President Cyril Ramaphosa has this morning, 04 July 2019, arrived in the Kingdom of Lesotho for a Working Visit during which the President and the Right Honourable Prime Minister Thomas Thabane will discuss bilateral, regional and continental issues, as well as international developments.

President Ramaphosa will also have an audience with His Majesty, King Letsie III, and engage with civil society groupings.

South Africa and Lesotho enjoy strong and cordial relations which are predicated on historical ties dating back to the struggle against colonialism and apartheid in South Africa, shared language and close geographical proximity.

The structured bilateral relations between the two countries are conducted through the Joint Bilateral Commission for Cooperation (JBCC) which was  established in 2001, and is convened at a Ministerial Level. In this regard, the Working Visit takes place in the context of strengthening bilateral, political, social and trade relations between the two countries.

Bilateral cooperation between South Africa and Lesotho spans a wide range of areas including, but not limited to, trade and investment, security, energy, transport, agriculture, tourism, water as well as environment.

President Ramaphosa,in his capacity as the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Facilitator to Lesotho, will receive an update on the progress of the reform process in the Kingdom of Lesotho with Right Honourable Prime Minister Thomas Thabane and relevant stakeholders. 

President Ramaphosa was appointed the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) facilitator to Lesotho in September 2014 when he held the position of Deputy President of the Republic of South Africa.

After assuming the position of President of the Republic in 2018, President Ramaphosa appointed former Deputy Chief Justice Dikgang Moseneke to lead the SADC Facilitation Team to Lesotho.

President Ramaphosa is due to present a report on the facilitation process to the SADC Heads of State and Government in August 2019 in the United Republic of Tanzania where regional leaders will particularly assess progress in constitutional and security reforms in Lesotho.

The President will be accompanied by the the Minister of State Security, Ms Ayanda Dlodlo,Deputy Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, Mr Thabang Makwetla  and the Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ms Candith Mashego-Dlamini.


Media enquiries: Khusela Diko, Spokesperson to the President on 072 854 5707

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

President Cyril Ramaphosa will participate in the 12th Extraordinary Summit of the African Union (AU) in Niamey, Republic of Niger, on Sunday, 07 July 2019.  

The Summit will mark the entry into force of the Agreement on the Establishment of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and will formally launch the operational phase of the African Internal Market.

The Summit will also decide on the location and structure of the AfCFTA Secretariat.

At the Open Session of the Extraordinary Summit, President Ramaphosa will, alongside President Paul Kagame of the Republic of Rwanda, participate  in the launch of the Tariff Concession Portal. 

The password controlled tariff concession portal was created to allow countries ready to extend tariff preferences and or give concessions to do so in a secured manner. To this end, the aforementioned products will attract minimal or no tariff thus making them more competitive.

The Extraordinary Summit will be preceded by the 35th Ordinary Session of the Executive Council on 04 and 05 July 2019 and the AfCFTA Business Forum on 06 July 2019. 

Since its adoption, the AfCFTA has been signed by 52 countries, with 24 ratifications, thus ensuring its entry into force after it surpassed the threshold of 22 ratifications by AU Member States. 

South Africa deposited its Instrument of Ratification of the Agreement Establishing the AfCFTA on 10 February 2019. 

Currently, South Africa’s primary export destinations on the continent are mainly within the Southern African Development Community, followed by East Africa. 

The AfCFTA presents South Africa with an opportunity for expansion to new markets in West and North Africa for the export of value-added goods as well as services.

The AfCFTA aims to make doing business on the continent easier and encourages African countries to trade among each other while addressing issues that stifle intra-African trade such as high transport costs, cumbersome customs, among others. 


Media enquiries: Khusela Diko, Spokesperson to the President on 072 854 5707 

Issued by: The Presidency
Presidency

President Cyril Ramaphosa has mandated Minister of Transport Fikile Mbalula working with Finance Minister Tito Mboweni and Gauteng Premier David Makhura to submit to Cabinet a solution to the impasse around electronic tolling on Gauteng freeways.

