Cape Town - Deputy President and Leader of Government Business Cyril Ramaphosa will on Wednesday 01 March 2017 provide oral replies in the National Assembly regarding a number of issues of national interest raised by Members of Parliament.
 
Issues tabled for oral replies include the national minimum wage, the Health Ombudsman report on Gauteng health tragedy, South Africa’s participation in the recently held World Economic Forum in Davos Switzerland, declaration of financial interests in terms of the Executive Code of Ethics, the Financial Intelligence Centre Amendment Bill and security measures in the National Assembly.
 
 The briefing by the Deputy President takes place against the background of the recent signing of agreements by several Nedlac social   partners - government, business, labour and communities on measures to strengthen labour stability, collective bargaining and modalities for the introduction of a national minimum wage.
 
These agreements represent a significant advance in the country’s efforts to address the challenges of wage inequality and labour instability, while providing a necessary step in tackling the triple challenges of poverty, unemployment and inequality.
 
The agreements are a culmination of a call made by President Jacob Zuma during his state of the nation address of 2014 in which he tasked social partners at NEDLAC under the leadership of Deputy President Ramaphosa to deliberate upon wages, wage inequality, protracted and violent strikes and the national minimum wage.
 
Deputy President Ramaphosa is also expected to brief the national assembly on the successful participation of team South Africa at World Economic Forum held in Davos, Switzerland under the theme: Responsive and Responsible Leadership. In this regard, Deputy President Ramaphosa led Team South Africa, comprising government, business and labour to promote South Africa as open to business and a preferred destination for foreign direct investments.
 
The delegation also utilised the Forum to highlight the work that government is doing to implement economic transformation and the reform agenda; make progress towards achieving inclusive growth and employment; restoring investor confidence; achieve supportive business confidence and refine government spending efficiency.
 
The Deputy President is also expected to deal with the issue of the feasibility of a constitutional amendment regarding relations between the national and provincial spheres of governments arising out of the Health Ombudsman Report on the recent Gauteng health tragedy.
 
The Deputy President will also deal with the issue of financial declarations in terms of the Executive Code of Ethics and reflect on security measures in the national assembly including discussions in the standing committee on Finance regarding the Financial Intelligence Centre Amendment bill.
 

Enquiries: Ronnie Mamoepa on 082 990 4853
 
Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

Pretoria - Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa has, in his capacity as Chair of the NEDLAC Committee of Principals, welcomed the adoption by theCongress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) of the proposed National Minimum Wage of R20 an hour.
 
The COSATU Central Executive Committee (CEC) announced today, Thursday 2 March 2017, that the trade union federation supported the National Minimum Wage and labour relations package agreed recently by leadership of labour, community, government and business under the auspices of the NEDLAC Committee of Principals.
 
The agreement followed a directive by President Jacob Zuma to NEDLAC in 2014 to deliberate measures to reduce wage inequality in the country and improve labour relations, notably reducing the intensity and duration of industrial action.
 
Welcoming COSATU’s endorsement of the NEDLAC agreement, Deputy President Ramaphosa said: “The announcement by the Central Executive of Committee of COSATU is an important milestone in the process of making the National Minimum Wage a reality in our economy.
 
“The CEC’s endorsement builds on the very constructive approach COSATU adopted throughout the NEDLAC process, in the face of very difficult choices at times. COSATU represented not only the interests of its own membership but those of working and unemployed South Africans at large.
 
“This endorsement represents the will of the working people of our country and enables the initiation of a public consultation process that will ultimately result in new legislation that will regulate implementation of the National Minimum Wage by no later than May 2018.
 
“The decision by COSATU gives further impetus to NEDLAC’s contribution to addressing poverty, unemployment and inequality in our society, and to restoring the dignity of South Africans, notably the working poor.
 
“The Committee of Principals looks forward to COSATU’s National Office Bearers appending their signatures to an already historic agreement, in line with the mandate given by the CEC.”

 
Enquiries: Ronnie Mamoepa on 082 990 4853
 
Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

Cape Town - Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa will make yet another appearance in the National Assembly, on Thursday 9 March 2017, to brief the National Assembly on government policy and interventions on a number of critical national issues including the quest for inclusive growth for transformation.

The briefing by Deputy President Ramaphosa arises from questions that members of the National Assembly have posed to the Deputy President and are scheduled for oral replies with specific reference to inclusive growth for transformation, economic development, nation- building, social cohesion and  human resource development.

