President Cyril Ramaphosa on Thursday reiterated South Africa’s call for the silencing of guns across Africa, which he described as a necessary precondition for stability, economic growth and development.

Ramaphosa was hosting Angolan President João Lourenço at the Union Buildings in Pretoria, where he thanked his counterpart for Angolan efforts towards peacebuilding in the Southern African Development Community and the rest of the continent.

“South Africa commends Angola for the constructive role it is playing as President of the International Conference on the Great Lakes, as Facilitator of the Luanda Process, and on the Presidential Ad-Hoc Committee for the Republic of Sudan,” Ramaphosa said.

Both countries must continue to deepen collaboration towards resolving the conflict in the Eastern DRC, the civil war in Sudan and the post-electoral crisis in Mozambique, he added.

Further, he reiterated South Africa’s call for the reform of global governance institutions, particularly the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), and pointed out that the Global South must have permanent representation and a voice on the UNSC, so that it reflects global demographics and realities.

“As African countries, we must be at the forefront of promoting the peaceful resolution of conflict, particularly at a time when the future of multilateralism is at stake. Israel’s war on the people of Gaza and the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine have exposed the limitations and fragilities of international institutions that remain un-representative and unreformed,” Ramaphosa pointed out.

He stressed that South Africa was firm in its call for multilateralism to remain at the centre of global affairs, in dealing with conflict and in responding to climate change.

“We reiterate our call for the United Nations Charter to be respected and for the tenets of international law to be upheld. Working with the African Union and fellow African countries will ensure that the issues of strategic importance to Africa and the Global South are highlighted,” he said.

TRADE AND INVESTMENT

Meanwhile, Ramaphosa stated that increasing trade and investment between South Africa and Angola remained an objective.

Ramaphosa highlighted that about 20 South African companies already had a presence in Angola, and over the years had been on a concerted drive to explore investment opportunities beyond the oil sector.

He said government wants to see more Angolan companies in South Africa, highlighting that opportunities exist in infrastructure development, agriculture, construction, mining, financial services, telecoms and manufacturing.

South Africa has also prioritised implementing structural economic reforms to improve the business operating environment and investment climate, with which it hopes to attract more Angolan investors.

Ramaphosa wants Angola and South Africa to cooperate on strategies and policies that ensure greater beneficiation of minerals, saying this will become important as global demand grows for critical minerals needed in the energy transition.

Ramaphosa highlighted that South Africa sees the African Continental Trade Agreement as a catalyst for inclusive economic growth, and stressed the need to take advantage of the system of preferential terms provided to signatories.

“As both Angola and South Africa strive to accelerate the pace of industrialisation, we need to build mutually complementary capabilities in manufacturing and value-addition of products,” he explained.