Gwede Mantashe appointed Acting President as Ramaphosa & Mashatile on working visits

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Minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources Gwede Mantashe has been designated as the Acting President until 22 May.

PICTURE: X - @GwedeMantashe1


This comes as President Cyril Ramaphosa is due to arrive in the United States of America (USA) on Monday as part of a working visit. Ramaphosa is expected to meet with US President Donald Trump on Wednesday.

In a statement, the Presidency said that both Presidents are expected to discuss trade and bilateral relations, amongst others.

Recently, at least 49 Afrikaaner South Africans left the country for the USA under the guise that they are seeking refuge from a “genocide” in South Africa.

The South African government has repeatedly said it will continue engaging with the USA following President Trump’s move earlier this year to halt future funding to South Africa as his administration investigates allegations of “land confiscation” - following President Ramaphosa’s assent of the Expropriation Act.

Government held firm on this stance even as then South African ambassador to the USA Ebrahim Rasool was expelled and a new 30% tariff was imposed on South African exports albeit, the new tariff was paused for 90 days.

“The Government of South Africa remains dedicated to constructive dialogue with United States of America, anchored in mutual respect for sovereignty, the rule of law, and a shared commitment to deepening mutually beneficial bilateral partnership,” the Department of International Relations and Cooperation said in a statement last week.

Meanwhile, Deputy President Paul Mashatile has on Monday arrived in Paris, France, for a working visit aimed at reinforcing South Africa’s historic and warm bilateral relations with that country. During the working visit, the two countries will be expanding on existing cooperation projects as well as identify new areas of cooperation with specific focus on trade and investment.

The Deputy President’s visit follows a recent visit by Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ronald Lamola, last week to co-chair the 9th Session of the Forum for Political Dialogue (FPD) where the status of bilateral political relations between the two countries was discussed, including matters of mutual interest relating to international developments.

“Deputy President Mashatile will participate in the SA-France Investment Conference, where South Africa will intensify cooperation in the fields of infrastructure development; science, technology and innovation; education and skills development as well as improve the already strong people-to-people links between the two countries and increase the flow of tourism to South Africa from France,” said the Presidency in a statement.

As part of his programme, Mashatile will pay a courtesy call on President of the French Republic, Emmanuel Macron; meet with captains of different industries and conduct site visits to the Suez Global Waste Management Company and Dassault Systèmes.

The Deputy President is accompanied by Minister of Health Aaron Motsoaledi; Minister of Small Business Development Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams; Minister of Transport Barbara Creecy; Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture Gayton McKenzie; Minister of Tourism Patricia de Lille; Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Alvin Botes; Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Training Buti Manamela; Deputy Minister Trade, Industry and Competition Zuko Godlimpi and Deputy Minister of Electricity and Energy Samantha Graham-Maré.

 

Done By: Mitchum George

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