President Cyril Ramaphosa has convened the first Cabinet Lekgotla of the Government of National Unity (GNU) at the Sefako Makgatho Presidential Guest House in Tshwane, marking a pivotal moment in shaping South Africa’s strategic direction for the seventh administration.
The lekgotla, attended by Deputy President Paul Mashatile, Ministers, provincial Premiers, and other key stakeholders, aims to outline the comprehensive programme of action that will guide governmental efforts in the coming term.
Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, speaking to media on the sidelines of the gathering, emphasized that the programme of action aligns closely with the priorities outlined in the GNU’s Statement of Intent.
“The set of actions are being guided by the priorities agreed by the parties to the GNU. In those nine priorities there is going to be a number of presentations that will say how we agree on this. And we are guided, as another filter, by the National Development Plan (NDP),” Minister Ntshavheni explained.
Key priorities highlighted include economic growth, job creation, and transformation; creating a more just society; stabilizing local government; investing in education, skills development, and healthcare; building state capacity; strengthening law enforcement agencies; enhancing parliamentary effectiveness; promoting social cohesion and nation-building; and advancing foreign policy based on human rights and solidarity.
“We are focusing on what are the areas of reforms that will unlock the economy, the issues around water, electricity and energy. We’re dealing with the issues around job creation, what the economic growth trajectory look like,” Minister Ntshavheni outlined, stressing the need for partnerships with business and a capable, ethical state to achieve these goals.
The lekgotla, she added, is grounded in evidence-based planning and action, with the Statistician General presenting critical indicators to support implementation of initiatives like the District Development Model.
Following the conclusion of the lekgotla, the Cabinet will formally adopt the programme of action, setting in motion coordinated efforts across government departments and provinces.
“We are going to implement government priorities collectively because there’s no ‘DA minister’, there’s no ‘ANC minister’, there is only a ‘minister of government’. We are consolidating so that we have a single view and a single programme of action that is agreed to by all and that cascades to provinces,” Minister Ntshavheni affirmed.
President Ramaphosa is expected to unveil the outcomes of the lekgotla during the opening of Parliament on 18 July, signaling the government’s commitment to transparent governance and inclusive development.