This reciprocal state visit is a celebration of the friendship as well as the solidarity that binds our two nations. Ours is a relationship that is rooted in shared values, mutual respect, and a common vision for democracy, for peace on our continent, and for prosperity for all our sister countries on the African continent. This visit builds on my state visit to Kenya in November in 2022 where you so warmly welcomed me and my delegation. But it also builds on the many engagements that we have had through our joint commission for cooperation. It reflects the growing strength of our ties and the…

I'm especially pleased by the proposal to establish a South Africa-Kenya Joint Business Council, which would give our private sector a stronger voice in shaping trade and investment. Our people-to-people ties are flourishing. The decision that we took together in 2022, where you insisted, Mr. President, that you would not allow me to leave Kenya without us reaching agreement on the visa-free access issue, was one of our best decisions because it immediately led to instant implementation. So, much as I felt you twisted my arm, I think it was a good twisting of the arm because both countries are…

We meet at a time of global uncertainty. My dear brother, we are all affected by the conflicts on our continent, in the Middle East, in Ukraine, and other parts of the world. The conflict that continues in the Sudan is a very troubling one, and we must recognize your efforts as part of IGAD to continue to find ways of resolving this uh this disaster. African countries are feeling the impact of rising fuel prices as a result of the conflict in the Middle East. Our position is clear. Dialogue and diplomacy must prevail over confrontation. South Africa and Kenya share a commitment to multilateral…

Africa requires equitable access to climate finance and technology to support a just energy transition. At the same time, we must undertake a digital transformation that advances inclusion and innovation. South Africa and Kenya can lead in areas such as artificial intelligence, fintech, and cybersecurity. As we look ahead, our cooperation must place people at the center, creating opportunities for youth empowerment, women empowerment, and promoting inclusive growth for all. Allow me once again to warmly welcome you and to your delegation as well. May this state visit deepen our friendship and …

It is a pleasure to address this Africa Kenya Business Forum and to welcome the Kenyan delegation to South Africa as well. Your presence here also shows the value that you place on the partnership that has been crafted between South Africa and Kenya. And this is an old partnership. It's also a very strategic partnership. A strategic partnership that has its roots in the past when South Africa or South Africans were fighting for their freedom. It was Kenya amongst many other nations that raised its voice to support our freedom when others shunned the struggle that we had waged, Kenya was amongs…

My dear brother President Ruto, earlier this year in March we held the South Africa Investment Conference and we've been having these for a number of years now. And we always put a target for the 5-year term of our government to say by this 5-year term we want to have raised so much money. In the last term we had put a target of 1.3 trillion rand, 1.5 trillion rand rather. And we invite businesses to come forward to respond to the quest that we should create a conducive environment for investments to take place. And we invite them to come forward to come and tell us what they are going to do a…

We've been working on a number of reforms. Reforms that have had to do with our electricity generation. And we've moved our country away from load shedding. The load the electricity generation has improved in increasingly over time. And we haven't let had blackouts for almost more than a year. And those are the efforts that government has been taking to make sure that we create a conducive environment for businesses to operate. And similarly, we've been looking at how we improve our logistics. How we improve our water. And how we improve a number of areas. When we visited Kenya in 2022, was it…

To make sure that we live up to the powerhouses of the two economies. Kenya is a powerhouse in East Africa. South Africa is a powerhouse in Southern Africa. And together we become a greater powerhouse on our continent. Taking advantage of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area, President Ruto has correctly said this Africa Continental Free Trade Area gives us all on the African continent an historic and unprecedented opportunity to make sure that we trade with each other. To make sure that we create business opportunities on a free tariff basis. When I know as a businessman that I can go and s…

Among the outcomes that we seek is a substantial growth in the volume and the value of the trade between our two countries. That's what we want. But we also want to see real investments being put on the ground. Now, we know that since 2022, total trade between South Africa and Kenya has grown by an average of 3.5% a year. We should be at a higher percentage. Kenya remains in our case South Africa's largest trading partner on the continent outside the South African Development Community. But we want to see much more trading be happening between the two countries that will be mutually beneficial…

Hello. >> Good morning. >> [music] >> Yes. >> Mr. President. >> Hello. >> How may I help you? Mr. President. >> You might not know. >> [laughter] >> It's nice to meet you. Mr. President, I'm Satu, the World Bank's country director. >> Oh, yes. I've heard. I've [music] heard. >> And I'm the World Bank's country director for South Africa. I'm the senior country director for South Africa. >> How is the meeting going? >> [music] >> Mr. President, we gave us the floor and the vice president for IFC, not for Africa. Thank you very much. >> Mr. President, both the vice presidents of IBRD and one of t…

Speaker of the National Assembly, Ms Thoko Didiza,Ministers and Deputy Ministers,Honourable Members,Fellow South Africans, Thirty years ago, the people of South Africa adopted a Constitution that transformed our country from a divided past into a democratic future. That Constitution remains our national covenant. It is the foundation upon which we are building a society founded on freedom, dignity, equality and opportunity for all. The Constitution mirrors the hopes and aspirations of the millions of South Africans who played a direct role in drafting it. Our Constitution reflects the desi…

Fellow South Africans,I wish to address you this evening on a matter that concerns many South Africans.Over recent months, South Africans from every walk of life have raised concerns about migration and illegal immigration.These concerns are being expressed in our communities, our workplaces, our schools, our clinics and across social media platforms.Many South Africans are asking difficult but legitimate questions.They are asking whether our borders are secure.They are concerned about jobs.South Africans are raising these matters because they are concerned about pressure on public services.Th…

Programme Director,Minister of Health, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi,Deputy Minister of Health, Dr Joe Phaahla,Premier of Mpumalanga, Mr Mandla Ndlovu,Executive Mayor of the Gert Sibande District, Cllr Walter Mngomezulu,Co-Chairperson of SANAC,Mr. Solly Nduku,Chief Executive of Gilead Sciences, Mr Daniel O’Day,Executive Director of the Global Fund, Peter Sands,International Development partners,UNITAID, WHO, UNAIDS, Children Investment Funds Foundation,Partners from labour, civil society and business,Distinguished guests,Fellow South Africans, It is a day that reminds us how far we have travelled as a …

Your Excellency, President William Ruto,Ministers from South Africa and Kenya,Ambassadors and High Commissioners,Senior Government Officials,Members of the Media, This morning we were privileged to warmly welcome His Excellency President Ruto and Mrs Rachel Ruto, who are accompanied by a Delegation of Ministers. Our countries enjoy longstanding ties of friendship, solidarity and cooperation. These ties are rooted in our shared history, our common aspirations for African development and our mutual commitment to peace, democracy, regional integration and multilateralism. Kenya remains one of…

Your Excellency, Dr William Ruto, President of the Republic of Kenya,Members of the governments of Kenya and South Africa,Ladies and Gentlemen, It is a profound honour and a personal joy to welcome President Ruto and the Kenyan delegation to South Africa. This Reciprocal State Visit is a celebration of the friendship and solidarity that binds our two nations. Ours is a relationship rooted in shared values, mutual respect and a common vision for democracy, peace and prosperity across Africa. This visit builds on my State Visit to Kenya in November 2022 and the many engagements we have held …

Speaker of the National Assembly, Ms Thoko Didiza,Ministers and Deputy Ministers,Honourable Members,Fellow South Africans, Allow me to thank the members of this House for what has been, for the most part, a debate of substance on Vote 1.This debate has demonstrated that while we may differ on matters of policy and politics, there is broad agreement on the challenges confronting our nation and on the urgency with which they must be addressed. South Africans expect of all of us not simply to diagnose the country’s problems, but to work together to solve them. They expect leadership, accountabi…