Speaking on behalf of South African president, Jacob Zuma, at this year’s Global Citizen Festival in New York at the weekend, Radebe also confirmed the government’s commitment to championing proper sanitation and waste management services in cities around the world, through the country’s leading role in the High-Level Panel on Water.

The festival, which was held in Central Park, focused on the theme of water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) as part of the United Nation’s (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

In his address, Radebe spoke about the SDGs, the African Union’s (AU) Agenda 2063, and South Africa’s National Development Plan 2030. Radebe said the centre of those global frameworks was “the urgency to address the triple challenge of poverty, unemployment, and inequality to improve the lives of all our people”.

“Through these initiatives, South Africa stands for employment, global water, and sanitation, and a brighter future for our youth.”

Radebe also attended related events such as the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) and the Continental Business Network (CBN) High-Level Panel. The panel convened leaders to discuss practical initiatives and opportunities to mobilise institutional asset owners to invest in African infrastructure.

“We support a world in which children thrive instead of suffering from disease, malnutrition, and stunting, a world in which everyone has the opportunity for a dignified and full life,” Radebe added.

ANA