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Tag: Ramaphosa

  • Ramaphosa unveils new cabinet with 12 opposition posts

    Ramaphosa unveils new cabinet with 12 opposition posts

    South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced his new Cabinet on Monday, confirming the handover of 12 ministerial posts to opposition parties in a televised speech.

    The largest opposition party, the economically liberal Democratic Alliance (DA), will take on six positions with DA party leader, John Steenhuisen, named to head the Ministry of Agriculture, Ramaphosa said.

    With 20 ministries, including key ministries such as Foreign Affairs, Defence, Energy and Finance, the African National Congress (ANC) retained the lion’s share of Cabinet posts.

    With a total of 32 ministerial posts, the Cabinet has two seats larger than in previous years.

    The new government consisted of 11 parties, expected to lead the African continent’s strongest economy in a government of national unity.

    Ramaphosa’s ANC lost its absolute majority for the first time in 30 years in the parliamentary elections on May 29 and can no longer govern alone.

    The new government plans to prioritize economic growth, social justice and democratic renewal of the country.

    Combating poverty, unemployment, and crime is also a priority, along with addressing corruption and state exploitation.

    The governing alliance has been formed without any firm coalition agreements.

    Political analysts have questioned the stability and effectiveness of such a form of government.

    South Africa is becoming increasingly important internationally due to its position in a continent rich in the raw material reserves needed for the green energy transition.

    The country is also the only African member of the Group of 20 major economies (G20).

  • Ramaphosa takes oath of office for 2nd term as South African president

    Ramaphosa takes oath of office for 2nd term as South African president

    Cyril Ramaphosa, leader of South Africa’s ruling African National Congress (ANC), took oath as the nation’s president for the next five years on Wednesday at Pretoria, the administrative capital.

    Ramaphosa, 71, was re-elected as South African president by the National Assembly on June 14 with 283 votes against the other nominee, Julius Malema from the Economic Freedom Fighters, who received 44 votes.

    Under the South African Constitution, once elected as president by the National Assembly, the president-elect must assume office within five days.

    In the general elections on May 29, the ANC secured 159 out of the 400 seats in the National Assembly.

    This is the first time the ANC is falling below the 50 per cent needed to maintain its 30-year-old outright majority in the lower house of parliament.

  • The war must end in Ukraine-South African president, Ramaphosa tells Putin

    The war must end in Ukraine-South African president, Ramaphosa tells Putin

    South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, who is in Russia as part of a peace-seeking delegation, on Saturday, told his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin that the conflict in Ukraine had to stop.

    “This war must be settled… through negotiations and through diplomatic means,” said Ramaphosa.

    He added that his delegation, consisting of seven African leaders, “would like this war to be ended.

    “This war is having a negative impact on the African continent and indeed on many other countries around the world,” Ramaphosa said ahead of formal talks with the Russian president.

    On Friday, the delegation held talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv.

    “We have come to listen to you and through you to hear the voice of the Russian people,” said Comoros President Azali Assoumani, who currently heads the African Union.

    “We wanted to encourage you to enter into negotiations with Ukraine,” he said.

    African countries have been divided over their response to the conflict, with some siding with Ukraine, while others have remained neutral or gravitated towards Moscow.

    Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday gave African leaders seeking to mediate in the war in Ukraine a list of reasons why he believed many of their proposals were misguided, pouring cold water on a plan already largely dismissed by Kyiv.

    The African leaders were seeking agreement on a series of “confidence building measures”, even as Kyiv last week began a counteroffensive to push back Russian forces from the swathes of southern and eastern Ukraine that they occupy.

    Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said after meeting them in Kyiv on Friday that peace talks would require Moscow to withdraw its forces from occupied Ukrainian territory, something Russia has said is not negotiable.

    Putin opened Saturday’s talks with representatives of Senegal, Egypt, Zambia, Uganda, Congo Republic, Comoros and South Africa in a palace near St Petersburg by stressing Russia’s commitment to the continent.

    But after presentations from the Comoran, Senegalese and South African presidents, he stepped in to challenge the assumptions of the plan – predicated on acceptance of internationally recognised borders – before the round of statements could go any further.

    Putin reiterated his position that Ukraine and its Western allies had started the conflict long before Russia sent its armed forces over the border in February last year, something they deny.

    He said the West, not Russia, was responsible for a sharp rise in global food prices early last year that has hit Africa especially hard.

    He told the delegation that Ukrainian grain exports from Black Sea ports that Russia has permitted for the past year were doing nothing to alleviate Africa’s difficulties with high food prices because they had largely gone to wealthy countries.

    And he said Russia had never refused talks with the Ukrainian side, which had been blocked by Kyiv. Moscow has, however, repeatedly said any peace must allow for “new realities”, meaning its declared annexation of five Ukrainian provinces, four of which it only partially controls – a red line for Kyiv.

    Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in televised remarks that Moscow shared the “main approaches” of the African plan, but Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov was quoted by Russian news agencies as saying it was “difficult to realise”.

    Peskov said Putin had shown interest in the plan, whose 10 points South African President Cyril Ramaphosa laid out in his presentation, and Russia would continue dialogue with the African countries.

    Lavrov said they had not brought the Russian leader any message from Zelenskiy.

    Putin said Moscow was “open to constructive dialogue with anyone who wants to establish peace on the principles of fairness and acknowledgement of the legitimate interests of the parties”.

    There was no immediate word on the bilateral talks that Ramaphosa, host of a summit in August featuring Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, had said he would have with Putin.

    Since the International Criminal Court indicted Putin in March on war crimes charges – which he rejects – South Africa, as a member of the court, finds itself in the awkward position of being obliged to arrest him if he sets foot there.

  • What I discussed with visiting South African President – Buhari

    What I discussed with visiting South African President – Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday in Abuja called for a stronger emphasis on people-to-people relations between South Africa and Nigeria to evolve a bond that will be of benefit to both countries and the entire African continent.

    According to a statement by his spokesman, Femi Adesina, President Buhari who received President Cyril Ramaphosa, at the State House, reiterated Nigeria’s commitment to improving a “special relationship’’ with South Africa.

    According to the President, this relationship will translate into gains for the continent, particularly in education, science, trade and investment, tourism and security.

    At the opening of the 10th Session of Nigeria-South Africa Bi-National Commission (BNC) held in his office, Buhari said: “Mr. President, permit me to state that some of the challenges identified during the last Bi-National Commission (BNC) have not been completely addressed. We need to ensure that our people-to-people relations are enhanced to a point where there would be no need for unhealthy competition.

    “In this regard, we need improvement in educational and scientific cooperation, mines and energy resources, transport and aviation, tourism, youth exchange programmes, trade, investment and military cooperation, to mention but a few.”

    The President told ministers and government delegates of both countries that a strong bond of brotherhood between Nigeria and South Africa would be of great benefit to Africa as a catalyst for economic, technological, social and cultural development and as a force for peace and security on the continent.

    “Let me at this point re-iterate my commitment to ensure that the special relationship between our two countries is continually strengthened,’’ he said.

    Spaking further, President Buhari noted that it was fulfilling that despite all the challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic, the BNC was still holding on schedule.

    “It is also gratifying to observe that this has been brought about by the dogged commitment of senior officials from our countries.

    “More importantly, it is gratifying to note that despite the pandemic, our timelines for implementing some decisions of the 9th BNC have been met. Similarly, discussions are ongoing on new and important areas of cooperation between our two countries.

    “I must commend the Honourable Ministers and senior officials of both our governments for their sustained effort in breathing life into the bilateral agreements between our countries. I am aware that the Senior Officials Meeting and Ministerial Meetings which preceded this Presidential BNC were successfully concluded,’’ he added.

    At the end of the Summit, President Buhari expressed his delight at its successful conclusion, calling it, “heartwarming and a source of great pride that we have been able to further cement the special bond of fraternal friendship between our two countries.”

    He also remarked that the agreement on Early Warning Mechanism would “improve the people-to-people relations of our two countries. Similarly, our two countries have established high-level official communication channels for diplomatic consultations, trade and investment, and will, shortly, inaugurate the Nigeria – South Africa Youth Dialogue. I am confident that these vehicles of engagement and cooperation will serve our mutual interests.”

    The President commended the South African leader for initiating the Nigeria – South Africa Youth Dialogue which he (President Buhari) also endorsed.

    “I hope that beyond being a vehicle for mutual learning and understanding by our youth, it would also foster the kindred spirit of humanity towards others as prescribed in the great South African traditional philosophy of Ubuntu. That would lay a solid foundation for the realization of the Africa that we want,” he said.

    He appreciated President Ramaphosa and his delegation for the visit.

  • Ramaphosa’s State Visit to Nigeria successful despite Omicron scare, says Buhari

    Ramaphosa’s State Visit to Nigeria successful despite Omicron scare, says Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari has described the State Visit of President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa to Nigeria as successful despite the scare generated by the new Omicron COVID-19 variant.

    At a joint news conference with the visiting South African leader, Buhari said new Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) between Nigeria and South Africa in diverse areas were signed.

    He disclosed that existing MOUs were also reviewed for the progress and prosperity of citizens of both countries.

    “We have now come to the end of a very successful State Visit and the 10th Session of the Nigeria-South Africa Bi-National Commission.

    “Despite the scare generated by the new COVID-19 variant, we have been able to hold successful meetings, while observing strict COVID-19 protocols, through fraternal cooperation and understanding.

    “I sincerely wish to thank my brother and colleague, President Cyril Ramaphosa for honouring my invitation. I equally wish to thank members of the South African delegation and the experts that worked tirelessly during the senior officials meeting.

    “Today, has witnessed the signing of new Memoranda of Understanding between Nigeria and South Africa in diverse areas including youth development, women and child empowerment and political consultations; critical areas that will lead to increased people to people contact.

    “Also, existing MOUs signed during previous Bi-National Commission meetings were also reviewed. These include MOUs on military cooperation, power, cooperation in the field of geology, mining, and mineral processing, oil and gas and several others.

    “Today, we also jointly launched the Nigeria-South Africa Youth Dialogue, another veritable tool for interaction among our youth with the aim of creating shared values and aspiration.

    “Many of our youth from Nigeria and South Africa joined us virtually during the launch,” he said.

    The Nigerian president thanked Ramaphosa for initiating the Youth Dialogue, noting that continuous interaction between the youth of the two countries would further break down barriers and suspicion among them.

    He added that the inauguration of the Joint Ministerial Advisory Council on Industry, Trade and Investment, would enable the private sectors of the two largest economies in Africa to further promote economic cooperation and development.

    “We appreciate that we need to do much more to achieve further integration of our two economies and take full advantage of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA).

    “Once again, I wish to thank my brother President and members of the South African delegation for their visit and their wonderful friendship, cooperation and solidarity, ” he said.

    Ramaphosa thanked the leaders of Nigeria, Cote D’Ivoire, Ghana and Senegal for expressing their dissatisfaction with the travel ban imposed on South Africa and sister neighbouring countries in the aftermath of the discovery of the Omicron COVID-19 variant by South African scientists.

    He described the imposition of the ban by some Western countries as arbitrary, discriminatory, unscientific and unproductive in the long run.

    “This is a global pandemic and overcoming it requires that we collaborate and work together as a collective.

    “The resulting damage of this travel ban to the economies of the countries affected will be considerable and long lasting.

    “I want to use this opportunity to tell the countries that have imposed this ban to reverse their decisions whether they are the northern more developed economies or in other parts of our continent or elsewhere,” he said.

  • Buhari hosts South Africa’s President, Ramaphosa at Aso Villa

    Buhari hosts South Africa’s President, Ramaphosa at Aso Villa

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday hosted his South African counterpart, Cyril Ramaphosa, in the Presidential Villa Abuja.

    Ramaphosa, who is on a two-day official visit to Nigeria, was received at the forecourt of the Presidential Villa by President Buhari before the two leaders went into a closed door bilateral talks.

    NAN observed that there was a brief cultural display by members of the Nigerian National Troupe, who entertained the visiting South African President and his delegation.

    The two presidents are expected to address a joint press conference at the end of the bilateral talks.

  • Ramaphosa gives Okonjo-Iweala another job, as AU Special envoy

    Ramaphosa gives Okonjo-Iweala another job, as AU Special envoy

    The Chairperson of the African Union, President Cyril Ramaphosa has appointed Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and three other Africans as AU Special Envoys.

    Their job will be to mobilise international support for Africa’s efforts to address the economic challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.

    Others appointed are Dr Donald Kaberuka, Mr Tidjane Thiam and Mr Trevor Manuel

    The Special Envoys will be tasked with soliciting rapid and concrete support as pledged by the G20, the European Union and other international financial institutions.

    Ramaphosa said: “In the light of the devastating socio-economic and political impact of the pandemic on African countries these institutions need to support African economies that are facing serious economic challenges with a comprehensive stimulus package for Africa, including deferred debt and interest payments.

    “The impact of the coronavirus pandemic has been global in both scale and reach, and this necessitates coordinated international action to capacitate all countries to respond effectively, but most particularly developing countries that continue to shoulder a historical burden of poverty, inequality and underdevelopment,” President Ramaphosa said.

    President Ramaphosa added: “The sentiment expressed in two recent letters written to the G20 by a group of world leaders and a team of esteemed economists underscore the importance of bolstering health systems in poorer countries; this can only be done with the support of the international community.”

    Dr Okonjo-Iweala is an internationally respected economist and development expert and served two terms as Minister of Finance of Nigeria.

    She has also served as Managing Director of the World Bank.

    Dr Kaberuka is an economist and former President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the African Development Bank (AfDB).

    He is the former Finance Minister of Rwanda and in 2016 was appointed as a Special Envoy of the African Union on sustain-able financing for the AU and funding for Peace in Africa.

    Mr Manuel was the longest-serving Minister of Finance in South Africa and formerly headed the country’s National Planning Commission.

    In 2018 he was appointed as an Investment Envoy by Ramaphosa to engage domestic and international investors as part of the country’s national investment drive.

    Mr Thiam, a French-Ivorian, is a banker and businessman. He is the former Chief Executive Officer of Credit Suisse.

    He also served as Chief Financial Officer and CEO of Prudential.

    He has a background in management consulting and worked for McKinsey and Company.

    Ramaphosa said the appointment of the special envoys would expedite the process of securing economic support to enable countries on the continent to respond swiftly to this grave public health emergency.

    “The African Union is immensely encouraged by the support that has been extended by the international community thus far”, he said.

    “It is an affirmation that as nations of the world, we are all in this together.

    We must now focus on efforts to marshal every resource at our disposal to ensure that this pandemic is contained, and does not result in the collapse of already ailing economies and financial systems on the continent,” President Ramaphosa added.

  • Xenophobia: Buhari, Ramaphosa sign 32 bilateral agreements, MoU

    Xenophobia: Buhari, Ramaphosa sign 32 bilateral agreements, MoU

    …victims likely to get compensation

    Weeks after xenophobic attacks in South Africa stirred tension between Africa’s leading economies, President Muhammadu Buhari and his South African counterpart, Cyril Ramaphosa, met yesterday to explore solutions.

    They agreed to set up “early warning mechanisms” to detect hostility between South Africans and Nigerians to avoid recurrence of violence.

    Buhari travelled to South Africa following diplomatic tension between Pretoria and Abuja, a situation that forced the evacuation of about 600 Nigerians.

    While the President expressed his condemnation for the violence against Nigerians, Ramaphosa said Nigerians living in South Africa should respect the law.

    He vowed to ensure there is no recurrence.

    Ramaphosa said: “We have expressed our deep regret at the events of the past few weeks that manifested themselves through attacks that were directed at foreign nationals and our condemnation of all forms of intolerance and acts of violence remains very, very firm.”

    Nigeria recalled its high commissioner and evacuated some of its citizens last month after a spate of attacks left at least 12 people dead, sparking protests in Nigeria that targeted South African companies, including MTN and Shoprite, which were forced to temporarily close shop.

    Buhari condemned “the very few incidents of retaliatory attacks”, saying: “We took strong and decisive measures to stop the attacks and prevent any recurrences.”

    He deplored “in the strongest terms, attacks against Nigerians and other African nationals living in South Africa, the looting of their shops and businesses and burning of their properties”.

    The President added: “We call for the strengthening and implementation of all the necessary measures to prevent the re-occurrence of such action which threatens to undermine, not only our strong bilateral relations but also, what we stand for in the context of our vision for a strong and prosperous Africa we want.”

    Buhari agreed to set up a committee to address the issue of compensation to the victims, though South Africa was yet to formally agree to Nigeria’s reparation request, it was learnt.

    The issue was not mentioned in the joint communique issued at the end of the meeting, but a source who was part of the delegation but prefers not to be named said it was agreed that a committee on compensation is set up.

    In the communique, both leaders condemned the violent incidents and the destruction of property. They reiterated their call for heightened law enforcement.

    The two presidents endorsed the establishment of an Early Warning Mechanism and directed the two Foreign Ministers to give practical expression to it.

    They endorsed the reestablishment of the Republic of South Africa and the Federal Republic of Nigeria Consular Forum to meet twice a year.

    Buhari arrived in South Africa on Wednesday on Ramaphosa’s invitation.

    He attended the inaugural elevated Bi-National Commission (BNC) session, which he co-chaired, as part of continuing bilateral engagements aimed at deepening cooperation.

    The communique says Ramaphosa alluded to the fact that the unfortunate incidents were not consistent with the values and principles underpinning South Africa’s constitutional democracy.

    He dispelled the notion that incidents of violence affecting foreign nationals were targeted at Nigerian nationals, as other foreign nationals and indeed South Africans were also affected.

    Ramaphosa assured his counterpart that the South African government was fully in control of the situation and that several interventions and engagements with the diplomatic community were underway.

    Speaking at the ninth BNC at the Union Building, the seat of the presidency in the capital of Pretoria, Buhari urged the South African government to open up its economy for more Nigerian businesses and to protect them.

    Buhari said: “We are pleased to inform you that our government has made doing business in Nigeria easier through the Ease of Doing Business Initiative to open up more opportunities for investors in Nigeria.

    “We call on the Government of South Africa to also take steps to ease the doing of business in the country, and open up its market space for Nigerian businessmen and women.”

    According to Buhari, Nigeria would continue to value its relationship with South Africa.

    No fewer than 32 agreements and Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) were signed during the visit.

    Buhari said: “We, in Nigeria, value the warm fraternal relations binding our two countries and cherish our Special relationship. We consider South Africa an ally and a strategic partner.”

    He called for increased collaboration against arms and drug/human trafficking and money laundering.

    Ramaphosa said the attacks were regrettable, assuring that his government would do more to safeguard lives and property.

    He said: “We will always be grateful to Nigeria for the support we received during the dark days of apartheid. We shall never forget the role you played to ensure that our people get the freedom we are enjoying today.”

    Ramaphosa said the 32 bilateral agreements and MoUs cover trade and industry, science and technology, defence, agriculture and energy.

    He said South Africa would create a more enabling environment for Nigerian businesses to thrive, acknowledging that more South African companies operate in Nigeria, while Nigerians were mostly in small and medium scale sectors in his country.

    He promised to deepen the reforms in his country to open the space for more Nigerian business to “address the imbalance”.

    Ramaphosa said: “The rule of law must be obeyed by all citizens. Nigerians in South Africa must obey the rule of law, while South Africans in Nigeria must obey the rule of law.”

    Nigeria is South Africa’s largest trading partner on the continent, with trade flows estimated at $4.48billion in 2018.

    According to data from the Stellenbosch-based Trade Law Centre, only nine per cent of Nigeria’s total trade is intra-African, and almost half of that is with South Africa.

    Nigeria is said to account for 64 per cent of South Africa’s total trade with the West African sub-Region.

  • We won’t take further attacks on our citizens in your country, Buhari tells Ramaphosa

    We won’t take further attacks on our citizens in your country, Buhari tells Ramaphosa

    Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday began a visit to South Africa and minced no words when he condemned in the strongest terms the attack on Nigerians and other Africans in the country, and called for implementation of measures meant for the prevention of such incidents.

    He also called for the protection of foreigners.

    Buhari is visiting South Africa weeks after xenophobic attacks in Johannesburg stirred tension between Nigeria and South Africa, Africa’s leading economies.

    On Thursday, Buhari and his host Cyril Ramaphosa went into long-planned talks aimed at bolstering trade ties and political cooperation as both leaders struggle to boost their flagging economies.

    But the talks were expected to be overshadowed by the violence in South Africa targeting foreigners, which included Nigerians. Mobs descended on foreign-owned stores in and around Johannesburg in early September, destroying properties and looting.

    “We call for the strengthening and implementation of all the necessary measures to prevent the re-occurrence of such actions,” Buhari said at the start of the talks.

    The violence — in which at least 12 people were killed, most of them South Africans — sparked fury in Nigeria and saw hundreds of migrant workers repatriated to the country.

    Buhari condemned “the very few incidents of retaliatory attacks” which saw some South African businesses in Nigeria forced to close shop.

    “We took strong and decisive measures to stop the attacks and prevent any re-occurrences,” he said at Union Buildings, the seat of the presidency in the capital Pretoria.

    For his part, Ramaphosa, who has repeatedly apologised over the attacks, reiterated his government’s “deep regret at the incidents of public violence”.

    “Some of the acts of violence were directed at foreign nationals and some of whom coming from your own country”.

    “We firmly condemn all forms of intolerance and will not hesitate to act against criminal acts and violence,” he said.

    The three-day state visit, the first to South Africa by a Nigerian leader since 2013, had been planned before the wave of violence.

    A Town Hall meeting” between Buhari and Nigerians living in South Africa is scheduled for Friday to listen to the expats’ experience and showcase efforts to support them.

  • Xenophobia: Obasanjo parleys Ramaphosa in South Africa [Photos]

    Xenophobia: Obasanjo parleys Ramaphosa in South Africa [Photos]

    After his recent letter to Chief Mangosuthu Buthelezi, South African politician and Zulu tribal leader about the demerits of xenophobia, former Nigerian leader Olusegun Obasanjo has visited South Africa’s president, Cyril Ramaphosa.

    Obasanjo also used the visit to present to Ramaphosa a new book that Obasanjo co-authored with Greg Mills of the Brenthurst Foundation in South Africa; Jeffrey Herbst, a celebrated Africanist; and Tendai Biti, the former finance minister of Zimbabwe.

    The book is titled “Democracy Works: Rewiring Politics to Africa’s Advantage”.

    President Ramaphosa thanked the former President for working hard and still having the energy to write and contribute to current debates about the development of Africa.

    The two leaders also used the opportunity to reflect on recent events in South Africa which saw more than four hundred Nigerians voluntarily evacuated from the country.

    “Former president Obasanjo expressed his sincere appreciation of President Ramaphosa’s recent appointment of a team of special envoys who have in the past few days visited a number of fellow African states to deliver a message from the president regarding the incidents of violence,” said Ramaphosa’s spokesperson, Khusela Diko.

    “In the meeting, the leaders engaged on misconceptions created about the situation in South Africa that gave the impression that Nigerian nationals in particular had been victimised. No loss of life was reported among Nigerian nationals in South Africa during this period.