Cape town: President Cyril Ramaphosa is set to participate in several key engagements over the coming weeks, beginning with the BRICS Summit in Kazan, Russia. Following the international summit, his schedule includes significant domestic commitments such as the Medium Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS) and visits to Limpopo and KwaZulu-Natal to oversee local governance initiatives.
According to South African Government News Agency, Presidential spokesperson Vincent Magwenya confirmed during a press briefing that President Ramaphosa will attend the BRICS Summit in Russia from Tuesday to Thursday (22-24 October). The theme for the Russian Federation’s BRICS Chairship in 2024 is “Strengthening Multilateralism for Just Global Development and Security”. Magwenya noted that South Africa’s participation is aimed at enhancing the country’s growth and development through stronger intra-BRICS relations and fostering mutually beneficial cooperation across several areas including politics, security, economy, finance,
and cultural ties.
During its BRICS Presidency, Russia plans to focus on promoting comprehensive partnership and cooperation within the framework of the association, covering politics and security, the economy and finance, and cultural and humanitarian ties. Last year, as Chair of BRICS, South Africa invited representatives from other African countries to a summit hosted in Johannesburg, which saw participation from 46 African nations, including 20 Heads of State and Government.
On the domestic front, President Ramaphosa will attend the tabling of the Medium Term Budget Policy Statement by Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana in Parliament on Wednesday, 30 October. The MTBPS is crucial for outlining the policy framework for the upcoming budget, detailing government goals, the economic environment, and projected resource availability. It serves as a vital step in the national budget process, inviting public engagement with government choices and priorities.
Moreover, President Ramaphosa’s domestic agenda inclu
des a visit to Limpopo province on Friday, 1 November, to meet with Premier Dr. Phophi Ramathuba and the provincial government executive. They will discuss their five-year program aligned with the priorities of the seventh administration, focusing on improving service delivery at the local government level.
Additionally, the President will travel to KwaZulu-Natal for a meeting with Premier Thami Ntuli and a subsequent District Development Model (DDM) oversight visit to the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality on Thursday, 7 November. This visit includes a Presidential Imbizo to be held at the Umnini Sportsfield in Ward 98 on Friday, 8 November, aiming to address service delivery and development challenges in the area.
These engagements underscore President Ramaphosa’s commitment to both national and international priorities, focusing on economic growth, governance enhancement, and improved service delivery.