed Member of the Order of Ikhamanga, Dr Esther Mahlangu,
Distinguished Guests and Eminent Persons,
Members of the Diplomatic Corps,
Honourable Members of Parliament,

Fellow South Africans, 

We gather here in the province of the Western Cape in the aftermath of ferocious and unforgiving storms that caused damage to homes, businesses and infrastructure, affecting tens of thousands of people across the province.

In recent days, we have witnessed runaway fires in KwaZulu-Natal, in which 14 people, including six firefighters, lost their lives. The fires also caused the destruction of homes, livestock and grazing land.

The thoughts of all South Africans are with all those people who have been subjected to these terrible weather conditions as they work to recover and rebuild. 
Honourable Members,

I have asked the Speaker of the National Assembly and the Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces to convene this joint sitting to formally open Parliament on a day that is full of meaning and significance. 

Today, we celebrate the birth of the founding father of our nation and a global icon of peace, justice and reconciliation, President Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela. 

Across our country and across the world, millions of people are marking this day with deeds of service and solidarity. 

Through their actions they are giving life to a fundamental truth: that we derive our humanity from the humanity of others. 

Umuntu ngumuntu ngabantu. Motho ke motho ka batho. 

Muthu ndi muthu nga vhangwe vhathu. Munhu yi munhu yi vanhu. 

We are reminded on this day that we have a responsibility to each other; and that our wellbeing and our happiness cannot be separated from those of our fellow woman and man. 

We are reminded that as we strive to progress and to prosper, we have a responsibility to ensure that no-one is left behind. 

We South Africans are a diverse nation, with different histories, beliefs, cultures and languages. 

Yet we are one people. And we share a common destiny. 

It is this common destiny that the people of South Africa have charged this Parliament and this Government to consolidate and advance. 

Exactly 50 days ago, the people of South Africa went to the polls to decide the future of our country. Ahead of the elections they had expressed their concerns and their hopes, their wishes and their expectations. 

Through their votes, they determined that the leaders of our country should set aside their political differences and come together as one to overcome the severe challenges that confront our nation. 

They sent a clear message that without unity, cooperation and partnership, our efforts to end poverty, unemployment and inequality will not succeed. 

Guided by this directive from the people, political parties from across the political spectrum have elected to establish a Government of National Unity. 

In an act that is unprecedented in our democratic history, ten political parties represented here in our Parliament have agreed to craft a common programme to build a better, more equal and more just South Africa. 

They have come together, despite their differences, because they share a commitment to a nation that is united, prosperous and inclusive. 

Through a Statement of Intent, the parties have made a firm commitment to respect the Constitution and the rule of law and to promote accountability, transparency, integrity and good governance. 

They have agreed on a Minimum Programme as the foundation of the work of the Government of National Unity. 

The priority actions that arise from this minimum programme received the full support of the recent Cabinet Lekgotla, which brought together newly-appointed ministers, deputy ministers and premiers. Local government representatives, directors-general and other key officials were also in attendance. 

These are the priority actions that we outline this evening. 

Cabinet will be convening a further strategy session to consider the Medium-Term Development Plan, which will translate these priorities into a detailed plan and interventions that government will implement over the next five years. 

The Medium-Term Development Plan will set out a well-defined vision and strategic plan that outlines clear goals and includes specific, measurable objectives and a roadmap for achieving them. These goals will be properly aligned with the Budget, which will support the implementation of these objectives.

In all this work, the National Development Plan Vision 2030 remains the defining blueprint for our country’s growth and development. 

We will also draw inspiration from the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and the African Union’s Agenda 2063 in crafting our Medium-Term Development Plan.

The Cabinet Lekgotla underscored the determination of all members of the Government of National Unity to work together to advance the interests of all South Africans. 

It noted with appreciation the commitment and great enthusiasm with which the newly-appointed Ministers and Deputy Ministers as well as Premiers have embarked on their duties. 

Fellow South Africans, 

Despite the achievements of 30 years of democracy, and the work undertaken over the last five years to rebuild our economy and our society, millions of South Africans remain poor, unemployed and live in a highly unequal society. 

For a decade and a half, our economy has barely grown. 

The circumstances of the South African people today require that we act together as the Government of National Unity and all key role players in our country with great urgency, boldly and decisively. 

The Government of National Unity has resolved to dedicate the next five years to actions that will advance three strategic priorities: 

Firstly, to drive inclusive growth and job creation. 

Secondly, to reduce poverty and tackle the high cost of living. 

Thirdly, to build a capable, ethical and developmental state. 

We have decided to place inclusive economic growth at the centre of the work of the Government of National Unity and at the top of the national agenda. 

Our experience over the past 30 years has shown that when our economy grows, jobs are created. When our economy contracts there is no job creation and jobs are lost. 

The Government of National Unity will pursue every action that contributes to sustainable, rapid economic growth and remove every obstacle that stands in the way of growth. 

We are determined that growth must be inclusive. It must be transformational. 

Inclusive growth must drive the redistribution of wealth and opportunity. 

It must support the empowerment of black South Africans and women, and all those who in the past had been relegated to the fringes of the economy. 

This is part of the constitutional imperative to redress the imbalances of the past and deal with the slow process of development. 

Through empowerment and transformation, we can ensure that the skills, capabilities, resources and energies of all South Africans are used to the greatest effect. 

We will continue to pursue programmes that encourage broad-based black economic empowerment, employment equity and support to small- and medium-sized enterprises. 

We will continue to protect and uphold the hard-won rights of workers, and continually strive to improve the conditions in which they work and live. 

Inclusive growth demands that we affirm the position of women and youth in the economy. 

Inclusive growth requires that we remove the social, economic, cultural and other barriers to the full participation of persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups in the economy. 

We will support the growth of rural enterprises and invest in public infrastructure in under-serviced areas. 

We will increase funding to land reform, prioritise the transfer of state land and improve post-settlement support by strengthening the institutional capacity of responsible structures.

To achieve rapid, inclusive growth, we need to fix our struggling municipalities. 

Growth happens at a local level, where people live and work. 

Our municipalities must become both the providers of social services and facilitators of inclusive economic growth. They must work to attract investment.

This approach can encourage businesses to expand and create more jobs in municipal areas. Investors are attracted to areas with reliable and modern infrastructure. 

Simplifying and speeding up planning and regulatory processes can make it easier for businesses to invest and operate in a municipality, thus creating more jobs.

As the national government, we have both a Constitutional responsibility and a clear electoral mandate to assist municipalities in the effective exercise of their powers and functions. 

We will ensure that the institutional structure and funding model for local government is fit-for-purpose, and that municipalities are financially and operationally sustainable. 

We will put in place systems to ensure that capable and qualified people are appointed to senior positions in municipalities, and ensure independent regulation and oversight of the appointment process. 

As an immediate priority, we will bring stability to governance in our metros and restore the delivery of services. 

We have already begun this work. 

When I visited eThekwini earlier this year, I met with residents of the city, with local business leaders and municipal officials. 

They told me that they wanted to work together to build a city that they could be proud of again. 

We have since put in place the eThekwini Presidential Working Group to enhance support from national and provincial government to turn the Metro administration around, to fix the problems in water and sanitation and attract new investment. 

We will extend the same approach to other metropolitan cities that face serious challenges so that our cities can be engines of growth and dynamic centres of opportunity. 

In the next five years, working together, drawing on our collective capabilities, we will forge a new inclusive growth path for South Africa by pursuing a massive investment in infrastructure. 

Significant projects are underway around the country in areas such as transport, roads, water, energy and human settlements. 

We will massively increase the scale of investment in infrastructure through a more holistic and integrated approach, positioning Infrastructure South Africa as the central institution of coordination and planning. 

We are simplifying the regulations on public-private partnerships to enable greater investment in both social and economic infrastructure development. 

From our largest metros to our deepest rural areas, we have a clear intention to turn our country into a construction site, as roads, bridges, houses, schools, hospitals and clinics are built, as broadband fibre is laid and as new power lines are installed. 

We must work to engender a culture of maintenance of public infrastructure, and dedicate resources and establish systems to ensure this. 

As the Government of National Unity, we are resolved to intensify our investment drive, encouraging and enabling businesses to invest in productive capacity.

These investments will lead to increased employment creation for unemployed South Africans especially for young people. 

We will drive growth in labour-intensive sectors such as services, agriculture, green manufacturing and tourism.

To create more jobs for South Africans, we will focus on processing our minerals so that we export finished products rather than raw commodities.

We will pursue a smart industrial policy that focuses on the competitiveness of our economy, and that incentivises businesses to expand our exports and create jobs. 

We will continue to work with stakeholders to develop and implement Master Plans to grow important industries, increase investment, create jobs and foster transformation. 

We are convinced that small businesses and the informal sector hold the greatest potential for inclusive growth and job creation. 

We will pay particular attention to supporting small- and medium-sized enterprises in townships and rural areas. We will take economic activity to where most of our people live so that more jobs can be created. 

Red tape debilitates the creation of jobs. Every department and every public entity has been directed to reduce the undue regulatory burdens that hold back businesses from creating jobs. 

We have demonstrated the value of public and social employment in creating immediate work and livelihood opportunities. 

The Presidential Employment Stimulus, the Expanded Public Works Programme and other initiatives under the Presidential Youth Employment Intervention have provided income, work experience and skills development opportunities to many young unemployed people. 

We will expand and institutionalise these programmes so that more and more young people can participate in job opportunities and skills development.

Through the Presidential Employment Stimulus, we have been able to create nearly 2 million work and livelihood opportunities. We aim to expand the public works programme exponentially to create more job opportunities.

We see great potential for growth beyond our borders. 

As we strengthen economic diplomacy with our largest trading partners and potential trading partners, we will prioritise the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area to increase our exports to the rest of the continent. 

We will do this as part of our foreign policy approach, which promotes peace, security, democracy and development across Africa and advances a more just and inclusive world order.

Over the next five years, we will seize the enormous opportunity in renewable energy for inclusive growth. 

South Africa has some of the best solar and wind resources in the world. 

As we undertake a just transition towards renewable energy, South Africa must create a green manufacturing sector centred on the export of green hydrogen and associated products, electric vehicles and renewable energy components. 

We have seen, for example, how the Northern Cape has already attracted billions of rands of investment in renewable energy projects. 

Work is underway to set up a Special Economic Zone in Boegoebaai to drive investment in green hydrogen energy projects. 

We already have a huge pipeline of renewable energy projects, representing over 22,500 MW of new generating capacity, estimated to be worth around R400 billion in new private investment. Investments such as these will create many jobs. 

Just this week, we saw the largest-ever private energy project connect to the grid near Lichtenburg in the North West, with over 390,000 solar panels that will add 256 MW to the grid.

We will see more of these projects taking shape across our country in the months and years to come. As these investments reach fruition more jobs will be created.

Our Just Energy Transition Investment Plan sets out a clear path to invest more than R1.5 trillion in a just transition, including support for workers and communities in Mpumalanga and other coal-producing regions. 

South Africa is undergoing a renewable energy revolution that is expected to be the most significant driver of growth and job creation in the next decade and beyond. 

We also have a unique opportunity to position our country as a major player in the digital economy and create jobs in digital services. 

We will invest in digital identity and payments, expand access to affordable broadband, and increase training for young people in digital skills. 

As we pursue these new areas of growth, we will continue with the far-reaching reforms that enable growth.

At the same time, we will launch the second phase of Operation Vulindlela, a government-wide initiative that has been essential in supporting and driving reform.

In its second phase, Operation Vulindlela will focus on reforming the local government system and improving the delivery of basic services, and harnessing digital public infrastructure as a driver of growth and inclusion.

It will also focus on accelerating the release of public land for social housing and redirecting our housing policy to enable people to find affordable homes in areas of their choice.

We will complete the most consequential transformation of South Africa’s electricity industry in more than a century. 

Since the announcement of the Energy Action Plan in July 2022, we have made tremendous progress in reducing the severity of load shedding. 

Over the next five years, government will focus on expanding and strengthening the transmission network. 

To drive inclusive growth, we need an efficient freight rail network to carry our minerals, agricultural produce and manufactured goods to market. 

Through the implementation of the Freight Logistics Roadmap, we will continue with reforms to transform South Africa’s freight logistics system. 

The work we are doing with business and unions through the National Logistics Crisis Committee has already contributed to improvements in the operational performance of freight rail and ports. 

The well-being of our people and the growth of our economy depends on the availability of water.

South Africa is a water-scarce country, and our water security is threatened by historical underinvestment in bulk water resources and distribution infrastructure. 

We will therefore continue with institutional reforms in the water sector to enable greater investment in bulk water infrastructure and better regulation of water services across the country. 

Just as businesses need water and electricity to operate, a growing economy needs skills. 

Where the skills we need are not immediately available, we need to attract people with the appropriate qualifications and experience. 

We will continue with the visa reforms introduced in the last few years to attract skills and investment and grow the tourism sector. 

We will continue to pursue a macroeconomic policy that supports growth and development, in a stable and sustainable manner. 

Like many other nations, we have had to borrow money to support our budgetary requirements. 

We will manage public finances with a view to stabilising debt. We are firmly committed to steadily reducing the cost of servicing our debt so that we can redirect funds towards other critical social and economic needs. 

Our second strategic priority as the Government of National Unity is to tackle poverty and the high cost of living. 

An effective, integrated and comprehensive poverty alleviation strategy is necessary to provide protection and support to the most vulnerable in society. 

Even at a time when many companies are making large profits, millions of South Africans are suffering as a result of rising prices.

As the Government of National Unity, we will look to expand the basket of essential food items exempt from VAT and undertake a comprehensive review of administered prices, including the fuel price formula, to identify areas where prices can be reduced.

Asset poverty is one of the underlying causes of abject poverty, which exacerbates the high cost of living amongst our people.

The provision of title deeds for land and subsidised housing provides people with assets that they can use to improve their economic position. 

Income poverty is also one of the underlying causes of poverty. 

The best way to deal with poverty is for people to have jobs. We have however made interventions to support the unemployed through a variety of interventions including during Covid when we introduced the SRD Grant. 

The SRD Grant has provided a lifeline to millions of unemployed people. 

We will use this grant as a basis for the introduction of a sustainable form of income support for unemployed people to address the challenge of income poverty. 

We must ensure that local governments properly implement the indigent policy so that the old, the infirm and the poor are able to get assistance with the payment of basic services.

Importantly, we will link social assistance with other forms of support to lift people out of poverty. 

As a country, we need to appreciate the impact that a well-functioning and quality education system has on both reducing poverty and driving inclusive economic growth. 

We will therefore focus on achieving universal access to early childhood development, which is a prerequisite for improved learning in later years. 

We will ensure schools are conducive to education, with enough classrooms, safe and appropriate sanitation facilities, clean water and a daily meal for those who need it. 

To ensure that we produce the skills that our economy needs, we will expand vocational and technical training in schools and post-school institutions, and take a demand-led approach to skills development. 

An important task of the next five years is to ensure that we also reduce the high cost of living through ensuring that everyone in South Africa has equal access to equitable, accessible and affordable quality health care. 

As we implement the National Health Insurance, we will focus on strengthening health care infrastructure, improving training of health care personnel and using technology to improve health care management. 

While there is much contestation around the NHI, there is broad agreement that we must draw on the resources and capabilities of both the public and private sectors to meet the health care needs of all South Africans equally. 

In implementing the NHI, we are confident that we will be able to bring stakeholders together, and that we will be able to resolve differences and clarify misunderstandings. 

With so many people living far from economic opportunities and services, transport costs take up a large part of people’s income and drive up the cost of living.

An immediate priority is therefore to complete the recovery of the passenger rail network across the country to enable people to travel from outlying areas to city centres. 

Around 80 percent of commuter rail corridors are now back in operation, and nearly 300 vandalised stations have been refurbished, providing safer and more efficient services to commuters. 

The third strategic priority of the Government of National Unity is to build a capable, ethical and developmental state. 

We will proceed with the work already underway to professionalise the public service, ensuring that we attract into the state people with skills, capabilities and integrity. 

We will continue to fight corruption and prevent undue political interference in the administration of the state. 

In this administration, we will complete the work to restore the financial position and operational performance of our state-owned enterprises. 

We will complete the implementation of a new centralised ownership model for SOEs. This will improve accountability, transparency, governance and oversight, while reducing inefficiency and the potential for corruption. 

The establishment of a state-owned SOE holding company will give us greater capacity to build a sovereign wealth fund. 

This has been done successfully by other countries whose sovereign wealth funds have built up capital from the high performance of the state owned enterprises rather than from the fiscus.

To tackle crime and corruption we must have capable, sophisticated and independent law enforcement agencies that can fight complex and organised crime. 

We will deploy modern technology to assist crime fighting. A data-driven approach will be used to identify violent crime hotspots and inform the allocation of policing resources alongside prevention measures. 

We will continue to tackle priority crimes like illegal mining, gang violence, cash-in-transit heists and the construction mafia through specialised police units. 

We will continue to implement the National Strategic Plan on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide, and expand victim support services, like the Thuthuzela Centres and GBV desks in police stations. 

Honourable Members,

Thirty years ago, President Nelson Mandela stood before this House to reflect on the first 100 days of the first Government of National Unity. 

Recognising the different views of the diverse parties within the government, he said: 

“What brings us together is the overriding commitment to a joint national effort to reconcile our nation and improve its well-being.” 

