President Cyril Ramaphosa will on Thursday, 02 October 2025, deliver the keynote address at the 2025 Local Government Indaba Gala Dinner at the Gallagher Convention Centre in Midrand. 

The Indaba aims to drive a turnaround for municipalities in South Africa.

The Indaba will gather delegates from across Government, traditional leadership, business, academia, civil society and organised labour under the symbiotic commitment to revitalise municipalities and restore public confidence in local governance.

The Indaba takes place against the backdrop of recurrent poor municipal audit outcomes as documented by the Auditor-General of South Africa (AGSA), which underscore the urgency of reform.

The Indaba has been conceptualised as a springboard for bold action in strengthening governance and accountability, while cultivating ethical leadership and effective oversight in municipal councils.

A highlight of the Indaba will be the Local Government Good Governance Awards, celebrating municipalities that exemplify best practices in governance and financial stewardship. 

Members of the media are invited to cover the Indaba as follows:

Date: Thursday, 02 October 2025

Time: 18h00

Venue: Gallagher Convention Centre, Midrand

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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

President Cyril Ramaphosa is saddened by the passing of Ambassador Emmanuel Nkosinathi "Nathi" Mthethwa, South Africa’s Head of Mission in Paris, who has died in tragic circumstances in the French capital at the age of 58.

President Ramaphosa offers his deep condolences to Ambassador Mthethwa’s wife, Ms Philisiwe Buthelezi, and the Ambassador’s extended family.

The President extends his sympathies to the Ministry and Department of International Relations and Cooperation, and in particular officials in our Embassy in Paris.

The President’s thoughts are also with the extensive network of partners and stakeholders, including the French Presidency and Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, with whom Ambassador Mthethwa had established strong relationships since his diplomatic appointment in December 2023.

Ambassador Mthethwa served in Cabinet for 15 years in the portfolios of Sport, Arts and Culture; and Police. 

President Ramaphosa said: “The untimely passing of Ambassador Nathi Mthethwa is a moment of deep grief in which Government and citizens stand beside the Mthethwa family.

“Ambassador Mthethwa has served our nation in diverse capacities during a lifetime that has ended prematurely and traumatically.

“In his last tenure of service he has facilitated the deepening of relations between South and the Republic of France, which has produced benefits for individuals and businesses in both countries and advanced our cooperation in the global arena.

“May his soul rest in peace.”

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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

President Cyril Ramaphosa will on Thursday, 02 October 2025, receive Letters of Credence from Heads of Mission-Designate at a Credentials Ceremony to be held at Sefako Makgatho Presidential Guesthouse in Pretoria.
 
Letters of Credence are official diplomatic documents presented to the President by Heads of Mission-designate who have been nominated by their respective governments to serve as ambassadors to South Africa.

President Ramaphosa will receive Heads of Mission-Designate from the following 18 countries:
1.⁠ ⁠The People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria; 
2.⁠ ⁠The Republic of Chile;
3.⁠ ⁠The Kingdom of Spain;
4.⁠ ⁠The Republic of Ecuador; 
5.⁠ ⁠The Islamic Republic of Pakistan;
6.⁠ ⁠The Kingdom of Thailand;
7.⁠ ⁠The Democratic Republic of Congo;
8.⁠ ⁠The Republic of Serbia;
9.⁠ ⁠The Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka;
10.⁠ ⁠The Islamic Republic of Mauritania;
11.⁠ ⁠The Republic of Argentina;
12.⁠ ⁠The Republic of Sierra Leone;
13. The Republic of Uzbekistan;
14. The Republic of Liberia;
15. The Kingdom of Sweden;
16. The Republic of the Sudan;
17. The Republic of Tajikistan;
18. The Republic of Zambia.

Media are invited to cover the credentials ceremony as follows:
Date: Thursday, 02 October 2025
Time: 09h30 (Media to arrive at 08h30)
Venue: Sefako Makgatho Presidential Guest House, Pretoria

Media RSVPs can be directed to Makungu Mbetse on makungu@presidency.gov.za and cc Patience Mtshali on Patience@presidency.gov.za not later than Wednesday, 01 October 2025 at 10h00 in the morning.

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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria
 

Deputy President Paul Mashatile will on Thursday, 02 October 2025, embark on a service delivery Working Visit to the community of Qunu, in OR Tambo District Municipality in the Eastern Cape Province as part of Government efforts to strengthen the capacity to deliver public services to communities.  

The Working Visit by the Deputy President takes place in response to service delivery concerns raised by representatives of the Qunu community, during his recent visit to eNyandeni in Libode on 19 August 2025, relating to, amongst others, lack of adequate water and sanitation, electricity, access roads and infrastructure.  

In line with the responsibilities that have been delegated to Deputy President Mashatile by the President, which includes leading the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Service Delivery, the visit offers the opportunity for Government to address service delivery challenges affecting the community of Qunu, and will be a platform to evaluate progress achieved in the roll-out of the District Development Model.  

The DDM intergovernmental framework encourages collaborative planning and budgeting among all three domains of government to enhance service delivery and stimulate economic development in specific districts and metropolitan areas.  It also prioritises Districts and Metros for development and allows for a spatially integrated "One Plan" to address poverty, unemployment, and inequality and create jobs by developing infrastructure like water, sanitation, roads, and electricity.

The visit will also showcase a number of initiatives and programmes led by various government departments, which affirms the commitment to build important infrastructure for communities in the OR Tambo District, towards realising the goal of accelerating the delivery and maintenance of infrastructure in the  Municipalities.

Moreover, it is envisaged that the visit also will enhance public participation in Government programmes aimed at empowering and developing communities through a strengthened partnership with stakeholders such as the Traditional Leadership, business, academics as well as non-governmental organisations.  

Deputy President Mashatile, joined by Eastern Cape Premier Oscar Mabuyane and several Cabinet Ministers, will interact with local
stakeholders, and visit key projects in sectors such as agriculture, water and sanitation, small, medium and micro-enterprises, which continue to drive job creation initiatives, enhance economic growth, and help to eradicate poverty.

As part of the Presidential Ten Million Trees Flagship Programme, which aims to mobilise South Africans from all walks of life, to join Government, private sector, Inter-Faith formations, business, Traditional Leadership, NGOs, and youth, in planting trees, Deputy President Mashatile will plant trees at various sites as part of the campaign to bring all the citizens together to plant trees and to mitigate against climate change.    

Members of the media are invited to cover the visit as follows:

Media programme

Wednesday , 01 October 2025 – Build-up Programmes
09h00: Deputy Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Ms Peace Mabe to engage with Youth showcasing talent in various cultural fields - Mthatha Arts Centre. 

11h00: Deputy Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure, Mr Sihle Zikalala to Handover the Vehicular and Pedestrian Welisizwe Bridges Ngqezu Bridge – Port St John.

Thursday, 02 October 2025 
09h00: Deputy President Mashatile supported by the Minister of Small Business Development, Ms Stella Ndabeni to visit Siphe Development and Capacitation Agency.  

Venue: Kaplen Village, Mthatha 

09h45: Deputy President Mashatile supported by the Minister of Water and Sanitation, Ms Pemmy Majodina to visit KSD Local Municipality Reservoir - Ward 19, Qunu.

10h00: Deputy President Mashatile Meeting with Traditional Leaders - Nelson Mandela Museum Youth & Heritage Centre in Qunu.

11h30: Deputy President Mashatile to address the Community - Sports Hall, Nelson Mandela Museum Youth & Heritage Centre in Qunu.

For enquiries and accreditation please contact Sam Matome Bopape on 082 318 5251 or Ishmael Selemale on 073 163 1123.

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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria