Category: Africa

President Cyril Ramaphosa has called on South Africans to draw on the country’s deepest values and collective strength as it confronts challenges including crime and a worsening water crisis, declaring that the nation will stand firm both at home and on the global stage.

“To navigate this new world, we must draw on our strength as a nation. Our strength comes from our values. The values of dignity and equality, of non-racialism and non-sexism, diversity and of the inherent worth of every person. It comes from our people. From our tolerance, generosity, kindness and solidarity,” the President said. 

He was delivering the second State of the Nation Address (SONA) in the seventh administration at the City Hall in Cape Town on Thursday.

The evening commenced with a grand display of national pride which included a ceremonial guard, the singing of the national anthem, a 21-gun salute, an aircraft exhibition, and a full military band. 

The President was ushered into the National Assembly by Ria Reen, a Khoi-San woman from the Northern Cape, with a powerful poetic voice. 

Framing his address against the country’s historic milestones of 1956, 1976 and the adoption of the Constitution in 1996, President Ramaphosa said South Africa’s resilience lies in its people, its institutions and its democratic ethos.

In an increasingly volatile global environment, the President made clear that South Africa’s sovereignty is non-negotiable.

“In a world where powerful nations often assert their dominance and influence over less powerful states, our country’s commitment to sovereignty and self-determination is sacrosanct. It is not negotiable. 

“We will stand firm on our sovereignty and promote our national interests, values and the rights of our people. We are clear that we will continue to respect the rights and sovereignty of other nations, but we must be equally clear that we will not be bullied by any other country,” he said. 

Confidence rising, economy stabilising

The President said South Africa is “stronger today than we were a year ago”, pointing to four consecutive quarters of GDP growth, two primary budget surpluses and declining borrowing costs.

“Our economy is growing again, and this growth is gathering pace. While we have experienced four consecutive quarters of GDP growth, we know that it has to grow much faster to meet our social and economic challenges. 

“Our credit rating has improved, interest rates are coming down and inflation is at its lowest level in 20 years. We are on a clear path to stabilising our national debt. The Rand has strengthened against the Dollar,” the President said. 

Government has committed more than R1 trillion in public investment over three years, the largest infrastructure allocation in the country’s history, targeting energy, logistics, water and digital infrastructure. 

“All our actions now are driven by the need for rapid and inclusive economic growth to create more jobs and better quality jobs. To give effect to the Medium-Term Development Plan, Cabinet has approved a comprehensive implementation plan to drive growth and inclusion,” President Ramaphosa said.

Through Operation Vulindlela, structural reforms have been accelerated in energy, logistics and telecommunications. Load shedding has been brought to an end, and regulatory changes have unlocked a surge in renewable energy investment, with more than 40% of supply expected to come from renewable sources by 2030. 

Significant reforms are also underway in rail and ports. Private rail operators now have access to the freight network, and public-private partnerships are being rolled out at port terminals and rail corridors.

Last month, government concluded a partnership with an international port operator to manage the Durban Pier 2 Container Terminal, aimed at restoring it to world-class standards.

“We have begun to turn around the performance of our rail system and ports, so that our businesses can get their products to global markets,” the President said.

Government remains focused on sectors that will drive future growth, including agriculture, mining, the green economy and digital services. New investments in rare earths, renewable energy manufacturing and data centres are positioning the country to compete in a rapidly changing global economy.

“We know that we can create millions of good quality jobs in sectors like agriculture, mining, services and the green economy. These are areas where we can be more than competitive. We can be the best in the world,” he said. 

Despite the gains, President Ramaphosa was unequivocal that South Africa faces serious internal threats.

“Organised crime is now the most immediate threat to our democracy, our society and our economic development,” he said.

Government will consolidate intelligence at national level, identify priority syndicates and deploy multidisciplinary intervention teams to dismantle criminal networks. The South African National Defence Force will be deployed in parts of the Western Cape and Gauteng to support police in tackling gang violence and illegal mining.

“We cannot fight organised criminals by treading softly. We must act with zero tolerance and bring the full force of the law to bear. Let this message be clear: there will be no impunity for acts of corruption and criminality,” the President said. 

A new criminal justice reform initiative, modelled on Operation Vulindlela, will be established in the Presidency to fast-track reforms across the system. The Whistle-Blower Protection Bill will be introduced, and procurement reforms will be accelerated to close corruption loopholes.

To tackle the water crisis in the country and coordinate a focused response, the President announced the establishment of a National Water Crisis Committee, which he will chair.

“This structure will bring together all existing efforts into a single coordinating body,” he said. It will ensure that action is taken swiftly and effectively to address the problem,” he said.

Jobs, youth and inclusive growth

Addressing high unemployment, especially among young people, the President said small businesses and public employment programmes would play a central role in job creation.

“If every small and medium business in South Africa could employ one additional person, we would create 3 million new jobs,” he said.

This year, government will provide more than R2.5 billion in funding to over 180 000 small and medium enterprises, extend R1 billion in guarantees and amend the National Credit Act regulations to improve access to affordable credit.

Public employment programmes, including the Presidential Employment Stimulus, EPWP and Community Works Programme, will be expanded and better coordinated to provide income support and pathways into longer-term work.

Government will also overhaul the skills development system, reform SETAs and strengthen TVET colleges as primary sites for artisan and occupational training.

“These reforms will ensure that various training programmes we have in government are a door to opportunity, not a dead end,” President Ramaphosa said.

A turning point

Concluding his address, the President described the moment as a national turning point.

“Our nation has reached a turning point. We are leaving behind an era of decline and turning towards an era of prosperity and growth.

“This must be the year that we make South Africa stronger. We must fix local government. We must fight crime and corruption and restore trust in the criminal justice system. We must create jobs and livelihoods for every South African.”

“Above all, we must ensure that this rising tide lifts every South African… This is the time for all south Africans to rise and we must rise together,” the President said. – SAnews.gov.za

 

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Government has announced additional measures to strengthen South Africa’s borders to curb illegal immigration and to protect the country’s security, stability and economic progress. 

“Funding to strengthen border security will be prioritised, covering infrastructure, technology and people. Key border posts will be redeveloped through public-private partnerships and we will extend the Electronic Travel Authorisation to all international airports and the busiest land ports of entry,” President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Thursday.

Delivering the State of the Nation Address (SONA) at the Cape Town City Hall, the President noted that drones and other technology are already being used to great effect all along border lines.

“Employers that hire foreign nationals without the required visas will face the full might of the law. To tighten enforcement, we will hire an additional 10 000 labour inspectors this year,” the President said.

He emphasised that government will address illegal immigration while ensuring that the fundamental human rights of every person in this country are upheld and protected.

The police, Home Affairs and labour inspectors will work together to crack down on violations of existing immigration, labour and other laws.

“As we undertake these interventions, we insist that the laws of our country must be observed by everyone. We will not tolerate violence and other acts of lawlessness directed at foreign nationals.

He further spoke out against foreign nationals being barred from accessing public facilities, including schools.

“No foreign national should be unlawfully barred from accessing public facilities, including schools and health facilities,” the President said. –SAnews.gov.za

 

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Government is set to vaccinate the national herd of at least 14 million cattle, as South Africa grapples with one of the worst outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) the country has experienced.

According to President Cyril Ramaphosa, the vaccination drive requires 28 million vaccines over the next 12 months.

“This disease is damaging our economy, resulting in export bans, trade restrictions and devastation of herds. The state will facilitate the acquisition of the vaccines centrally to ensure that we get the right vaccine for the particular strain of the virus in South Africa,” the President said on Thursday night.

He was delivering the State of the Nation Address (SONA) to a Joint Sitting of the two Houses of Parliament, the National Assembly and the National Council of Provinces (NCOP),  at the Cape Town City Hall.

“We will work closely with the private sector to enable an efficient rollout and most importantly we will ensure that commercial, private and communal farmers have immediate access to vaccines,” he said.

The President has established a task team made up of farmer organisations and experts, working together with the Minister of Agriculture and his department.

The task team will report to the President every month on the progress the country is  making in dealing with this pandemic.

“We have classified foot-and-mouth disease as a national disaster and will be mobilising all necessary capabilities within the state to deal with this crisis.” 

Last week, Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen announced that South Africa has resumed local production of foot and mouth disease vaccines.

The President noted that the agriculture sector is expanding rapidly.

“Already, we are the second largest exporter of citrus fruit in the world. We are opening new markets for our exports, from citrus and avocados to maize, livestock, grapes and wine.

“Through the Blended Finance Scheme, working with the Land Bank and commercial banks, we have provided R7.8 billion in innovative funding to black producers. We will deploy 10 000 new extension officers to support farmers and improve agricultural productivity,” President Ramaphosa said.

He said these interventions will give rise to many opportunities for young people to be employed in the agricultural sector.  –SAnews.gov.za
 

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Government is working to see the eradication of load reduction by next year.

This according to President Cyril Ramaphosa, who delivered the State of the Nation Address on Thursday evening.

Load reduction is implemented by Eskom in specific areas where electricity supply is available, however, a transformer is at risk due to overloading, which can lead to equipment failure and outages.

“We will work in each province to address transformer overloading, illegal connections and equipment failure with the objective of eradicating load reduction by next year.

“We are committed to the path that we have embarked on to modernise our energy system,” President Ramaphosa said.

He said the restructuring and establishment of an independent State-owned transmission entity is underway.

“This entity will have ownership and control of transmission assets and be responsible for operating the electricity market.

“Given the importance of this restructuring for the broader reform of the electricity sector, I have established a dedicated task team under the National Energy Crisis Committee to address various issues relating to the restructuring process, including clear timeframes for its phased implementation,” he said.

The task team will report to the President within three months.

“In addition, we will this year commence the first round of independent transmission projects to enable private investment in expanding our national grid,” President Ramaphosa added.

He emphasised the importance of transforming the energy system to “ensure long-term energy security”.

“For decades, our economy grew on the back of cheap electricity. But then state capture, mismanagement, inadequate maintenance and inflated megaprojects drove up the cost of electricity to businesses and our citizens.

“Now, with the far-reaching changes we are making to the sector and with our abundant solar and wind resources, we will be able to drive down the cost of electricity,” he assured.

New legislation, such as the Electricity Regulation Amendment Act 38 of 2024 (ERAA), has paved the way to allow for more competition in the electricity sector.

“Regulatory changes have enabled a massive and growing pipeline of investment in renewable energy. By 2030, more than 40% of our energy supply will come from cheap, clean, renewable energy sources.

“We are establishing a level playing field for competition, so that we are never again exposed to the risk of relying on a single supplier to meet our energy needs,” President Ramaphosa said. – SAnews.gov.za

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Government is pressing ahead with plans to introduce high-speed rail in South Africa, with proposed routes including Johannesburg to Musina and eThekwini to Johannesburg. 

“We are preparing to send out a request for proposals, which will introduce a new era of long-distance rail travel in South Africa,” President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Thursday.

Delivering the State of the Nation Address (SONA) at the Cape Town City Hall, the President said nearly 30 companies indicated their willingness to participate in high-speed rail corridors when government put out a request for information last year.

Small business

Furthermore, government will provide more than R2.5 billion in funding to over 180 000 small and medium enterprises and extend a further R1 billion in guarantees.

“Naturally, we will seek to also focus on women- and youth-led businesses to foster their empowerment. And we will amend the National Credit Act regulations to make it easier to access credit at a lower cost.

“If every small and medium business in South Africa could employ one additional person, we would create three million new jobs.

“But many of these businesses, a number of which are owned by women and young people, cannot get funding to start or to grow. Many struggle to find markets for their goods and services,” the President said.

He noted that nearly all small and medium enterprises have to contend with a multitude of regulations, by-laws, licensing requirements and bureaucratic hurdles.

“We take seriously the public comments on the draft Business Licensing Bill and will ensure that the final Bill makes it easier, not harder, to start and run a small business in South Africa,” the President said.

The purpose of this Act is to:

• Provide for a common business licensing framework;
• Provide for principles of business licensing;
• Provide for the coordination of concurrent national and provincial competencies relating to business licensing;
• Promote greater consistency and uniformity in the application of procedures and decision-making by authorities responsible for business licensing;
• Provide a framework for co-operative governance and the harmonisation of standard procedures and minimum requirements for the processing of business licenses; and
• Provide for the appointment of authorised officers and the enforcement of business licensing. – SAnews.gov.za

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President Cyril Ramaphosa in his State of the Nation Address (SONA) has announced that Cabinet has approved a comprehensive implementation plan to drive growth and inclusion in the country. 

“All our actions now are driven by the need for rapid and inclusive economic growth to create more jobs and better quality jobs,” President Ramaphosa said in his address on Thursday evening in Cape Town.

He said a stronger South Africa depended on a growing economy.

“Through this plan, we are working to revive growth by creating the conditions for firms to invest by maintaining a clear and stable macro-economic framework, investing in infrastructure that works, creating a conducive regulatory framework that supports growth and enables competition and a focused and forward-looking industrial policy,” President Ramaphosa said.

The President explained that the foundation of the plan is investment, particularly in public infrastructure, as well as labour intensive growth sectors that are capable of future growth.

“Infrastructure is much more than an investment in brick, mortar, concrete and steel. It is an investment in jobs, productivity and growth. For many years, fixed investment has been declining. We are now changing that,” the President said.

President Ramaphosa said government has committed more than R1 trillion in public investment over three years to build and maintain infrastructure.

“This is the largest allocation of its kind in our country’s history. It will be transformative. Through the Infrastructure Fund and new regulations for public-private partnerships, we are using innovative funding models, reducing risk and attracting investors to fast-track projects in energy, water, transport and digital infrastructure.

“We launched our first-ever infrastructure bond to raise funding for the infrastructure drive, which was more than two times oversubscribed.

“To prevent undue delays in critical projects, we will establish specialised courts for commercial matters with dedicated judges and dedicated court rolls to ensure faster outcomes in matters that have a bearing on the economy and development.

“This year, we will begin the work to establish a professional State Property Company to transform the 88,000 buildings and 5 million hectares of land owned by the state into professionally managed engines of growth and development.

“Through Operation Vulindlela, we are working to transform the structure of our economy, to fix our infrastructure and make our electricity, water and logistics sectors more competitive and efficient,” the President said. – SAnews.gov.za

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Government will undertake a further step in preparation of the implementation of the National Health Insurance (NHI) by undertaking critical investment in health infrastructure.

This is according to President Cyril Ramaphosa who delivered the State of the Nation Address (SONA) at the Cape Town City Hall on Thursday evening.

The NHI is aimed at achieving universal healthcare for all South Africans through a centralised national insurance fund.

“As part of preparation for the [NHI], we are investing in health facilities, personnel and systems to improve access to quality care.

“We will be undertaking substantial investment in health infrastructure, prioritising the construction and revitalisation of academic hospitals,” President Ramaphosa said.

South Africa’s public healthcare facilities serve more than 80% of the population with only 16% of South Africans making use of private facilities.

“On a recent visit to George Mukhari Hospital in Ga-Rankuwa, I witnessed the dire effects of inadequate health infrastructure.

“Starting with George Mukhari Hospital, we will be working with various public and private financing institutions to finance the building and revitalisation of healthcare facilities,” he said.

On the clinical side, President Ramaphosa noted that government will be rolling out programmes aimed at combatting HIV/Aids and cervical cancer.

“In support of our programmes to prevent and ultimately eliminate HIV, we will be undertaking a massive rollout of Lenacapavir, a six-monthly injection that has proven highly effective in preventing transmission of HIV.

“We are also working to end cervical cancer in our country by mobilising society to ensure that every young girl between the ages of 9 and 15 receives the HPV vaccine,” he said. – SAnews.gov.za

 

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Government will move to strengthen regulatory controls of alcohol in South Africa in a bid to reduce road accidents, crime and other social ills.

This was announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa during his delivery of the State of the Nation Address in Cape Town.

Last month, the Transport Department revealed that while crashes and fatalities reduced by 5% during the festive season, some 8 561 drivers tested positive for alcohol consumption – an increase of 144% from the same period last year.

“Alcohol abuse leads to violence, road accidents and crime. To address this scourge, we call on provincial governments to strengthen the regulation of alcohol by limiting the density of liquor outlets, restricting trading hours and ending the sale of alcohol in large containers.

“As national government, we have proposed measures to curb excessive alcohol use, including minimum unit pricing or higher excise duties and greater restrictions on alcohol advertising, which we are consulting on with stakeholders,” President Ramaphosa said.

The President noted that excessive alcohol use is also a “major contributor to child stunting”.

“More than a quarter of children under 5 are stunted, increasing their risk of disease and affecting their ability to learn and grow. This is devastating for children and their families and has an impact on our society as a whole.

“This year, we will embark on a mission to end child stunting by 2030 and tackle malnutrition among young children, in line with the National Strategy to Accelerate Action for Children,” he said.

The first 1 000 days of a child’s life will be placed into sharp focus.

“Building on existing support such as the Child Support Grant, we will implement targeted interventions to ensure that pregnant women and low birth-weight children get the protein and nutrients that they need.

“This is a massive crisis that demands attention and resources. The Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement will set out a clear allocation for the actions we need to take,” President Ramaphosa said. – SAnews.gov.za

 

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In a bid to accelerate economic growth and employment, government has its eyes firmly set on the green economy.

This according to President Cyril Ramphosa, who delivered the State of the Nation Address (SONA) at the Cape Town City Hall on Thursday evening.

“The biggest opportunity of all lies in green growth. We are pivoting our economy to be a leading supplier of the products that the world will rely on in decades to come.

“We are expanding support for the manufacturing of green products for global markets, from fertiliser to jet fuel, chemicals to steel.

“From March this year, we will introduce a 150% tax deduction for investment in new energy vehicles, while supporting the local production of batteries,” the President said.

Furthermore, the Just Energy Transition Investment Plan now stands at some R250 billion – financing “large-scale investment in manufacturing, infrastructure and skills”.

Mineral endowment

South Africa is a continental leader not only in renewable energy potential but the country also holds some of the world’s largest reserves of platinum group metals, also known as critical minerals.

“Our ore reserves are valued at more than R40 trillion, making mining a sunrise industry.

“After many years of declining investment in exploration, we are dedicating funds towards geological mapping and exploration to harness our critical mineral reserves,” President Ramaphosa said.

He noted that the Industrial Development Corporation has announced at least R300 million in funding for the Frontier Rare Earths Project.

“This has the potential to become one of the world’s largest and lowest cost new producers of minerals that are needed for smartphones, lithium batteries and other products.

“Confidence in the future of South African mining was very evident during the Mining Indaba this week here in Cape Town. New gold, copper, rare earths, platinum and coal mines are being opened,” the President said. – SAnews.gov.za 

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