Ms Kendra Gaither, President of the US-Africa Business Center of the United States Chamber of Commerce,

South African Ministers,                        

Distinguished business leaders, friends,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is an honour to join you this evening under the auspices of the US Chamber of Commerce.

I wish to begin by acknowledging the depth of the partnership between South Africa and the United States.

This is a relationship defined not only by diplomacy but by the practical ties of trade, investment and shared innovation.

The United States is one of South Africa’s largest trading partners outside of Africa.

The US is a top source of foreign direct investment in South Africa, supporting hundreds of thousands of direct and indirect jobs in our economy. 

More than 600 US companies are already invested and operating successfully in South Africa. 

They are invested in areas as diverse as aerospace, mining and energy, consumer goods and finance.

These investments have built industries, created jobs and anchored long-term partnerships that have benefited both our peoples.

South Africa is equally proud that some of our own companies have established a footprint in the US, from chemicals and financial services to mining, hospitality and food products.

These firms are ambassadors of our entrepreneurial spirit, our innovation and our global competitiveness.

We have in our midst a number of leading South African companies that are eager to engage with their US counterparts to explore new areas of collaboration, joint ventures and investment.

We see this engagement today not only as an opportunity to deepen commercial ties but also as a platform to address the broader strategic imperatives that bind our economies together.

These imperatives include ensuring resilient supply chains, advancing the clean energy transition, securing access to critical minerals for the industries of the future, and fostering inclusive growth that creates jobs for young people in both our countries.

We do not take this relationship for granted.

We value the trust that American companies place in South Africa, and we are committed to ensuring that this partnership continues to grow. 

We also recognise that the world is changing. 

New challenges have emerged in our trade relationship, not least the reciprocal tariffs recently imposed on South African exports.

These measures have already disrupted supply chains and created uncertainty for both our exporters and American importers.

The reality is that such measures do not only affect one side. They ripple across industries and communities in both our countries. 

South Africa wishes to deal with these issues constructively. We understand the concerns that have been raised by the United States and are willing to engage to find solutions that are mutually beneficial.

Our goal is simple: to sustain and expand trade flows, to keep our companies competitive, and to ensure that consumers and workers in both countries benefit from our partnership.

At the same time, we face the urgent matter of the African Growth and Opportunity Act – AGOA – which expires later this month.

AGOA has been the foundation of US-Africa trade for nearly a quarter of a century. 

In South Africa, it has supported jobs from auto assembly plants to farms to high-tech manufacturing hubs.

Its expiry would not only undermine those gains, but also remove the link to the Generalised System of Preferences, which has been so critical to many of our exporters.

For this reason, I appeal for your support in advocating for its renewal.

Predictable, preferential access to the US market is vital not only to South Africa but to American companies who depend on reliable imports. 

Our conversation this evening must also look beyond immediate challenges.

Africa is rising. The African Continental Free Trade Area is opening new horizons, creating a market of 1.4 billion people.

South Africa is ideally positioned as your gateway into this market.

We have the infrastructure, the financial systems, the legal and regulatory frameworks and the regional linkages to serve as a platform for US companies to expand into the continent.

South Africa is a country of 60 million people, but it is also as an entry point into a continental market of immense potential.

South Africa is reforming and modernising its economy.

We are addressing structural bottlenecks and diversifying our exports.

We are driving industrialisation so that we move beyond raw commodities into higher-value goods and services.

For US investors, this means opportunities not only in established sectors but in new and dynamic industries. 

We see particular promise in agriculture, where we are expanding agro-processing and high-value food production.

There are opportunities in automotives, where we are transitioning to electric vehicles and battery production.

In green energy, our renewable energy endowments and platinum reserves offer unrivalled potential.

There is great potential in digital and technology-driven services, where our young, skilled workforce is driving innovation.

We see opportunity in pharmaceuticals and healthcare, where we have the manufacturing capacity to strengthen global supply chains.

In aerospace and defence, our advanced capabilities can complement US leadership.

Across all these areas, our focus is on value addition, sustainable job creation and skills development.

This is where our partnership can make the greatest difference.

I want to encourage greater collaboration between US companies and our universities, research institutions and training programmes so that we can jointly build the skills and innovation capacity needed for the future.

To provide structure and continuity to these efforts, I am pleased to welcome the establishment of a South Africa-US Trade and Investment Forum.

Its inaugural session will take place next year in South Africa, alongside our South Africa Investment Conference.

This Forum will allow us to engage more systematically to address obstacles as they arise and to pursue opportunities in a coordinated way.

I wish to acknowledge the role of the US Chamber of Commerce as it prepares to take over the B20 chairship.

During our hosting of B20, we focused on inclusive growth, support for small and medium enterprises, the digital transition and the green economy.

We encourage continuity with these priorities, as they speak to the challenges that all our economies face.

This evening, my message is simple: We want to secure partnerships that bring more US investment into South Africa, into renewable energy projects, digital infrastructure, advanced manufacturing, and the green hydrogen economy.

We want to see collaboration in life sciences and health innovation, areas where we have strong capabilities and untapped potential.

We want to build deeper partnerships in financial services, mining technology and automotive manufacturing, positioning South Africa as both a reliable production hub and a launchpad into Africa.

At the same time, we want to ensure that South African companies expand their presence in the United States, forging stronger links in areas like food and beverages, retail, creative industries and fintech.

These are companies that can add value, create jobs and deepen cultural and business ties between our countries.

We believe strongly that the relationship between South Africa and the United States is not defined solely by trade figures or investment flows, important as they are.

It is defined by a shared commitment to innovation, to entrepreneurship, to sustainable development and to inclusive prosperity.

This engagement is therefore about building a partnership that looks to the future, that is resilient and that adapts to the challenges of our time.

I thank you.
 

Programme Director, The Right Honourable Helen Clark, 
Chair of the African Leaders Malaria Alliance, President Duma Boko,
Your Excellencies Heads of State and Government of the Global Leaders Network and of the African Leaders Malaria Alliance,
Chair of the African Union Commission, Mr Mahamoud Ali Youssouf, 
Ministers and members of the Diplomatic Corps,
Prof Senait Fisseha,
Representatives of the Global Leaders Network Troika: WHO, UNICEF and UNFPA
Representatives of the ALMA Partnerships,
Friends of the Global Leaders Network,
Members of the Media,

It gives me great pride to co-host this important event with President Duma Boko, the Chair of the African Leaders Malaria Alliance.

Today, we stand together, united behind a bolder global health security agenda.

We intend to move forward collaboratively to protect and preserve the health and well-being of the most vulnerable populations all over the world.

Over the past three years, the Global Leaders Network has established itself as a united force of sitting Heads of State and Government to improve global health.

Our focus is on the health and well-being of women, children and adolescents across the world.

The Global Leaders Network has been building consensus on solutions to the most pressing problems facing global health today.

Since we met last year on the margins of UNGA, the challenges are escalating: conflict, displacement, economic shocks and the climate emergency have reversed hard-won gains in health and development. 

Women, children and adolescents – those whose wellbeing defines the future of every society – are bearing a disproportionate burden.

The international community pledged through the Sustainable Development Goals to end preventable maternal, newborn and child deaths, and to secure universal access to sexual and reproductive health services by 2030.

While significant progress has been made, survival gains have stalled since 2015.

Unless we take bold actions, it is estimated that 60 countries will fall short of meeting the SDG target for under-5 mortality and 65 countries will not achieve the SDG target for neonatal mortality.

Over 700 women die every day from preventable causes related to pregnancy and childbirth. 

Many of these women are adolescent girls. 

Complications from pregnancy, including unsafe abortions, are the leading cause of death among girls aged 15 to 19 years. 

Behind every number is a family torn apart, a community destabilised, a future cut short.

The cost of inaction is staggering in lost lives and lost potential.

According to McKinsey and the World Economic Forum, closing the women’s health gap could generate a $1 trillion annual boost to the global economy by 2040, while delivering tens of millions of healthier life years. 

This underscores the huge return we forgo when we fail to invest.

A great concern of the Global Leaders Network, which we share with the African Leaders Malaria Alliance, is the sharp withdrawal of official development assistance for global health. 

Since last year, many critical programmes for women’s, children’s and adolescents’ health have collapsed or face severe cuts. 

Immunisation campaigns are being scaled back. Maternal health services are closing. Adolescent sexual and reproductive health programmes are disappearing. 

Essential programmes to eliminate malaria have been compromised.

This leaves millions without care and erodes decades of progress. 

All this unfolds against a backdrop of intensifying conflict. 

Wars destroy clinics and hospitals, disrupt supply chains for essential medicines, and expose women and girls to heightened risks of violence and exploitation. 

In 2023, countries with humanitarian response plans – which include fragile and crisis settings – accounted for about 64 percent of global maternal deaths, 50 percent of newborn deaths and 51 percent of stillbirths.

The Global Leaders Network is dedicated to building global ties and strengthening cooperation between and within countries.

To this end, we are delighted that we are able to demonstrate a united front between the Global Leaders Network and African Leaders Malaria Alliance.

In July this year, President Duma Boko of Botswana wrote to me to suggest that we work together on a gap financing mechanism for global health to address the cuts in official development assistance. 

President Boko will talk more on this today and the steps that will be necessary to close the health financing gap left by the withdrawal of much Official Development Assistance.

As the Global Leaders Network, as all of us gathered here today, let us reaffirm our commitment to three priority areas: increasing investment, universal health coverage, and upholding sexual and reproductive health rights.

I wish to convey my sincere thanks to everyone who is present here. 

This signals a strong and sustained commitment to women and future generations – the generations that will be responsible for growth, progress and shared prosperity.

We look forward to productive deliberations, bold commitments and determined actions.

I thank you.
 

Excellencies, 
Distinguished Delegates,

It is an honour to address this Biennial Summit.

We gather at a moment when the 2030 Agenda is in peril.

It is estimated that we need to close a financing gap of $4 trillion annually if we are to meeting the Sustainable Development Goals. 

A succession of crises has exposed the fragility of our interconnected economies and revealed deep inequities in our capacity to respond.

While some nations are able to mobilise trillions to shield their citizens and economies from pandemics and other emergencies, others are left constrained by debt and denied fair access to global capital. 

We should use this Summit to push for the full implementation of commitments made across various forums – from the Financing for Development process to the G20 and Climate Change COP. 

We must strengthen coordination between the UN, the African Union, the G20, international financial institutions and other global financial actors, embedding inclusivity at the heart of global economic governance.

To close the SDG financing gap, we need to undertake the following bold measures:

Firstly, we need debt relief and restructuring that is faster, fairer and more comprehensive.

Secondly, we need to mobilise affordable, accessible financing from a wide range of sources.

Thirdly, we need to rechannel unused Special Drawing Rights to countries in need.

Fourthly, we must scale up concessional finance through development banks.

Lastly, we must reform global tax rules to curb illicit financial flows

Beyond financial instruments, we need confidence that commitments will be honoured and that global rules will be shaped by all members, not just a few.

Let us forge a new compact for financing sustainable development rooted in solidarity, equity and mutual accountability. 

South Africa stands ready to ensure this Summit becomes a turning point in our collective effort to build a sustainable, inclusive and resilient global economy.

I thank you.
 

Programme Directors,
Minister of Sport, Arts, and Culture, Mr. Gayton McKenzie and Deputy Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Ms. Peace Mabe;
Honourable Ministers and Deputy Ministers present here today;
Members of Parliament and Provincial Legislatures present;
All Mayors, MMCs and Councillors;
Deputy Chairperson of the National House of Traditional and Khoi-San Leaders, Nkosi Langa Mavuso;
Religious and Traditional Leaders present;
Our nation’s cultural practitioners and creatives;
Director General of Sport, Arts and Culture, Dr Cynthia Khumalo;
Director General Present and Senior Government Officials;
Distinguished Guests and Members of the Media;
Fellow South Africans;
Molweni! Dumelang! Sanibonani! Avuxeni! Ndi Matsheloni/Masiari! Lotshani! Thobela! Goeie Dag!

It is a privilege to stand before you today, on behalf of His Excellency, President Cyril Ramaphosa, who entrusted me with the honour of leading this celebration of Heritage Day here at Oudtshoorn. A town known for its sandstone architecture, national heritage sites, and a rich cultural landscape influenced by Khoisan people, Scottish stonemasons, and Jewish settlers. 

Minister McKenzie, given the rich history of this town, it is befitting that we are hosting the Heritage Day Celebration here. 

What has especially caught my interest for this year's celebration is the theme, "Reimagine our heritage institutions for a new era," since it encourages us to honour our history while looking to the future. 

This theme further emphasises the importance of leveraging heritage as a foundation for building a dynamic, socially responsive, technologically innovative and economically inclusive future. It is a call for fresh perspectives on how we can preserve and showcase our history in the ever-evolving landscape of our society. 

This theme is even more important considering that South Africa has been hosting various G20 initiatives since the beginning of the year and will officially host the G20 Summit in November 2025.

The theme of South Africa’s Presidency of the G20 is Solidarity, Equality, Sustainability and, among other things, anchors as a promoter of inclusive economic growth while fostering innovation, creativity, equity and social cohesion and ensuring that a diversity of cultural expressions flourishes in a globalised world. 

I should state that it does not matter what your tribe or cultural background is; we all have the responsibility to preserve and showcase our heritage locally and to a global audience. This is important because our heritage institutions nurture cultural identity, encourage unity, and offer economic opportunities in sectors such as tourism and the arts.

They serve as a bridge between the past and the present, allowing us to connect with our roots and understand where we come from. It is in the understanding of our roots that we can lay a solid foundation for our future as a society.

Fellow Compatriots, you will agree with me that as we enter a new era, it is crucial to reevaluate and reinvent heritage institutions to ensure their relevance and accessibility. We must emphasise the centrality of heritage in our national project to build a socially cohesive society based on democratic values, such as human dignity, equality, freedom, human rights, and civil liberties, as enshrined in our Constitution.

We are obligated to do so because our heritage embodies the very essence of our nationhood, and the resilience of a people united in their diversity. It is this unity in diversity that our cultural heritage finds expression through galleries, theatres, archives, concerts, works of art, sporting codes, storytelling, indigenous games, and museums, which form part of our shared culture.

Tata Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela (Aah Dalibhunga), twenty-eight years ago, said; "When our museums and monuments preserve the whole of our diverse heritage, when they are inviting to the public and interact with the changes all around them, then they will strengthen our attachment to human rights, mutual respect, and democracy and help prevent these ever again being violated."

With these words, Tata Madiba accurately describes the important role that museums and other historical institutions play in bringing about social change, encouraging active citizenship, and protecting the democratic principles that are in our Constitution. His observations further emphasise that museums and cultural institutions must address societal challenges and cater to the daily needs of people across racial and cultural divides.

Museums, monuments and other heritage sites must become spaces of cultural diplomacy, inclusivity, intergenerational conversation, laboratories of creativity and incubators of opportunities for our people, particularly the youth.

We must position our heritage institutions to contribute to the government’s efforts to deal with pressing challenges of unemployment, social fragmentation, crime and corruption. This can be achieved by empowering communities to challenge dominant narratives, providing secure spaces for dialogue and critical thinking, and preserving and reinterpreting marginalised histories.

The heritage institutions may create a sense of collective memory, inspire resilience, and find new ways to solve current social challenges by adopting participatory approaches and focusing on people's resilience and lived experiences.

More importantly, we must work together as families, communities, non-governmental organisations, businesses and government to fight the scourge of drugs and substance abuse, especially among the youth. 

The rate of drug abuse among our children is a concern to the government, especially as it leads to stigmatisation of young people into categories such as “AmaPhara”. I call everyone to stand up and fight this demon that has engulfed our nation. It is our joint responsibility to combat alcohol and substance abuse and work together to eradicate similar practices within our communities.  

Fellow Compatriots, we must also work together to fight crime, racism, tribalism, Gender-Based Violence and Femicide, including other anomalies that serve as a hindrance to our country's progress.

Furthermore, we must embrace a radical perspective shift within our museums, one that reimagines these institutions so they may effectively respond to the sensibilities, aspirations, and challenges of the 21st century and beyond.

This is a call to decolonise our museums, to Africanise them through a people-centred process of knowledge production and co-curation for a new era, a post-colonial era. It is a moment for a strategic shift, as heritage institutions worldwide are transforming into engines of development, aligning with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. 

This shift is also reflected in the National Development Plan's Vision 2030, the Revised White Paper on Arts, Culture and Heritage, the National Policy on Living Heritage, and the Constitution.  These frameworks acknowledge that heritage institutions must be people-centred, economically responsive, and technologically advanced while healing divisions of the past. 

This task demands unity of purpose and collective action from all of us as a nation to construct a country that upholds human dignity and civil liberties, free from racism, sexism and various forms of discrimination. 

We must take deliberate steps to fast-track transformational imperatives and address the urgent need to restore the dignity of the African people whose cultural heritage practices were disrupted and destroyed by colonialism and, later, apartheid.

Some of you present here can confirm that apartheid undermined African heritage by destroying community structures through forced removals, fragmenting families and ancestral lands, and establishing an inferior education system focused on Bantu education. It suppressed African cultures, enforced segregation, and promoted the derogatory use of the term "Bantu" to dehumanise Black Africans and erode their identity.

As the Government, we are actively working to restore the dignity of African heritage through initiatives like the National Policy for the Repatriation and Restitution of Human Remains and Heritage Objects, and the current reburial of Khoi and San ancestral remains, aiming to correct injustices from the colonial and apartheid eras.

We are called upon to restore the erased histories of our heroes and heroines who died defending this beautiful land. It was on the dunes of the Cape that our African ancestors, the Khoi and San, defended this land against the Portuguese viceroy Francisco de Almeida and his crew in 1510 at Table Bay. It was again in the same Cape that the Khoi and San stood defiantly against Jan van Riebeeck in what became known as the Khoi–Dutch confrontation of 1659.

We are reminded of the Eastern Cape Frontier Wars, which raged over a period of one hundred years. History reminds us of the Battle of Ncome River in KwaZulu-Natal, the Bambatha Rebellion of 1906, and many other courageous acts of standing against Western colonising forces that took place across the length and breadth of our country in defence of our land and heritage.

Going to the North, we should always remember and teach the young ones about the Sekhukhune wars. These were a series of conflicts between the Bapedi people, led by King Sekhukhune, and the Boer-controlled Transvaal Republic, culminating in a final war against the British between 1878 and 1879. Sekhukhune was a determined leader who sought to maintain the independence of the Bapedi state against encroaching colonial powers. 

These were not mere battles; they were forms of resistance that would later shape and determine the fate of the African child. 

Fellow Compatriots,

Today, we have an opportunity to pay tribute to the central role played by our Traditional and Khoisan leaders, our Kings and Queens, in the defence of our beautiful land and the safeguarding of our heritage. Throughout history, they have stood as custodians of culture, identity, and memory, ensuring that the wisdom of our ancestors is preserved and passed on to future generations.

Their leadership has not only safeguarded our territories but also fostered the values of unity, dignity, and resilience among our people. 

Today, as we chart the path towards a more cohesive and inclusive society, we draw inspiration from their enduring legacy and acknowledge their invaluable contribution to the preservation of our heritage as a whole.

Some of our Traditional and Khoisan leaders, who fought fearlessly in these wars, were beheaded, their skeletal remains collected as trophies and shipped out of the country to museums across Euro-Western countries. 

To this day, some of these sacred human remains of our worthy ancestors remain locked away as prisoners of "science" in museum cupboards across the world, still awaiting their rightful repatriation. In this regard, I am reminded of the remains of Sarah Baartman that were returned from France in 2002. Her remains were repatriated to symbolise an end to colonial exploitation and the restoration of dignity to black African women.

Through our repatriation and restitution programme, we have begun identifying institutions across the world where some of these sacred human remains are located, awaiting their return.

Today, we also pay tribute to our Living Human Treasures who are vital to the transmission of heritage, serving as custodians of knowledge, skills, and cultural practices. They guide communities, enrich cultural experiences, and educate society on the enduring value of arts and culture. 

In particular, we honour Dr. Ouma Katrina Esau, the last remaining fluent speaker of the critically endangered N'uu language and one of South Africa’s revered living human treasures.

Dr Esau stands as a towering figure, embodying resilience, wisdom, and the unbroken thread of indigenous knowledge. Through the wealth of her experience and teachings, we as a nation continue to draw inspiration and strength. Her life’s work reminds us of the urgent responsibility to safeguard our intangible cultural heritage for future generations. As the last fluent speaker of the N'uu language in our country, and indeed the world, she carries within her the living memory of one of humanity’s oldest languages, a click language once spoken by the San of the Kalahari. 

With every lesson she imparts to present and future generations, she does far more than transmit words; she safeguards a profound archive of human experience and linguistic heritage.

Her voice reminds us that when a language dies, a universe of meaning, memory, and identity is lost forever. It is for this reason that the restoration and preservation of our indigenous languages must remain central to our pursuit of restoring the dignity of those whose voices were silenced and whose languages were suppressed.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Earlier today, we also had the opportunity to participate in the One Million Trees Campaign of the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, by planting trees at Dysselsdorp Secondary School.  This campaign is part of the Department’s National Greening Project, aimed at planting trees across the country as part of our collective responsibility to safeguard the environment.

The planting of trees project serves not only as an environmental intervention but also as a cultural imperative, aligning living heritage practices with the principles of sustainability. It affirms our duty to ensure that the resources of our environment are preserved and protected for future generations. 

As Government, we have also taken a step further by launching the Clean Cities, Towns and Villages Campaign. The Campaign aims to create cleaner, sustainable environments in our communities, fostering job creation in municipalities. It supports developmental goals by improving public health, safety, infrastructure, and promoting green energy investments to combat environmental degradation.

The Clean Cities, Towns and Villages Campaign further protects heritage by creating environments that support the preservation and adaptive reuse of historic buildings and landscapes, and establishing a sense of collective rplace, fostering economic growth and social cohesion within towns and cities.

Fellow Compatriots, the month of September also marks the second reunion of Robben Island ex-political prisoners, during which a Wall of Remembrance, featuring the names of all Robben Island ex-political prisoners and six commemorative statues, will be officially unveiled.

Indeed, the story of our collective heritage is the triumph of the human spirit over adversity. It is the story of the continuum of the past, present and future. It is a story of communities that, despite centuries of dispossession, division, and hardship, continue to rise, to create, and to preserve the wisdom of their ancestors for current and future generations. 

Most importantly, it is a story of the resilience of people who refused to be silenced, who held on to their languages, traditions, and sacred knowledge as acts of defiance and human dignity.

This triumph is seen through the efforts of ordinary people from across the spectrum who safeguard our Intangible Cultural Heritage against the tide of erasure. It is seen in our cultural practices, which affirm identity and belonging in the face of global homogenisation. It is seen in our collective commitment to reimagine heritage as a force for unity, healing and cultural diplomacy. 

As part of our efforts to come together as a nation, with the shared goal of mending the scars of the past and addressing the deeply ingrained social and economic difficulties that the country faces, we have initiated a National Dialogue that is open to all people. The National Dialogue is a citizen-led process and is an opportunity for all South Africans, to confront uncomfortable truths about our democracy and reimagine a shared future for South Africa, where no one is left behind. 

The Dialogue is a crucial platform for all voices, regardless of age, location, race, class, or culture, to shape the future of our democracy through meaningful, inclusive dialogue. Since the early 1990s, South Africa has relied on such dialogue for conflict resolution and shaping our future, with the Convention for a Democratic South Africa and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission as examples. 

We urge everyone to engage in this process, because as South Africans with diverse lived experiences, we each have a vital role in building the nation we hope for. 
As we celebrate our heritage, may this moment serve as a time of activation; let it be an opportunity to reimagine our heritage institutions not as remnants of a past era, but as beacons of possibility in a changing and globalising world. 

Together, let us turn memory into momentum and heritage into hope for a new era of bold imaginings. 

Our collective responsibility is to draw pride and joy from our diverse cultures and heritage. Let us recognise and embrace each other while celebrating our shared destiny and the rich tapestry of our country’s history, culture, and heritage.

The duty lies with parents, community leaders, activists, teachers and all change agents to proactively educate and inform the youth about our past, and its significance in shaping our future.  

Promoting family values strengthens individuals and communities by providing ethical guidance, fostering social skills like empathy and communication, and creating a sense of belonging. When communities promote family values, they foster mutual respect, collaboration, and the building blocks for healthy human development, resulting in more cohesive and supportive settings for everyone.

We must also recognise and appreciate the contributions of partners in the social cohesion and nation building journey such as the Moral Regeneration Movement (MRM) who promote positive values for moral communities through its Charter of Positive Values. I had the privilege to have a meeting with representatives of the MRM who also reminded me of the importance of the existence of such organisations in moulding the moral fibre of our society today. 

The MRM Charter for example provides a framework designed to tackle social issues and facilitate moral renewal by advocating for principles such as human dignity, equality, non-racialism, non-sexism, honesty, and family values, aiming to establish a fair and inclusive society, which remain crucial to the holistic development of our nation. 

This is but one example of the many organisations that are determined to make a difference and bring about change that we as Government and other sectors need to support. 

I call upon all South Africans to reimagine our history and heritage institutions for a new era, so that they may continue to add value to human development and serve generations to come.

I wish all South Africans across the length and breadth of our nation, across the continent, and throughout the Diaspora, I wish you a wonderful Heritage Day.

Enkosi, Baie Dankie, Inkomu!
 

President of the 80th Session of the UN General Assembly, Ms Annalena Baerbock, 
United Nations Secretary-General, Mr António Guterres,
Excellencies, Heads of State and Government,
Ladies and Gentlemen, 

Eighty years ago, the United Nations was established to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war and build a peaceful, prosperous and just world arising from the devastation brought about by global conflict. 

Through the UN Charter, the nations of the world pledged to uphold peace, development and human rights underpinned by international law. 

Now more than ever, we are called upon to uphold the values and advance the purpose of the United Nations. 

We are called upon to advance cooperation and solidarity between nations. 

We are called upon to promote multilateralism and safeguard the institutions that enable it. 

South Africa’s engagement in the international sphere echoes our domestic imperatives of eradicating poverty, reducing unemployment and addressing the root causes of inequality. 

Our foreign policy is guided not only by the needs of our people, but also those of the continent of Africa and the Global South. 

Inspired by our own history, South Africa strives to maintain world peace and the settlement of all international disputes through negotiation and dialogue, not war. 

We therefore welcome the strong partnership between the African Union and the United Nations in promoting peace, security and stability on the African continent. 

This year, South Africa is honoured to preside over the G20. 

This is the first time that the G20 Leaders’ Summit will be held on the African Continent, the Cradle of Humankind. 

South Africa’s G20 Presidency is guided by the theme of Solidarity, Equality and Sustainability. 

As Member States of the United Nations, we adopted the Sustainable Development Goals. 

Many of these goals remain elusive. 

There are many reasons that hold many countries from fulfilling and implementing these development goals. Some of the reasons are lack of sufficient financial resources. 

Many countries with developing economies, especially in Africa, do not have adequate capital to finance their development goals. They are indebted and are paying more on debt servicing than they do on health and education. 

Yet through global solidarity, by having fairer lending rules especially for several countries of the Global South, we can achieve our shared commitment. 

Through the G20 process we are working towards consensus on how this problem can be tackled, including the reform of international financial institutions, particularly multilateral development banks, to better tackle global challenges. 

The multilateral trading system needs to be reformed as we re-confirm that the World Trade Organisation remains the only multilateral body capable of managing differences and coordinating positions in global trade. 

Trade is one of the most important instruments to mobilise domestic resources for development. 

It is concerning that geopolitical shocks and unprecedented trade policy volatility are destabilising the global economy and jeopardising a critical source of development financing. 

We must redouble our efforts to strengthen the link between trade and development. 

Unilateral trade practices and economic coercion have a detrimental impact on many nations. This includes the economic embargo against Cuba, which has caused untold damage to the country’s economy over the years. This unfair embargo must be lifted. 

In the midst of global trade uncertainty, the African continent is providing a pragmatic example of constructive collaboration by using the African Continental Free Trade Area as an engine for sustainable growth and development. 

This will, with commitment, become the central pillar of economic cooperation and integration for our continent. 

As part of the effort to build more inclusive economies, South Africa’s G20 Presidency has launched an Extraordinary Committee of Independent Experts on Global Wealth Inequality. 

This committee, chaired by Professor Joseph Stiglitz a Nobel laureate, will deliver the first-ever report on global inequality to G20 leaders. 

Climate change is an existential threat. 

We are failing future generations by our inability to reduce global warming. 

Climate change is reversing economic growth and development gains in many countries, especially in the Global South. 

Although Africa carries the least responsibility for climate change, many countries on the continent experience much of its harshest effects. 

Extreme weather events like floods and droughts are driving food insecurity, displacing populations, causing damage to infrastructure and leading to the unnecessary loss of livelihoods. 

Member States must honour their undertakings and commitments in line with the guiding principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities. 

The Secretary-General recently reported that global military expenditure has reached historic highs just as the world is falling behind on its core development promises.  

We are building weapons, when we should be building social infrastructure. 

We are fighting wars that cause death and destruction, when we should be fighting poverty and developing the livelihoods of vulnerable people. 

We must act decisively to silence all guns, everywhere, to realise the goal of sustainable development and global peace. 

As we commemorate the 80th anniversary of the UN, the relevance of this institution and multilateral processes for the maintenance of international peace and security is being wilfully undermined. 

There is an increasing reliance on unilateral military action in contravention of international law. 

The United Nations Security Council has proven to be ineffective in its current form and composition in carrying out its Charter mandate to maintain international peace and security. 

South Africa remains deeply concerned by the erosion of the credibility of the Security Council and its failure to ensure accountability and uphold international law. 

As the security and humanitarian situations in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sudan, Gaza and elsewhere deteriorate, it is a matter of grave concern that there are countries that continue to violate international law and defy UN resolutions and rulings from bodies like the International Court of Justice. 

The establishment of the Hague Group and the Madrid Group aim to reaffirm the primacy of international law, promoting accountability and ensuring support for a just peace. 

We cannot and should not accept that members of this Organisation continue to violate without consequence the Charter that we have all agreed to uphold. 

Therefore, as nations that have pledged to uphold the UN Charter, we have the ultimate responsibility to ensure and protect the rights of the Palestinian people to self-determination. 

Consistent with the case that South Africa brought before the International Court of Justice, there is growing global consensus that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza. 

Just last week, the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry found that Israel is responsible for the commission of genocide in Gaza. 

As Palestinians continue to face genocide and famine, we have a duty to act. 

We welcome the historic High-Level Meeting held yesterday on the Two-State Solution yesterday in this chamber. This reflects the determination of the global majority that Palestinians deserve a peaceful state alongside a peaceful Israel. 

The long overdue announcement by an increasing number of countries to recognise the State of Palestine is testament to this determination. 

We have a responsibility as the Member States of the United Nations to reaffirm the right of self-determination of the people of Western Sahara. 

The very first resolution of the United Nations General Assembly, in January 1946, called for the elimination of atomic weapons. 

The resolution was passed shortly after the catastrophic use of atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. 

Decades later, we have not made significant progress in the fulfilment of the commitment to nuclear disarmament. 

In 2026, South Africa will be presiding over the first review conference of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. 

This Treaty reaffirms that there is no greater assurance of non-proliferation than the complete prohibition of nuclear weapons.

This year, we celebrate the 30th Anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action as a roadmap for the achievement of gender equality. 

South Africa reaffirms its unwavering commitment to the empowerment of women and their full, equal and meaningful participation in all spheres of life. 

This milestone reminds us of our shared responsibility to advance human rights, dignity and justice for all. 

The right to development must be central to the policies and operational activities of the UN and its specialised agencies, programmes and funds. 

It must be at the core of the policies and strategies of the international financial and multilateral trading systems. 

As we celebrate 80 years of the United Nations, we must seize the opportunity to build a better UN for the next 80 years. 

What is needed now is a stronger and more capable United Nations, based on a renewed commitment to its founding principles. 

We must invigorate the negotiations on Security Council reform at the Inter-Governmental Negotiations in the General Assembly, including by initiating text-based negotiations. 

The Security Council must be more accountable, representative, democratic and effective in executing its mandate. 

We look forward to working with the Secretary-General on the UN80 Initiative to ensure that our Organisation works more effectively and efficiently. 

Mandates given by Member States must be implemented and the necessary structural changes and programme realignment must be implemented across the UN system. 

In the face of the decrease in funding to the United Nations to fulfil its mandate, the UN80 Initiative is important to maintain the integrity of the multilateral system and to uphold international law. 

Lastly, I am reminded that our collective membership of the United Nations is our shared humanity in action. 

The UN at 80 compels us to reflect on our collective achievements, and to chart a way forward in building an Organisation that is able to address our common challenges. 

We must rise to the occasion and do our utmost together to ensure the political, economic and social freedom of all humanity. 

We must reaffirm that freedom is indivisible and that the denial of the rights of one person diminishes the freedom of us all. 

We must reaffirm the equal dignity and worth of every person and must therefore leave no-one behind. 

I thank you.
 

His Excellency President Cyril Ramaphosa will today, 23 September 2025, join Heads of State and Government,  at the General Debate of the High-Level Segment of the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA80).

The proceedings will commence from 15h00(SAST).

The President is speaker number 16 on the speakers list and he is expected to address at 20h15 (SAST).

The proceedings can be followed on https://webtv.un.org/en/asset/k1n/k1n593x637.

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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria
 

Distinguished Guests,

Colleagues,

Partners,

It is a great privilege to join you this evening in support of a cause that is vital to the conservation of all life on our planet – the launch of the Africa Keystone Partnership.

We wish to commend the International Conservation Caucus Foundation, the Rob Walton Foundation, and the African Wildlife Foundation for their dedication to nature conservation in Africa.

We also welcome the bipartisan support from United States Senators and Congresspeople present here.

Nature knows no political barriers and we are united in a shared commitment to preserve nature for present and future generations.

Nature is an intrinsic part of our cultural and social identity. It is vital to human well-being and progress.

South Africa welcomes support from our friends in the United States.

The 162 areas in Africa that are suggested for additional protection have been identified based on irreplaceability, connectivity, ecological integrity and resilience.

Some of these areas are already supported by African Parks.

However, all have funding and resource gaps.

We have therefore come here to listen to the proposals on the African Keystone Partnership and to say that we are keen on further dialogue.

I therefore invite the champions on this initiative to have in-depth follow up discussions with our relevant department and agencies.

As African countries, we have much to share with our international partners.

As South Africa, we have a proud reputation as a leader in sustainable and responsible nature conservation as is our duty as one of the world’s mega-biodiverse countries.

Over the past 25 years, in the Southern African region, we have undertaken a remarkable journey and witnessed the many achievements of our Transfrontier Conservation Areas Programme.

These wildlife areas that have been established across national borders have a transformative impact on conservation, regional integration and sustainable development.

The idea behind these transfrontier parks is bold yet simple: “Nature knows no borders”.

The Transfrontier Conservation Areas serve as critical ecological corridors, enabling the free movement of wildlife and preserving biodiversity across borders.

These areas have unlocked sustainable tourism opportunities.

Investments in conservation economies have created jobs, improved livelihoods and empowered local communities to become stewards of their natural heritage.

These parks succeed when they are led by Africans and benefit the people who live near the parks.

Such parks symbolise unity, cooperation and shared responsibility among our nations.

I am confident that the 162 parks identified for support through the Africa Keystone Partnership will serve the same noble purpose.

Let us continue to champion this model of conservation, integration and development for the benefit of our people, for our ecosystems and for future generations.

I thank you.
 

Co-Chairs,
Excellencies,

Thank you for convening this crucial meeting.

This is a matter of great significance, not only for the people of Palestine, not only for the people of Israel, but for all people who cherish the ideals of freedom and self-determination.

Shortly after the United Nations was created, the General Assembly adopted Resolution 181, which recommended the creation of two states, Israel and Palestine.

Immediately following the adoption of this resolution, only the State of Israel was created, ushering the Palestinians into a decades-long wilderness of statelessness characterised by decades of occupation and now genocide.

The High-Level International Conference has clearly shown that the global majority is committed to peace in the Middle East and supports the long overdue creation and recognition of the sovereign State of Palestine.

South Africa reiterates its firm commitment to the creation of a contiguous Palestinian State existing peacefully and side by side with the State of Israel, along the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

The global majority should continue to pursue this ideal despite efforts by Israel to make the establishment of a Palestinian state practically impossible.

The world is appalled at the brutal acts of genocide and grave war crimes committed by Israel in Gaza, aimed at eradicating the Palestinians from that narrow strip of land, and the illegal expansion of settlements in the West Bank.

The situation has been made worse by Israel’s stated intention to annex the entirety of the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

The viability of a two-state solution depends on full and universal respect for international law.

It requires the immediate and full implementation of resolutions of the United Nations, as well as the Provisional Measures and Advisory Opinions of the International Court of Justice.

All states, including the State of Israel, must comply with our collective obligations under international law.

The establishment of the Hague Group and the recent meeting of the Madrid Group to elevate the primacy of international law, promote accountability and ensure a just peace are welcome developments.

As the UN marks its 80th anniversary, we call on all Member States to recognise Palestinian statehood and act in solidarity with its people.

To restore the prospects of a two-state solution, we call for:

firstly, global recognition of Palestine and its sovereignty and territorial integrity;

secondly, an immediate ceasefire, an end to the genocide and the release of hostages by Hamas and political prisoners by Israel;

thirdly, full respect for international law, including UN resolutions and opinions and decisions of the International Court of Justice;

fourthly, removal of obstacles to the two-state solution, including a halt to illegal settlements and removal of the separation wall; and

lastly, restoration of humanitarian aid and reconstruction in Gaza.

We are gravely concerned by UN reports stating that all areas of Gaza have reached acute starvation levels and that the residents are facing famine.

South Africa joins calls for unhindered and expanded humanitarian access, encompassing all air, land and sea borders, to allow for vital aid and basic services to reach those living in Gaza.

This is a conflict that has raged for almost as long as the United Nations has existed.

It will be a blight on our collective conscience if self-determination, sovereignty and human rights continue to be denied to the Palestinian people.

We trust that the practical measures and requirements outlined in the outcome document of the International Conference will provide crucial momentum towards achieving lasting peace.

The international community must act now and in unison.

It must act not only in the interests of international peace and security, but also to protect people whose very existence is now under threat.

We welcome the demonstrable groundswell of support for the establishment of the much-awaited State of Palestine.

We must now work together to achieve a just, peaceful and lasting solution.

I thank you.
 

President Cyril Ramaphosa offers his warm compliments to South Africa’s Jewish community for the celebration of Rosh Hashanah (New Year).

President Ramaphosa said: “I wish our Jewish community Shanah Tova as you spend this time in prayer for forgiveness and in celebration of a fresh start in all areas of life.

“We are blessed as a nation that Rosh Hashanah 2025 takes place in the week in which we observe Heritage Day, as the Jewish community and Judaism are an integral and valued part of our cultural and religious diversity.

“This time of prayer is a time for reflection on suffering and conflict unfolding in different parts of the world, and for recommitting ourselves to tolerance, peace and justice.

“May the year ahead be filled with good health, safety and prosperity.”

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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria
 

His Excellency President Cyril Ramaphosa has arrived in New York in the United States of America to lead a South African delegation during High-Level Segment of the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA80).

The high-level segment will take place from 23 to 29 September 2025 under the theme “Better together: 80 years and more for peace, development and human rights,” coinciding with the 80th anniversary of the UN Charter.

The President will on Monday, 22 September 2025 participate in a Two-State Solution High-Level Meeting convened and co-chaired by His Excellency President Emmanuel Macron of France and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, HRH, Faisal bin Al Saud.  The meeting will reaffirm international commitments to the two-state solution and seek to mobilize support for its implementation.

In championing robust multilateralism, peaceful resolution of conflicts, and the unwavering protection of human rights for all, the President will address the General Debate on Tuesday, 23 September 2025. He will also carry a message from the Global South, amplified by South Africa’s current role as Chair of the G20.

These segments provides an opportunity for the President to engage on urgent international issues, including the ongoing genocide in Gaza, conflicts in Sudan and Democratic Republic of Congo and the war in Ukraine, and other geopolitical tensions. South Africa will leverage its proven reputation as a trusted mediator to build bridges between opposing sides and advocate for dialogue over discord.

On Wednesday 24 September 2025, President Ramaphosa will also participate in the Biennial Summit for Sustainable, Inclusive and Resilient Global Economy, convened and chaired by UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres

The forum provides an opportunity for leaders to assess progress, and advance practical solutions to mobilise global resources and strengthen global economic governance in support of the UN 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Building on its G20 mandate to shape global economic solutions, South Africa will argue forcefully for a sustainable, inclusive, and resilient global economy. The delegation will spotlight the disproportionate impact of current global challenges on developing nations and push for enhanced international cooperation to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.

In his capacity as the Chair of the Global Leaders Network on Women’s, Children’s and Adolescents’ Health, President Ramaphosa will convene a high-level meeting on Recommitting to Women’s, Children’s and Adolescents’ Health and Rights: A call to action for Peace, Security and Sustainable Development.  The meeting will be co-chaired by His Excellency Boko Duma of the Republic of Botswana and Rt. Hon. Ms Helen Clark, Former Prime Minister of New Zealand and Board Chair of Partnerships for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (PMNCH).

The High-Level meeting presents a powerful opportunity for global advocacy, agenda setting, and cross-sectoral engagement at the highest level of Heads of State and Government to elevate women’s, children’s and adolescents’ health as a foundation for peace, security, and sustainable developments.

The President will also participate in a Special High-level Event on Climate Action to be convened and co-chaired by Secretary General Guterres and His Excellency President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva of the Federative Republic of Brazil.

This event brings together Heads of State and Government, business and civil society, to drive action across mitigation, adaptation, finances and information integrity and other critical matters, in line with Paris Agreement and COP30 priorities.

In reaffirming South Africa’s commitment as strategic economic partner focusing on trade relations, investment, and collaboration, the President will on the margins of UNGA engage with the private sector during the Trade and Investment Executive Dialogue hosted by the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition in collaboration with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

The President will also meet with several leading US Companies as part of the investment drive.

The United States has long been a strategic partner for South Africa, ranking among country’s top five export destinations accounting for 7.5% of our global exports. The US also features as one the country’s largest sources of foreign direct investment

On Thursday, 25 September 2025, The President will lead the High level opening segment of the G20 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting.  G20 plays a pivotal role in contributing to UN efforts aimed at creating an economically prosperous world that contributes towards lasting global peace

President will also hold bilateral talks with Heads of State and Government attending the UNGA High-Level week.

The President is supported by the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Mr. Ronald Lamola; the Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, Mr. Parks Tau; the Minister of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, Ms. Sindisiwe Chikunga; the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Dr Dion George; the Minister of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation, Ms. Maropene Ramokgopa; Minister of Health, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi and the Deputy Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies, Mr. Mondli Gungubele.

UNGA80 High-Level schedule and clean feed available on https://webtv.un.org/en/schedule.

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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria