Speaker of the National Assembly, Ms Thoko Didiza,
Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces, Ms Refilwe Mtshweni-Tsipane,
Deputy President Shipokosa Paulus Mashatile,
Ministers and Deputy Ministers,
Honourable Members,
 
We are a nation of builders.
 
We are a nation that does not run away from problems. We confront them.
 
We do not lament and complain. We find solutions.
 
When faced with challenges, we do not fracture. We do not fall apart.
 
We unite and we work together to overcome those challenges.
 
And so, as we conclude this debate on the State of the Nation Address, our shared commitment to our country and to our people must guide our every action in the year ahead.
 
The State of the Nation Address is about building a stronger South Africa. It is about rising to the challenges that we face in our own country and around the world, and emerging more prosperous, more secure and more resilient.
 
There can be no doubt that we have made progress.
 
Over 30 years, we have fundamentally improved the lives of South Africans.
 
Over the last eight years our country faced some of the most difficult challenges. But working together, we have undertaken a programme of institutional renewal by stabilising what was weakened through state capture, restoring integrity and accountability, and rebuilding the capacity of the state to serve the people of South Africa.
 
We have overcome a global pandemic that led to the worst decline in our economy, where our GDP contracted by 6 percent.
 
We stood firm in the face of an attempted insurrection that was aimed at destabilising our democracy.
 
We rebuilt in the wake of catastrophic flooding, and brought to an end more than 15 years of load shedding.
 
Through effective macroeconomic management, we have been able to tackle an unsustainable debt burden, where we ended up spending more to service our debt than we spent on health or education.
 
To deal with all these challenges, we have had to rebuild the capacity of the state and to embark on major reforms, while addressing the immediate challenges that our people are facing. 
 
All these efforts have been aimed at improving the lives of our people and to create a conducive environment for our economy to grow.
 
And over the last year, we have seen promising signs of recovery.
 
We see this in reducing unemployment and accelerating growth. We see the signs of recovery in improved public finances, lower inflation and growing business and consumer confidence.
 
Although this progress is modest, the momentum of change is building.
 
Our task now is to sustain this momentum, to protect and build on the progress we have made, and to ensure that it results in a tangible improvement in the life of every South African. 
 
Improved economic indicators may seem distant and abstract, but they have a real impact on our lives.
 
Lower borrowing costs for the state frees up resources for health and education, for the police and for better services.
 
Reduced public debt enables the private sector to invest more of its capital in expanding production and jobs.
 
A lower inflation rate reduces the cost of living, enabling families to pay for food and other basic needs.
 
And a declining unemployment rate means an income for more families and hope for more young South Africans.
 
And yet, as we have heard in this debate, we still have a long way to go.
 
More than 10 million South Africans are estimated to live below the food poverty line.
 
More than 11 million people are unemployed.
 
These are not simply statistics. These are individuals, families and communities that are facing great hardship, that experience violence on a daily basis, that run short of food, that face water cuts and that long for a better life.
 
We can stand on the sidelines and lament, as some have done in this debate.
 
Or we can roll up our sleeves and work together to change this reality – to build a stronger economy that benefits all South Africans and to build and a more equal society in which all South Africans have a place.
 
The State of the Nation Address outlined the steps we are taking as the Government of National Unity, working together with all social partners and all sections of society, to achieve these objectives.
 
We are determined to reach every person in this effort. To leave no one behind.
 
Through the measures we are taking we are improving the lives of the youngest in our society.
 
Through the Child Support Grant, which reaches 13 million children, we are protecting millions of children from the worst effects of poverty. 
 
Through free primary health care for pregnant women and children under six, we are improving the health of children.
 
We are directing more resources to the early development of children.
 
We have increased the subsidy for early childhood development and made Grade R compulsory for all children, establishing a solid base for their entry into the education system.
 
And we are focusing on strengthening literacy and numeracy in the foundation phase.
 
And now through the measures we are putting in place to end child stunting, we will improve the developmental outcomes and the life prospects of millions of children.
 
These measures will fundamentally change the prospects of an entire generation of children and each generation that will follow.
 
On none of these issues is government working alone. We are working with social partners, service providers, NGOs, parents and communities.
 
At this moment, more than 3.5 million people between the ages of 15 and 24 are not in employment, education or training.
 
We are working together to change that.
 
In addition to the steady increase in the matric pass rate, more and more learners from schools in poor communities are passing and achieving university exemptions.
 
And more and more students from poor backgrounds are being supported to attend universities and colleges. In the five years from 2019 to 2024, funding from NSFAS nearly doubled from R27 billion to R54 billion.
 
Now we are undertaking a fundamental overhaul of our skills development system by embracing the dual skills development model that has served other countries that have reduced their unemployment levels extremely well.
 
This will produce the skills that our economy needs and enable more and more young people to find meaningful and lasting jobs.
 
We know that it will take many years for the economy to grow enough to create enough jobs for all those looking for work.
 
That is why we introduced initiatives like the Presidential Employment Stimulus, which has created more than 2.5 million work and livelihood opportunities since it was established in 2020.
 
The Youth Employment Service – which is a partnership between government and business – has given over 214,000 young people work experience opportunities in industries such as manufacturing, renewable energy, tourism, logistics, finance and the digital economy.
 
Over 5.7 million young people are now registered on the SA Youth platform. To date, over 2 million earning opportunities have been secured by young people on the platform.
 
These opportunities provide more than an income. They provide young people with skills and experience while contributing to social development.
 
These opportunities are making a real difference in millions of young people’s lives.
 
And they are helping to prepare them for a better future.
 
Yet we know that what will make the greatest difference in people’s lives are jobs and other livelihood opportunities.
 
What will make the greatest difference is accelerated economic growth. A growing economy means expanding opportunity and it means hope. 
 
We have not experienced the excitement and the promise of rapid growth for almost twenty years, but we are on the cusp of achieving it now.
 
We are focused on rebuilding the economy and driving investment.
 
We should not underestimate the scale of the task ahead nor diminish the progress we have made.
 
For our economy to grow, we are steadily addressing several impediments:
 
Severe load shedding was debilitating our economy, lowering production, raising costs and deterring investment. We have effectively ended load shedding. 
 
we have stopped load shedding unreliable power raises costs, stops production, and deters investment.
 
Overburdened infrastructure and inefficiency at our ports and on our rail lines have for years been reducing our competitiveness and harming our export industries. We are improving operational performance through investment, increased capacity and far-reaching reforms.
 
We are addressing the skills mismatch between what young people have and what our economy needs through an overhaul of our education and training system.
 
To respond to low levels of investment and policy uncertainty, we are strengthening policy formulation and reducing regulatory burdens.
 
We have had to tackle poor governance, diminished state capacity and corruption by focusing on the professionalisation of the public service, improved efficiency and the modernisation of our procurement system.
 
Crime and insecurity remain significant impediments to growth, which is why we are intensifying the fight against organised crime, gang violence, gun crime and gender-based violence.
 
Our economy has also been constrained by a challenging macroeconomic environment, which is why we have been reducing high debt service costs and supporting lower inflation and interest rates.
 
Perhaps one of the most immediate impediments to faster economic growth is dysfunctionality in many municipalities. We are addressing this through an overhaul of our local government system through the review of the White Paper, and through direct interventions in municipalities in trouble.  
 
The transformation of our network industries is the platform on which rapid inclusive economic growth will be achieved.
 
Already, South Africans are feeling the benefits of some of these changes, from the improved supply of electricity to the return to service of commuter rail lines to the reduction in the cost of data.
 
In 2022, we had 205 days of load shedding. In 2023, we had over 330 days. This was the most severe period in an energy crisis that stretched back more than 15 years. 
 
To address this crisis, we established the National Energy Crisis Committee, or NECOM.
 
There were groans from some quarters, who said: “Yet another committee”. 
 
We have heard the same tired refrain from some speakers in this debate.
 
Yet what NECOM did was to bring together all the key role-players to focus on the immediate tasks necessary to end load shedding, to restore the integrity of our power system and to lay the basis for stable, sustainable and universal access to electricity into the future.
 
It succeeded because it was able to draw on the skills, capabilities, resources and efforts of a broad range of departments and public institutions, as well the best experts in South Africa and around the world, and to build a platform for collaboration with social partners.
 
It was never about meetings and talk shops. It was about taking a hands-on approach to solving the problem, making sure that things actually get done and that they get done quickly.
 
The experience of NECOM shows that complex problems need collaborative solutions.
 
Now, through its generation recovery plan, Eskom has increased its average Energy Availability Factor (EAF) from 56 percent in April 2023 to around 65 percent at present.
 
There is currently a pipeline of more than 220 gigawatts of renewable energy projects at various stages of development.
 
The Minister of Electricity and Energy is leading the building of more than 14,000 km of new transmission lines, and an innovative new model for independent transmission projects.
 
For an economy that has long been held back by energy constraints, these developments are potentially transformative.
 
For homes that have suffered years of electricity supply interruptions, the end of load shedding is a relief. For businesses, it was the removal of an obstacle to growth.
 
The next phase of our energy transformation – the establishment of a fully independent state-owned transmission company – is a complex process and one of the most important reforms in our country’s history. It requires detailed technical work and strong coordination across different entities. That is why I have established a dedicated task team under NECOM which reports to me in which participates the presidency, minister of electricity and energy and his department, minister of finance and his department as well as Eskom to effectively manage and steer the process. 
 
The value in establishing these types of structures is to enhance intergovernmental cooperation as well as breaking down the Silos that are often given rise to in government.
 
Drawing on our experience in energy, we established the National Logistics Crisis Committee.
 
Thanks to the work of the NLCC, we have seen a turnaround in the performance of our freight rail lines and ports.
 
The volume of goods transported by rail is increasing year on year, and the efficiency of our port terminals has improved. 
 
Collaboration between Transnet and the private sector has, for example, seen a 50 percent reduction in security incidents on the coal line to Richards Bay. The total length of cable stolen has been reduced from 180 kilometres of stolen cables in 2024 to 59 kilometres in 2025.
 
The reform of our logistics system is well underway, through strong collaboration between the Department of Transport, the Presidency and National Treasury. 
 
This year will be a watershed moment for logistics reform, as private rail companies begin to operate on our freight rail network and major opportunities for private sector participation are initiated for port and rail infrastructure.
 
In undertaking these far-reaching changes, we are strengthening the state and we are rebuilding state-owned entities.
 
We are mobilising investment on a massive scale – from a range of public and private sources – into electricity generation and transmission, into our ports and our rail lines, and into our water infrastructure. We are mobilising new skills, new capabilities and new technologies.
 
Let us be clear: we are retaining public ownership of our strategic national assets.
 
Private train operators will carry freight on rail lines that are owned by the state.
 
Private electricity producers will provide electricity to consumers across a power grid that is owned by the state.
 
Through these changes, we are strengthening the financial position and the operational performance of entities like Eskom and Transnet. We are making them more competitive and more efficient. 
 
We will now apply the successful methodology that we have used in energy and logistics to other urgent challenges that confront South Africa today. 
 
We are already working to establish a National Water Crisis Committee to restore a reliable supply of water to municipalities that face disruptions right now, but also to ensure water security in the long term.
 
Like electricity and logistics, the crisis in water has many causes stretching back many years.
 
Like electricity and logistics, we have already embarked on far-reaching reforms that will fundamentally change the way the water sector functions and serves the people.
 
This will enable investment in water infrastructure to meet growing demand and build our resilience to climate change, alongside institutional reforms to enable greater investment and stronger regulation of water service delivery.
 
It will also require mobilising resources and expertise to support municipalities in crisis, and intervening more quickly and effectively where they consistently fail to meet set norms and standards.
 
The National Water Crisis Committee is building on work already done – by the Water Task Team chaired by the Deputy President, by Operation Vulindlela, by the Department of Water and Sanitation and by the respective municipalities.
 
To drive local production and create more jobs in sectors with great potential, we are finalising our National Industrial Policy, focusing on decarbonisation, diversification and digitalisation.
 
This will contribute to an economy that is equipped for the future, drawing on our vast capabilities and abundant natural resources.
 
As we build an economy for the future, a number of industries in our country are currently in distress
 
The Presidency, together with the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition, is working with individual companies and sectors to develop short term plans to stave off closure and save local jobs. 
 
Among the sectors involved are cement, autos, steel and pharmaceuticals. 
 
In addition, there are sectors – such as oil and gas – that require coordination across government departments and planning together with business and labour. 
 
In all these efforts, we have to show determination and urgency.
 
It is not only in the area of economic growth and transformation where collaboration, partnership and focus needs to play a key role.
 
We are also establishing a dedicated initiative to oversee the reform of the criminal justice system, learning from the successful model of Operation Vulindlela.
 
This initiative will be led by the best experts that our country has to offer. It will work closely with the South African Police Service, the National Prosecuting Authority, the Special Investigating Unit and other law enforcement agencies to drive a comprehensive reform programme.
 
Other countries, when faced with the threat of organised crime and the penetration of criminal syndicates, have been able to reform their criminal justice system and restore the rule of law. 
 
We have the resources and ability to do so in South Africa. We will not allow the criminals to prevail.
 
One of the most important developments in recent years has been the mobilisation of society to end the violence that men commit against women.
 
Faced with this pandemic of violence, South Africans came together to develop a National Strategic Plan against Gender-Based Violence and Femicide.
 
And since the adoption of the plan, government departments, agencies, NGOs, business organisations, sporting bodies and others have been working together to implement the six pillars of the plan.
 
They understand that gender-based violence and femicide cannot be stopped by government alone. It must be stopped by society.
 
Over the past five years, South Africa has made progress in critical areas. 
 
We have strengthened laws, expanded survivor-centred services through the Thuthuzela Care Centres, rolled out victim-friendly rooms at police stations, and invested in women’s economic empowerment as a critical pillar of prevention. 
 
For the first time, we have a national prevalence study that gives us clear evidence of the scale and drivers of gender-based violence. 
 
These gains matter and they show what is possible when the state and civil society act together.
 
The classification of gender-based violence and femicide as a national disaster enables all spheres of government to act with greater speed, reduces the fragmentation of effort and establishes a clear command, coordination and accountability framework.
 
It gives both government and broader society far greater capacity and impetus to implement the measures that I outlined in the State of the Nation Address.
 
These measures include the mobilisation of all sectors of society to challenge harmful attitudes and practices.  
 
We are continuing the extensive work already underway to promote women’s economic empowerment, strengthen law enforcement and scale up survivor-centred support.  
 
The Premiers who spoke during the debate highlighted the progress being made across the country in strengthening local economies, improving service delivery and investing in the future.
 
Provinces are taking the lead in infrastructure investment, from the resuscitation of Pilanesberg Airport in North West to the rehabilitation of roads and bridges in KwaZulu-Natal. Then there is the innovative partnership between the Limpopo provincial government and mining companies to mobilise funding for the construction and maintenance of local roads.
 
Provinces like Free State are investing in education, refurbishing and maintaining ECD centres, building new schools and hostels, and ensuring that all learners from poor communities attend no-fee schools and are part of the school nutrition programme.
 
Mpumalanga has launched the uBuhlebezulu E-Learning programme which is designed to bridge the digital divide through the use of smart devices. 
 
We welcome the initiative by KwaZulu-Natal to forge provincial skills compacts with the private sector in logistics, energy, construction and the digital economy.
 
We have also heard about how Mpumalanga is investing in health, appointing doctors to Community Health Centres and building new clinics and hospitals, including the Middelburg Regional Hospital and the Mapulaneng Hospital.
 
Limpopo is providing leadership on tackling the country’s water challenges, establishing operational ‘war rooms’ in the Mopani District, particularly in Giyani, to ensure that water reaches the remaining 5 of 20 villages.
 
The Premier of the Northern Cape outlined the work being done in the province to drive investment in mining and renewable energy, in infrastructure and in education and health.
 
It is these efforts that have contributed to the steady growth of employment and GDP in the province over the last five years, and the notable improvement in the province’s Human Development Index.
 
Gauteng has introduced the Rapid Land Release Programme to enable investment and expand access to affordable housing.
 
The Western Cape is contributing to job creation by expanding tourism, increasing air access and promoting foreign direct investment in other key sectors.
 
Free State is setting an example in the provision of government services, through the integrated services programme to reach rural and underserved communities. This initiative brings together various government entities and departments to offer comprehensive services to communities, ranging from the issuance of title deeds, birth certificates and IDs to business support.
 
The Premier of the Free State spoke about how the loss of the province’s top spot in matric results has spurred the province to do better and to regain its position.
 
We welcome that determination, as provinces should be learning from each other. They should be driven to improve not only their matric pass rates, but health outcomes, service delivery, crime reduction, infrastructure maintenance and many others. 
 
Healthy competition encourages innovation and improves efficiency, accountability and transparency.
 
We have seen the value of government working as one through the District Development Model.
 
The DDM seeks to eliminate silos between government departments and the three spheres of government. 
 
It further aims to strengthen integrated planning and coordination, improving service delivery, eliminating fragmentation and ensuring inclusive, people-centred development. 
 
The DDM brings together national, provincial and local government and stakeholders like organised business, labour and communities in a particular district to collectively address challenges. 
 
Where the DDM has been integrated into government operations and structures, it has begun to make a measurable difference.
 
For example, the work done by the Presidential eThekwini Working Group in line with the DDM approach has contributed to significant improvements in the city.
 
By bringing national, provincial and local government together with business, labour, civil society and residents, we have seen improvements in the delivery of services like water and sanitation, the recovery of key industries like tourism, increased business sentiment and improved efficiency at the Durban Port.
 
In the State of the Nation Address, I said that our Constitution calls on us to redress the injustices of the past, to build a society that is equal and just.
 
We cannot do that without transforming our economy.
 
It cannot be acceptable to anyone in this House for African people, coloured people and Indian people to be poorer and have fewer opportunities than white people.
 
It cannot be acceptable to anyone in this House for women to earn less than men, to own less than men and to run fewer businesses than men.
 
And yet there are people in this House, in this debate, who tell us to get rid of the measures that we have put in place to correct this gross historical injustice.
 
They say we must get rid of broad-based black economic empowerment, falsely claiming that it benefits only a few, falsely claiming that it inhibits economic growth, falsely claiming that it enables corruption.
 
And yet the progress we have made since the introduction of these laws is undeniable. We have seen real changes in ownership patterns, including more businesses owned by women. We have seen changes in management control, enterprise development and skills development.
 
It is no accident that between 2006 and 2023, black African households experienced real income growth of 46 percent, coloured households 29 percent and Indian households 19 percent.
 
It is no accident that the level of poverty in the black African population fell from 67 percent in 2006 to 44 percent in 2023. Nor is it any accident that the level of poverty in the coloured population fell from 43 percent to 25 percent in the same period.
 
Despite this progress, the average income of white households is still nearly five times higher than that of black African households. 
 
This is the gulf we must close through deliberate and sustained efforts to expand opportunity. Now is not the time to abandon BEE. Now is the time to make it more effective. 
 
Just remember what our forebears said when they drafted the Freedom Charter.
 
They said “These freedoms we will fight for, side by side, throughout our lives, until we have won our liberty.” We should all be working together to ensure that we rid our country of the injustices of the past.
 
We must see broad-based black economic empowerment not as a cost to the economy, but as an investment in the sustainable growth of our economy.
 
That is why I announced in the State of the Nation Address that we are undertaking a review of our Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment framework to ensure that it supports greater transformation and inclusive growth. 
 
During the course of this debate, MPs have spoken on behalf of their political parties.

When they are out on the streets, they campaign for their parties.
 
But in Cabinet, there are no parties.
 
There are no ANC or DA or IFP or PA or UDM or GOOD or FF Plus or PAC or Al Jama-ah ministries.
 
Every Minister and Deputy Minister is part of a collective, working together to implement a common programme, the Medium Term Development Plan.
 
No Minister or Deputy Minister should be claiming their work in the GNU as an achievement of their party. 
 
In many cases, the basis for their achievements were laid before they came into office. And in many cases, the work to realise their objectives will continue after they have left.
 
Our successes are the achievements of the collective. By the same measure, we are collectively responsible for our mistakes and shortcomings.
 
It is our commitment to the principle of partnership and shared responsibility that has made the Government of National Unity work and that will stand us in good stead for the work ahead.
 
We are undertaking these tasks in a global environment that is uncertain, unstable and rapidly changing.
 
During our Presidency of the G20, we set out our vision and programme for a better, more inclusive, more peaceful and more equal world order.
 
Most of the G20 countries overwhelmingly aligned themselves with that vision.
 
It is a vision that is shared by most Member States of the United Nations, BRICS and the Non-Aligned Movement.
 
We will continue to work with like-minded countries and on all available international platforms to advance that vision and implement that programme.
 
The African continent remains at the centre of our foreign policy.
 
South Africa is now the chair of SADC for the next two years, and will use that position to promote peace, integration and economic development in our region.
 
We have also been elected to the AU Peace and Security Council. In this capacity we will be working with other countries to promote peace efforts on the continent. 
 
At the AU Summit in Addis Ababa this past weekend, we chaired the Ad-Hoc High-Level Committee on South Sudan, known as the C5, which is working to stabilise the situation in South Sudan, ensuring that elections take place and that a sustainable resolution to the conflict in the country is achieved.
 
We do this because a better Africa and a better world are in our national interest.
 
At the same, we are having to adapt very quickly to changing circumstances.
 
We cannot rely on goodwill and fine sentiments. 
 
That is why we are being more assertive in our trade policy, seeking out new markets and reaching trade agreements that support growth and job creation in our economy.
 
We are intensifying our efforts to mobilise investment into our country and find investment opportunities for our businesses abroad.
 
This relies on a stronger, more capable state. Our foreign missions must be focused on driving trade and investment.
 
We are working to ensure that our departments – from DTIC to agriculture, to mineral resources to tourism – are aligned around a common trade strategy. 
 
Amid the global turmoil, we have set a clear path to advance the interests of our country and its people. We must now pursue that path with greater focus and purpose.
 
Thirty years ago, South Africans came together to craft a Constitution that would define the values and the principles of our democracy.
 
It placed on all of us a responsibility to correct the injustices of the past and to ensure that all people would progressively be able to exercise their right to housing, health care, food, water, social security and education.
 
As a nation, we have travelled far in giving effect to the promise of our Constitution.
 
But we have much further to go.
 
It is therefore fitting that this year, South Africans will once again come together to forge a vision for our country into the future and to agree on a programme of actions to achieve that vision.
 
This is the year in which the National Dialogue will reach every corner of our country.
 
The National Dialogue is led by a Steering Committee of more than 100 people representing over 30 sectors in our society.
 
It continues to be guided and inspired by the Eminent Persons Group, prominent South Africans drawn from many fields and backgrounds who have all made a contribution to social cohesion and nation building.
 
It is ultimately the people of this country, engaged in dialogue and united action, who will determine the path that our country takes.
 
Dialogue and partnership are woven into the fabric of our society.
 
They have enabled our country to overcome great difficulties, from the crime of apartheid to the political violence of our transition to a devastating global pandemic to a persistent energy crisis.
 
It is this spirit that infuses the work of the Government of National Unity, that informs our approach to collaboration and coordination, that encourages us to draw on resources and capabilities from across society to solve difficult problems.
 
It is dialogue and partnership that will take the country forward.
 
It is the people of South Africa, working together, who will sustain the momentum of our recovery and who will accelerate progress to an inclusive economy and a transformed society.
 
As I conclude, I extend my gratitude to Deputy President Mashatile for his support and the leadership he continues to provide in the areas assigned to him.
 
I thank all Ministers and Deputy Ministers for diligently implementing the actions contained in the Medium Term Development Plan. 
 
The Deputy President and I have been spending more time evaluating Ministers and Deputy Ministers, as well as Directors-General. This is part of an effort to promote accountability, to engender a culture of performance and to ensure action.
 
I am grateful to the leaders of the political parties in the Government of National Unity, who meet regularly to discuss matters of national interest. Their contributions have been very useful in managing the challenges our country faces.
 
I thank all the Honourable Members who have participated in this debate.
 
As the elected representatives of the people of South Africa, we have much to do.
 
Now is the time for action, for greater effort and for faster progress. Together and in unity.

Last year I spoke about the imagery of weaver birds working together to build their nest. Today I want to end by using another imagery of beavers, working together to build their nest.
 
Beavers are like a team of engineers. They work together to fell branches, pack mud and raise dams and lodges that create a safe “neighbourhood” of deep water around their home.
 
Beavers are a reminder that real building is rarely a solo act.
 
Think of a river that runs too fast, too exposed, too uncertain. 
 
One beaver can’t change it. But a community can. 
 
They don’t wait for perfect conditions; they start with what’s in reach. 
 
One drags a branch. Another places it. Others pack mud and strengthen the weak points. Bit by bit, they raise a dam and shape a lodge—not as a monument, but as a home.
 
And what does that teamwork create? Not just a structure, but a safer environment: calmer water, protection from danger, space for life to grow. Their work turns risk into refuge. 
 
It doesn’t happen through noise or ego; it happens through coordination, consistency and a shared purpose.
 
That’s what working together looks like for us. 
 
We don’t all have the same role, but every role matters. Some people plan. Some people lift. Some people reinforce. Some people spot the leaks early and fix them before they become disasters. 
 
When we build like that – patiently, practically, together – we don’t just complete a project. We create a “neighbourhood”: a place where others can thrive because we chose to cooperate.
 
So let’s build like beavers: with urgency, with unity and with the quiet determination to make something strong enough to hold – something that lasts and something that shelters more than just ourselves.
 
Let us be the real builders of South Africa, working together.
 
I thank you.
 

In his capacity as the Chairperson of the Water Task Team, Deputy President Shipokosa Paulus Mashatile will tomorrow, 20 February 2026, conduct an Oversight Visit to the City of Johannesburg Water facilities in Midrand, Gauteng Province. 

The visit follows a meeting the Deputy President convened with Ministers and government officials to assess the water supply challenges across Gauteng. 

During this meeting, the Deputy President was briefed on latest developments in resolving the water challenges in the province, including the assurance by Rand Water that water pumping had since been restored and the supply is expected to progressively stabilise over time. 

Furthermore, the Deputy President has been informed that currently the bulk supplier continues to pump at full capacity, even though the Commando (which comprises Brixton, Crossby and Hursthill) and Soweto systems, in particular Doornkop and Meadowlands reservoirs, remain constrained with gradual improvement. 

Johannesburg Water continues to monitor all systems closely and implement the necessary interventions to stabilise supply. Alternative water is provided to affected areas in a coordinated manner together with affected Ward Councillors.

The scheduled Oversight Visit by the Deputy President is important as a measure to monitor progress and unlock bottlenecks to resolving the water challenges faced by the people of Gauteng. 

Details of the visit are as follows:
Date: Friday, 20 February 2026
Time: 09:00 (Media to arrive at 08:30)
Venue: Carlswald Reserviour Construction Site, Via Walton Rd (M71) Carlswald, Midrand; Whisken Ave Crowthorne, Midrand, (opposite Aquatic Zone Midrand Swimming School)

Media wishing to attend and cover the visit should please RSVP by sending: full name, ID number & media house by 16h00 today, 19 February 2026 to linahl@presidency.gov.za or 066 240 7635.

Media enquiries: Mr Keith Khoza, Acting Spokesperson to the Deputy President on 066 195 8840

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

President Cyril Ramaphosa has expressed his sadness at the passing of futurist Clem Sunter who has passed away at the age of 81.

Mr Sunter was a business leader – including Chief Executive and Chair of Anglo American’s gold and uranium division – who in the 1980s helped to develop a scenario for the future of South Africa. This was at a time when the liberation struggle was heightening pressure on the apartheid regime.

The High Road, Low Road scenario predicted contrasting futures for the country based on political choices and economic policy options .

President Ramaphosa offers his deep condolences to Mr Sunter’s wife, Margaret, and children Katy, Dave, and Rob and seven grandchildren.

The President said: “Clem Sunter was a pioneering, incisive leader who cared deeply for our country and focused the attention of political movements, of his peers in the economy and of ordinary citizens on the character and future of our nation.

“He made us think of the terms and conditions of transformation and of the South Africa we needed to build for an inclusive, prosperous, and peaceful country.

“From consultations with leaders, to his books and the passionate sharing of his ideas with communities, Clem Sunter made his insights accessible to all of us.

“Today, we continue to explore futures for our country and as we do so, we honour Clem Sunter’s groundbreaking reflection on who we are and what we can be.

“May his soul rest in peace.”

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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria
 

President Cyril Ramaphosa has acknowledged the passing of pioneering Lebanese-born Palestinian diplomat and activist Leila Shahid who has died at the age of 76.

Leila Shahid made history as the first woman ambassador of Palestine, who represented the Palestinian Liberation Organisation and the Palestinian Authority in Ireland, the Netherlands and France.

In 2004, she was at Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat’s side in the closing days of his life, following a working partnership of around five decades.

President Ramaphosa said: “The passing of Leila Shahid is a moment of sadness that ripples from the ruins of a brutalised Palestine to places all over the world where we remain resolute in our solidarity with the people of Palestine in their struggle for freedom.

“Leila Shahid leaves us while the State of Israel perpetuates the excessive violence and disregard of international law that Leila witnessed, fought against and brought to the attention of the international community during her decades of activism.

“As an anthropologist, she sought to preserve the cultural history of the people of Palestine who suffered and continue to suffer recurrent attacks on their identity, dignity and political and physical security.

“She campaigned for the freedom of Palestine until the end of her extraordinary life and her passing is a moment for appreciating the full extent of her leadership and ensuring that her vision of a free Palestine is realised in our lifetime.

“May her soul rest in peace.”

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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria
 

President Cyril Ramaphosa has conveyed his best wishes to the Christian and Muslim communities as they observe the sacred periods of Lent and Ramadan respectively.

“The start of the Lenten period coinciding with the start of Ramadan is a rare occurrence that at the same time is a powerful reminder of the deep commonality of faith traditions,” President Ramaphosa said.

“Though they are observed in different ways, both Lent and Ramadan call on those who observe towards introspection, discipline, humility, generosity and care for society’s most vulnerable – these are values sorely needed in today’s fractured world,” the President said.

During Lent various Christian denominations observe a 40-day season of prayer, fasting, abstinence and almsgiving to commemorate Christ’s fasting in the wilderness. 

During Ramadan Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset; perform special prayers and feed the needy.

The 2022 Census reflects that the majority of South Africans identify as Christian, with many other faith traditions represented across the land. 

South Africa has a rich interfaith tradition forged in struggle and solidarity, and a Constitution that protects freedom of religion without qualification. 

“Every faith has a room here, and no South African will be marginalised or persecuted for their beliefs. The claims of any who would seek to paint a different picture do not withstand scrutiny when measured against the record of our constitutional democracy,” President Ramaphosa said.

“At this time of great spiritual significance for our Christian and Muslim brethren I call on all South Africans to rally in solidarity, and hold fast to the unity that defines us as a people,” the President said.

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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria
 

President Cyril Ramaphosa will attend the National Assembly Debate on the 2026 State of the Nation Address (SONA) tomorrow, Wednesday, 18 February 2026, at the Nieuwmeester Parking Dome in Cape Town.

President Ramaphosa delivered the State of the Nation Address on Thursday, 12 February 2026, during a Joint Sitting of the National Assembly and the National Council of Provinces.

The President outlined government’s programme of action for the year ahead, highlighting progress made, key priorities for economic growth and job creation, measures to address the cost of living, strengthen service delivery, combat crime and corruption, and advance South Africa’s role on the continent and globally.

The debate provides Members of Parliament with an opportunity to deliberate on the policy priorities and commitments announced by the President.

President Ramaphosa will reply to the debate on Thursday, 19 February 2026.

The details of the debate are as follows:

Date: Wednesday, 18 February 2026
Venue: Nieuwmeester Parking Dome, Cape Town
Time: 14h00

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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

Mesdames Speaker and Chairperson of National Council of Provinces
His Excellency, President Cyril Ramaphosa and Deputy President, Mashatile
Honourable members,
 
The 2026 State of the Nation Address went beyond recounting our progress and future intentions, it challenged us to act so we rise together, and that we must use strategies that have made us succeeded in the past “to fix what we must”. What made us succeed in the past, is the ability of the President to mobilise business, labour, and civil society to contribute their expertise and part, around a focused plan to resolve specific problems. This is the secret behind the success of the reform programme driven through Operation Vulindlela, colloquially known as OV, since the 6th Administration under the ANC – we cannot expropriate the Operation Vulindlela successes, Operation Vulindlela is an ANC initiative.
 
FIXING WHAT WE MUST
 
Water Crisis

On the water crisis, the President elevated the coordination of interventions to address this crisis to a National Water Crisis Committee that he will chair. The work has already commenced Mr President, the OV team with the Department of Water and Sanitation have started with the assessments towards a Water Action Plan that should be ready by mid-March 2026 and a call for technical capacity as part of mobilizing resources and expertise to support municipalities in crisis is in the works. The current draft Water Action Plan is focused on addressing immediate crisis, propelling reforms in the water sector, and unlocking investments in the municipal water infrastructure.
 
Strengthening the criminal justice system to fight against crime
 
To strengthen the criminal justice system to fight against organised crime, the President directed the State Security Agency to re-vet members of the senior management structures of the SAPS, and vet members of the Metro Police Departments. We have also commenced with work in this regard and to ensure progress, the SSA have indicated that they are prioritising the revetting of police officers and management implicated at the Madlanga Commission and in the metro police departments, they will start at the Ekurhuleni metro police department. Engagements with the SAPS on the revetting process have commenced to ensure full cooperation of affected members, and the revetting will include officers due for promotion into the SAPS sms structures. The SAPS Re-Vetting Plan will be shared with the National Commissioner of Police, the acting Minister of Police and the Joint Standing Committee of Intelligence by end February 2026.
 
Implementing Zondo Commission Recommendations 

The work under way to implement the Madlanga Commission findings is not an exception. We have not only been implementing the Zondo Commission Recommendations Action Plan which was submitted to Parliament, but we have been reporting the progress to Parliament through SCOPA. In March 2026, we will submit our 3rd progress reports to Parliament in March 2026, and the 4th report no later than June 2026. To date, 57% of the Action Plan has been implemented.
 
Streamlining Firearms Licensing Regulations

You have called on us to streamline Firearms Licensing Regulations.The National Conventional Arms Control Committee will in the month of March 2026 consider the Firearms Importation Control Regulations and consult with the Minister of Police, in line with the Firearms Control Act for purposes of streamlining licensing, possession, and trading in firearms and ammunition so that we remove fire power from the hands of criminals and strength the fight against organised crime.
 
In 2024, we made Regulations for coordination of National Intelligence for the first time in the history of our country. In 2025, we started to fully coordinate national intelligence structures through NICOC to ensure implementation of the National Intelligence Priorities to achieve national security and moved to use technology. We secured the G20 through advanced technologies including biometrics, AI and analytics, we are expanding the technology coverage towards the fight against organised crime. 

In terms of the 2019-2024 National Intelligence Priorities, national intelligence structures have identified illegal immigration as a threat to national security and therefore this year, we will strength support to Home Affairs to deal with illegal immigration not only at the ports of entry but support the labour inspectors of the Department of Employment and Labour to curb the employment of undocumented foreign nationals even  through the use of technology. 
 
CONSOLIDATING THE GAINS
 
Honourable Malema was here arguing that we have nothing to show for it. Maybe we need Economics 101, but I am baffled because I also heard Honourable Van Rooyen battling with economic data.
 
Mr President, indeed, our economy has wind in the sails.

This morning, Statistics South Africa released the fourth quarter Quarterly Labour Force Survey. Employment increased by 44 000 jobs in the fourth quarter of 2025. The number of unemployed persons decreased by 172 000 to 7,8 million during the same quarter. Official unemployment rate decreased by 0,5 of a percentage point from 31,9% in the third quarter of 2025 to 31,4% in the fourth quarter of 2025. We are not there yet, but we are solidly on course.
 
Allow me to explain why budget surpluses are important. The budget surplus assists to ensure that we pay existing debt and thus lower debt, reduces interest repayments, making more money available for infrastructure development and social programmes. It also increases economic confidence which is influences decisions about spending, investing, hiring and saving.
 
Honourable Malema argues we are privatizing the logistics sector, and many others. However, economics teaches us of the need to mobilize the best of the resources and capacity to deliver the much needed economic development and there is nothing wrong with mobilising South Africa private sector and labour. In any event, we are making progress in turning around the performance of Transnet and fixing our logistics system. The volume of goods transported by rail is increasing year on year, and the efficiency of our port terminals has improved.
 
Honourable Malema is looking for designs of the speed rail but there is separation of powers. You are a legislator, Mushavhi, the blueprints will be with the Executive. In any case, we are progressing with passenger rail transport improvements with more commuters taking the train through iStimela-as-Bantu” at a fraction of the cost, impacting their cost of living positively.
 
We make these commitments to act decisively and timeously because we are the the daughters of Sophie De Bruin, we are the granddaughters of the women of the 1956 March in whose footsteps, we tread.
 
As the Presidency, we commit to continue strengthening the coordination of government to effectively deliver on the actions articulated by the President because we are committed to serve with a purpose and we are intentional.
 
We will rise together and I rise to serve.

South Africa joins the international community in mourning the passing of United States human rights activist and anti-apartheid struggle flagbearer the Rev Dr Jesse Louis Jackson Sr.

President Cyril Ramaphosa has expressed his deep sadness at the passing of Rev Jackson at the age of 84.

On behalf of all South Africans, President Ramaphosa extends his condolences to the Jackson family, the Rainbow PUSH Coalition and the many organisations within the American Civil Rights Movement and in causes elsewhere in the world who were inspired by the Rev Jesse Jackson’s principles and leadership.

President Ramaphosa says the Rev Jesse Jackson’s irrepressible campaigns against apartheid and his support for the liberation struggle was a towering contribution to the global anti-apartheid cause.

In 2013, the Rev Jesse Jackson was awarded South Africa’s National Order of the Companions of O.R. Tambo in Silver for dedicating his life to challenge societies and governments to recognise that all people are born equal, and that everyone is in equal measure entitled to life, liberty, prosperity and human rights. The award honoured his excellent contribution to the fight against apartheid.

President Ramaphosa said: “We are sad to bid farewell to a global moral authority who gave voice to struggles within the United States as well as struggles for fundamental human rights and democracy around the world, including our own.

“Mentored by the equally resolute and charismatic Dr Martin Luther King Jr, Jesse Jackson devoted himself to the cause of justice as a human endeavour without borders.

“In 2026, we reflect with deep appreciation and admiration on Jesse Jackson’s visit to Southern Africa 40 years ago this year to share his support for our liberation struggle with leaders and citizens in Nigeria, Angola, Botswana, the then Congo, Mozambique, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

“From Selma in the American South to Soweto in 1979, where he visited following the death of Steve Biko, Jesse Jackson defied the architects of apartheid and executors of brutality to declare that all people are equal and that justice would ultimately triumph over injustice.

“His campaigns for an end to apartheid included disinvestment from the apartheid economy and challenging the support the regime enjoyed in certain circles and institutions internationally.

“We are deeply indebted to the energy, principled clarity and personal risk with which he supported our struggle and campaigned for freedom and equality in other parts of the world.

“I will treasure the opportunity I had to do the 33rd Gandhi Walk with Jesse Jackson in April 2018, where he shared with me his deep commitment to his continuing vision for a better world as well as his special relationship with South Africa.

“He has fought a good fight and run the race which his Baptist ministry inspired him to run. He made the world a better place but he has also influenced us to maintain his good fight in places where injustice and inequality persist.

“May his soul rest in peace.”

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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria
 

Your Excellencies, 
Heads of States, Ministers, 
Invited guests and 
My dear Brothers and Sisters, 

Thank you for your participation in this meeting. We have come to the end of our meeting. 

Firstly, I would like to  thank you once again President Kirr and the delegation of South Sudan, Ministers as well as other officials. 

I would like to thank them for their presence and participation because through their participation they have enlightened us on a number of issues that are germane to what the C5 meeting at the level of Heads of State has been all about. 

As we have come to the end of our meeting, I have no doubt that you would agree that this meeting has been long in the making, but it has been a very constructive and positive meeting. 

We are particularly pleased that we had a number of Heads of State who have participated and made statements in this meeting, statements that have helped to craft the way forward.

It should be said that the Government and the people of South Sudan have been in many ways looking at this Committee (C5) and IGAD and the UN for support and solidarity, on this difficult and complex journey that they have been on towards peace, stability and democracy in their country. 

The valuable interventions that have been made here reaffirm our collective commitment and revive our resolve to work with speed despite the challenges that are faced by the Government and people of South Sudan. 

I want to welcome that we met at Heads of State level to provide a clear direction on the way forward. We have agreed that the Revitalised Agreement remains the paramount legal instrument which all parties must comply and by which progress in South Sudan will be measured. We encourage inclusive dialogue in accordance with the Revitalised Agreement.

To this end, we should bring an end to all violence, hostilities and to allow all this and all other electoral processes to take place. It is for this reason that a clear recommendation is being made.

It is for this reason that a clear recommendation is being made, that (i) there should be a ceasefire and all hostilities must be brought to an end, (ii) as recommended by Heads of State, there should be a release of political detainees and this should also include people like the Vice President, Riek Machar who is going through various processes of a legal nature but we would want it to be given consideration by the Government of South Sudan, (iii) that there should be meaningful dialogue that is inclusive, that is thorough and leaving no stakeholder behind, (iv) elections must go on and not be postponed and there should no more postponements and the elections must be held on a free and fair basis including all the people who are eligible to participate in those elections (the citizens of South Sudan), (v) there should be coordination of the efforts and work through IGAD Secretariat as well as C5 and (vi) the Chair of the Commission should work together with three IGAD Heads of State (which is composed of sitting presidents) who will work together with the C5 and will have an oversight role to monitor and support the implementation of this process in South Sudan.

We also agree that the Government of South Sudan needs to agree, identify and implement  minimum standards which should be put in place for people of South Sudan to exercise their democratic right to vote and choose their leaders. And that in this process there should be credible and meaningful processes to prepare for the elections as articulated by the Under-Secretary General of the UN.

The inclusive dialogue, meaningful talks amongst all the parties should lead to the unification of forces and ensure that the political processes of preparing for elections do take place. And the requisite funding for electoral bodies are all put in place to ensure that the elections do take place on a credible basis. 

As regional leaders and indeed as continental leaders, we will do our utmost best to assist South Sudan to transition to a peaceful and stable country. However, it is up to the leaders of South Sudan to act in good faith and demonstrate a willingness to undertake an inclusive process that fosters national cohesion, solidarity and reconciliation. That also upholds the rule of law; and ensures a transparent, credible and peaceful electoral process.

We have heard a very clearly from President Salva Kiir that from their own point of view they are committed to ensure that the roadmap is adhered, and that they would want us to assist them and support them without undue interference. 

That is something we should comply with and support the people of South Sudan without interference unduly. That is what support should mean. Of course they will be open to counsel, to take advice and to be fully supported.

This we do by recognising that South Sudan is facing challenges and our task is to support. In addressing their challenges, we should be pleased that they are building consensus and will work with all parties on the road going to elections that will be held.

In conclusion, I wish to thank those who participated in the meeting for honouring the invitation to deliberate on how we can better assist and coordinate our efforts in South Sudan on its journey to finding lasting solutions and peace. Consistent and continuous engagement and monitoring by the C5, IGAD and the United Nations and AU is critical throughout this year. There is a lot of hope and goodwill towards our sister country and it is imperative that we act in concert and in assistance of South Sudan. 

I especially appreciate the participation of President Salva Kiir at this meeting. Your contributions my dear President, were most important to us in our effort to chart the way forward. I am confident that I speak on behalf of all those gathered here today as I wish the people of South Sudan well in the lead up to your national elections. 

I thank you.

Your Excellencies, Heads of State and Government
Your Excellency Salva Kiir Mayardit, President of South Sudan,
Your Excellency William Ruto, President of the Republic of Kenya
Your Excellency Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, Chairperson of the African Union Commission,
Your Excellency Ambassador Bankole Adeoye, AU Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security,
Your Excellency Ismail Omar Guelleh, President of the Republic of Djibouti and Chairperson of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD)
Your Excellency Workney Gebeyehu, Executive Secretary of IGAD,
Your Excellency Veronica Nduva, Secetary-General of the East African Community,
Ministers,
Ambassadors,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

Welcome to the AU Ad-hoc High Level Committee for South Sudan (C5) Plus Summit. 

I wish to thank my dear brother, President Salva Kiir Mayardit, for his presence here today. It is a demonstration of the President’s commitment to peace and stability in his country.

This is a landmark event – being convened jointly with the United Nations, the Intergovernmental Authority for Development (IGAD) and the East African Community (EAC).

This Committee has not met at the level of Heads of State since 2018 on the margins of the 31st Ordinary Session of the African Union Assembly. 

This was the same year that the Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (R-ARCSS) was signed. 

Eight years later, implementation of the Revitalised Agreement remains slow. As guarantors of the Revitalised Agreement and as sister countries, we are here to support the peace process in South Sudan, the youngest member of our Union.

We felt it was vital that we expand the meeting to include member states from IGAD and the IGAD Secretariat, considering that they are the primary regional mediator of the Revitalised Agreement. Furthermore the C5 was established to enhance the mediation efforts of IGAD. 

Allow me to acknowledge the critical role played by the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) since 2011. 

UNMISS has been supporting the peace process, preventing conflict, protecting civilians and facilitating humanitarian access. We thank the Secretary-General of the UN for his presence and look forward to his contribution.

Ethiopia, Kenya and Uganda are outside of the C5 but are heavily invested in the stability of South Sudan; and it is critical that we coordinate efforts.

This year is a pivotal one for South Sudan, with elections set for December 2026. We welcome 
the government of South Sudan’s stated intention to hold elections and to convene a national dialogue to resolve outstanding issues before elections are held. 

The people of South Sudan yearn to live in a peaceful and prosperous country; and elections alone will not guarantee lasting peace. 

Firstly, a conducive political and security environment is vital. Violence and conflict at any stage will undermine confidence and derail the process. 

Secondly, the political processes such as the national dialogue and legal processes must be genuinely inclusive. 

They must bring together all signatories and stakeholders to the Revitalisation Agreement so that decisions reflect broad ownership, credibility  and legitimacy.

This C5 Plus Summit must send a clear, unified message that calls on all stakeholders to enter into dialogue without delay. 

We wish to encourage measures that will build unity, including all options to facilitate reconciliation. The C5 supports the proposal that the Chairperson of the AU Commission should appoint a former Head of State to mediate amongst the signatory parties to the Revitalisation Agreement – and to facilitate dialogue between President Kiir and Dr Riek Machar.

We stand ready to support mediation, to monitor implementation and to coordinate our efforts. 
A focused, oversight mechanism involving the C5 and IGAD would help track progress and report back to the Heads of State.

Excellencies,

The choices made in the coming months will determine whether South Sudan moves towards durable peace or back into cycles of instability. 

Let us act with urgency, courage and unity. Let us use this Summit to foster a process that delivers inclusive dialogue, free, fair and credible elections and sustainable peace for the people of South Sudan.

I look forward to our discussions.

I thank you.