The President has noted and finds extremely unfortunate and deeply regrettable recent public exchanges between Finance Minister Tito Mboweni and the Gauteng Provincial Government on this matter.

The President says such exchanges on social media are unbecoming of their high offices and fail to provide the leadership required in this instance.

The public interest is best served through collaboration, not conflict, and the appropriate platform for leaders to express and reconcile differing views is  Cabinet and other coordination forums.

The President has called on the Ministers and Premier to table proposals to Cabinet by the end of August 2019.

While the user-pay principle remains a policy of government, the electronic tolling system as part of the Gauteng Freeway Improvement Plan (GFIP) presents challenges in its current form.

The President expects that the consultations within government over the coming weeks will produce workable outcomes.


Media enquiries: Khusela Diko, Spokesperson to the President on 072 854 5707 

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

President Cyril Ramaphosa has today, 06 July 2019, departed for the Republic of Niger to participate in the 12th Extraordinary Summit of the African Union (AU) on Sunday, 07 July 2019.  

The President is supported on this working visit by Ministers Neledi Pandor of International Relations and Cooperation, Tito Mboweni of Finance and Ebrahim Patel of Trade and Industry.
 
The Summit will mark the entry into force of the Agreement on the Establishment of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and will formally  launch the operational phase of the African Internal Market.

The Summit will also decide on the location and structure of the AfCFTA Secretariat.

At the Open Session of the Extraordinary Summit, President Ramaphosa will, alongside President Paul Kagame of the Republic of Rwanda, participate in the launch of the Tariff Concession Portal. 

The password controlled tariff concession portal was created to allow countries ready to extend tariff preferences and or give concessions to do so in a secured manner. To this end, the aforementioned products will attract minimal or no tariff thus making them more competitive.

The Extraordinary Summit will be preceded by the 35th Ordinary Session of the Executive Council on 04 and 05 July 2019 and the AfCFTA Business Forum on 06 July 2019. 

Since its adoption, the AfCFTA has been signed by 52 countries, with 24 ratifications, thus ensuring its entry into force after it surpassed the threshold of 22 ratifications by AU Member States. 

South Africa deposited its Instrument of Ratification of the Agreement Establishing the AfCFTA on 10 February 2019. 

Currently, South Africa’s primary export destinations on the continent are mainly within the Southern African Development Community, followed by East Africa. 

The AfCFTA presents South Africa with an opportunity for expansion to new markets in West and North Africa for the export of value-added goods as well as services.

The AfCFTA aims to make doing business on the continent easier and encourages African countries to trade among each other while addressing issues that stifle intra-African trade such as high transport costs, cumbersome customs, among others.


Media enquiries: Khusela Diko, Spokesperson to the President on 072 854 5707 

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa has noted several inaccuracies in an article published today, 25 October 2017 in Business Day newspaper, titled ‘Cyril Ramaphosa in firing line in latest probe request’.
 
The article reports on a complaint to the Competition Commission that “implicates Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa’s Shanduka Trust”. It states later that the complaint lists Shanduka Coal, “in which Ramaphosa held an interest in trust”.
 
We wish to put the following on record:
 
- Deputy President Ramaphosa disposed of his stake in Shanduka Group in November 2014, including all of Shanduka’s mining assets and investments in other ‘regulated’ sectors.
- He does not have an interest in Shanduka Coal or in any mining assets, either in a trust or in any other form.
- The Deputy President is not aware of any entity known as Shanduka Trust.
 
The Deputy President reaffirms his view that any credible allegations of uncompetitive behaviour should be thoroughly investigated and those responsible held to account.
 
 
Enquiries:
 
Tyrone Seale – 083 5757 440
Acting Spokesperson for the Deputy President
 
Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

President Cyril Ramaphosa has today, 7 July 2019, arrived in the Republic of Niger to participate in the 12th Extraordinary Summit of the African Union (AU) on Sunday, 7 July 2019.  

President Ramaphosa is expected to participate in the African Union Troika High level meeting of African Mechanism on Western Sahara; the first Mid- Year Coordination meeting of the African Union and the Regional Economic Communities and in the meeting of Heads of State and ministers of the African Union High Level Ad-hoc committee on South Sudan. 

President Ramaphosa is also expected to, at the Open Session of the Extraordinary Summit, alongside President Paul Kagame of the Republic of  Rwanda, participate in the launch of the password controlled Tariff Concession Portal. 

The portal will allow countries ready to extend tariff preferences and or give concessions to do so in a secured manner. To this end, the aforementioned products will attract minimal or no tariff thus making them more competitive.

The Summit marks an entry into force of the Agreement on the Establishment of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and will formally launch the operational phase of the African Internal Market.

The Summit will also decide on the location and structure of the AfCFTA Secretariat.

The Extraordinary Summit is preceded by the 35th Ordinary Session of the Executive Council on 4 and 5 July 2019 and the AfCFTA Business Forum on 6 July 2019. 

Since its adoption, the AfCFTA has been signed by 52 countries, with 24 ratifications, thus ensuring its entry into force after it surpassed the threshold of 22 ratifications by AU Member States. 

South Africa deposited its Instrument of Ratification of the Agreement Establishing the AfCFTA on 10 February 2019. 

Currently, South Africa’s primary export destinations on the continent are mainly within the Southern African Development Community, followed by East Africa. 

The AfCFTA presents South Africa with an opportunity for expansion to new markets in West and North Africa for the export of value-added goods as well as services.

The AfCFTA aims to make doing business on the continent easier and encourages African countries to trade among each other while addressing issues that stifle intra-African trade such as high transport costs, cumbersome customs, among others. 

The President is supported on this working visit by Ministers Naledi Pandor of International Relations and Cooperation, Tito Mboweni of Finance and Ebrahim Patel of Trade and Industry.


Media enquiries: Khusela Diko, Spokesperson to the President on 072 854 5707 

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

The Inter-Ministerial Committee on the South African National AIDS Council (SANAC) chaired by Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa has extended its warmest congratulations to Dr Nono Simelela on her appointment as World Health Organisation Assistant Director-General for Family, Women, Children and Adolescents.

Dr Princess Nothemba (Nono) Simelela has since 2014 served as served as Special Advisor to Deputy President Ramaphosa, with her work ranging from support for the implementation of the National Strategic Plan for HIV, TB and Sexually Transmitted Infections to reviewing the Expanded Public Works Programme.

Her appointment to the WHO headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, and her contribution to health and broader social policy in South Africa was acknowledged by government during a meeting on Thursday 19 October 2017 of the SANAC Inter-Ministerial Committee, which comprises 16 departments and the leadership of SANAC. Dr Simelela assumes her new position on 13 November 2017.

Deputy President Ramaphosa and Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi commended Dr Simelela and wished her well in her new global role under the leadership of WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the first African in 69 years to be appointed head of the global health authority. 
Dr Simelela has more than 30 years of experience as an obstetrician, academic, advocate and public servant. 

Her other senior leadership roles in South Africa have included serving as Chief Executive Officer of the South African National AIDS Council, Director of Technical Knowledge and Support for the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) and Cluster Manager for HIV, TB and Sexually Transmitted Infections for the Department of Health.

She has also sat on a number of committees and boards, including the Executive Board of the World Health Organisation and the WHO technical committee for the development of guidelines for the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV.

The new WHO leadership team represents 14 countries, including all WHO regions, and women constitute more than 60 per cent of this team.
 
Enquiries: Tyrone Seale 0835757440 Acting Spokesperson for the Deputy President


Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

President Cyril Ramaphosa says the coming into effect of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area Agreement (AfCFTA) is a milestone that fulfils a dream crafted by the founders of the Organisation of African Union (OAU) 60 years ago when they conceptualised an integrated Africa.

President Ramaphosa was speaking at the conclusion of his Working Visit to Niger where he attended the 12th Extraordinary Summit of the African Union (AU) from 7 – 8 July 2019.
 
The Summit marked the entry into force of the Agreement and formally launched the operational phase of the African Internal Market.
President Ramaphosa anticipates the agreement will catapult the economies of many African countries onto a higher growth trajectory and says South   Africa stands to significantly benefit from being part of the world’s largest single market encompassing 55 countries with a combined population of 1,2   billion people and a combined GDP of USD3,2 trillion.

The President sees the implementation of the agreement as a platform for African countries to trade among themselves and reap the benefits of the tariff-free area. 

One of the key spin-offs is expected to be greater focus and urgency for infrastructure development across the continent to support economic activities. 
 
While at the Summit President Ramaphosa participated in the High Level Meeting of the African Union on Libya and the first Mid-Year Coordination Meeting of the African Union and the Regional Economic Communities.
 
The President also held a number of bilateral meetings with his counterparts from the Republic of Zimbabwe, His Excellency Emmerson Mnangangwa; the Democratic Republic of Congo, His Excellency Felix Tshisekedi; the Republic of Niger, His Excellency Mahamadou Issoufou, and the President of the Arab Republic of Egypt and Chairperson of the African Union, His Excellency Abdel Fattah el-Sisi.

During the visit the President was supported by the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Naledi Pandor, Minister of Finance Tito Mboweni, and the Minister of Trade and Industry Ebrahim Patel.
 
President Ramaphosa has returned to South Africa today on 8 July 2019 after the successful conclusion of the Summit.


Media enquiries: Khusela Diko, Spokesperson to the President on 072 854 5707 

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

The Office of the Deputy President has been alerted to various instances in which suspected criminals are using email aliases incorporating elements of “Cyril Ramaphosa” or “Deputy President” to target businesses and members of the public.
 
The email aliases include numbers or special characters and are often linked to global domains instead of the official gov.za used by South African government departments and entities.
 
Some of the suspicious mails make reference to or are addressed to credible institutions, such as the China Development Bank, as part of misleading mail recipients.
 
Persons receiving apparently fake emails or other means of electronic communications with offers of investment or other opportunities are advised to exercise caution, including not opening links embedded in such messages, and reporting suspicions to the police.
  
Enquiries: Tyrone Seale 083 5757 440 Acting Spokesperson for the Deputy President

 
Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

President Cyril Ramaphosa has, following consultation with the Minister of Finance and the Board of the South African Reserve Bank, appointed Ms Fundi Tshazibana and Mr Rashad Ismail Cassim as Deputy Governors of the South African Reserve Bank.

Ms Tshazibana and Mr Cassim will assume their five-year terms on 1 August 2019. 

President Ramaphosa appointed the Deputy Governors in terms of Section 4(1)(a), read with Section 5(1)(a), of the South African Reserve Bank Act  (Act 90 of 1989).

The appointments address two vacancies that had arisen as a result of the resignation in January 2019 of Deputy Governor Francois Groepe and the expiry of Deputy Governor Daniel Mminele’s term at the end of June 2019.

President Ramaphosa has also reappointed the Governor of the Reserve Bank, Mr Lesetja Kganyago, for a period of five years with effect from 9 November 2019.

Incoming Deputy Governor Tshazibana is currently an advisor to the Governor and Deputy Governors of the Bank. Ms Tshazibana holds a Master of Commerce (Economics). She worked in various institutions including Research Surveys (Research Executive); the National Electricity Regulator (Policy Analyst and Senior Policy Analyst); the National Treasury (Deputy Director-General: Macroeconomic Policy), and the International Monetary Fund (Alternative Executive Director: Africa Group 1 Constituency).

Mr Cassim is currently Head of Economic Research and Statistics at the Reserve Bank. He holds a PhD (Economics). He worked at various institutions including the University of Cape Town (Lecturer, Researcher and Director of Trade Policy Monitoring Policy Project); Trade and Industrial Policy Strategies or TIPS (Executive Director); the University of the Witwatersrand (Professor and Head of School of Economics and Business Sciences), and Statistics South Africa (Deputy Director-General: Economic Statistics).

President Ramaphosa has wished the Governor and Deputy Governors well on their forthcoming terms and said these appointments were directed at strengthening capacity and maintaining stability at this critical national institution.


Media enquiries: Tyrone Seale, Presidency Communications on 083 575 7440 

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria