By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
President Cyril Ramaphosa held a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday on the Ukraine crisis and issues of bilateral interest.
Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022.
“The discussion followed President Putin’s request to brief President Ramaphosa on the peace process with Ukraine and to engage on issues of mutual bilateral interest,” presidency said in a statement.
The Presidency said that Ramaphosa welcomed Putin’s update and gave South Africa’s support for peace initiatives to end the war and for lasting peace between Russia and Ukraine.
The two leaders agreed to further discussions on the strategic relationship between Russia and South Africa.
National Convention
Meanwhile Ramaphosa said the National Convention will go ahead as planned despite the withdrawal of the South Africa’s legacy foundations.
The National Convention will take place from 15 to 17 August 2025 at the ZK Matthews Hall, University of South Africa (UNISA), Pretoria.
The organisations withdrawn are the Thabo Mbeki Foundation, the Steve Biko Foundation, the Chief Albert Luthuli Foundation, the Desmond and FW De Klerk foundations.
Ramaphosa was speaking on the sidelines of the launch of the Rand Water Zuikerbosch System Purification Plant in Veereniging, in the Vaal Triangle.
He emphasised that logistical arrangements are in place – including released funds, a secure venue and an operations centre that’s already functioning.
Rand Water
Ramaphosa welcomed the completion of Phase 2 of Rand Water’s Station 5 water purification plant at the Zuikerbosch water treatment works in Vereeniging.
Station 5 is one of Rand Water’s flagship bulk water augmentation projects, adding 600-million litres a day of capacity to the 158-million a day already in use.
The Station 5 plant was divided two phases, with Phase 1 completed in 2023, adding 150-million litres of water a day. The completion of Phase 2 added another 450-million litres a day, totalling to 600-million additional litres of water for users.
The project enabled Rand Water to create 871 jobs in communities and award work packages to 48 small, medium-sized and microenterprises (SMMEs), totalling R177-million, over the past six years.
This project supports government’s three strategic priorities: to drive inclusive growth and job creation; to reduce poverty and tackle the high cost of living; and to build a capable, ethical and developmental State, Ramaphosa added.