Deputy President Shipokosa Paulus Mashatile, in his capacity as Chairperson of the Human Resource Development Council (HRDC), will on Thursday, 16 April 2026, address the 5th HRDC Summit taking place at Gallagher Convention Centre in Midrand, Gauteng Province.

The HRDC serves as an independent mechanism for collaboration between Government, business, labour and civil society, in the implementation of the integrated Human Resource Development Strategy for South Africa. The Council serves to enable Government and social partners to identify and respond collectively to agreed upon human resource development needs, in support of economic and social development.

Under the theme ““Living and Working in a Changing World”, the two-day Summit aims to, amongst others, launch the Reconceptualised HRD Strategy and the Master Skills Plan; share best practices in terms of human resource development and especially Workplace-Based Learning (WPBL) from a regional and global perspective; provide a platform for the development of collaborative programmes that will empower youth to actively participate in the economy through WPBL and other initiatives; and pursue the integration of digital skills into all skills development programmes.

The Summit will also receive a report on the implementation of the Social Compacts arising from the 4th HRDC Summit held in 2021, as well as allow constituencies to review and refresh these Compacts in recognition of the rapidly changing workplace.

It is expected that the Summit will be attended by Government Department representatives, Councils and Authority Bodies in the education space, Business, Labour, and Civil Society. 

Details of the Summit are as follows:

Date: Thursday, 16 April 2026
Time: 09h00 (media to arrive at 08h00)
Venue: Gallagher Convention Centre, Midrand, Gauteng Province

Members of the media interested in covering the Summit are kindly requested to submit their details (Full Name, Media House, ID/Passport Number and Role) to Ms Linah Ledwaba on LinahL@presidency.gov.za or 066 240 7635.

Deadline for accreditation is 14 April 2026, end of business. Accreditation can be collected from 15 April 2026 at the Gallagher Convention Centre.

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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

President Cyril Ramaphosa has in terms of section 174(4) of the Constitution appointed Justice Nambitha Christabel Dambuza-Mayosi and Justice Katharine Mary Savage as Judges of the Constitutional Court with effect from 1 May 2026.

As directed by the Constitution, President Ramaphosa has made these appointments after consultation with Chief Justice Mandisa Maya and leaders of political parties represented in the National Assembly.

Justice Dambuza-Mayosi currently serves as a Judge of the Supreme Court of Appeal – a position she has held since June 2015 and which included an extended period of acting as President of the Supreme Court of Appeal.

Justice Dambuza-Mayosi’s career spans more than three decades in legal practice, academia and the judiciary.

Justice Savage became a Judge of the Western Cape High Court in 2015 and has served as a Judge of the Labour Appeal Court since 2024.

President Ramaphosa wishes the new judges of South Africa’s apex court well in their new roles.

The President said: “Judge Dambuza-Mayosi and Judge Savage have for decades served the cause and practice of justice with great diligence, foresight and, most importantly, clear commitment to our Constitution.

“They join the Constitutional Court in the year in which we mark 30 years since the adoption of our democratic Constitution. This anniversary is a significant moment for our nation and serves as an inspiration for our Constitutional Court to sustain the entrenchment of our national values and the supreme law that underpins them.”

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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria
 

Programme Director;
President of the Board of the American Chamber of Commerce, Mr Kuseni Dlamini;
Members of the Board of Directors;
CEO of the Chamber, Ms Michelle Constant;
Representatives of US and South African business;
Distinguished guests;
Ladies and gentlemen. 

Thank you to the American Chamber of Commerce South Africa for this invitation. 

I welcome this opportunity for engagement as we work together to strengthen economic ties between South Africa and the United States.

The American Chamber of Commerce in South Africa has been a constructive, committed and valued partner for close to half a century.

It remains a credible voice for US business in South Africa.

Importantly, it is a firm advocate for strengthening trade, investment and commercial ties between South Africa and the United States.

Since the Government of National Unity came into office, we have been focused on our apex strategic priority to drive inclusive growth and create employment. 

We see US business as integral to achieving this priority.

At the same time, the growth of our economy and the creation of jobs is good for US companies doing business in South Africa.

It creates more opportunities, expands potential markets, introduces more suppliers and expands the pool of talent from which companies can draw.

The United States has long been a major source of foreign direct investment in South Africa. 

There are more than 600 American companies operating here. 

It is estimated that US companies employ more than 250,000 South Africans.

These companies invest in South Africa because they achieve valuable returns.

They invest because South Africa has significant resources. We have large reserves of critical minerals, abundant renewable energy sources and a young and capable workforce.

This is underpinned by stable institutions, the rule of law, advanced infrastructure and deep capital markets.

Not only do these companies have access to the South African market, but they see great potential for expansion into the vast African market.

There are a number of South African companies operating in the US market, which create jobs for Americans and contribute to the US economy.

Both sides see the clear gains to be made from investing in each other's markets. 

We were encouraged by the presence of more than 600 US business leaders at the B20 Summit in Johannesburg in November last year.

This show of force on the part of US business was a resounding signal of confidence, trust and friendship. 

We also see significant opportunities for expanding bilateral trade between South Africa and the United States.

Our trade relations have historically been complementary in nature.

South Africa’s exports to the United States support the development of US industries and provide American consumers with choice.

The goods and services we import from the US in turn support the development of our economy and are helping to equip South Africa for a changing global economy.

We recently held a critical minerals forum in Washington, with key US government departments and business. 

We will continue work to develop a critical minerals framework that can ensure that we continue to be a strategic supplier of critical minerals to the US. 

At the same time, we want to develop collaborative programmes that increase investment in this important sector in our economy. 

We appreciate that our trade relations face several challenges.

The US administration has been forthright in its assessment of our trade relations and we welcome its willingness to engage with South Africa to address concerns.

Recently we have had several positive signals from the United States. 

We are actively engaged with various committees both in the House and the Senate on the renewal of AGOA.

At the same time, the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition remains engaged with the US Trade Representative.

We are committed to working together more closely and with greater focus to achieve a trade agreement that is mutually beneficial.

There is a great deal that we can offer each other and there is no reason why we can’t reach agreement on areas of difference. 

As we continue the work to strengthen economic ties, we are committed to rebuild political and diplomatic relations between our two countries.

Yesterday, I had the pleasure of receiving the credentials of the new US Ambassador to South Africa, Ambassador Bozell.

Through the engagements that have taken place since his arrival in the country, I believe we have made progress in developing a common understanding of the issues that continue for the moment to define our relationship.

Ambassador Bozell has made deepening our commercial trade a priority. 

I understand that the Ambassador wants to double the amount of US companies operating in South Africa. 

This is an ambition that we wholeheartedly support and that we hope to work together to achieve. 

South Africa is at an important moment of economic renewal. 

The measures we have undertaken over the last few years to rebuild our economy are bearing fruit. 

Electricity supply has stabilised and Eskom has been returned to operational viability. 

Together with market reforms and substantial private investment in renewable energy, we are laying the foundation for a competitive energy market that will reduce costs for households and businesses.

Through Operation Vulindlela, we have seen improvements in the efficiency of our ports and we are enabling access to our freight rail for private operators. 

We have seen a decline in the cost of broadband data alongside an improvement in access.

Far-reaching changes to our visa regime will enable the country to attract greater investment, skills and tourism.

We have embarked on a second phase of Operation Vulindlela, focusing on local government, digital transformation and reducing spatial inequality.

A particular area of focus now is on ensuring reliable access to water for households, businesses and agriculture. 

Through a National Water Crisis Committee, we are undertaking interventions to transform the provision and management of water services across the country. 

Our commitment to macroeconomic stability and prudent fiscal management has resulted in the stabilisation of public finances and has seen our sovereign risk profile improve. 

We are reforming our criminal justice system and tackling crime and corruption, so that businesses can invest and operate without fear. 

We are establishing a new criminal justice reform initiative modelled on the success of Operation Vulindlela, which will focus on combating organised crime, corruption, the illicit economy and illegal firearms.

We have allocated more than R3 trillion over the next three years to modernise and expand public infrastructure across South Africa. This includes massive investment in roads, railways, ports, dams, energy generation and transmission, and housing.

We remain committed to the transformation of our economy to drive sustained growth, reduce inequality and correct the injustices of the past.

We appreciate the contribution that US companies continue to make to the transformation effort. 

The many US companies that have been in our country for decades and the many companies that are now coming here to invest not only respect and adhere to our broad-based black economic empowerment laws.

They have also invested substantially in developing local black and women suppliers, provided training to young black South Africans and invested in social development programmes.

We are grateful for the frank and constructive engagements that we have had over the years to ensure that we advance the constitutional imperative of empowerment while ensuring that companies can effectively operate.

