Cape town: Proceeds from this year’s Presidential Golf Challenge will support 622 adopted schools and contribute to improving education infrastructure, President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Friday, as he teed off at the annual fundraising event.
According to South African Government News Agency, the golf challenge, held a day after the State of the Nation Address (SONA) at the Atlantic Beach Golf Estate, raises funds for the Cyril Ramaphosa Foundation through its Adopt-a-School programme. This programme supports school development initiatives alongside the government.
Explaining the purpose of the initiative, President Ramaphosa noted that it is a long-standing tradition for Presidents to host a golf day after the SONA, with proceeds supporting a charity. Ramaphosa started the Adopt-a-School charity about 30 years ago, which has since adopted 622 schools to aid educational improvements. The President highlighted the importance of corporate sponsors like Sasol and MTN, which contribute to the success of the event and the education system.
Funds raised from the golf day will be used to improve school infrastructure, including sanitation facilities.
Turning to security matters, President Ramaphosa praised his decision to deploy the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) to assist police in gang-affected areas, as announced in Thursday’s SONA. He explained that operational details would not be publicly disclosed to maintain the effectiveness of the interventions. Soldiers will support, not replace, the South African Police Service (SAPS), especially in troubled areas like the Western Cape and Gauteng.
The President emphasized that the SAPS has been performing well and that the deployment is intended to strengthen ongoing operations. Government anti-gang efforts have been successful, and the SANDF will bolster these efforts to combat persistent gang violence.
On the issue of water challenges, President Ramaphosa stated that the national government would intervene where municipalities fail to deliver services. He referenced past interventions, such as in Hammanskraal, where national action was necessary to ensure water delivery. Legislative mechanisms will now be used more decisively to address such issues.
Regarding foreign policy, President Ramaphosa reaffirmed South Africa’s stance on supporting Palestine’s self-determination and a two-state solution with Israel. He also confirmed the country’s intention to withdraw troops from the United Nations Organisation Stabilisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO) to focus on rebuilding the country’s defence force for future peacekeeping missions.