1.     ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF GUESTS

My profile is a true reflection of who I am, where I come from and my home. I am from Nquthu in Kwa Zulu Natal.

 I wish to acknowledge:

•  CCMA Governing Body Chairperson: Dr Cornelia September.
• CCMA Governing Body Members.
• Judge President of the Labour Court and Labour Appeals Court: Judge President Edwin Molahlehi.
• Former Judge President of the Labour Court and Labour Appeals Court: Judge President Basheer Waglay.
• Chairperson of the Essential Services Committee Ms Grace Mafa-Chali and ESC Members.
• CCMA Director Adv Morajane
• Productivity SA Acting CEO Ms. Amelia Naidoo
• Executive Director of Nedlac: Mr. Makhukhu Mampuru
• Department of Employment and Labour Acting DDG, Mr Thembinkosi Mkalipi & Senior Officials of the Department that are present.
• The invited CCMA Stakeholders
• CCMA Senior Management Team.
• CCMA Commissioners & staff present and those joining via live stream; and the
• Programme Directors.
  
   
  
   

2.     CONGRATULATE THE CCMA ON 29 YEARS OF TRANSFORMING WORKPLACE RELATIONS AND ADVANCING SOCIAL JUSTICE.

• On 11 November 2025, the CCMA celebrated its 29th anniversary, celebrating nearly three decades of excellence in labour dispute resolution and its pivotal role in promoting workplace harmony across South Africa.
• Since its establishment on 11 November 1996, the CCMA has resolved over 4.1 million labour disputes, transforming countless lives and contributing significantly to labour market stability and economic development in South Africa.
• As the CCMA celebrates this milestone, it does so from a position of remarkable strength.
• Congratulations CCMA.
  
   
  
   

3.     THEME: “CELEBRATING A LEGACY ANCHORED IN EXCELLENCE".

• We are meeting this evening under the theme: “Celebrating A legacy, anchored in Excellence".
• The CCMA has achieved four consecutive clean audit statuses for the financial years (2021/22, 2022/2023, 2023/2024 and 2024/25).
• It also registered performance levels of 87% against the annual targets set (27 targets achieved against 31 targets planned).
• To illustrate that indeed CCMA is anchored in excellence, over the past five-year period the performance has been the following:
  
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• Whilst we appreciate and celebrate these achievements, there are challenges.
• We have over the years witnessed the growing number of referrals year-on-year.
•  In the 2024/25 financial year, CCMA recorded a total of 193 069 referrals (an average of 772 new referrals every working day).
• This increase in referrals paints a picture of the state of labour environment in the country.
• We have witnessed a high number of retrenchments in the various sectors over this year and the last year.
• Through the CCMA 47% (30 581) jobs were saved compared to 69 919 employees likely to be retrenched in the 2024/25 financial year.
• As the Department and working with the CCMA leadership we are working together in responding to some of the challenges confronted by the organisation.
• In celebrating the Legacy, Anchored in Excellence, I am reminded of John Wooden, one of the most successful and revered coaches in sports history, he reminds us that “It takes time to create excellence. If it could be done quickly, more people would do it.". Excellence is a gradual process. It takes time, patience, and consistent effort. If achieving excellence were easy or instantaneous, everyone would do it. It's the dedication and perseverance over time that separates those who achieve greatness from those who give up too soon.
• Today we celebrate the legacy built on the principle of perseverance and dedication as alluded by John Wood. Whilst we are celebrating this legacy, we acknowledge and honour the visioners, who laid the foundation, the leadership, the management and employees who contributed as excellence is a collective endeavour, built on collaboration and shared purpose.
• As we reflect on the legacy of today, lets also envision the legacy of tomorrow.
• To the CCMA Director, Adv Cameron Morajane, your immense contribution to this legacy we are celebrating today is well recognised and appreciated.
• Your diligence, passion for social justice and clean administration have made this legacy possible.
• As we look to the future, may we carry forward the same zeal, the same commitment to quality, the same spirit of unity that brought us here.
• Together, we celebrate a legacy anchored in excellence, and together we will build new chapters that honor this legacy while boldly shaping what lies ahead.

4.     CLOSING.

• To the CCMA staff, tonight is your night, we are here to celebrate your good work, those that will be on stage and those at home, we thank you for your immense contribution to the pursuit of expeditious social justice.

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