Media briefing remarks by Spokesperson to the Presidency, Mr Vincent Magwenya: update on President Ramaphosa public engagement program
- 12 April 2023 – Engagement with CEO’s
President Cyril Ramaphosa hosted a virtual meeting this morning, with several business leaders representing key sectors of the economy, to discuss ongoing interventions to maximise inclusive economic growth, inspire confidence and create jobs. The meeting focused on consolidating collaboration between government and business. This cooperation between government and business builds on a strong partnership foundation that saw a successful vaccine roll out during the Covid-19 pandemic, as well as the establishment of the Resource Mobilisation Fund aimed at providing support to government’s Energy Action Plan. The President has agreed with business that there’s need for an acceleration to the resolution of challenges impacting key economic enablers, namely, Energy, Transport and Logistics and Crime and Corruption. On the eve of the 5th South African Investment conference, President Ramaphosa is highly enthused by the collaborative spirit that continues to guide the engagements between government and business and more importantly, the commitment shown by business to take collective responsibility in resolving some of the challenges that are facing the country and our economy.
- 12 April 2023 – Meeting with organised labour on ports and rail
President Ramaphosa will host a meeting this afternoon, with representatives of organised labour on national ports and rail, to discuss the state of the country’s logistics system and the important role that it plays in our economy. The meeting follows an interaction on Wednesday evening, on 5 April 2023, with South Africa’s largest exporters who are reliant on the country’s road, rail and ports infrastructure. The meeting with large exporters was preceded by an engagement the President held with members of the Transnet board and executive management at the Union Buildings in Pretoria, on 28 March 2023, which discussed challenges facing the country’s logistics system, including the declining performance of the freight rail network.
Following these engagements the President has been considering a set of measures that will add impetus to the work that is currently underway to improve rail and port efficiencies and in line with the government policy direction for the freight transport sector in the White Paper on National Rail Policy and in legislation such as the National Ports Act and the Economic Regulation of Transport Bill that is currently before Parliament.
The President’s meeting with organised labour representatives will further concretise a collaborative effort that will be coordinated from the Presidency.
- 12 April 2023 – Dinner with Investors
President Ramaphosa will attend a dinner tonight with investors who will be part of the South African Investment Conference. The dinner is an opportunity for investors to engage with the President over a wide range of issues and opportunities related to investing in South Africa.
- 13 April 2023 – South African Investment Conference
President Ramaphosa will open and address the South African Investment Conference, which attracts delegates from varying industries in South Africa and across the globe. Over the last four years the investment conference has realised about R 1, 14 trillion in investment commitments. The 5th edition of the conference is expected to meet and exceed the investment target of R1, 2 trillion that was set by the President at inception of the 5 year investment cycle. In his opening address the President will reflect on the goal he set in April 2018 and the progress achieved thus far. President Ramaphosa will also brief investors on the steps that are being taken by government in addressing the visa, transport and logistics, crime and corruption and energy challenges.
- 14 April 2023 – Meeting with Directors General
In line with his stated commitment to lead government’s re-building of a capable state and to ensure improved service delivery, President Ramaphosa will meet with the Directors General from across all national government departments. The meeting will discuss work underway at capacitating various levels of leadership, management and critical areas of government service delivery. The acceleration of the President’s priorities as outlined in his 2023 SONA address will also form part of the discussions.
- 16 April 2023 – Address to the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCTA) in Cape Town
President Ramaphosa will deliver the key note address at the AfCTA Business Forum 2023, which will be held in Cape Town under the theme: Acceleration of the implementation of the Africa Continental Free Trade Agreement.
The AfCFTA Business Forum is intended to raise awareness about potential trade and investment opportunities that the African market presents in a range of labour intensive and industrial sectors such as agriculture, automotive, pharmaceuticals and transport and logistics, amongst others.
The Forum will discuss a number of themes such as the economic potential of the “One African Market,” the challenges, and especially the opportunities for trade. How do we increase intra – Africa trade to accelerate economic growth through industrialization and job creation?
The forum will also explore the kind of policy tools that are required to establish or grow Africa’s manufacturing and industrialisation to increase value-addition in the AfCFTA focused value chains such as agriculture, pharmaceuticals, textile and clothing, mining, among others.
- 18 April 2023 – Meeting with the Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of Southern Africa (SEIFSA) – Union Buildings
In line with the President’s SONA 2023 commitment to hold a series of sectorial engagements, President Ramaphosa will meet with the leadership of the Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of Southern Africa (SEIFSA). The purpose of the meeting is to open channels of dialogue between the President’s Office and this strategic sector of the economy. It is the first direct engagement between a South African Head of State and this sector since SEIFSA’s formation almost 80 years ago.
President Ramaphosa appreciates the metals and engineering sector is an integral part of the global and domestic economy. The sector is a vital supplier of inputs into major sectors such as mining, the automotive sector, construction and other manufacturing sub industries. SEIFSA as a Federation represents 18 Employer Organisations, who collectively represent in excess of 1 250 companies and employ approximately 170 000 employees in the sector.
- 18 April 2023 – Meeting with SMME award winners – Union Buildings
President Ramaphosa will host the winners of the Presidential SMME and Cooperatives Awards. To encourage public and private partnership, the Department of Small Business Development hosted the Inaugural National Presidential SMME and Cooperatives Awards and the SMME and Cooperative Summit, in November last year with the aim of cultivating an enabling environment for the development; and nurturing of innovative ideas and best practice across the whole spectrum of small business development in the country.
More than 8,073 submissions were received and there were over 4,286 confirmed nominations. A total of 13 winners were awarded.
- 19 April 2023 — Meeting with the Presidential Climate Commission
President Ramaphosa will meet the Presidential Climate Commission during a special sitting of the Commission, attended by all its Commissioners, including government Ministers that are deployed to the Commission. The commission will present its recommendations to the President following consultations on the electricity plan and JET-IP. In November last year, President Ramaphosa briefed the Presidential Climate Commission on the Just Energy Transition Investment Plan (JET-IP) and requested the Commission to consult stakeholders on the plan and prepare recommendations that will be considered by the President and the government. The Commission has consulted widely with stakeholders and prepared recommendations on how to factor the carbon constraint into electricity planning, including short-term measures to address the power generation crisis.
For diary planning more information to be provided close to the time on the events below.
- 20 April 2023 – Incoming Namibian State visit
- 25 April 2023 – Official Visit by the President of the Republic of FInland, H.E. President SV Niinisto
- 27 April 2023 – Freedom day celebrations, Klerksdorp North West Province
- 28 April 2023 – National Orders Sefako Makgatho Presidential Guesthouse