The Deputy President will utilise the opportunity of this session to highlight steps government is undertaking in its quest for inclusive growth for transformation as part of national efforts to push back the frontiers of poverty, unemployment and inequality.

In this pursuit of this objective, the government has committed itself to a programme of radical socio-economic transformation to ensure fundamental change in the structure, systems, institutions and patterns of ownership, management and control of the economy to ensure a better life for all South Africans in particularly the poor.

Deputy President Ramaphosa who is also the Chairperson of the Human Resource Development Council charged with the task of developing a national strategy for skills development is called upon to reflect on what the impact of the strategic partnership between government and private sector has been on skills development in the country.

In the past two years, Deputy President Ramaphosa has led government delegations on several official visits abroad including Vietnam, Singapore, Japan, the Peoples Republic of China, Mexico and Cuba to exchange views and to learn from the experiences of these countries in skills development and training to achieve their national developmental objectives. In this regard a number of agreements were reached to create training opportunities for South African students to study abroad in a number of critical areas required by our economy.

The Deputy President has also been called upon to brief the National Assembly on measures that government intends introducing as part of social cohesion and moral regeneration in our communities particularly those affected by the recent protests against drugs and other criminal activities. In the same breadth the Deputy President will brief members of the national legislature on efforts to fight different forms of discrimination which undermine social cohesion and nation building.

Once more the Deputy President is expected to reinforce the notion of the constitutional imperative of accountability of members of the national executive to parliament through appearances and participation in various forums created by parliament. In this regard, Deputy President Ramaphosa in his capacity as Leader of Government Business has ensured a fruitful relationship and accountability of members of the executive to parliament.

On international relations the Deputy President will reflect on bilateral relations between South Africa and the Kingdom of Lesotho with specific reference to the construction of the Polihali Dam expected to ensure bulk water supply to Gauteng province.


Enquiries: Ronnie Mamoepa on 082 990 4853

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

Johannesburg - Deputy President of the Republic of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa, will officially open the Global Entrepreneurship Congress on Tuesday, 14 March 2017 at the Sandton Convention Centre at 7h00.
 
South Africa will host the 2017 Global Entrepreneurship Congress (GEC) from 13 to 16 March 2017 in Johannesburg. This is the first time this prestigious international event for entrepreneurs will be held on the African continent.
 
The Global Entrepreneurship Congress is attended by global thought leaders, entrepreneurs, investors, researchers and policymakers.
 
GEC 2017 provides South Africa an opportunity to showcase its entrepreneurial prowess to the world.
 
Deputy President Ramaphosa launched the 2016 South African Chapter of the Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW2016) in November.
 
Deputy President Ramaphosa will be supported during the Global Entrepreneurship Congress by Small Business Development Minister Lindiwe Zulu and Gauteng Premier David Makhura.
 
Members of the media are invited as follows: 
Date: Tuesday, 14 March 2017
Venue: Sandton Convention Centre
Time: 7h00 (Deputy President to officially open the Congress Exhibition)
          9h00 (Keynote address)
 
GEC sessions will be conducted by leading global organisations to help entrepreneurs start and upscale new businesses. South Africa is confident that GEC will play an important role in strengthening the country’s entrepreneurial base.
 
Enquiries for the event:
The Presidency
Ronnie Mamoepa on 082 990 4853 or
 
The Department of Small Business Development
Cornelius Monama on 060 960 3158


Enquiries: Ronnie Mamoepa on 082 990 4853

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

Cape Town - Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa is poised to engage with members of the National Council of Provinces (NCOP)   during oral replies to questions on a number of issues of national interest including South Africa’s position regarding the intended   withdrawal from the International Criminal Court (ICC) against the background of the recent Gauteng North Court decision on the matter.
 
Among key issues the Deputy President is expected to provide oral replies to matters concerning question on the national minimum   wage, SANAC’S efforts to reduce gender-based violence, public access to the parliamentary communication channel, and  alignment of   provincial plans with the National Development Plan (NDP).
 
 On the national minimum wage members of the NCOP have requested to be briefed on measures that NEDLAC has undertaken to determine the human resource and organisational capacity to monitor and enforce compliance with the proposed national minimum wage of R20-00 an hour and expected to come into effect on 01 May 2018.
 
Equally Deputy President Ramaphosa who also chairs the South African National AIDS Council (SANAC) will brief members of the NCOP on efforts to reduce the HIV epidemic as well as the national strategy to reach out to the sex worker sectors against the background of the current legislation that outlaws sex work.
 
The Deputy President is once more expected to brief the NCOP on programmes that government has embarked upon to deal with recent acts of violence and protests in various communities against drugs and crime in general. In his previous interaction with members of the National Assembly, Deputy President Ramaphosa condemned the violence in the communities and stressed that South Africans are not xenophobic.
 
Deputy President Ramaphosa has also been requested to reflect on the need to increase the footprint of the national parliamentary TV channel as a means of communication and reaching out to various communities.
 
In the context of the National Development Plan, Deputy President Ramaphosa will brief members of the NCOP on government efforts to ensure alignment of provincial government plans with the National Development Plan as part of efforts to address challenges of poverty, unemployment and inequality.
 

Enquiries: Ronnie Mamoepa on 082 990 4853

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

Cape Town - Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa is, later today, Wednesday 15 March 2017, poised to engage with members of the National Council  of Provinces (NCOP) during oral replies to questions on a number of issues of national interest including South Africa’s position regarding the intended withdrawal from the International Criminal Court (ICC) against the background of the recent Gauteng North Court decision on he matter.
 
Among key issues the Deputy President is expected to provide oral replies includes, matters concerning question on the national minimum wage, SANAC’S efforts to reduce gender-based violence, the protection of the poultry industry and avoid job losses, and alignment of provincial development plans with the National Development Plan (NDP).
 
On the national minimum wage, members of the NCOP have requested to be briefed on measures that NEDLAC has undertaken to determine the human resource and organisational capacity to monitor and enforce compliance with the proposed national minimum wage of R20-00 an hour that is expected to come into effect on 01 May 2018.
 
Equally Deputy President Ramaphosa, who also chairs the South African National AIDS Council (SANAC), will brief members of the NCOP on efforts to reduce the HIV epidemic as well as on the national strategy to reach out to the sex worker sectors against the background of the current legislation that outlaws sex work.
 
The Deputy President is once more expected to brief the NCOP on programmes that government has embarked upon to deal with recent acts of violence and protests in various communities against drugs and crime in general. In his previous interaction with members of the National Assembly, Deputy President Ramaphosa condemned the violence in the communities and stressed that South Africans are not xenophobic.
 
Deputy President Ramaphosa has also been requested to reflect on the need to protect South Africa’s poultry industry and avoid job losses.
 
In the context of the National Development Plan, Deputy President Ramaphosa will brief members of the NCOP on government efforts to ensure alignment of provincial government development plans with the National Development Plan as part of efforts to address challenges of poverty, unemployment and inequality.

Irene - Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa will, in his capacity as Chairperson of the Human Resource Development Council (HRDC), address the National Skills Conference at the St George Hotel, Irene, Centurion, on Friday 24 March 2017. 
 
The conference is organised by the Department of Higher Education and Training in conjunction with the National Skills Authority (NSA). The event will be attended by delegates from industry, SETAs, organised labour, education and training providers, community organisations, colleges, universities, government departments responsible for human resource development, and other strategic agencies in the skills development sector.
 
The theme for the conference is: “An integrated and differentiated Post-School Education and Training system “Past, Present and Future”. 
 
The conference’s objectives are, among others:
 
•  Strengthening the skills development system to enhance productive and decent work for current and future socio-economic growth and development;
•  Unpacking the strategy principles of the proposed National Skill Development Plan in the context of current economic challenges as well as opportunities presented by the NDP and other national growth and development strategies;
•  Deepening the understanding of opportunities for synchronisation and collaboration between post-school education and training institution and skills development bodies;
•  Creating a platform for a strengthened social partnership model for planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of skills development and
•  Positioning skills development to address rising youth unemployment.
 
Deputy President Ramaphosa will be supported by the Minister of Higher Education and Training, Dr Blade Nzimande. 
 
Members of the media are invited as follows:

Date: Friday, 24 March 2017      
Venue: St George Hotel, Irene, Pretoria      
Time: 09h00      
 
For enquiries and accreditation please contact, Sam Matome Bopape 082 318 5251 or Matome@presidency.gov.za


Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

It was with a profound sense of loss that I learned of the passing this morning of Ahmed Kathrada, a beloved comrade, father and friend.

A warm, courageous, compassionate and resolute person, Kathy will be missed by the many people whose lives he touched and enriched.

I join the people of South Africa – and friends from across the world – in extending my deepest sympathies to his wife, Barbara, and his family, friends and comrades. Your love and support sustained him through a lifetime of service, sacrifice and struggle.

He will be remembered as an unassuming freedom fighter, whose wisdom, tolerance, humility, steadfastness and humour earned him the love and respect of our people.

After his release from prison, after the achievement of democracy and the adoption of a new democratic Constitution, even as others contemplated retirement, Kathy was determined to continue to serve the people.

The establishment of the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation was born out of his conviction that he could not rest for as long as the people of this country were not free from want, hunger and ignorance.

After a lifetime of struggle, the work of the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation will cement his legacy as a resolute champion of non-racialism, reconciliation and nation building.

His dedication, through the Foundation, to the development of a new generation of young leaders will ensure that his impact on the development of a new, better society will endure for years to come.

As we mourn the passing of Ahmed Kathrada, we celebrate a life that was lived in the service of humanity.

As we prepare to lay his mortal remains to rest, we are reminded of our solemn duty to live by his example and to complete his work.


Note to editors:

Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa was the founding Chairperson of the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation.


Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

Midrand – The Human Resource Development Council of South Africa (HRDCSA) has adopted the revised Human Resource Development Strategy: Towards 2030 at its 17th meeting held at the Gallagher Convention Centre on Thursday, 30 March 2017.

The Council, chaired by Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa, has recommended that the adopted strategy be presented to Cabinet for approval.
 
The revised strategy sets out clear roles for government, labour and business in the development of skills that will match the needs of the   economy and society. The revised draft strategy also sets out clear monitoring and evaluation processes.
 
Building on a call in 2016 by Deputy President Ramaphosa that industry adopt TVET colleges, Council members have undertaken to adopt colleges individually, to offer support and mentorship that will enhance the functioning of such institutions.
 
Council members’ involvement in TVET colleges will provide support in relation to infrastructure, and other resources that are needed for the success of the programmes in the colleges.
 
The HRDCSA is a multi-stakeholder body that creates an enabling, coordinated and intergrated environment to focus on improving the human resource development base and skills of the South African people.
 

Enquires: Brenda Ntombela, Email: Ntombela.B@dhet.gov.za ; Cell:  082 573 3716
 
Issued by: The Human Resource Development Council of South Africa Secretariat

BLOEMFONTEIN - Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa, supported by the Minister of Health Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibe, and Members of the Executive Council, will on Friday, 31 March 2017, launch the National Strategic Plan on HIV, TB and STIs (2017-2022) in Mangaung, Free State.

Deputy President Ramaphosa is the Chairperson of the South African National AIDS Council (SANAC), a voluntary association that includes government, civil society and all other stakeholders committed to drive an enhanced country response to HIV, TB and STIs.
 
The launch of the National Strategic Plan (NSP) is one of the highlights of the TB month which is commemorated annually across the globe to raise awareness about Tuberculosis (TB). The NSP is the strategic guide for the national response to HIV, TB and STIs in South Africa. One of the objectives of the Plan is to intensify focus on geographic areas and populations most severely affected by the epidemics.
 
This Plan is usually developed for a period of 5 years, and the current one is coming to an end on 31 March 2017. The slogan of this new NSP is, “Let Our Actions Count” which is a call to action for all South Africans to play a party in achieving the goals of the Plan.
 
This year the government is targeting mainly leaders of society such as Parliamentarians, Members of Provincial Legislatures, Councillors, Traditional leaders, Business leaders, Religious leaders and civil society to commit themselves in the fight against these epidemics and to engage their communities and constituencies.
 
Media is invited to cover as follows:
 
Part 1
Launch of the Multi-drug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) 9-month regimen
Time: 08h00 - 09h30
Venue: Pelonomi Hospital, Bloemfontein
           
Part 2
Formal Launch of the NSP and Panel Discussions
Time: 10h00 - 12h00
Venue: Clive Solomon Stadium, Bloemfontein
                       
Part 3
Community Activations/Engagements
Time: 13h00 - 13h40
Venue: Hoffman Square, Bloemfontein

 
For enquiries and accreditation, please contact Sam Bopape on 082 318 5251 or Kanya Ndaki on 0832986100
 

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria