PRESIDENT CYRIL RAMAPHOSA’S NEW YEAR MESSAGE

Dear Citizens of South Africa,

As we approach the dawn of a new year, we take a moment to reflect on 2024—a time for change and progress.

This year we acknowledged three decades since we embraced our freedom and democracy on April 27, 1994.

We celebrated the advancements we have made in building a society grounded in freedom, equality, and human rights.

On May 29, 2024, we held our seventh democratic elections, conducted in a peaceful and transparent manner.

As South Africans cast their votes for their preferred representatives, they voiced their concerns, aspirations, and expectations.

Through their votes, the populace called on political parties to prioritize national unity over partisan differences.

As public officials, we clearly received this message after the elections, which saw no party gaining a decisive majority to govern alone.

In response, we established a Government of National Unity, welcoming parties from various political backgrounds.

This Government of National Unity, composed of 10 political parties, is dedicated to promoting an inclusive economy and creating jobs through its Statement of Intent.

The GNU’s goal is to combat poverty and lower living expenses.

All parties are working together to enhance the government’s capacity to serve our citizens effectively.

The results of the May 2024 elections and the establishment of the Government of National Unity mark a new chapter filled with hope for South Africa.

Our economy is steadily improving.

More South Africans are securing jobs.

With inflation decreasing, essential products are becoming increasingly affordable for our households.

In 2024, South Africa recorded its first primary budget surplus in 15 years.

Public sector investment has consistently risen for another year.

We have made significant gains in infrastructure investments including roads, railways, public housing, energy, and sanitation.

Business confidence is climbing, leading to further investments.

The global investor sentiment towards South Africa has strengthened, with an increase in companies looking to invest or expand within our economy.

As these changes unfold, more jobs will be created, livelihoods will be supported, and local businesses will flourish.

The comprehensive economic reforms we initiated during the sixth administration are beginning to show positive results.

We are moving past a prolonged energy crisis that caused considerable hardship for households and businesses.

Our nation has gone 280 days without load shedding.

We remain dedicated to enhancing power generation capacity, attracting substantial investments in electricity, and developing a competitive electricity market.

Our logistics sector, essential to our economy, has seen significant improvements due to collaborative corrective measures taken with businesses, labor, and Transnet.

Delays in port handling for imports and exports have been lessened, and rail freight operations have become more efficient.

This progress will further attract investments and improve operational efficiency.

With the partnership between government and business—alongside ongoing cooperation with social partners, including labor—we are making meaningful strides in removing obstacles to accelerate growth and job creation.

This year, we have also intensified our commitment to combat crime.

Through focused initiatives such as Operation Shanela and Operation Vala Umgodi, our law enforcement agencies are actively tackling organized crime, illegal mining, extortion in construction, and other priority offenses.

As a society, we have intensified our efforts against gender-based violence and femicide.

We have enhanced the criminal justice system’s capabilities and improved support for survivors.

However, our primary focus must remain on preventing gender-based violence, particularly against our young women and girls.

By collaborating with civil society and stakeholders, we continue to urge men and boys to lead in changing negative attitudes and behaviors.

We are unyielding in our efforts to fight corruption and state capture.

The Investigating Directorate, now a permanent part of the National Prosecuting Agency, is actively pursuing numerous corruption cases in court and has charged many individuals.

In this pivotal year for our democracy, we have taken additional steps to fulfill our constitutional mandate of promoting equality, human rights, and social justice.

We have passed transformative legislation, such as the National Health Insurance Act and the Basic Education Laws Amendment Act.

The implementation of these laws will improve access to quality healthcare and education for all South Africans.

As we achieved our freedom through the support and solidarity of many nations and individuals worldwide, we firmly stand in solidarity with those enduring injustice elsewhere.

We remain resolute in our support for the people of Palestine.

As the ongoing Middle East conflict continues, marked by genocide against the people of Gaza and the captivity of Israeli hostages, we persist in advocating for an end to hostilities and the liberation of hostages.

South Africa’s athletes have proudly represented our nation on the global stage, showcasing our flag at numerous international events.

We extend our gratitude to the athletes who brought us honor at the recent Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris.

We take pride in our nation’s artists who have elevated our flag in creative sectors worldwide.

We commend our pioneering artists, filmmakers, writers, and cultural contributors who have excelled in their disciplines, earning recognition locally and globally.

This year has been filled with achievements and notable progress, yet it has also brought grief.

The heartbreaking loss of innocent children in Soweto and other regions due to contaminated food products deeply saddens our country.

We extend our heartfelt condolences to the families affected by these tragedies.

We mourn the lives lost to violence every day.

We are particularly pained by the recent senseless and negligent deaths of young individuals in initiation schools in the Eastern Cape.

Our thoughts are with the families left devastated by the recent destructive shack fires in the Western Cape that wiped out their homes and belongings.

As individuals and as a community, we must commit ourselves to supporting those affected by these tragedies.

We will work closely with our law enforcement agencies to ensure the safety of our children.

We will continually strive to secure our streets and neighborhoods.

As we close another year, we honor all those who serve our nation.

We express our gratitude to our educators who nurture and guide our learners toward quality education.

We appreciate our brave men and women in uniform who work diligently to ensure our safety, often at great personal sacrifice.

We thank our healthcare workers—doctors, nurses, paramedics, and frontline personnel—who respond to the needs of our citizens.

We recognize the commitment of our public servants and all South Africans who perform their duties with excellence and integrity.

Fellow South Africans,

Despite our achievements, we must strive to overcome the challenges facing our nation.

We must act swiftly and purposefully to build an inclusive economy and create jobs.

We must support our municipalities to ensure that all citizens consistently have access to quality services.

In particular, we must join forces to address the urgent water supply issues affecting various parts of our country.

As a community, our unity, resolve, and resilience have helped us navigate through tough times.

Just as this year has been one of significant change, we look forward to the coming year with hope.

We will launch a National Dialogue, bringing all South Africans together to create a shared vision for our country.

In 2025, we will proudly host the first G20 Summit on African soil.

Through our leadership of the G20, we will advocate for solidarity, equality, and sustainable development that benefits people globally.

As we welcome the new year, I invite every South African to join us on this journey toward a brighter future for everyone.

I wish you all a peaceful and prosperous New Year.

May God bless South Africa and protect her people.

Thank you.