Through working together, we have developed innovative and practical mechanisms such as the Equity Equivalent Investment Programme.

This has enabled multinationals whose global policies prevent them from complying with the ownership element of broad-based black economic empowerment to invest in socio-economic, skills and enterprise development.

The US companies that are investing in South Africa – many of them well-known Blue Chip companies – do not see transformation as an impediment to investment.

They are not deterred by the scare tactics that are often used by our country’s detractors.

Nor are they deterred by the false claims that black economic empowerment imposes onerous costs on companies while delivering no value.

As is the case in other markets where they invest, these US companies understand our need to promote local production, to build an inclusive economy and to create economic opportunities for all our people.

We look forward to continued engagement with US companies as we work to strengthen the policies that support transformation while at the same time enabling investment and growth.
 
Last week, we held our sixth South Africa Investment Conference, at which companies made investment commitments worth a cumulative total of more than R889 billion.

This is more than what was raised at any of the previous Investment Conferences.

It is significant that around three-quarters of the value of private sector commitments is domestic capital.

This shows the confidence of South African investors in their economy.

The fact that the business people who understand our country the best are now starting to invest here at a greater scale should give encouragement to international investors.

These investments should also provide direction to where the potential lies in our economy.

South Africa offers great opportunities for multinational seeking to diversify their supply chains, especially in the midst of geopolitical uncertainty.

South Africa provides a stable, rules-based operating environment at the southern tip of a continent with the world's fastest-growing labour force and some of its most underexploited mineral wealth.

We have the infrastructure, skills and growing capabilities to seize the opportunities presented by the profound technological changes that are reshaping our world.

In conclusion, and on behalf of all South Africans, I thank you for your unwavering confidence in our country. 

Despite a difficult global environment, trade and investment relations between South Africa and the United States are strong.

We are committed to deepening cooperation and opening up new opportunities. 

I wish the American Chamber of Commerce all the best in its ongoing work to champion the interests of US companies in South Africa and to champion the growth and development of our economy.

I thank you.

Deputy President Shipokosa Paulus Mashatile will tomorrow, Thursday 09 April 2026, deliver a keynote address at the Gauteng Investment Conference 2026 (GIC 2026), a flagship provincial platform aimed at mobilisng investment, advancing industrialisation and accelerating inclusive economic growth. 

This year's conference builds on the success of the inaugural conference held in 2025, which secured R312 billion in investment pledges. It forms part of Gauteng's strategy to attract R800 billion in new investments over a three year period.

GIC 2026 will bring together global investors, African governments, municipal leaders, development finance institutions, banks and the private sector with the aim of enhancing Gauteng's position as Africa's leading investment hub.

Members of the media are invited to attend and cover the conference as follows:
Date: Thursday, 09 April 
Time: 08h30
Venue: The Marriott Hotel, Melrose Arch 

Members of the media who wish to attend are requested to RSVP to Lerato Sewpersad: leratos@ggda.co.za / 072 909 4463 or Siphiwe Hlope: siphiwe.hlope@gauteng.gov.za.

Media enquiries: Mr Keith Khoza, Acting Spokesperson to the Deputy President on 066 195 8840 or Sabelo Ndlangisa, Senior Communications Manager at GDED on 066 4860 444

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

Programme Director,
Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, Ms Mmamoloko Kubayi,
Premier of KwaZulu-Natal, Mr Thami Ntuli,
Ministers and Deputy Ministers,
Executive Mayor of the iLembe District Municipality, Cllr Thobani Shandu,
Mayor of the Ndwedwe Local Municipality, Cllr SZ Mfeka,
MECs, Mayors and Councillors,
Representatives of institutions supporting democracy,
Representatives of the victims committees and civil society,
Traditional leaders,
Representatives of faith-based organisations,
The Ndwedwe community,
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen, 

Sanibonani. Good Morning. Molweni. Dumelang. Avuxeni. Ndi Matsheloni. Lotjhani. Goeie môre. 

It is a great honour to be here today with the community of Ndwedwe to witness a milestone in our long journey towards justice and reconciliation. 

Today, we are marking the implementation of regulations that allow victims of apartheid identified through the Truth and Reconciliation Commission process to receive housing assistance from the state. 

This reflects our commitment as a country to recognising and healing the divisions of our past, and to honouring all those who suffered for justice and freedom in our land.

We are marking this milestone almost exactly 30 years after the first public hearing of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission was held in East London on the 15th of April 1996.

The passage of time has not diminished our commitment to justice and reconciliation.

We remain determined to ensure that the work of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission is completed.

This place, Ndwedwe, occupies a place of profound historical significance. 

During the late 1980s and early 1990s, Ndwedwe was one of the areas in KwaZulu-Natal most affected by political violence.

People were forced to flee their homes. Homes were burned and property was destroyed. Many innocent lives were lost. Families were rendered homeless and broken up. 

Many people lost their livelihoods and access to their land. 

The effects of the violence lasted for many years and some still persist to this day.

When the Truth and Reconciliation Commission was established in 1995 to uncover the atrocities that had been committed under apartheid, survivors from Ndwedwe testified at the hearings. 

A number of them were elderly victims, who are now in their eighties and nineties.

The TRC documented hundreds of cases of arson, assaults, killings and forced removals in Ndwedwe and formally recognised a number of residents as victims of gross human rights violations. 

Ndwedwe stands as a powerful site of memory and survival, representing rural communities whose suffering often received less public attention but was no less devastating. 

As a country, we understand that truth alone is not sufficient to repair the harm that was done. We know that reconciliation cannot be enduring without reparations.

The provision of reparations is not just an act of goodwill. It is a moral obligation and a vital part of restoring people’s dignity. 

Even though the democratic state is not responsible for the atrocities committed in the name of apartheid, it is up to the democratic state to make a decisive break with the hurts of the past if we are to move forward together.

The final report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission made a number of recommendations to the President on possible measures that could be taken to restore the dignity of victims.

These measures included once-off grants, medical benefits and other forms of social assistance, the construction of monuments, and other forms of community rehabilitation. 

The report recommended that the state give special attention to housing assistance in areas such as Ndwedwe, where violence resulted in mass destruction of property and displacement. 

The housing assistance regulations that we published in January 2026 flow directly from these recommendations. 

The regulations set out how housing assistance will be provided to beneficiaries who have been formally identified and verified through the TRC process. 

The confirmed beneficiaries are eligible to receive a once-off grant for housing assistance or the construction of a new home. 

The cost of the reparations will be borne by the President’s Fund that was established in terms of the TRC Act. 

Through these regulations we are giving effect to our longstanding commitment as government to reparations for victims of apartheid, as well as to our obligations under the Constitution to advance the right to human dignity. 

Our Constitution places a clear obligation on the state to take reasonable legislative and other measures, within available resources, to progressively realise everyone’s right of access to adequate housing.

Our Constitution places housing as a fundamental pillar of human dignity, safety and security.

As of March 2026, the total number of approved listed beneficiaries in Ndwedwe stands at 220.

The symbolic cheques that are being handed over today represent R40 million in cumulative assistance being provided to the verified beneficiaries to build a home or improve their existing homes. 

To respect their safety and privacy, representatives of traditional leaders will be receiving them on behalf of the beneficiaries today. 

A total of 114 approved beneficiaries in Ndwedwe have already been paid out approximately R21 million by the President’s Fund. 

This is a nationwide programme and to date we have received applications from victims across the country.

Government is committed to ensure that this process provides some justice for communities that are still bearing the cost of what happened in our past. 

And that it provides security to the survivors and their descendants.

I would like to thank the community of Ndwedwe for your patience, as well as our traditional and community leaders who have travelled this journey with us. 

We know that it has been a long road. There have been many challenges and difficulties.

I acknowledge the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development for the dignified manner in which it has engaged with the communities through the various roadshows and public participation processes. 

Housing is not simply about shelter. It represents stability, dignity and belonging to a community.

As we commemorate 30 years of our Constitution this year, we affirm that our future is built on remembering our past and correcting the injustices that were committed. 

United by one Constitution, inspired by one shared destiny, we recommit to completing the work of nation building that was begun in 1994.

The South African experience has been adapted for truth commissions in a number of other countries. 

The emphasis of the TRC on narrative truth, restorative justice and public participation shaped international thinking on how societies confront and manage political transitions.

Our efforts align with the objectives of the African Union’s Decade of Reparations, which calls on African states and the international community to complete the work of restoration that political liberation began.

This has been further reinforced by the United Nations General Assembly’s landmark resolution of 25 March 2026, that declared the transatlantic trafficking and racialised enslavement of Africans as the gravest crime against humanity. 

It furthermore affirmed the role of reparations as a necessary step toward remedying historical injustice. 

This resolution echoes the TRC’s central premise: that truth must lead to justice and that justice must include material repair if reconciliation is to be meaningful. 

The handover of these symbolic cheques today affirms our belief that reconciliation and reparations must be concrete and tangible.

As we celebrate 30 years of the Constitution, we are reminded that political liberation was never the final destination. It was the beginning of a longer journey towards social justice. 

The task of building a truly united, just and equal society continues.

We will not rest until all our people can live in peace, in security and in comfort.

I thank you.
 

President Cyril Ramaphosa will on Tuesday, 31 March 2026, address the Sixth South Africa Investment Conference (SAIC) at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg.

Launched in 2018 by President Ramaphosa, the South Africa Investment Conference has become the country’s premier platform for attracting both domestic and international investors, and for showcasing South Africa’s investment potential and sustained economic reforms.

The South Africa Investment Conference is the country’s flagship platform to position South Africa as a credible, competitive and forward-looking investment destination in a rapidly changing global economy.

Anchored in the theme “Invest. Partner. Prosper.”, the Conference brings together government, global investors, development finance institutions and strategic partners to advance investment-led growth and strengthen South Africa’s role as a gateway for investment into the African continent.

The Investment Conference is structured as a coherent investment platform that moves from reform credibility to investor confidence, to deployable opportunities and long-term global partnerships, ensuring alignment between South Africa’s domestic development priorities and international investment interests.

The 2026 conference marks a strategic transition from high-level planning to a focused phase of delivery, as government accelerates the implementation of investment commitments.

The conference aims to mobilise investors as South Africa targets an additional R2 trillion in investment commitments over the next five years, building on the success of the first five conferences which collectively secured R1.5 trillion in commitments, with over R600 billion already invested in the economy.

These investments have contributed to the establishment of new factories, mines and industrial facilities, playing a critical role in advancing South Africa’s socio-economic development through job creation, poverty reduction and efforts to address inequality.

Held under the framework of the “3Ds” — Digitisation, Decarbonisation and Diversification — the conference positions South Africa as a competitive, reforming and future-focused economy, while highlighting opportunities in technology, clean energy and expanded trade partnerships across the African continent.

The conference also serves as the formal launch platform of South Africa’s Second Investment Drive and is aligned with the priorities of the 7th Administration, including inclusive economic growth, employment creation, infrastructure development and economic reform.

The conference takes place at a time of improved investor confidence, underpinned by progress in key structural reforms, including enhanced energy reliability, infrastructure development and economic recovery initiatives.

President Ramaphosa will address the conference as follows:
Date: Tuesday, 31 March 2026
Time: 09h00
Venue: Sandton Convention Centre, Johannesburg

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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

Programme Director, Deputy Minister Stanley Mathabatha;
Minister of Land Reform and Rural Development, Honourable Mzwanele Nyhontso;
MEC for Agriculture and Rural Development, Ms Nakedi Grace Kekana;
Representative of Waterberg District Municipality Executive Mayor, Cllr Jeremiah Ngobeni;
Mayor of the Thabazimbi Local Municipality, Cllr Andries Tshukudu;
Chairperson of Sebilong Communal Property Association, Mr Boitshoko Tselane;
Deputy Land Claims Commissioner, Mr Francois Beukman;
Provincial House of Traditional Leaders and all Hosi present from the Local House;
Commodities Sectors, Farming, and Farm Workers' Organisations present;
Agricultural Research Council and other Professional Bodies present here;
CPA and Stakeholders present;
Most importantly, the distinguished beneficiaries of Sebilong Restitution;

Good Afternoon. Avuxeni. Ndi Masiari. Dumelang!

It is always a great pleasure to set foot in this beautiful province of Limpopo. A peaceful, verdant gateway to our country’s untamed bushveld and its wildlife sanctuary and to the rich cultural history that still inspires us all.

Today marks a significant milestone. A milestone that seeks to redress the historic injustice of land dispossession endured by the majority of our people. We affirm that the struggle for dignity, for equity, and for rightful ownership is not only a matter of policy but also a moral imperative that binds us together as a nation.

We are here today to witness the handover of title deeds to the Sebilong Restitution Community.  The rightful owners of this land have long been denied their heritage. But today, history bends towards justice, and the arc of our democracy delivers on its promise.

This occasion represents an important step in the implementation of South Africa’s land restitution programme and affirms the government's commitment to addressing land dispossession in line with the Constitution.

The Sebilong Community was dispossessed of its ancestral land on Farm Zwartkop 369 KQ through a series of forced removals that took place between the 1930s and the early 1960s. These removals were driven by mining expansion, restrictive land and labour policies, and the declaration of the area as a so-called Black Spot.

As a result, families were displaced from their land, livelihoods were disrupted, and the community experienced long-term socio-economic hardship.

The land restitution claim was lodged by the late Mr Lazarus Nkale Tisane on behalf of the Sebilong Community and was processed in terms of the Restitution of Land Rights Act of 1994.

As we celebrate, we must do so in remembrance and in honour of Mr Lazarus Nkale Tisane. His legacy will live on in the soil beneath our feet and in the hearts of all who cherish freedom.

Compatriots,

The Sebilong story transcends mere geographical considerations of hectares and boundaries; it encapsulates the profound impact on families who have been displaced from their ancestral lands. It is about livelihoods destroyed and dreams deferred.

It is about the pain of dispossession that scarred generations of men, women, and children who were forced to watch others prosper where their ancestors once tilled, mined, and farmed.

Today’s handover restores ownership and secure tenure to 1 071 verified beneficiaries from 89 originally dispossessed households.

The claim was settled through a combination of land restoration and financial compensation, and a Communal Property Association was established as the legal entity to hold and administer the restored land.

Therefore, this moment is not only about the handing over of title deeds, it is about the restoration of justice, the healing of wounds, and the renewal of hope for generations to come.

The title deeds to be handed over today, provide legal certainty and form the basis for productive land use, economic participation, and long-term development.

Government remains clear that land restitution must contribute to sustainable livelihoods and local economic development.

In this regard, the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development is providing post settlement support, including funding for development initiatives and support in the preparation of a comprehensive business plan.

The aim of this support is to ensure productive use of the restored land, adhering to sound governance and development principles.

I would like to acknowledge the leadership of the Sebilong Communal Property Association for maintaining compliance with legislative requirements and for providing stability within the community.

Effective governance of communal property is essential to safeguarding restored land and ensuring that it benefits both current and future generations.

The restoration of Farm Zwartkop 369 KQ is a clear demonstration of government’s ongoing work to redress historical injustices and to advance land reform as a key element of inclusive growth and rural development.

Our Government is reversing the 1913 Natives Land Act legacy through a comprehensive land reform programme focusing on restitution, redistribution, and tenure reform. Key actions include returning land to dispossessed communities and implementing the Restitution of Land Rights Act.

This Act, passed in 1994, was designed to restore land or provide equitable redress to persons and communities dispossessed under racially discriminatory laws. Its objectives are to foster reconciliation, to enable land ownership for victims of forced removals, and to promote development through restorative justice.

Minister Nyontsho will agree with me that restorative justice serves as a mechanism to fulfill the promises of this freedom, particularly through reconciliation and addressing the legacy of systemic inequality.

As we mark Freedom Month, a time when we reflect on the sacrifices that brought us democracy and the responsibilities that come with it, we are reminded that true freedom must be lived in the soil beneath our feet. For without land, freedom remains incomplete.

I have always maintained that the handing over of a title deed is far more than a legal transaction. It is the restoration of justice for the people. It is the handing over of dignity, recognition, and justice to people who were once stripped of their land and identity. It is the return of identity, the restoration of belonging, and the renewal of hope.

As I stand and look around today, I can see hope shining through your eyes and joy that fills this gathering. I also believe that today, your ancestors who did not live to witness this day are joyful at the progress we have made. 

Their spirit walks with us, and their dream of justice finds fulfillment in this moment.

As a community, you have a huge responsibility to use this land productively. Let it be a source of food security, of jobs for the youth, of opportunities for your women and other vulnerable groups, and a source of wealth for your families.

Let the mines, the cattle farms, and the poultry projects become engines of growth that uplift the entire community.

Let the land be managed with wisdom so that it does not only restore the past but also secure the future.

To the Sebilong Communal Property Association, I say: guard this land. Use it to build a community that thrives in freedom and prosperity.
In short, let the land flourish, lefatshe ha le phele!

Together as South Africans, we must continue to strive for a nation where every citizen enjoys the fruits of justice, equality, and prosperity.

I congratulate the Sebilong Community on this achievement and wish them success as they move forward with the sustainable development of their land.

I thank you, Kealeboga, Inkomu.

The Chairperson of the Human Resource Development Council, Deputy President Shipokosa Paulus Mashatile will on Tuesday, 14 April 2026, officially launch the Gert Sibande TVET College 4IR LAB and Centre of Specialisation Millwright Workshop in the Mpumalanga Province.

The launch represents a significant milestone in Government’s efforts of advancing skills development in line with the demands of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR).

The initiative also highlights the Gert Sibande TVET College’s commitment to equipping students with future-ready technical and artisan skills, while strengthening industry partnerships and contributing to South Africa’s economic growth.

This initiative is supported by a number of key partners including SASOL, National Skills Fund and Festo, reflecting a collaborative effort to enhance vocational education and training in South Africa. 

Deputy President Mashatile will be joined by the Minister of Higher Education and Training, Mr Buti Manamela, Acting College Principal, Ms ZZ Beku; the District and Local Municipality Mayors as well as senior government officials.

Details of the launch are as follows:
Date: Tuesday, 14 April 2026
Time: 10h00 (Media to arrive for set up at 09h00)
Venue: Skills Academy and Artisan Development Centre, Standerton in the Gert Sibande District Municipality, Mpumalanga Province

Media wishing to cover the launch are requested to RSVP with Mr Oscar Kubeka on 072 079 6796 or  Kubeka.o@gscollege.edu.za.

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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria
 

Programme Director, Ms Nozipho Tshabalala; 

Honourable Premier of Gauteng, Mr Panyaza Lesufi; 

Ministers and Deputy Ministers present; 

Executive Mayor of the City of Johannesburg, Mr Dada Morero; 

MEC for Economic Development, Ms Vuyiswa Ramakgopa; 

MEC for Education, Sports and Culture, Mr Lebogang Maile,

CEOs of State-Owned Enterprises, from national government and the province;

Members of the Diplomatic Corps; 

Leaders of Business, Finance, Labour, and Civil Society; 

Distinguished Guests; 

Ladies and Gentlemen;

Good Morning, Dumelang, Avuxeni.
 
It is an honour to return once again to address this prestigious gathering, following the inaugural Gauteng Investment Conference in 2025.

This Conference takes place at a defining moment for our country and our economy. Just over a week ago, South Africa successfully hosted the Sixth South African Investment Conference, where government, business, and our international partners secured record investment commitments of approximately R890 billion in a single day.

These are the largest pledges achieved since the investment drive began in 2018, lifting cumulative commitments well beyond R1.5 trillion, and prompting government to set a new national investment ambition of R3 trillion over the period ahead.

The significance of the South African Investment Conference lies not only in the scale of these commitments, but in what they represent: a firm vote of confidence in South Africa’s reform trajectory, policy certainty, and in our constitutional democracy anchored by the rule of law.

However, investment conferences are not ends in themselves. 
Their true value lies in delivery, in translating commitments into projects on the ground, into factories, infrastructure, energy capacity, and above all, jobs.

It is precisely at this point of delivery that Gauteng assumes its central role. As the economic heartland of South Africa, contributing the largest share to our national GDP, and serving as a gateway to regional and global markets, Gauteng stands as the primary platform through which many of these national investment commitments will be implemented, expanded, and scaled.

The South African Investment Conference set the national direction. The Gauteng Investment Conference takes that work forward by localising investment, accelerating execution, and removing obstacles at project level. This ensure that the national vision is not only articulated, but lived, in the daily realities of growth, opportunity, and jobs. 

Many of the commitments announced at SAIC, across advanced manufacturing, the energy transition, logistics, digital services, infrastructure, and industrial localisation align directly with Gauteng’s competitive strengths: its industrial base, financial system, skilled workforce, research institutions, and world‑class connectivity.

This Conference therefore serves a distinct and complementary purpose. It moves us:
· from national pledges to provincial pipelines;
· from policy certainty to site readiness; and
· from investor intent to operational delivery.

In doing so, it transforms national ambition into provincial action, ensuring that Gauteng stands as the proving ground where investment becomes impact, and where the story of South Africa’s growth is written in the lived experience of its people.

Through the Gauteng Investment Conference, we are saying clearly to investors: South Africa is open for business and Gauteng is ready for execution.

We are determined that Gauteng will lead by example in shortening regulatory timelines, coordinating across spheres of government, crowding in private capital, and supporting investors across the full project lifecycle so that commitments translate into measurable economic impact and inclusive growth.

Consequently, Gauteng will not only advance the outcomes of the South African Investment Conference but will give concrete expression to our national objective of investment‑led growth, job creation, and economic transformation.

As we reflect on the theme “Re‑industrialising Africa’s Gateway through Investment, Innovation, and Integrated Growth,” we are reminded that we must exploit the engines of industry, channel the lifeblood of investment, and ignite the spark of innovation.

Gauteng’s role as Africa’s gateway should not only be defined by economic weight, but by its ability to create opportunity for all our people.

Re‑industrialisation is a practical, forward‑looking strategy. It recognises that productive capacity is the foundation of sustained growth. 

It must result in technology‑driven factories, expanded industrial output, revitalised industrial parks and Special Economic Zones, strengthened local supply chains, and dignified jobs at scale.

But let us be clear the industrialisation we pursue today is not the industrialisation of yesterday. It is a new industrialisation, built on four critical pillars.

First: Without reliable energy, efficient logistics, water security, and modern digital infrastructure, industrialisation cannot take place. That is why government continues to invest in stabilising and expanding energy supply, improving rail and port systems, and strengthening water and logistics infrastructure. These are the foundations of industrial growth.

Second: The future of industrialisation is as digital as it is physical. Data centres, artificial intelligence, fintech, cloud infrastructure, and digital public platforms are now the backbone of modern economies. Gauteng is uniquely positioned to lead in this space—and we must leverage this advantage to build globally competitive digital industries.

Third: Africa remains resource‑rich but value‑chain poor. We export raw materials and import finished goods. We are connected to global markets, yet insufficiently integrated within our own continent.

The African Continental Free Trade Area gives us a platform to change this—to build regional value chains, expand intra‑African trade, and industrialise at scale. Its success depends on improved cross‑border infrastructure, reduced trade barriers, aligned standards, and strong support for African businesses.

Through platforms such as this Conference, Gauteng is positioning itself as a continental execution hub, a place where AfCFTA moves from agreement to implementation.

Fourth: Industrial growth must not be exclusionary. It must unlock opportunities for young people, township economies, and small and emerging enterprises ensuring that growth translates into shared prosperity.

Equally, industrialisation does not happen without investment. Investment must translate into production. Production must translate into jobs. And jobs must translate into improved livelihoods.

This is why the Gauteng Investment Conference has evolved beyond a traditional platform. It is becoming a full investment lifecycle mechanism—from deal origination and project preparation, to financing, implementation, and delivery.

Government’s responsibility in this process is clear:
· To de‑risk investment through policy certainty, regulatory efficiency, and coordination across spheres of government;
· To crowd in private capital alongside development finance institutions and commercial lenders; and
· To ensure delivery, accountability, and project tracking.

Credibility is built not on what we announce, but on what we deliver. 

And government cannot do this alone.
We need a strong partnership with businesses that invest in skills, support localisation, integrate small enterprises into value chains, and commit to long‑term resilience.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Gauteng is a region where investors can find both returns and resilience. It offers a vibrant workforce, a commitment to enterprise development, and world‑class infrastructure.

Investment here is not a risky endeavour, it is a collaborative one, where each rand invested multiplies opportunity, strengthens communities, and builds secure futures.

As I conclude, let me issue a clear call to action:

To Investors: South Africa and Gauteng in particular is open for business and open for partnership. Africa is not a risk story; it is a long‑term growth and return story.

To Business: You are not passive participants; you are co‑architects of our industrial future. Work with us to build industries and develop skills.

To Government: We must act with urgency, coordination, and accountability, removing barriers and accelerating delivery.

And to Africa: This is our moment, not to extract, not to import, but to produce, innovate, and lead.

Let this Conference mark a turning point: from commitments to implementation; towards integrated growth that is inclusive, sustainable, and transformative.

I thank you. Ke a leboga. Inkomu.

Ambassadors and High Commissioners,
Directors-General in the Presidency and the Department of International Relations and Cooperation,
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen, 
 
Good morning. 
 
It is my pleasure to welcome you as you begin your tenure as representatives of your respective countries to the Republic of South Africa. 
 
This is an auspicious year for South Africa, as we mark 30 years since the adoption of our democratic Constitution.
 
Our Constitution reflects the painful history from which we emerged three decades ago and the values we now cherish: human dignity, equality and freedom. 
 
It commits all South Africans, not just the state, to safeguarding our democracy, to upholding the rule of law and to protecting human rights. 
 
These principles are neither transient nor negotiable. They are enduring and binding. 
 
They shape the manner in which we govern ourselves and they shape how we engage with the world. 
 
Our international relations outlook reflects the founding principles of our Constitution. 
 
As a nation that emerged from a painful past of injustice and inequality, we seek a more just and equitable world order.
 
We seek a global order defined by peace and friendship amongst all the nations of the world.
 
We seek a world order where the gulf of inequality between and amongst nations is narrowed – where nations of the world stand united against racism, colonialism, subjugation and all forms of oppression and intolerance.
 
We strive to ensure that global peace and security is secured through dialogue and negotiation and not through force of arms – where international laws, treaties and agreements are upheld and respected.

Above all, we seek a world order that brings sustainable development and shared prosperity for all and not the few.
 
Your presence here today reflects that these are shared aspirations.
 
And in South Africa you will find a ready, willing, able and capable partner for trade, development, progress and peace. 
 
You begin your tours of duty in South Africa at a time when our economy is in the throes of recovery. 
 
The structural reform agenda we embarked on in 2018 to overcome longstanding constraints to investment and growth continues to gain momentum.
 
South Africa’s sovereign credit rating has improved, public debt has stabilised and our economy is creating more jobs. 
 
Last week we held our sixth South Africa Investment Conference, where we secured R889 billion in cumulative investment commitments. 
 
This has encouraged us to set a goal of securing R3 trillion in new investment commitments over the next three years. 
 
The state itself is at the forefront of this new, ambitious drive. 
 
We have embarked on the largest infrastructure build in our country’s history. 
 
We will be investing approximately R1 trillion over the next three years to build roads, dams, schools, hospitals and other public infrastructure.
 
A debilitating energy crisis is behind us, and we have embarked on a range of far-reaching reforms to overcome challenges in the water sector and in logistics. 
 
Our policy and regulatory environment has proven to be resilient, offering certainty to investors looking to South Africa as a favourable destination to invest and do business in.
 
As we pursue our apex priority of inclusive growth and job creation, we are firmly committed to deepen our cooperation and collaboration with all countries.
 
We hope that your time in South Africa will contribute to building meaningful, sustainable economic partnerships.
 
As South Africa celebrates thirty years of advancing peace and friendship, we further look forward to engaging with you on global matters of mutual concern.
 
Our world has become increasingly complex. Multilateral diplomacy and respect for the multilateral system has become all the more crucial. 
 
In a world beset by profound and interconnected challenges – whether they be conflicts, the climate crisis or the proliferation of poverty and inequality – we know that global solidarity and deepening cooperation are our surest means to overcome them.
 
We note the current initiatives and ongoing efforts aimed at achieving a comprehensive end to the conflict in the Middle East.
 
We welcome the announcement of a ceasefire and are hopeful that it will lay the basis for a permanent resolution of the conflict.
 
South Africa once again calls for dialogue and mediation to prevent further loss of life and destruction of property, and to ensure a just, sustainable and lasting peace. 
 
We further call on all countries to respect international law and the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all nations.
 
Your Excellencies,
 
We thank you for your enduring commitment to South Africa and her people.
 
Where many of your respective countries once stood in solidarity with us in our struggle for liberation, today you continue to renew that commitment through trade, investment and development.
 
It was the English poet John Donne who wrote that no man is an island entire of itself, but a piece of the continent, a part of the main. 
 
So too is the fellowship of nations. 
 
I welcome you to South Africa to extend this fellowship as you represent your government and your people. 
 
Just as your Head of State has welcomed South Africa’s Ambassador or High Commissioner in your country, I extend the same warm welcome to you and wish you well in your mandate of representing your country.
 
As President, whenever I appoint Ambassadors and High Commissioners to your country I expect them to respect your country’s sovereignty and promote good relations between our two nations. I expect them to promote trade and investment opportunities in our respective countries. 
 
I also expect them to promote South Africa’s culture and value system and strengthen people-to-people relations.
 
I expect South Africa’s Ambassadors and High Commissioners to your country to exercise diplomatic tact and discretion and desist from interfering in the internal affairs of your country.
 
If they have any manner of concern, they should raise those concerns directly with officials in your country’s foreign affairs department and engage in quiet diplomacy. 
 
This I believe is what the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations promotes.
 
Whenever I send our Ambassadors and High Commissioners to various countries I always make it a point to inform them that they should never criticise their host countries publicly and in a confrontational manner but should always seek to raise issues privately and constructively.
 
They should always seek to build relationships with various stakeholders in the host country. They should always choose to preserve dignity and partnership between our respective countries.
 
It is this approach that I believe builds strong relationships between nations and helps to advance the interests of our respective countries based on mutual respect.
 
South Africa’s interest is to advance a better, more peaceful, more equal world, anchored in human rights and with respect for the dignity of all. 
 
Our Ambassadors and High Commissioners to various countries in the world are expected to advance this national objective.
 
By deepening our cooperation and strengthening our ties, I am confident that we can achieve such a world as you represent your country in South Africa. 
 
Once again I extend my warm welcome on behalf of the people of South Africa to you all. 
 
I wish you all the best as you execute your mission of representing your country and your people in South Africa.
 
I thank you.
 

President Cyril Ramaphosa will on Tuesday, 07 April 2026, officiate the launch of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) Housing Assistance Reparations at the Sonkombo Sports Field in Ndwedwe, KwaZulu-Natal Province.

The launch marks the implementation of housing support for TRC-identified victims and commemorates 30 years of the TRC and the adoption of the Constitution 30 years ago, with a symbolic handover to beneficiaries forming part of the programme.

Established in terms of the Promotion of National Unity and Reconciliation Act, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) was a restorative justice body that investigated apartheid-era human rights violations, facilitated amnesty in certain cases, and provided for victim reparations and reconciliation.

The event will focus on TRC-identified victims eligible for housing assistance and will be supported by political and traditional leadership.

The launch will take place as follows:

Date: Tuesday, 07 April 2026
Time: 10h00
Venue: Sonkombo Sports Field, Ndwedwe, KwaZulu-Natal Province

For information on collection of media accreditation, please contact Mr Victor Mateane Phala on 084 888 5162.

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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria
 

Programme Directors;
Bishop Marcelo Pires, Mrs Pires, and the entire Leadership of the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God;
Gauteng MEC for Health and Wellness, Ms Faith Mazibuko here present;
Deputy Mayor of the City of Johannesburg, Cllr  Loyiso Masuku;
Leaders of Government;
Deputy Minister in The Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, Ms Steve Letsike;
Member of the African National Congress National Executive Committee (ANC NEC), Comrade Bathabile Dlamini, and Leaders of the ANC in Johannesburg and Gauteng, led by Mam Winnie Ngwenya;
Religious Leaders;
Fellow South Africans.

Bazalwane! 

I greet you all in the wonderful name of our Lord Jesus Christ (Ngiyanibingelela nonke egameni elihle leNkosi yethu uJesu Kristu).

I stand before you today deeply conscious of my roots in the church. I grew up in a Christian household where faith was a way of life. My father was a Bishop, and as children we were all expected to serve.

I myself served as a church secretary and a Sunday school teacher. In fact, all of us were given names inspired by the great leaders of the Bible, hence my name, Paulus. 

These foundations shaped my values, my understanding of service, and my respect for the role of the church in society.

It is from this foundation that I speak today with honesty and responsibility about the challenges our people face, particularly in local government service delivery. 

In many communities, infrastructure is deteriorating, services are unreliable, and trust in local leadership has been weakened. This reality calls for renewal, practical renewal, ethical renewal, and leadership renewal.

As Government, we are committed to a programme of renewal at the local level, and we know that this work cannot succeed without the people. 

We therefore reaffirm our commitment to work closely with the church, communities, and social partners to resolve service delivery challenges and restore dignity and accountability.

Central to this renewal is leadership that serves. We are committed to appointing mayoral candidates and councillors who are ethical, capable, and rooted in their communities. 

Leaders who resonate with the people and who work with communities to solve problems. Local government must once again become responsive, credible, and people centered.

Our message is clear: we will fix local government together with the people.

This gathering reminds us that renewal begins with service. As the Gospel of Matthew teaches us, true leadership is not about being served but about serving others with humility and sacrifice.

On this Good Friday, we stand before the Cross—a powerful symbol of renewal. Through sacrifice came redemption; through suffering came restoration; through death came new life. This message speaks directly to our national renewal.

South Africa’s freedom was secured by leaders who understood that renewal requires courage and selflessness.

President Nelson Mandela taught us that progress is not born of comfort but of unwavering commitment to justice and service.

Today, our task is to renew that commitment by confronting poverty, unemployment, corruption, Gender Based Violence and Femicide, and the breakdown of families and communities. These challenges require moral clarity and collective effort.

Your theme, “The Family at the Foot of the Cross," calls us to renew the family as the first site of care, discipline, and healing. Strong families remain the foundation of resilient communities and a stable nation.

The church is central to this renewal—as a moral compass, a source of healing, and a defender of the vulnerable. It must continue to speak out against violence, abuse, and injustice, while offering guidance, mentorship, and hope, especially to women and young people.

As Government, we value partnership with the church that is constructive and principled. The church must remain an independent moral voice, speaking truth to power while working with us in the shared task of nation building.

Allow me to conclude by urging you to pray for renewal of hearts, of leadership, of communities, and of our nation. 

Together,  let us pray for peace in South Africa, across Africa, and throughout the world.

On this Good Friday, may we leave here renewed in purpose, committed to service, and united in action to build a better South Africa.

Amandla Ngawethu.

At the invitation of Bishop Marcelo Pires, His Excellency, the Deputy President of the Republic of South Africa, Mr Shipokosa Paulus Mashatile, will on Friday, 03 April 2026, attend the Amandla Ngawethu Good Friday church service of the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God (UCKG) to be held at Ellis Park Stadium in Johannesburg, Gauteng Province.

The Deputy President has been tasked by the President to lead Government’s interaction with the Inter-Faith communities across South Africa as a champion of the country’s social cohesion and nation-building initiatives. 

The 2026 theme, “The Family at the Foot of the Cross”, focuses on strengthening the family unit and empowering communities to break cycles of violence, abuse, conflict and social fragmentation.
 
The event further highlights the role of faith-based organisations in promoting social cohesion, crime prevention and community resilience.

Although Deputy President Mashatile has, in this role, traversed the length and breadth of the country, attending various congregations and worshipping with various religious denominations, including the Muslim, Hindu, Christian and African Churches communities, it will be the first time that he attends the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God easter service in his capacity as the Deputy President of the Republic.

The Deputy President will be joined by the Premier of Gauteng, Mr Panyaza Lesufi, the Gauteng MEC for Social Development, Ms Faith Mazibuko, as well as senior government officials. 

Members of the media are invited to attend and cover the event as follows:
Date: Friday, 03 August 2026
Time: 10h00 (Media to arrive from 08h00 onwards)
Venue: Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg 

Members of the media are requested to RSVP to Ms Tshiamo Selomo on 066 118 1505 by end of day tomorrow.

Media enquiries:  Mr Keith Khoza, Acting Spokesperson to the Deputy President on 066 195 8840 or Ms Nametso Mofokeng, UCKG Spokesperson on 082 478 5941

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

Programme Directors,
Deputy President of the Republic of South Africa, Mr.Shipokosa Paulus Mashatile,
Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition of the Republic of South Africa,
Mr Parks Tau,
Ministers and Deputy Ministers,
Premiers of the provinces,
Secretary-General of the African Continental Free Trade Area Secretariat, Mr.
Wamkele Mene,
Mayor of the City of Johannesburg, Cllr Dada Morero
Ambassadors and High Commissioners,
Business leaders,
Representative from labour, civil society and political formations,

Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Good morning,

Welcome to South Africa and to Gauteng, the Place of Gold – our country’s largest economic hub.

A hundred and forty years ago, the discovery of gold beneath the soil here set in motion an industrial boom that would shape South Africa’s economic destiny.

Today, Gauteng is a financial and industrial powerhouse that contributes the largest share to our national GDP.

The City of Johannesburg is Africa’s financial capital and home to Johannesburg Stock Exchange, the largest and most advanced bourse on the continent.

It had started somehow in Kimberley when diamonds were discovered, when one of those who looked at that shiny stone and said: “it is on this stone that the future of
South Africa will be built.”

That was in 1867, in 1888 they moved further north and found gold in this place. Today Gauteng is a financial and industrial powerhouse that contributes the last
share of our GDP as a nation.

The city of Johannesburg is South Africa's financial capital and home to Johannesburg Stock Exchange, the largest and most advanced boss on our continent.

The story of Johannesburg, a city founded on the promise of opportunity, is a reflection of South Africa itself.

They came here to mine gold. It was in some ways boom and bust. Boom for those who made it good and bust for the majority of black people who were not given the opportunity to really benefit from that boom.

We are a young nation, just 32 years old. The dawn of democracy in 1994 secured our freedom. Our freedom from exclusion, and freedom from oppression.

But it also unleashed our potential.

It set out an irreversible path towards progress and a shared prosperity.

Today, South Africa has the largest, most industrialized, open and diverse economy on the African continent.

Our economy is dynamic. It's enterprising, finally calibrated for growth and powered by innovation.

We have an economy that has proven itself to be remarkably resilient.

It has weathered the transition from apartheid and going even further back, from colonialism; the global financial crisis; the years of state capture that we went through; a debilitating energy crisis; and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Even amidst these strong headwinds, the South African economy has maintained core financial and institutional stability.

This year’s South Africa's investment conference takes place against a backdrop of growth as well as recovery.

Investment conferences such as this are an opportunity for us to showcase the attractiveness of investment opportunities in our country to domestic and international investors.

We are able to connect investors with local opportunities. We are also able to attract foreign direct investment. And these conferences help to facilitate strong partnerships by bringing together governments, business banks, development finance and finance institutions.

They also bring together people - ordinary people, who are able to move from contact to contact and are able, even during their tea breaks or coffee breaks, to have a conversation, exchange cards and to talk about each other's businesses.

Under the National the Government of National Unity that was formed after the 2024 elections, we have recorded four consecutive quarters of growth into early 2026 and our economy is creating more jobs.

Inflation, as we have heard, is stable and is converging towards our 3 per cent target.

Our sovereign rating has been upgraded, and last year we were removed from the Financial Action Task Force grey list.

Last year, South Africa hosted the first summit of the G20 on African soil.

Our G20 Presidency elevated South Africa's global profile and deepened bilateral relationships that are today reflected in investment commitments from 15 source markets across the five continents.

We are meeting at a time of uncertainty for the global economy.

Geopolitical fragmentation, supply chain disruptions from conflicts and wars and trade tensions are radically impacting global capital flows.

In such conditions, South Africa presents what I would call a favorable proposition as a resilient, credible and reform oriented investment destination with strong fundamentals.

Your presence here as businesspeople and investors and bankers today signals that as investors, you see what we see - real and enduring potential, long term value and untapped opportunity.

Today we have with us more than 1 200 delegates from more than 50 countries around the world who believe in South Africa's potential and see this as a favorable place to invest and to do business.

You are here because you want to be part of our growth story.

Between 2018 and 2023, having set a target of attracting R 1.2 trillion in investments – we attracted 1.5 trillion in credible, verifiable investment commitments in energy, in telecommunications, in infrastructure, property, mining, advanced manufacturing and across a range of other sectors.

This proved that South Africa is an investable market, but more importantly, it also showed that South Africa is ready to do business.

Our investment strategy is anchored in sectors that will drive growth and create jobs at scale, including manufacturing, mining, beneficiation, digital infrastructure, agriculture and the green industrialization sector.

This sixth South African investment conference is being convened under the three D’s framework that we have crafted for to label our investment drive.

These are decarbonisation, digitization and diversification, and talk to the direction we want our investment drive to take place - with the ease of doing business being a cross cutting theme.

We know that as investors, you tend to reward execution and not just commitment and not just talk.

You are here because you value ambition and you value a clear vision.

As investors, you are looking to destinations that have strong fundamentals, that are resilient, credible and reform oriented. And the South African economy meets these criteria.

The sixth South Africa Investment conference stands at the crossroads of opportunity and ambition, ready to turn pledges into projects on the ground.

The shift in our economic trajectory that are that we are witnessing now is the result of deliberate, sustained structural reform that we have embarked upon as a government.

And to do this, we set up a facility; a structure that we call Operation Vulindlela, meaning to open the way in isiZulu, one of our 12 official languages.

It is a joint initiative of the Presidency the National Treasury, bringing together all the other key departments in our government.

It is helping us to get rid of the silo mentality that often prevails in government, and this has enabled us to implement far reaching economic reforms for rapid growth.

Its mandate is simple, to reduce the cost and the risk of investing in South Africa, not through speeches like what I am doing now, but through measurable implementation.

The twin pillars of structural reform and policy responsiveness have enabled us to bring about far reaching changes that are supporting our improved economic performance.

A key priority for Operation Vulindlela from the onset was the crucial building block of solving our visa challenges. And this came about because a number of businesspeople had been experiencing challenges in that regard.

We know that investors aren’t just deploying capital. You need to establish a physical presence without undue bureaucratic delays. This is particularly critical for multinational firms that require seamless movement across borders.

We have implemented reforms to the visa regime to attract new skills and promote tourism, creating more flexible pathways for skilled immigrants through a points-based system and introducing a Trusted Employer Scheme to provide a fast-track visa process for major investors.

The electricity sector has undergone the most significant transformation since the advent of our democracy.

We have restructured national power utility, Eskom, established a National Transmission Company as an independent operator, and created a transparent, rules based framework for grid access that private investors require.

We know that as we are restructuring our energy architecture, there are a number of generators using solar, wind and many other sources of energy.

As they do so, they need to have the hope and the trust that their generation and input into the transmission is going to be well managed.

Through the National Energy Action Plan that I announced in 2022, we have brought an end to load shedding and ensured a reliable supply of electricity.

This is essential to allow businesses to operate and make decisions to invest.

Regulatory reforms in the electricity sector have already unlocked a significant and growing pipeline of investment, with more than 220 gigawatts of renewable energy projects in development, and 36 gigawatts already in the grid connection process.

Over the next five years, we will add massive new solar, wind and battery storage capacity to transition our economy towards cheap green energy and sources at scale.

We are now moving rapidly to establish a competitive wholesale electricity market and to complete the unbundling of Eskom through the establishment of a fully independent transmission operator.

At the same time, we are moving to enable private investment in expanding our transmission network through independent transmission projects.

The Minister of Electricity and Energy is working diligently to make sure that this happens.

Transitioning to a low-carbon climate resilient economy and a society remains a priority and is in line with our international climate commitments at the United

Nations, as well as our ambitious Nationally Determined Contribution to combat climate change.

Decarbonisation is the pillar of our investment strategy. It will create new investors, new industries, new jobs and new opportunities in green hydrogen, battery storage vehicle, electric vehicle manufacturing and in the manufacture of components and infrastructure that is decarbonizing the world.

The R 29 billion in confirmed renewable energy investments today is really a vote of confidence in our rapidly transforming energy sector.

South Africa's abundant mineral reserves make us uniquely placed to leverage the growing global demand for critical minerals needed for clean energy, for hybrid
electric and new energy vehicles (NEV’s), technological applications, and by other heavy industries.

As the producer of more than 70 per cent of the world's platinum group metals and with some of the world's largest manganese and chrome reserves, we are well
positioned as a strategic partner in this rapidly growing sector.

We have been firm that the energy transition must be just, and that it should leave no one behind.

This is important for us, because there are communities and workers who could be left behind as we transit to renewable energy, and our view is that we need to take them along.

They must find new jobs. They must be retrained. They must be “up trained“ and upskilled.

Our Just Energy Transition Investment Plan of 2023 - 2027 is a blueprint for decarbonising our economy and achieving energy security, whilst at the same time supporting affected communities and industries.

Efficiency in the network industries is the backbone of a competitive economy.

As we have done with the electricity sector, we are driving a series of reforms in the logistics sector to build world class rail networks and ports that are efficient, that are competitive and that will support our exports.

The cornerstone of our reform program is the National Rail Policy, complemented by the National Freight Logistics Roadmap that has been crafted.

These policies enable private investment in port and rail operations.

We have crafted an environment where the public sector and the private sector can

work together side by side to create value for our country.

Last year, we also signed a 25-year concession for the Durban container terminal, representing R 11 billion in private investment in one of South Africa's and most critical logistic notes.

A transparent and effective regime for third party access to the freight rail network is now in place. This is a demonstration by South Africa that we are willing and open to working with the private sector so that there can be mutual benefit for all.

Forty-one freight rail slots have been allocated to private train operating companies, and we expect the first private operator to commence operations in 2027.

By ending inefficient monopolies and introducing competition, we will reduce the cost of electricity and transport over time, enabling manufacturing, mining, agriculture and other industries to thrive and to compete, rather than just to continuously rely on one monopoly.

With one monopoly, innovation is quite lacking. With one monopoly, there are inefficiencies that come in.

So, with diverse operators, we find competition actually has greater benefits.

Digital Transformation holds significant potential for economic growth and investment.

South Africa already has world class digital infrastructure, near universal Internet access and smartphone penetration and a regulatory environment that enables
innovation.

We are implementing reforms that will create a digitally enabled economy and position our country as a leading hub for digital and financial services.

In these ways, we are positioning South Africa to become a major player in the economy of the future, combining the lowest cost solar and wind power in the world
with advanced digital infrastructure and a skilled workforce that can compete at a global level.

The water sector is another area where we need to focus more intently.

Reliable water access, governed by an equitable, transparent regulatory regime is key for business stability.

We have put in place a set of interventions to transform the provision as well as the management of water services across the country.

We are a water scarce country and therefore needed to pay closer attention to water supply challenges.

We are prioritizing reforms at the provincial and local government level in both the immediate and long term that will create a sustainable, well- functioning water system.

Firstly, we are establishing professionally run water utilities in all of our eight metropolitan cities with water revenues ring fenced properly and invested back into maintaining and expanding water infrastructure.

Secondly, we are establishing a robust regulatory framework to ensure that water service providers do perform their functions effectively.

We have embarked on a massive water infrastructure build program, including dam construction, distribution infrastructure upgrades, bulk water expansion and desalination.

One such project is phase two of the Lesotho Highlands water project that is targeted for completion by 2028.

These projects will be overseen by a new National Water Resource Infrastructure Agency.

The water sector is ripe for investment, and we have set up a dedicated Water Partnerships Office to facilitate private sector participation in areas such as reducing
non-revenue water investing in waste, water treatment, water desalination and reuse of water, with more than R 50 billion rand in projects already in development. So great opportunities are abundant.

Our structural reform agenda has laid the foundations, and now we are harnessing its momentum.

We are embarking on the largest and most ambitious cycle of infrastructure investment in our country's history.

Infrastructure, as I often say, is the flywheel that propels economic growth. It boosts productivity. It propels trade and reduces the cost of doing business. It creates immediate and meaningful employment opportunities at scale.

With this unprecedented investment, we are kick starting the cycle.

Over the next three years, the state has budgeted for will be investing more than R1 trillion or approximately USD 58 billion in modernising and expanding public infrastructure across South Africa.

This includes R 950 billion rand in planned infrastructure investment spending.

As much as R 375 billion has been allocated to state owned enterprises to support, maintain and upgrade and also expand infrastructure facilities.

In addition to this, our state owned enterprises have budgeted for major infrastructure projects for the medium term.

The South African National Road agency will be investing between R 300 and 400 billion for upgrading and maintaining our national road infrastructure.

Up to R 250 billion is being invested in ports and logistics and modernization, which is driven by our state owned enterprise, Transnet.

The Port of Durban, one of the busiest ports on the continent, is being expanded to handle high container volumes and to improve efficiency - with similar upgrades in Cape Town and the Port of Ngqura in the Eastern Cape.

A combined total of approximately R420 billion will be utilized by the Passenger Rail Agency for rebuilding corridors and a multi-year rolling stock programme, and to Transnet for network expansion.

As I indicated earlier, the water sector has been earmarked for substantial public investment, with projects in the pipeline, including the Olifants River Management Model and to UMkhomazi dam that is linked to Phase Two of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project.

Over the next three years, we will be investing more money in energy generation to support the Department of Energy's roadmap for long term energy security. 

Other projects in the investment pipeline are to upgrade our airports to ensure that they have sufficient investments and are also able to improve their own logistics.

And in doing so, we're moving forward one project at a time.

One project of which we are particularly proud is the R 5 billion rand investment to extend the capacity of the Square Kilometer Array, the radio telescope project in the Karoo in the Northern Cape.

The SKA is currently building two supercomputers that, once completed, will be the most and will be amongst the fastest computers in the world.

This isn't just a statement to the value of strategic public investment in digital infrastructure.

It is also the reflection of South Africa's scientific excellence and world class scientific research output.

This showcases South Africa, showing that we are up there with many other countries.

To get this facility, we competed with countries such as Australia, the UK, Canada, and a number of other countries. In the end it was brought here.

It is a true wonder to see, and it is in none other place than South Africa, one of the smallest countries in the world. We are proud of that.

The location of the SKA is like the desert, the hottest place in our country. These magnificently big telescopes scan the whole universe and keep on producing some of the most outstanding photographs of what happens and continues to happen in the outer space.

For them to be building one of the biggest and fastest computers is something that possibly could never have been thought of to come out of Africa.

Ladies and gentlemen,

In my State of the Nation Address last month, I said that we will be utilizing innovative funding methods that will reduce and attract investors to fast track investment infrastructure projects.

One of these is the infrastructure fund that we established out of the need to deploy blended finance to infrastructure development.

Last year, the Fund approved blended finance projects with a combined value of approximately R 38 billion in water sanitation, student accommodation, health, energy and transport.