The same may be said of the Government of National Unity that has now been established by ten of the parties represented in this Parliament. 

We share a commitment to reconcile our nation by advancing social justice and equal prosperity for all. 

We are committed to improve the well-being of our country and its people through inclusive growth, the creation of jobs and the reduction of poverty. 

This is an undertaking that involves us all. 

On the occasion of the Presidential Inauguration, I made a commitment that we should work together to hold a National Dialogue to discuss the critical challenges facing our nation, and to agree on what we all need to do to achieve a better future for this great country. 

Across society, people have expressed their support for this National Dialogue. 

They have said it should involve all key stakeholders in the life of our country, representing civil society, traditional leaders, the faith-based sector, labour, business, cultural workers, sports people and other formations representing the diverse interests and voices of our citizens. 

Following the example set by historic events, such as the Congress of the People in 1955, the Conference for a Democratic Future in 1989 and the CODESA talks in the early 1990s, and drawing on the experience of the writing of our new democratic constitution in 1996, we envisage a National Dialogue that involves extensive and inclusive public participation. 

As we have done at many important moments in our history, we will seek to forge a common vision and build a comprehensive social compact with a clear programme of action to realise our aspirations for the country.

Through this National Dialogue, we are called to be agents of change, to be champions of inclusive growth, to be creators of opportunity. 

A few years ago, a diverse group of partners and stakeholders from across society came together to consider various scenarios for the future of our country. 

These were called the Indlulamithi Scenarios 2035.

One of the scenarios they described was called ‘The Recrimination Nation’, using the loud Hadeda bird as its symbol. 

This described a situation of inaction, where our country’s problems go unresolved, and where everyone blames each other for South Africa’s ills. This scenario painted a picture of our country going into decline.

The second scenario, symbolised by a vulture, painted a picture of a desperate nation governed by a populist coalition whose main objective is self-enrichment and patronage. 

This scenario saw investment confidence being eroded, the growth path being low and unemployment, poverty and inequality remaining extremely high.

They also described a scenario they called ‘The Cooperation Nation’, symbolised by the social weaver birds. 

This scenario paints a picture where after disruptions and protests there is a coming together of political parties, the state, private sector and civil society in order to jointly identify priorities and leveraging the strength of each. 

There is change in the form of governance and reform that leads to the economy growing, with more investment attracted, leading to the reduction of unemployment, inequality and poverty.

By establishing the Government of National Unity, by preparing for a National Dialogue, we have deliberately set ourselves along the path towards a ‘cooperation nation’. 

We would like all of us as South Africans to behave like ‘weaver birds’. Weavers are among the most gregarious birds in that they build complex structures together and cooperate.

Despite all the challenges, despite our differences, despite all the headwinds, as South Africans we are called upon to remain firmly committed to pursue the path of cooperation, growth and inclusion.  

Earlier today, a group of South African climbers reached the summit of Kilimanjaro, the highest peak on the African continent. 

They did so in honour of the birth of Nelson Mandela and to celebrate the 30th anniversary of our freedom. 

Known as Trek4Mandela expedition, these climbers have been joined by others from several countries around the world to help to keep girls in school by raising funds for sanitary products and other needs. 

Let their actions inspire us all. 

Let their achievement remind us that, as the South African nation, there is no mountain we cannot climb and no peak we cannot reach. 

I conclude by remembering and paraphrasing the words of Martin Luther King Jr, when I say: 

Let us rise up tonight with greater readiness. 
Let us stand with a greater determination.
And let us move on in these powerful days, these days of challenge, to make South Africa what it ought to be. 
We have an opportunity to make South Africa a better nation. 

May God bless South Africa and protect its people. 

Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfrika. 

I thank you.

Programme Director, Ms Thami Nkadimeng,
Minister of Energy and Electricity, Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa,
Deputy Minister of Finance, Dr David Masondo,
Ministers and Deputy Ministers,
Ambassadors and High Commissioners, 
Representatives of multilateral institutions and other development partners, 
Representatives of the South African Local Government Association, 
Representatives of business, industry and civil society, 
Members of the Presidential Climate Commission, 
Delegates, guests, 
Ladies and gentlemen,

This Climate Resilience Symposium is taking place at a time when we are witnessing first-hand our extreme vulnerability to the impacts of a changing climate.

The storms that hit parts of the Western Cape over the past week have caused devastation to homes, communities, businesses and infrastructure.

These adverse weather conditions temporarily brought container ship traffic to a complete halt at the Port of Cape Town. 

Rough seas resulted in cargo vessels losing containers overboard and others being extensively damaged.

The Port of Cape Town has the country’s second largest container terminal. Though it handles a variety of cargo, the biggest exports from the port are agricultural products.

Having perishable agricultural products stuck in the port or in transit for an extended period results in financial losses for exporters. 

This in turn impacts the agricultural sector, and given its importance to our economy, there is a knock-on effect on the economy as a whole.

This is just one illustration of the fact that climate changes is as much an economic issue as it is a scientific, social justice, human rights and development issue. 

It has a direct and material impact on activity across the economy.

Disruptions caused by climate change increase the cost of doing business, undermine competitiveness and dampen employment growth.

These disruptions result in lower tax revenue and increased expenditure on disaster relief, health care and social support for affected communities. 

Extreme weather causes damage to infrastructure like roads, bridges, railways, power lines and ports, all of which incur substantial repair and recovery costs.

The resultant strain on public finances then necessitates the reallocation of funds from other essential services.

To manage the higher expenditure and lower revenues government may then need to increase borrowing, leading to higher debt levels and interest payments. 

This limits government’s ability to invest in other critical areas. 

The National Treasury is therefore central to our response to both the shocks of climate change and the potential opportunities to use the just transition as a springboard to build a more inclusive, resilient and sustainable economy. 

I want to commend the Minister of Finance and the National Treasury for convening this symposium together with the Presidential Climate Commission and other partners.

This symposium will focus on the integration of climate goals into macro-fiscal and finance policy and mainstreaming climate change considerations into the intergovernmental fiscal system.

It is society’s most vulnerable who bear the brunt of climate change because they have limited means to prepare for, cope with, and recover from, climate-related adverse events. 

Just as it is the countries of the Global South that feel the effects of climate change most, despite being least responsible historically for global emissions. 

It is critical that we strengthen systems for adaptation and mitigation, build resilience in communities and accelerate our decarbonisation efforts and the pace of the just energy transition.

The reality we must confront is that the carbon-intensity of our economy is unsustainable.

For decades our reliance on coal was a competitive advantage because it allowed us to produce electricity cheaply. 

But the world has changed and this dependency has come to pose significant risks. 

As the world moves towards greener economies, our trading partners will take measures to ensure that their own climate actions do not undermine their economies. 

Instruments like the European Union’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism, which has the potential to cause great damage to developing economies, signal the inevitability of carbon pricing in global trade systems. 

Our emissions-intensive energy system is likely to increasingly undermine our competitiveness in global markets.

I have repeatedly said that South Africa will decarbonise at a pace and scale that is affordable to our economy and society. 

If we act too fast, we risk damaging huge sections of our economy before we have built alternative energy and industrial capabilities.

At the same time, not acting now risks our economic stability. 

We must embrace a managed transition to a low-carbon economy, not only to safeguard our people and our environment, but to ensure our economic resilience and growth.

We are facing a climate emergency. 

Indecision and slow action are not an option. We must act decisively and swiftly to mitigate the effects of climate change and ensure a just transition for all South Africans.

We must pursue a green industrial agenda that will create jobs and grow the economy.

Investments in green infrastructure, renewable energy and climate adaptation measures can be costly, requiring careful financial planning and prioritisation. 

That is why we have prioritised inclusive growth.

We are hard at work implementing the urgent reforms needed to lift growth and pursuing a fiscal strategy that protects the sustainability of our public finances. 

Operation Vulindlela has been an extremely successful partnership between National Treasury, the Presidency and a wide range of government departments.

It has enabled significant reforms in areas like energy, water, telecommunications and transport, making our economy more competitive and increasing our productive capacity.

Our strategy involves preparing ourselves to withstand the economic risks posed by climate change while taking full advantage of the opportunities of the energy transition.

This is no easy balance.

South Africa aims to reach net zero emissions by 2050. 

Our revised Nationally Determined Contribution balances our developmental needs and economic realities. 

It takes into account the feasibility of undertaking a climate response through a set of just transition pathways.

Importantly, it notes carbon tax as a vital component of our mitigation strategy to lower greenhouse gas emissions.

By internalising the cost of carbon emissions, the carbon tax incentivises companies to reduce their carbon footprint and invest in cleaner technologies. 

The carbon tax also generates revenue for climate initiatives. 

These funds can be reinvested in renewable energy projects, energy efficiency programmes and social support mechanisms.

We have launched a number of other initiatives to meet our emissions targets. 

The Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme has been a success, attracting over R209 billion in investment and adding much-needed capacity to our electricity grid. 

The Integrated Resource Plan, which outlines the country’s energy mix, is in the process of being updated. It sets out a viable energy mix over the medium and long term to achieve our decarbonisation objectives. 

The Just Energy Transition Investment Plan sets out a quantified investment plan of some $98 billion. This will drive huge investments in the electricity grid, green hydrogen, electric vehicles, economic diversification and skills development, amongst others.

We continue to explore opportunities to meet our emissions reduction targets in minerals extraction, in green hydrogen production, in new power infrastructure, in electric vehicle manufacturing, and economic infrastructure upgrades.

It is crucial that the transition to a low-carbon economy is just and inclusive and that no worker or community is left behind.

The growth of clean tech, renewable energy, battery storage, green hydrogen and minerals for the future low-carbon economy must result in opportunities for affected sectors, employees and communities. 

We are investing in retraining programmes, creating new job opportunities in renewable energy and supporting small enterprises in affected areas. 

Climate finance is crucial for our transition. 

We need substantial investments to build sustainable infrastructure, develop green technologies and support social programmes. 

One looks for example at the issue of disaster funding, where there is a substantial gaps between available disaster funds and the cost of disaster response. 

Even as we have taken proactive measures like setting up a Climate Change Response Fund, we need to think seriously about the urgent financial and policy measures needed to address these shocks, and how to strengthen the National Treasury’s disaster financing response. 

The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment is already working with the Presidential Climate Commission on recommendations for the Climate Change Response Fund and an Adaptation and Resilience Investment Plan to accompany it.

Mitigation and adaptation financing remains a challenge, and we call on our international partners to fulfil their commitments to finance both.

We have already seen positive steps with the establishment of the Green Climate Fund, the Loss and Damage Fund, and other global mechanisms. 

However, we need more innovative financing solutions that mobilise private capital and incentivise sustainable practices. 

The National Treasury’s Climate Finance Strategy is pivotal in this regard, outlining how we can leverage public and private finance to achieve our climate goals.

We must not underestimate the importance of our own domestic capital and financial markets to innovatively mobilise and deploy capital towards our just transition.

The Just Energy Transition Funding Platform will be launched in the next few months. 

It will be an important precursor to a broader Just Transition Financing Mechanism, proposals for which are being developed by the Presidential Climate Commission.

We call on South African business to invest in the projects needed for a successful just transition in this country.

We need to use blended finance to unlock private sector flows. 

International development finance institutions and governments of the Global North that made financial pledges under the Paris Agreement and COP26 are important sources of cheap and concessional capital. 

To access this and other funding, we need a credible project pipeline. 

We need to work with all spheres of government, with communities and with the business sector to create new manufacturing, mining, agriculture and service opportunities. 

The science of climate change is complex. So too are the economic, technological, social, ecological and political implications.

Nonetheless, climate action is an imperative. We must act now. 

This requires collaborative efforts between government, business, labour, civil society, communities and international partners. 

If we work together, if we understand the risks and if we appreciate the urgency, we can make our country climate resilient.

And in doing so, we can build a sustainable future for generations to come. 

I thank you.

President Cyril Ramaphosa will on Monday, 15 July 2024, deliver the keynote address at the opening session of the National Treasury Climate Resilience Symposium 2024 at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) International Convention Centre Auditorium in Pretoria, Gauteng Province.

The symposium will be held under the theme “Moving the needle on climate change and just transition: the role of the National Treasury.”

The objectives of the symposium are to integrate climate goals into macro-fiscal and finance policy; improve government coordination by mainstreaming climate change considerations into the intergovernmental fiscal  system.

The three-day symposium gathering will bring together Ministers, Deputy Ministers, senior government officials, academia, the private sector, and climate experts.

Members of the media are invited as follows for the Open Session:

Date: Monday, 15 July 2024
Time: 07h30 registration (NB - Members of the media to take leave after the Open Session)
Venue: CSIR ICC, Pretoria

Media RSVP: Members of the media wishing to cover the event are requested to RSVP on Media@treasury.gov.za. The programme will be shared with media that have RSVP’d.

Media enquiries: Vincent Magwenya, Spokesperson to the President, on media@enquiries.gov.za

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

Honourable House Chairperson,
Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation, Honourable Theliswa Mgweba,
Deputy Minister in the Presidency, Honourable Kenny Morolong,
Deputy Minister in The Presidency, Honourable Nonceba Mhlauli,
Honourable Members of the of the Portfolio Committee on Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation,
The Statistician General Mr. Risenga Maluleke and his team Members of the South African Statistics Council under the leadership Dr Nompumelelo Nzimande-Mbele,

Fellow South Africans,

It is my honour to present the Budget Vote 14 for the outer year of the 2019-2024 Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) as we conclude work started in the 6th Administration and consolidate a programme for the Seventh Administration under a Government of National Unity.

I share this occasion with a new and young Deputy Minister, Honourable Nonceba Mhlauli, which is a demonstration of continuity, change, and inter-generational leadership, ‘living together in perfect harmony’, as Stevie Wonder and Paul McCartney sang.

It is also an honour to make this presentation in the year in which we are reflecting on 30 Years of Democracy, Partnership and Growth in the life of a nation that remains engaged in overcoming the impact of centuries of colonialism and decades of apartheid exclusionary rule. It was the work of Statistics South Africa that gave this country and the world a snapshot of the progress this country has made and the challenges which remain since 1994 through the Census 2022 Results.

As we commence with work of the 7th Administration and the next 30 years of our freedom, it will be important to address the challenges that still confront us with greater performance and momentum. Guesswork and assumptions have no place in the task at hand.

Instead, it is statistical data and information that will give us insights into the nation’s needs and achievements and will help us monitor and evaluate the effectiveness and outcomes of government policies and programmes. For us, it is fundamental to declare that Data Drives Development.

Therefore, understanding and managing the data ecosystem is crucial for the country to harness the full potential of data, make informed decisions, and adapt to evolving business landscapes. This will be achieved through collaboration, partnerships and platforms. Stats SA must continue to lead in the South African data ecosystem, to ensure that the data gap is closed.

Honourable Chairperson,

Those of us who have followed StatsSA products releases would agree with me that statistical data is indicating that our economy is three times larger and many times more inclusive and diversified than it was 30 years ago, millions of citizens have been lifted out of poverty, and employment has more than doubled. Despite this progress, millions remain unemployed, in particular, the youth who are caught in structural unemployment where the qualifications they possess are not relevant for the job market nor self-employment.

For South Africa to reach its developmental goals as espoused in the National Development Plan (NDP), there is a need to use data and statistical information to not only improve the performance of government, but all of society. Therefore, there cannot be a spectator sport for the nation – we’re all in this together, as Cast –High School Musical sang.

As a government that considers itself to be located within our communities and society, we will work with all sectors to secure the growth, security and prosperity all of us wish to enjoy in our lifetime and into the future.

Therefore, StatsSA will be one of our key institutional assets on this quest for a better future. This asset, Stats SA, is a jewel in the crown of the capacity of the state and its rigour and integrity is globally respected. Stats SA itself has a productive, intergenerational mix of experience and institutional memory alongside the energy and innovation that comes with a cohort of statisticians and other professionals who were born and educated in this democratic dispensation.

The insights developed by Stats SA are a model of democratic transparency in action: statistical information is available at all levels of society including business, government, academia, Parliament, civil society, schools and the public at large – including millions of users around the world who can access our numbers and narratives online.

For the richness of Stats SA’s outputs, we are deeply indebted to the millions of South Africans who trustingly and graciously share their information and time with us so we can have numerical picture of the nation as it goes about living and working.

Honourable Members,

Stats SA’s 2024/25 Work Programme reflects our drive to deliver the statistics that the country needs and can apply to build a better South Africa.

A key strategic deliverable of this is the legislative reform with the Statistics Amendment Bill which was finalised by the 6th Administration and passed by the National Assembly and National Council of Provinces in May 2024. It now awaits Presidential assent.

Stats SA delivered the results of the first digital census to the nation in October 2023. The population census offers us the most comprehensive set of statistical information to the lowest geographic level.

Allow me Chairperson to quote the President of the Republic of South Africa, his Excellency Cyril Matamela Ramaphosa, at the launch of Census 2022 results where he said: “Data from the Census informs the planning, budgeting and policy making work of government at the most fundamental level, furthermore one of our priorities in a capable, ethical developmental state is to ensure that policy making is evidence-driven”.

Stats SA has embarked on a comprehensive dissemination process to inform each province and district of the Census 2022 results. Various thematic reports based on the census data will be released during 2024 to better inform policy and decision making.

I encourage all of us to use this data to get to know the needs of our constituencies and to use the information to improve the lives of our people.

Honourable members,

As a country we are still faced with the triple challenge of poverty, inequality and unemployment. As policy-makers, we need to know and understand the scale, the characteristics and the root cause of the challenges that face us.

To this end, I am pleased to inform the House that Stats SA has completed the data collection phase of the Income and Expenditure survey that collects data on the poverty situation in the country. The results of the survey will be published in the 3rd quarter of 2024.

Under the 2024/25 Work Programme, Stats SA plans to re-engineer the household survey programme through the introduction of a continuous population survey that aims to integrate various household surveys to improve efficiency and effectiveness of data collection. This modular survey will provide lower-level data on specific themes to inform the district development model.

Chairperson, I am also pleased to announce that as part of the economic statistics suite, Stats SA will publish for the first time the official Residential Property Price Index for South Africa during 2024/25.

Honourable members,

Stats SA has set an ambitious 5-year strategic plan with a long-term horizon and vision of Improving lives through data ecosystems.

The strategy path is guided by four strategic outcomes to elevate statistical development in this country, namely:

• Insightful data - providing statistical products and outputs that meets the needs of users that brings deeper insight for informed decisions.

• Creating an Agile operating model where business operations are lean, efficient and flexible in order to remain stable in turbulent times.

• Creating an Interconnected statistical system where people, systems and technology are interconnected.

• Lastly, Transforming the capability of the organisation and the statistics system at large. Building a workforce that is fit for the future is a critical priority for the organisation.

The 2024/25 Work Programme is the final performance plan to deliver on the 5-year Strategic Plan that was tabled in 2020. The organisation has continued to fulfil its mandate for the last four years despite significant disruptions, including the COVID-19 pandemic, natural disasters, and tight financial conditions, to name a few.

Honourable Members,

We need to continue to support Stats SA and ensure it plays a pivotal role in providing critical socio-economic data that informs decision making across government and business broadly.

Official statistics must remain free from any interference on statistical methods applied, to data collection, and the content and timing of releases. Our official statistics must be planned, collected and disseminated without prejudice, fear or favour. Our standing as a nation — and as a country — is intertwined with the successful and democratic uptake of statistics.

I therefore implore this House to become ambassadors of Stats SA’s work and to continue to be ardent users of official statistics.

We are aware of the budget constraints that all government departments currently face, but we cannot allow it to negatively impact the publication of information crucial to policy and planning. To this end, Stats SA continues to embrace the use of technology in easing both the collection and dissemination of statistics. Over the medium-term, the organisation will be looking at innovative ways of integrating administrative data into the overall system of statistics, to ensure that the data gap can be filled cost-effectively.

The Compensation of Employees budget allocation remains a challenge. We will continue to engage National Treasury to see how best we can stabilise the funding.

Honourable Chairperson,

• The Public Finance Management Act, section 27, compels the Minster to annually table this budget and it is my honour to deliver Vote 14,

• the MTEF is R2.65 billion in 2024/25; and R 2.75 billion and R2.89 billion in the 2025/26 and 2026/27 financial years respectively.

• We request Parliament to support the budget vote of Statistics South Africa.

As a country that is fully integrated into global society, we know that digital forces are transforming our world in the digital economy. This disruption will lead to emerging new technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), with connected devices and smart chatbots to the metaverse where citizens are connected and interact with government and themselves seamlessly. Harnessing AI to solve South Africa’s problems requires embracing it from an African perspective.

Disruptions can propel a nation to new levels of efficiency that can change the lives of the poor and disenfranchised. When such opportunities present itself, the test to the nation’s strength is how its leadership acts with agility to attend to the challenges at hand.

To enable long-term, sustainable, and inclusive growth, we must work together as a nation as we strengthen our resilience to propel beyond what was possible before. The StatsSA demonstrated this resilience and agility, when it adopted a digital census when confronted with the COVID-19 pandemic when the alternative was to abandon the census count like many other countries did.

As previously stated, the importance of numbers to harness leadership’s ability to lead in a new era cannot be overstated. It is more important than ever that our thinking, planning and policy responses be informed by reliable evidence to achieve better outcomes for this nation in a transformed digital era.

I want to take this opportunity to -

Thank the Portfolio Committee on Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation as well as the Select Committee on Health and Social Services;

Thank the staff and leadership of Stats SA, under the charge of the StatisticianGeneral, Risenga Maluleke and the South African Statistics Council who continue to deliver on the mandate of Stats SA. 

As I say Thank You, let me invite all of us to make continued and greater use of Stats SA insights to understand and participate in the ever-unfolding story of our country.

Ndi a livhuwa.
Hakhensa - inkomo.
Kea leboga.

President Cyril Ramaphosa is deeply saddened by the deaths of 12 learners from Rocklands Primary School and Laerskool Blyvooruitsig in Carletonville in a road incident in the Merafong City municipal area on Gauteng’s West Rand today, Wednesday, 10 July 2024.

President Ramaphosa offers his condolences to the families, friends, fellow learners and educators of the deceased children.

The President also wishes a speedy and full recovery to seven learners who suffered injuries in the incident that involved a scholar transport vehicle.

President Ramaphosa said: “The loss of such young lives at the start of a new school term touches all of us as a nation.

“We wish the affected families and school communities the best as they mourn the passing of children who have been deprived of fulfilling their potential and spending their lives with families and friends.

“This tragedy, which regretfully is not the first of its kind to confront us, demands that that we exercise our obligation to protect our children with the utmost care.”

Media enquiries: Vincent Magwenya, Spokesperson to the President, on media@enquiries.gov.za

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

President Cyril Ramaphosa offers his deep condolences to the family of anti-apartheid activist and former President of the South African Council on Sport (SACOS), Mr Frank van der Horst, who has passed away at the age of 86.

The President extends his condolences to the friends and associates nationally and globally of Mr Van der Horst as well as the generation of athletes who practised their sport while Mr Van der Horst led the non-racial sports movement.

Established in 1973, SACOS fought against racial segregation in South African sport and campaigned for equal access to facilities under the slogan “No normal sport in an abnormal society”.

SACOS worked closely with civic organisations, youth movements, trade unions and underground liberation structures on numerous campaigns and protests.

SACOS resisted South Africa’s participation in international sport with only white athletes.

Through its recognition by the Supreme Council for Sport in Africa, the United Nations Committee Against Apartheid Sport and the global anti-apartheid movement, SACOS exercised sport as a platform through which to highlight the impact of apartheid on all areas of the lives of oppressed communities.

President Ramaphosa said: “The passing of Frank van der Horst makes us recall an era of grassroots, non-racial and inter-sectoral resistance to apartheid, and international support for our struggle.

“As part of the generational leadership of Norman Naidoo, Hassan Howa, Morgan Naidoo and Joe Ebrahim, Frank van der Horst made a crucial contribution as SACOS President to the sustained political pressure faced by the apartheid system in its closing decade.

“Today, South African sport continues to benefit from Frank van der Horst’s and SACOS’s legacy in the form of administrators who played their sport under the SACOS banner and now lead sports development in our country as well as federations and teams who are welcome throughout the world.

“As a nation, we are grateful for a struggle Frank waged with courage, principle and clarity. His values and the example he set will sustain us while he rests in peace.”

Media enquiries: Vincent Magwenya, Spokesperson to the President, on media@enquiries.gov.za

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

President Cyril Ramaphosa offers his warm congratulations to President Masoud Pezeshkian on his election as the new President of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

On behalf of the Government and people of South Africa, President Ramaphosa also congratulates the people of the Islamic Republic of Iran on exercising their democratic right during the two rounds of the electoral process which took place on 28 June and 5 July 2024.

South Africa and Iran enjoy cordial bilateral relations and are celebrating in 2024 the 30th anniversary of formal diplomatic relations established in 1994.

President Ramaphosa affirms that South Africa will continue working with the Islamic Republic of Iran to deepen cooperation at the bilateral and multilateral levels to promote global and regional peace, security, stability, and to achieve economic development for the benefit of both countries.

President Cyril Ramaphosa emphasised the need for South Africa and Iran to continue collaborating closely in promoting the agenda of the Global South through shared membership in groupings such as the Non-Aligned Movement, the BRICS, the Indian Ocean Rim Association, as well as other formations.

President Ramaphosa wishes President Pezeshkian good health, fortitude, strength and success for his tenure as President of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Media enquiries: Vincent Magwenya, Spokesperson to the President, on media@enquiries.gov.za

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

President Cyril Ramaphosa is deeply saddened by the deaths of four South African National Defence Force (SANDF) members who passed away overnight on Friday, 05 July 2024, while on duty to combat illegal mining.

As Commander-in-Chief of the SANDF, President Ramaphosa offers his condolences to the families of the victims as well as to their commanders and colleagues.

The President’s thoughts are with the team of soldiers who discovered their deceased colleagues in a container at a disused mine shaft at Orkney in the North West Province.

While police are investigating the matter, the deceased troops, who showed no injuries and were fully kitted and armed, are believed by the police and the SANDF to have died from carbon monoxide poisoning resulting from a fire they made to keep warm. 

The troops were part of Operation Vala Umgodi which is directed at combating illegal mining.

Media enquiries: Vincent Magwenya, Spokesperson to the President, on media@enquiries.gov.za

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

President Cyril Ramaphosa was honoured yesterday evening, Sunday, 7 July 2024, with a phone call from His Excellency President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi of the Arab Republic of Egypt who warmly congratulated President Ramaphosa on his new term of office.

President El-Sisi shared with President Ramaphosa his expectation that South Africa and Egypt will continue to cooperate on issues of common interest.

President Ramaphosa expressed his appreciation for President El-Sisi’s good wishes and agreed on the importance of continued partnership between our two countries on matters of bilateral, continental and multilateral interest.

Of particular significance to the two leaders is the need to work together on the Palestinian issue and the crisis in the Gaza strip.

The Presidents committed themselves to deepening the fraternal ties between Egypt and South Africa as part of advancing continental solidarity.

President Ramaphosa and President El-Sisi were also in agreement on the expansion of trade, mutual investment and other areas of economic cooperation between the two states.

Media enquiries: Vincent Magwenya, Spokesperson to the President, on media@enquiries.gov.za

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

President Cyril Ramaphosa and newly elected British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer have expressed their shared commitment to deepening relations between South Africa and the United Kingdom in several areas of cooperation, including the just energy transition.

Prime Minister Starmer placed a call with President Ramaphosa this morning, Sunday, 7 July 2024, to express his interest in working closely with South Africa as part of executing the strong mandate given to the Labour Party in the general election on Thursday, 4 July 2024.

President Ramaphosa congratulated Prime Minister Starmer on his electoral victory and said the Statement of Intent framing South Africa’s Government of National Unity incorporated many objectives shared by the two new administrations.

The two leaders viewed today’s discussion as a continuation of the deliberations in which they engaged in November 2022 when President Ramaphosa visited London on the first State Visit hosted by His Majesty King Charles III. Sir Keir Starmer was at that time the leader of the opposition Labour Party.

President Ramaphosa described the bilateral relationship as a special bond and said South Africa wished to see greater alignment with the UK at the national and multilateral level, with South Africa’s Presidency of the G20 in 2025 providing one such opportunity.

President Ramaphosa foresees closer cooperation with with UK in the political, social, people-to-people, diplomatic, trade and investment and climate change domains.

The Prime Minister agreed that the G20 would be a platform for advancing shared interests in climate change, economic growth and the eradication of inequality.

 

Media enquiries: Vincent Magwenya, Spokesperson to the President, on media@enquiries.gov.za

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria