Ramaphosa’s Extended Cabinet Lekgotla Puts Economic Growth and Plan Implementation in the Spotlight
South Africa’s leaders have come together in Pretoria for a key meeting aimed at kick-starting the economy and making sure existing plans get put into action. President Cyril Ramaphosa and Deputy President Paul Mashatile called the extended Cabinet Lekgotla on Tuesday, 30 September 2025, at the Sefako Makgatho Presidential Guest House. The gathering brings ministers, deputy ministers, premiers, and folks from the South African Local Government Association to tackle big issues like job creation, fighting crime, and building a stronger government. Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni shared that the focus is on quick wins and long-term fixes, without dreaming up brand new ideas. This comes as the country looks for ways to grow faster and help everyday people dealing with tough times.
The Lekgotla is part of the government’s regular planning, but this one zeros in on making things happen. Ntshavheni explained that the Presidency, National Treasury, and Department of Trade, Industry and Competition laid out a combined plan to get the economy moving. With high unemployment and rising costs hitting homes hard, leaders are prioritising steps that can make a real difference soon.
Focus on Inclusive Growth and Tough Choices
Ntshavheni made it clear the meeting isn’t about starting from scratch. “There is going to be a plan, but there is not going to be a new plan. It’s the implementation of those plans that have already been articulated, out there and adopted in South Africa. We are prioritising what are the quick wins, what are low-hanging fruits and what is the medium and long-term range of that,” she said.
The group is looking at ways to grow the economy in a way that includes everyone, tackle the high jobless rate, and ease the high cost of living. They’re also talking about building a government that works better for people. “In this Lekgotla we’re focusing primarily on three things, the economy of the country, how do we grow the economy and we’re not coming up with a new strategy or new plans, but how do we implement those plans that are there so that we can deal with the number of issues that are confronting South Africans. One, the high unemployment rate, two, the high cost of living in the country, and the general economic growth that must be inclusive,” Ntshavheni added.
To make this happen, they’re lining up economic reforms with efforts to fix local government and improve services. “We are also focusing on that economic growth proposal focus, we deal with issues of how do we build a capable state or a state that delivers, how do we do the reforms that will make sure that the economy grows, and what are the industrial reform targets that we are going to chase to make sure that they the economy in general responds. Then we are also focusing on the state of local government, and the issues that have been confronting our municipalities, and we are looking at what are the success stories, and what are the challenges, what are the interventions that have been implemented, and what are more interventions that can be done, including the white paper on local government that is reforming the system to make sure that the system works,” the Minister explained.
Tackling Crime as a Barrier to Progress
Crime is another big topic, with leaders seeing it as a roadblock to growth and safety. Ntshavheni said the Lekgotla is looking at ways to make communities safer, which ties into the bigger goal of a stable country where people can work and live without fear. “The Lekgotla is also considering ways to address crime, which Minister Ntshavheni described as both an obstacle to economic growth and a threat to the safety and security of citizens and crucially fostering the development of a competent capable state.”
This focus comes as recent probes, like the Madlanga Commission into police issues, highlight the need for better law enforcement to support economic plans.
No New Plans, Just Better Action on Old Ones
The team is clear: they’re building on what’s already there. “The Presidency overall, and the Department of Finance, the National Treasury and the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition, have consolidated proposals across various departments and plans that have been previously adopted,” Ntshavheni shared. This means pulling together ideas from past strategies to make them work better, focusing on quick results like job boosts and cost cuts.
Recent government moves, like backing a G20 push to fight wealth gaps, show this thinking in action. At an earlier Cabinet meeting on 17 September 2025, leaders approved plans to host Formula 1 at Kyalami, which could bring jobs and tourism. These tie into the Lekgotla’s growth focus, showing how old ideas get fresh life.
Other Matters: No Running Commentary on Probes
On side issues, Ntshavheni said the government won’t give blow-by-blow updates on the Madlanga Commission probing police woes. “The government will not provide a ‘running commentary’ on the work of the Madlanga Commission, noting that President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced a two-phased approach an interim report in three months and a final report in six months.”
For the SIU’s Tembisa Hospital report, she noted probes are ongoing: “They have already done asset forfeiture on a number of implicated people, and in terms of the head of the SIU, he has indicated that there is still more work to be done, so allow the space for the SIU to do its work and those agencies that are supporting the SIU to do the work to be done.”
Stance on Global Issues: Two-State Solution for Palestine
Touching on world affairs, Ntshavheni restated South Africa’s long-held view on the Middle East conflict. “Our position is that South Africa has always supported a two-state solution to the issue of Palestine along the 1957 borders of Palestine and our engagement on the issue around Palestine is twofold. We support initiatives that are driven under the umbrella of the United Nations and all the other regional initiatives that are undertaken that includes the full participation of Palestinians in the solution,” she said.
This aligns with recent global talks, like at the G20, where South Africa pushes for peace and fairness.
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