Category: South Africa Government

Source: President of South Africa –

Programme Director, Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa,
Premier of the Northern Cape, Dr Zamani Saul,
Ministers and Deputy Ministers,
MECs,
Executive Mayors and members of councils,
Officials,
Ladies and gentlemen, 

Good morning. 

This is the sixth formal engagement that the National Executive is having with a Provincial Executive.

We have previously met with the Executive Councils of Limpopo, Mpumalanga, KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng, and most recently, the Eastern Cape. 

We hope to have met with the leadership of the remaining provinces over the next few months. 

Advancing cooperative governance is mandated by our Constitution. As the Government of National Unity, we see this as an important part of building a capable, ethical and developmental state. 

One of the driving forces behind the District Development Model that we established in 2019 was to ultimately do away with two persistent challenges that have been holding back our progress as a Government.  

The first challenge is that of working in silos. This has been a particular problem when it comes to the interface between the national, provincial and local spheres of Government.  

The second is what I have termed ‘parachuted development’. This refers to projects and programmes being initiated, scoped and budgeted for at national level without due consideration to the realities of implementation on the ground, or even to whether that particular initiative meets community needs.  

These challenges have been time-consuming and costly. They have also contributed to a widening trust deficit between Government and communities when these ventures fail to take flight or encounter implementation challenges. 

Structured engagements between the national and provincial executives are designed to narrow and ultimately close these gaps. They are meant to help us work together more efficiently, to resolve challenges together and to plan smarter. 

I have said on a number of occasions that the Northern Cape is an economic pioneer and a frontier of innovation. 

Last year, the Pultizer Centre published a profile that characterised the Province as South Africa’s emerging powerhouse – quite literally.

The Northern Cape is at the forefront of the clean energy revolution and experiencing a significant surge in power projects, notably solar and green hydrogen. 

The Province’s Green Hydrogen Masterplan is ambitious in both scope and potential benefits – not just for the Northern Cape but for the national economy, for the SADC region, for the continent and globally. 

In recent months I, together with a number of members of the National Executive, have participated in multilateral discussions and business forums where we have been articulating our vision of South Africa being a leader in the renewable energy revolution. 

And, to quote the Pulitzer Centre report, once the energy transition unfolds as envisaged, the Northern Cape could be the new heartbeat of the economy. 

Besides the strides being made in the energy sector, we note that the Northern Cape is working to become an industrial hub.

This is supported by traditional industries like mining, but is being expanded through special economic zone development, industrial park development and major infrastructure developments, notably in port and rail.  

While the economy of the province has been growing and creating jobs, and there has been important progress in areas like education, public infrastructure and basic services, persistent challenges remain.  

The National Treasury’s 2024 provincial socio-economic review points to an increase in the percentage of people living in poverty and to a drop in the number of households with access to basic services like water. 

Unemployment, especially youth unemployment, remains high.

Fiscal constraints are holding back a number of projects particularly at a municipal level, including for disaster response, asbestos eradication, land restitution, rural electrification and public housing.  

With respect to infrastructure development, we will need to find ways to support high impact projects like the Northern Cape Industrial Corridor, the R1 billion housing programme and the Kimberley Big Hole precinct as examples. 

We will also need find creative funding mechanisms for projects like the Boegoebaai harbour. We need an urgent relook at the current delivery model to enable regulatory approval and investment activation.

Integrated planning between national, provincial and local government must involve State-owned enterprises as important stakeholders with significant capabilities. 

The integration of provincial planning into national priority planning must be prioritised through the District Development Model and aligned with the Medium-Term Development Plan. 

We are keen to discuss how the Province is addressing the issue of climate change and its state of readiness to respond to natural disasters. 

Another challenge is the increasing municipal debt and what measures are in place to improve revenue collection. 

Furthermore, how can the Province leverage its key tourism attractions?

These are among the issues that we will deliberate on today. 

Allow me to once again thank you all for your attendance. I look forward to our discussions.

I thank you.

Source: President of South Africa –

President Cyril Ramaphosa will on Friday, 25 July 2025, lead an engagement between the National Executive and the Provincial Executive of the Northern Cape on catalytic projects to drive economic growth and service delivery.

The engagement will take place in Kimberley under the theme, “A Nation that Works for All”.

The visit will be the sixth engagement between the National Executive and Provinces following interactions between the President and the Provincial Governments of KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Gauteng and Eastern Cape.

The President will meet with Provincial Government Executive Members, led by Northern Cape Premier, Dr Zamani Saul, as well as Executive Mayors from the five district municipalities in the Northern Cape.

President Ramaphosa will be accompanied by Ministers, Deputy Ministers and senior Government officials. 

The President’s engagement is aligned to the commitment made during the 2024 Budget Speech to collaborate closely with provincial and local governments to improve the lives of citizens and broaden economic opportunities.

The Provincial Executive will present to the President its five-year program in alignment with the priorities of the 7th Administration and in the context of South Africa hosting the G20. 

The meeting will afford the Northern Cape Provincial Government an opportunity to engage the President and Cabinet on the development opportunities and challenges in the Province and its constituent municipalities. 

Media will be able to cover the President’s opening address.

Accredited members of the media are invited as follows:

Joint Government Meeting
 
Date: Friday, 25 July 2025 
Time: 09h00 (media to arrive from 08h00)
Venue: Sol Plaatje University, Kimberley, Northern Cape Province

Media enquiries:

Vincent Magwenya, Spokesperson to President Ramaphosa, on media@presidency.gov.za

Naledi Gaosekwe, Media Liaison Officer to the Premier, on 067 417 3648 or gaosekwen@ncpg.gov.za

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

Source: President of South Africa –

Programme Director, His Excellency Nelson Muffuh, the Resident Coordinator of the United Nations in South Africa;
Minister of Small Business Development of South Africa, Honourable Stella Tembisa Ndabeni;
Honourable Ministers and Deputy Ministers from various countries around the world who have graced this historic event;
Senior officials and representatives from various countries;
Executive Director of the International Trade Centre, Ms Pamela Coke-Hamilton, and the rest of the ITC delegation;
Leaders of multilateral organisations, including the AU;
MECs, Mayors and Councillors; 
South African Ambassador to the World Trade Organisation, Dr Mzukisi Qobo;
Ambassadors and Members of the Diplomatic Corps;
Startup 20 Chair, Mr. Vuyani Jarana, and members of the International and Local Startup 20 Secretariat;  
Directors-General from other departments and provinces, and Board members and executives of our various DFIs and public entities;
Leaders from organised business formations and representatives of the entrepreneurship support ecosystem in attendance;
The MSMEs and entrepreneurs from both visiting countries and South Africa present;
Honourable delegates;
Ladies and gentlemen, 

This inaugural Global SME Ministerial Meeting could not have come at a better time.

As we do draw to a close, I could say the discussions and exchanges held in recent days have been filled with pride and optimism, as they highlight our shared commitment to enhancing access to finance, promoting digital transformation, and promoting green transitions in the SME sector.

The discussions have further demonstrated the potential for collaboration and shared goals to unlock significant opportunities for SMEs globally.

In this sense, we are grateful to see the UN expanding its efforts and collaborating with the South African government to foster multilateral cooperation. This relationship is critical in this challenging period of abrupt shifts towards unilateralism, which jeopardise the sustainability of our respective countries and the world.

I am also impressed by the Call to Action for this Global SME Ministerial Meeting. It reaffirms support for critical multilateral initiatives, such as the Sustainable Development Goals, the Pact for the Future, the Global Digital Compact, the Declaration on Future Generations, the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, and the Group of Twenty.

South Africa is hosting the G20 Presidency under the theme of Solidarity, Equality, Sustainability, aiming to champion developmental issues in the Global South, particularly Africa.

As we approach the G20 Summit, this forum has been essential in bringing together a number of ministers and deputy ministers from the continent and the Global South to exchange perspectives.

We have heard your voices and will ensure that we champion the issues you have raised in the broader G20 processes and the G20 Leader’s Summit in November.

I am especially pleased that our G20 Startup Engagement Group’s Mid-Term Meeting happened on the sidelines of this Ministerial Meeting, which allowed for cross-pollination of ideas and propositions.

I know Minister Ndabeni is championing the establishment of a dedicated G20 Working Group on small business and startups, an idea which started under Brazil’s Presidency. This Ministerial meeting has given this initiative the momentum it needs.

I am also pleased to see that a meeting of Trade Promotion Organisations from around the world happened also alongside this Global SME Ministerial Meeting to discuss the impact on trends of trade protectionism and the disruption of global supply chains.

Practical measures were discussed to share trade intelligence, build greater resilience in our MSMEs, and transition to new markets and possibilities.

As Governments, we need to step up. This means we must enhance our capabilities to strengthen trade and economic diplomacy, allowing ourselves to engage more effectively in both bilateral and multilateral trade agreements.

As South Africa, we are strengthening regional trade through the Southern African Customs Union, the Southern African Development Community, and the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement.

The Free Trade Area Agreement is a significant achievement in creating the world’s largest free trade area and unlocking the economic potential of an integrated African market. It promotes trade, investment, and growth, fostering business growth and creating opportunities for young entrepreneurs.

The Free Trade Area Agreement can significantly enhance Africa’s entrepreneurial landscape by reducing trade barriers and increasing market access, enabling youth to expand businesses, innovate products and services, and seize untapped opportunities within the continent.
It has the potential to generate millions of new jobs, particularly in sectors such as manufacturing, agriculture, and services.

Speaking of job creation, the SMEs are significant contributors to economic development and job creation globally. We can attribute their relevance in reducing unemployment to their ability to react swiftly to market changes.

As agreed over the past few days, we must prioritise their development to create jobs, raise income, and overall economic growth, all of which benefit the youth, women and other marginalised groups. Our global assistance for small enterprises can help empower young entrepreneurs, allowing them to positively affect their communities and beyond.

However, we need to collaborate and make trading with one another a priority in specialised sectors. 

We also need to prioritise resolving the regulatory bottlenecks around cross-border trade and cross border investment.

Honourable Delegates, 

As we focus on new markets and trade agreements, we must prioritise local value creation and expand local supply chain opportunities for our MSMEs. This can be achieved by ensuring that the Green Economy Transition, also known as the Just Transition, is supported by clear green industrialisation policies.

I am pleased to see that this Ministerial Meeting considered best practice and policy measures to ensure MSMEs benefit from the Green Economy Transition.    

We must also be realistic about the obstacles we confront and how to overcome them. The reality is that we will not be able to industrialise and strengthen inclusivity through MSMEs without capital.

This Global SME Ministerial Meeting has noted challenges around access to capital, especially for Start-ups and MSMEs in underserved or underprivileged regions and groups such as youth and women.

Africa has more than 18% of the world’s population but receives just over 3% of global foreign direct investment and less than 2% of global Start-up capital.  where we can access capital, it comes at a cost and is often costed in foreign currency which triggers inflation when there is local currency devaluation. Unfortunately, this scenario is a reality for a significant number of the countries that have convened here.

This Ministerial Meeting has greatly assisted us in looking at ways to derisk capital investment, especially for MSMEs. This includes better public-private collaboration, where the state derisks investment through various grants and in some instances credit guarantees.

The meeting also looked at how we can better capitalise our respective Development Finance Institutions which support MSMEs, as well as regional and multilateral development banks that can better support our national DFIs.

The Ministerial Meeting considered alternative forms of credit rating to address the issue of inadequate collateral, which is a major challenge in countries with high levels of asset inequality like South Africa.

The Ministerial Meeting also looked at how to make underserved MSMEs, especially those from townships and rural areas and those owned by women, youth and people with disabilities, more capital ready through pre-investment business training and capacity support.

In May this year, Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Parks Tau launched a R100 Billion Transformation Fund, which will have a strong focus on MSMEs. We are deliberate about pre-investment support to build the necessary pipeline of compliant and market-ready MSMEs.

Digital platforms have also become key to providing access to finance, as we have seen through the rapid growth of Fintech’s around the world. In this regard, our DFIs such as Small Enterprise Development and Finance Agency, are also developing digital platforms to improve access and turnaround times of applications.

Digital platforms have also become key to market access through e-commerce platforms, although these also bring in cheap products which crowd out locally produced goods. A phenomenon that needs to be managed.
Digitalisation and artificial intelligence offer enormous prospects for MSMEs and the strengthening of support ecosystems.

Minister Ndabeni frequently tells us that we must not simply become consumers of technologies developed elsewhere. We must build our own capabilities wherever we are!

Indeed, there are also new risks with technology becoming intertwined with trade protectionism. We must address the digital divide through investing in infrastructure and skills, as well as in innovation ecosystems.

I believe that this is one of the key matters around which Startup20 is seized.

We look forward to the Startup20 Summit on the 13th and 14th of November, where practical policy measures will be announced.
     
Programme Director, 

This Global SME Ministerial Meeting has provided a critical platform for MSME leaders across more than 50 countries to engage and share policy thoughts and best practice. It has provided space to forge new strategic partnerships, both at a bilateral level and with the multilateral organisations represented here.

The Ministerial Meeting has provided us with a clear roadmap for effecting structural reforms and actionable investments to empower entrepreneurs, improve market access, and drive inclusive economic growth, especially across Africa and the Global South. It has given us well-considered policy content on SMEs and start-ups to take into the G20 Leader’s Summit, which we are hosting in November.

As we look to the future, let us keep in mind how crucial it is to focus on small businesses globally in shaping the future generation. Supporting young people in their entrepreneurial journeys not only paves the way for a brighter economic future, but also nurtures a more inclusive and vibrant global community.

I would want to express my gratitude to Minister Ndabeni for igniting a spark for this journey, which I am confident will result in favourable outcomes. 

In addition, we would like to express our gratitude to Ms. Pamel Coke-Hamilton and her team for providing South Africa with the opportunity to host this historic first-ever SME Ministerial Meeting.

To all Ministers and delegates who travelled from afar to be here and share your experiences and thoughts with us, we thank you and wish you safe travels home.

To all delegates, we trust you will take the learnings from this Ministerial Meeting and the earlier Startup20 Engagement session, to strengthen your country-level small business policies and offerings. 

As we move forward, it is essential to remember that exploring new business opportunities demands access to finance, digital connectivity, adaptability, and a willingness to embrace change.

Allow me to declare this inaugural Global SME Ministerial Meeting formally closed. 

I thank you.

Source: President of South Africa –

Programme Director,
Premier of Gauteng, Mr Panyaza Lesufi,
Representatives of the German Embassy,
Chief Executive Officer of BMW South Africa,
Members of the Management Board of BMW AG,
Representatives of business,
Representatives of labour,
Distinguished guests,
Ladies and gentlemen,

Good Morning. It is a pleasure to be here.

The Rosslyn plant is a testament to BMW’s longstanding presence in the South African market.

This world-class facility was the first BMW plant to be built outside of Germany and has been at the centre of the group’s operations since 1973.

It further stands as proof of the BMW Group’s commitment to the South African economy, to supporting our industrial development, to our national empowerment objectives and to driving innovation in the sector.

The automotive sector is a lynchpin of our industrial strategy.

The sector contributes approximately 4,9 percent to GDP.

The sector supports more than 115,000 direct manufacturing jobs and over half a million across the value chain.

South Africa is the 22nd largest vehicle exporter globally, with our main export destinations being the European Union, the US and the UK.

The African continent is a growing export market, particularly within the SADC region.

As a country, we have positioned ourselves as a globally competitive destination for automotive manufacturing, and the BMW Group has been an integral part of our journey.

A number of world-class vehicles are manufactured right here at this plant, including both ICE and hybrid models from the BMW X family.

And now we have reached another milestone with the production of the BMW X3 Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle.

The shift to green mobility and electrification in vehicle production is in line with commitments by countries to reduce emissions and support the transition to a low-carbon, climate resilient global economy.

We are greatly encouraged by this milestone reached by the BMW Group.

As the transition to battery electric vehicles, plug-in hybrids and hydrogen mobility gathers momentum, South Africa is perfectly positioned as a key global manufacturing base for the mobility of the future.

We are determined to ensure there is an enabling regulatory and policy environment.

Through the Automotive Production and Development Programme and more recently, the Electric Vehicle White Paper and incentive programme, we have committed to a stable, predictable and supportive framework for companies to invest, localise and grow in South Africa.

Incentivising EV production for export and at the same time supporting the growth of the local EV market is an imperative.

The global shift to clean vehicles presents opportunities for the local component manufacturing sector, whose focus has been on ICE components.

With our significant reserves of critical minerals, we must become a hub for processing and beneficiation.

We are finalising targeted incentives for battery cell localisation, EV component manufacture, clean mobility research and design, and critical mineral beneficiation.

The recent announcements on tariffs by the United States, an important market for our vehicle exports, further underscores the need to diversity our export base and accelerate domestic value creation.

The production locally of the BMW X3 Plug-in Hybrid is a symbol of trust.

Trust  in our skills, our workers, our partnerships and our potential.

Let us honour this achievement by staying the course, driving transformation, creating jobs and leading Africa’s industrial future.

BMW Group is to be congratulated for its commitment to skills development and training for young people.

This includes its partnership with UNICEF to train learners and educators in coding and robotics in schools and the BMW South Africa IT Hub in Tshwane that employs over 2,000 professionals, including software engineers and digital specialists.

We commend BMW for the substantial investment in its training academy, which trains 300 apprentices annually and has since 1978 trained more than 2,000 artisans.

As a founding partner of the Youth Employment Service, BMW has supported over 3,500 youth, with placements across all provinces and in diverse sectors such as retail, IT, education and health.

BMW’s commitment to transformation includes active mentorship of young women, the development of black industrialists, and investment in a pipeline of future managers through its Leadership Acceleration Programme.

BMW’s roots may be in Bavaria, but its beating heart is South African.

We are proud of your presence.

We are greatly encouraged by your ongoing investment as we strive to build the low-carbon economies of the future.

We see BMW as an integral part of the South African growth story.

As the Government of National Unity, we welcome the role you continue to play in supporting our drive for inclusive growth and job creation.

As we prepare for the upcoming South Africa Investment Conference, I invite BMW to once again be a flagship partner.

Let us work together to deepen localisation, scale up youth training, lead in EV battery development and support township supplier development.

BMW’s presence in the country is one of mutual interest and shared value.

To the entire BMW team, you are building more than cars. You are building a legacy of excellence, inclusion and hope among South Africans.

We look forward to continuing this partnership and supporting the next chapter of your journey.

I thank you.