Last year, we also issued regulations for public private partnerships in support of attracting more private sector participation investment in the national infrastructure build.

We are also deploying innovative instruments such as the Credit Guarantee Vehicle to de risk private investment in infrastructure.

As South Africa, we remain committed to staying the cause on fiscal discipline and to accelerating momentum of the reform agenda.

The Minister of Finance in announcing his budget this year focused on the issue of fiscal discipline, and that is what we are irrevocably committed to. But also, to leverage investments to build an economy that is inclusive, that is transformed and that benefits all South Africans.

Unlike the economy that we had under apartheid that just benefited a few, the transformation of our economy is necessary to drive sustained growth, reduce inequality and correct the imbalances and injustices of the past.

We are undertaking a review to refine, to realign and strengthen our Broad Based Black Economic Empowerment framework, to ensure that it supports transformation, while at the same time enabling investment and growth.

There are those who say it is an impediment to investment, and we say it is actually one of the key ingredients that will enhance investment and growth as well.

Black Economic Empowerment provides a foundation for inclusive growth by expanding participation in the economy, enabling us to harness the skills and contribution of all South Africans.

What makes South Africa's empowerment laws distinct is that they are practical and innovative. They are inclusive, and they give a clear guarantee to everyone that growth should be shared.

In addition to pure equity participation measures, we have also, we also have what we call an Equity Equivalent Investment Programme, the EEIP.

It was created to accommodate multinational companies whose global practices or policies prevent them from complying with our empowerment laws of ownership. It enables them to invest in socio economic and skills development as well as enterprise development without having to sell equity in their local subsidiaries.

Since its inception, the EEIP has onboarded some of the world's leading multinational firms who have leveraged the program to direct investment in local development, to incubate black, youth and women owned businesses and to fund skills development.

What they have done through this it to make themselves a truly South African corporate citizen.

Our overriding objective is to support firms with compliance and to embrace empowerment as a meaningful investment in South Africa's long term economic stability.

Ladies and gentlemen,

As I conclude, we would like that investments that are made should, in the end, deliver measurable benefits, not only to one segment, the stakeholders in business, but to all investment projects.

They must include clear local content plans, formal skills transfer initiatives, community development commitments and transparent environmental safeguards.

The skilling of our people, especially young people, is critical as we embark on the skills revolution, which is underpinned by a dual training system that we are embarking on now.

We are expanding programs that will link training with universities and colleges and companies to create the pipeline of technicians and project managers and engineers
that are needed in our economy.

This is but an overview of the scale of the deep transformative changes that are taking place in South Africa in our economy, as we seek to position ourselves as an investment destination.

Our progress continues to be acknowledged by our international and continental development partners.

During our G20 Presidency we concluded a clean trade and investment partnership with the European Union valued at approximately EUR 12 billion, which amounts to
about R 237 billion. This was around the Just Energy Transition, infrastructure, skills, pharmaceutical manufacturing and other sub industries.

The African Development Bank has also confirmed R 20 billion for the 2026 financial year directed at infrastructure, energy transition, human capital and governance.

In addition, the SA–Afreximbank Investment Facility anchored by Afreximbank’s R176 billion commitment to South Africa is a structural instrument that will channel
concessional capital into the sectors where this Second Drive requires it most.

The New Development Bank, the BRICS Bank has also indicated that they will make approximately R 34 billion rand available for 2026-2027 period.

At standard leverage ratios, the development finance institution commitments alone can mobilise between R393 billion and R786 billion in additional private investment over the drive horizon.

This is what partnerships at scale looks like, and this is the type of partnership that we appreciate here in South Africa.

This year’s South Africa investment Conference marks the formal transition from recovery to expansion, from rebuilding confidence to accelerating growth in our economy.

I have laid out just some of the sectors of our economy that are ripe for investment. 

More extensive opportunities also exist in agriculture, in agro- processing, in professional and financial services, in property, in digital technologies, advanced
manufacturing and other high-growth industries across the breadth and range of the South African economy.

Today, we are formally launching the second Presidential Investment Mobilization Drive with a target of R 2 trillion in new investment over the next five years.

The last time we said R 1.2 trillion which I think was being too modest. Now we are saying we want R 2 trillion.

I think it could and should be a lot higher, but I want to hear what your thoughts are, and your thoughts will be exemplified to me by making commitments that will just top the R 2 trillion mark.

In the maths of what South Africa requires to achieve growth meaningfully, we need to address the challenges that we face, mainly unemployment and to industrialize our country at scale. We aim to lead Africa's green transition and to build the infrastructure on which our people's future depends.

We do so with a keen appreciation of the current state of the foreign direct investment climate across the continent.

Africa as a whole accounts for only 4 per cent of global FDI, and recent increases have been driven largely by once off mega projects such as the USD 35 billion development in Egypt and also the Lubito Corridor investment.

Although we remain a significant continental player, accounting For between 15 and 20 per cent of Africa's total FDI, our growth depends heavily on domestic investment.

The opening position of the second drive is the R415 billion confirmed fixed investment and R 474,8 billion in DFI being announced in this room today. That brings the total to R 889,8 billion. That’s 81 projects. 9 provinces. 22 source markets. Over 230 000 permanent jobs.

Now, the mathematics that I was taught at school in an apartheid education school always taught me that you round up, you round up, and you don't round down. If a figure is closer to being rounded up, you rounded up. So, my rounding up, then brings this to R 900 billion that will be announced today.

That will be in 81 projects, nine provinces, 22 source markets, and over 230,000 permanent jobs that will be created that will have an impact on our economy. It has an impact on our people.

This is only the start of an era of new growth and dynamism for the South African economy.

The Accountability Framework is unchanged from the first drive.

Every investment announcement that will be made here will be vetted and signed and will represent a firm commitment by business leaders in this room.

Every year we will report back on what has been promised and what has been delivered.

As we seek to deepen our trade and investment relations as South Africa, we remain committed to maintaining policy certainty and to accelerating the momentum of the structural reform agenda that we are on.

A question is often asked, Is this momentum of reform sustainable? Will we see it being sustained into the future?

And my simple answer is yes.

The the reform process that we are on now is irrevocable and irreversible, because it is in the interests of our economy and of our people.

We have to transform and reform our economy so as to make it inclusive, so that all South Africans can benefit – and to enable key stakeholders to invest and make profits.

Labour must benefit. Workers should be well paid and get living wages.

Communities must feel it when businesses invest in their environments, and those businesses become good corporate citizens and be part of the community.

As for government, we are the enablers.

We will continue enabling businesses to grow for we have one interest, grow the economy, get tax revenues and continue to advance the interests of our people.

We are creating the conditions for investment led growth that is broad based, inclusive and durable.

So let us all move forward together with confidence, with partnership and with a shared commitment to enhance South Africa's future.

For as you invest, you advance the interests of our country.

As you invest, we know that you make profits, and South Africa is ready for business.

We are open for business, and we have positioned South Africa as a more conducive place to invest your money.

You can depend on South Africa.

We are reliable. We are dependable, and we are a good investment destination.

Thank you very much.

The Deputy Minister in the Presidency, Nonceba Mhlauli, will moderate a high-level panel discussion on “Skills for the Digital and Green Economy” at the South Africa Investment Conference.

The session will explore how South Africa’s skills pipeline is emerging as a key investment enabler, with a focus on workforce development, coding education, cloud skills, and digital infrastructure. The discussion will bring together leaders from technology, investment, and employment sectors to examine how talent is being developed, matched to opportunity, and scaled to meet the demands of a rapidly evolving economy.

The panel will follow a TED-style talk that frames South Africa’s skills ecosystem as a competitive advantage for investors, highlighting the shift from a perceived skills shortage to a challenge of access and matching talent to opportunity.

Panelists include:
Nyari Samushonga, CEO of WeThinkCode_
Laura Fitoussi, Director at Prosus
Busi Khaba, Amazon Web Services
Sandile Dube, Managing Director, Equinix South Africa
Ravi Naidoo, CEO, Youth Employment Service (YES)
Event Details:

Event: South Africa Investment Conference 2026
Session: Session 19 – Skills for the Digital and Green Economy
Date: 31 March 2026
Time: 16:00 – 17:00
Venue: Sandton Convention Centre, Johannesburg
Room: Room 3

Key Discussion Themes:
Positioning South Africa’s skills pipeline as an investment asset
Expanding access to coding and digital skills development
Building cloud and digital infrastructure capabilities
Aligning workforce development with investor needs
Unlocking youth employment through scalable partnerships

Accredited Media are invited to the session.  

Media enquiries: Mandisa Mbele, MandisaM@Presidency.gov.za / 082 580 2213

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria