Category: English

Source: Government of South Africa

Friday, August 15, 2025

Source: Government of South Africa

Friday, August 15, 2025

Source: Government of South Africa

President Cyril Ramaphosa will attend the Southern African Development Community (SADC) 45th Ordinary Summit of Heads of State and Government this weekend.

The summit is a historic moment for Madagascar, following the country’s membership of SADC in August 2005.

The summit will focus on accelerating regional integration through key pillars: strengthening industrial capacity and regional value chains, modernising agriculture, and promoting an inclusive energy transition, all aimed at building a resilient, sustainable, and cohesive SADC region.

Vincent Magwenya, spokesperson to President Cyril Ramaphosa, said during the summit, Andry Rajoelina, President of the Republic of Madagascar, will officially assume the SADC Chairpersonship, succeeding Dr Emmerson Mnangagwa, President of the Republic of Zimbabwe.

“The summit will review progress on the implementation of the SADC Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (RISDP) 2020–2030, consider the report from the Chairperson of the Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation, and review achievements under the 44th Summit theme:  ‘Promoting Innovation to Unlock Opportunities for Sustained Economic Growth and Development towards an Industrialised SADC’,” he said.

He was briefing media on Thursday on the President’s upcoming engagements.

This weekend’s summit, taking place at the Ivato Conference Center in Antananarivo, will also see South Africa formally accepting its Chairship of SADC for 2026-2027. 

TICAD9

Meanwhile, the President will lead South Africa’s High Level delegation participation to the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD9) in Japan next week.

The 9th TICAD Summit will convene in Yokohama from 20–22 August 2025 under the theme “People, Planet, and Prosperity in a Changing World”.

Launched by Japan in 1993, the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD is co-hosted with the UN, UNDP, World Bank, and African Union Commission and has become a premier forum for African development.

“Grounded in African ownership and international partnership, TICAD has steadily evolved from conflict prevention and human security (TICAD I–III) to economic transformation, innovation, and universal health coverage (UHC) (TICAD VI–VIII),” said Magwenya.

The President will address a South Africa-Japan Business Engagement in Yokohama. 

“Bilateral trade between Japan and South Africa had been expanding since the establishment of full diplomatic relations in 1992. Japan is one of the major investors in the South African economy and has a presence in South Africa of 273 companies, sustaining over 200 000 local jobs,” said the spokesperson.

TICAD 9 will gather over 20 African Heads of State and Government, senior AU, UN, World Bank, and AfDB leadership, philanthropic actors, and bilateral partners including the G7, G20, and BRICS. – SAnews.gov.za

Source: Government of South Africa

Thursday, August 14, 2025

Source: Government of South Africa

African Ministers of Water have used the AU–Africa Water Investment Programme (AU-AIP) Water Summit 2025 to highlight the multibillion dollar opportunities in the water sector.

The Ministers presented bulk water projects currently underway in their countries during a ministerial roundtable on how they are de-risking the water sector.

Among the large water projects presented included the construction of dams, climate-resilient financing, and nationwide water supply programmes.

Zimbabwe’s Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, Dr Anxious Jongwe Masuka, told delegates that the country presents abundant opportunities for discerning investors, as it has “the highest density of dams in Africa”, with 10 600 dams built to date, creating vast investment potential.

“The new paradigm is that ‘a dam is an economy’,” Masuka said when outlining government’s ‘Infrastructure 6.0’ model, which integrates hydroelectricity generation, irrigation, potable water, fisheries, tourism and wastewater management.

To attract private investors, Masuka said Zimbabwe has developed Special Economic Zones, which are spearheaded by a one-stop investment centre — the Zimbabwe Investment Development Agency (ZIDA), working alongside the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZINWA) to fast track government’s water projects.

“The two institutions, ZIDA and ZINWA, would be able to handle world investors in the water sector to ensure the acceleration of the last mile development of the 10 600 dams. If you are looking for investment, start in Zimbabwe,” the Minister said.

Climate resilient financing strategy

Malawi Minister of Water and Sanitation, Abida Sidik Mia, said while water is not only a basic human right, but also a strategic asset for resilience, economic growth, and sustainable development, access to water remains a privilege for the “lucky few” across the African continent.

She said Malawi’s Climate Resilient WASH [Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene] Financing Strategy, has assisted the country to shift from “reactive funding to proactive planning”, boosting investor confidence and unlocking new financing.

“The financing strategy is not just a technical document – it is a strategic planning instrument that brings clarity on the financing needs, identifies sources of financing, and aligns investment areas with national priorities, filling the gaps where we need.

“Financing strategies effectively signal government seriousness, readiness, and strategic intent,” Mia said.

Water for all 

In Côte d’Ivoire, Water and Forests Minister Laurent Chagba highlighted the country’s biggest project in the water sector, the ‘Water for All’ programme, valued at 1 320 billion CFA francs (US$2.3 billion).

He said the initiative aims to guarantee fair and sustainable access to drinking water for all populations, both in rural and urban areas. It also integrates water resources management in the context of climate change.

The major achievements of the first phase of the project include strengthening the storage capacity of the country’s economic capital, which is the Autonomous District of Abidjan; the increase in the production of drinking water in 27 regions and departments, as well as the equipment of 200 chiefs from sub-prefectures to people deprived of water supply systems.

The initiative also aims to implement 450 000 social water connections over three years.

“It also [facilitated] the rehabilitation and maintenance of human-powered pumps between 2017 and 2020,” Chagba said.

In the area of water resources, Chagba highlighted the implementation of the Integrated Development and Adaptation Programme for Climate Change in the Niger River Basin, financed by a consortium of donors and led by the African Development Bank.

The programme covers eight regions and an autonomous district, mainly in the northern and central regions of the country.

“This programme illustrates the commitment of the Ivory Coast to making water a lever for sustainable development, social inclusion and climate resilience,” he said.

Ministers including the Senegal Minister of Water and Sanitation, Dr Sheikha Atidi-Anediye; Abdallah Ahmed Balala, Assistant Minister Foreign Affairs for Energy and Sustainability in the UAE, and Dr Engineer Abtamu Ittefa, the Minister of Water and Energy of the Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, also took part in the plenary.

The Ministers commended South Africa and the African Union for hosting a successful summit, held in the lead-up to South Africa hosting the G20 Summit in November. – SAnews.gov.za

Source: Government of South Africa

With the country today hosting the first National Convention that will lay the groundwork and set the agenda for the National Dialogue, South Africans are being urged to make use of the “historic” opportunity it provides.

“It is my hope that South Africans will grab the opportunity to make the National Dialogue as inclusive, as radical, as thoroughgoing as possible so that we do not miss this historic opportunity,” Deputy Chairperson of the National Planning Commission (NPC), Professor Tinyiko Maluleke told SAnews ahead of the first day of the convention taking place at the University of South Africa (UNISA) Main Campus in Pretoria.

The NPC is an independent advisory body and think tank appointed by the President.  The Commission is the custodian of South Africa’s National Development Plan (NDP): Vision 2030. 

The two-day convention, which will conclude on Saturday, 16 August, is being held under the theme: “Uniting Voices, Shaping the Nation.”

The views, concerns and proposals that will emerge from the conversation will be brought together at a second National Convention that will be held at a later stage with the expectation being that the second convention will finalise a compact that outlines a new social compact for the development of our country.

In June, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced the appointment of the Eminent Persons Group (EPG) to guide and “champion” the dialogue with Professor Maluleke being one of two co-chairs of the group of 31 which President Ramaphosa described as “leading figures in our society, reflecting the great diversity of our nation, with a proven commitment to the advancement of social cohesion and nation-building.”

In an interview with SAnews, Professor Maluleke said the country is at a crossroad with challenges such as unemployment and gender-based violence.

“We have had an elections process last year that has sent back the political parties ruling or non-ruling back to the drawing board. We have [a] high unemployment rate; we have problems of gender-based violence. [The] levels of trust in government and in formal structures have gone very low and people are cynical about everything. 

“We have reached a point where we doubt whether the democratic instruments we have are still fit for purpose to carry us forward as a country and that’s why we need a National Dialogue,” said Maluleke.

Speaking ahead of the group’s inaugural meeting last month, the President said the convention would be a representative gathering bringing together government, political parties, civil society, business, labour, traditional leaders, religious leaders, cultural workers, sports organisations, women, youth and community voices, among others.

Why talk?

Maluleke said he was cognisant that some South Africans are of the view that dialogue is not a necessity.

“I’ve heard people who say why talk because we know what the problems are. I think that is very presumptuous half the time, because this idea that we know the problems of our people is the idea that has brought us to this moment of a conundrum where a select elite group of people – whether politicians, leaders of different types of organisations presume that they know that they alone can speak on behalf of people,” he explained.

He further explained that this is a form of disdain.

“It is a kind of disdain for people; [it says] don’t talk to the people, talk to us. But how can you know what it feels like to live in a house where sewage is running inside your living room?” he remarked.

“This presumption that we know and therefore we should just move on is actually dangerous and in some ways disdainful of the people of South Africa. I think that the people of South Africa want to dialogue because they want to be heard and they want to be part of the solutions to the problems that we face,” he explained.

Serving South Africa 

He further added that the EPG is made up of individuals dedicated to serving South Africa inc.
“The group is of course a group of volunteers. None of whom and all of whom are not on the payroll of government or anyone. We all have our jobs; we simply are volunteering to serve our country,” he said.

Asked about what it is like to be a part of the EPG, Maluleke said it was an honour and privilege. This as the inaugural meeting between President Ramaphosa and members of the EPG was held on 11 July 2025.

Maluleke co-chairs the group alongside former Minister and constitutional negotiator, Roelf Meyer, with the two deputy-chairs being former Member of Parliament (MP) Lindiwe Mazibuko and award-winning rocket scientist, Siyabulela Xuza.

“I am hugely surprised and honoured to be standing next to your Brigalia Bam’ s [former Electoral Commission Chairperson]; your John Kani’s [award-winning actor]; your Barbara Masekela [poet, educator and stalwart] and dynamic younger South Africans like Lindiwe Mazibuko and Nompendulo Mkhatshwa [student activist and former MP].

Readiness 

Meanwhile, Deputy President Paul Mashatile this week convened the National Dialogue Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) to receive a report on the state of readiness ahead of the first convention.
The Deputy President chairs the IMC, which comprises government departments to coordinate the government’s contribution towards the National Convention and the National Dialogue. 

The report, which was presented by the Chairperson of the Convention Organising Committee, Boichoko Ditlhake, and National Economic Development and Labour Council (NEDLAC) Executive Director, Makhukhu Mampuru, provided a comprehensive update on the work done and assured the Deputy President that all is on track for the convention.

“The IMC noted the decision by some Foundations to pull out of the preparations for the National Convention and requested that the Deputy President engage these Foundations in the process towards this inclusive dialogue,” said the Presidency in a statement on Thursday.

Earlier this week, Ditlhake said the convention would be a citizen-led process while adding that provision has been made for 1000 delegates at the sessions.

This first National Convention is the kick-off of the process and spirit of the 12-month National Dialogue. 

President Ramaphosa is set to deliver the keynote address today and a session on the setting of expectations and a plenary panel is expected to be held.

According to a draft programme, the second day of the convention is expected to include a plenary involving the consolidation of a report from dialogue labs. –SAnews.gov.za