OCKHAM OBSERVER

An eye on the week ahead

Ramaphosa to address UN General Assembly

President Ramaphosa joins Donald Trump, Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Benjamin Netanyahu among world leaders addressing the UN’s 80th General Assembly.

Monday 22 September
National Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola testifies before the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry in Pretoria.

Parliament breaks for its constituency period until 6 October.

The Commission for Gender Equality convenes an accountability session with the Department of Water and Sanitation in Cape Town to address what it calls persistent gender and transformation gaps.

The Department of Correctional Services hosts a two-day National Parole Review Summit at Kgosi Mampuru II Correctional Facility in Pretoria.

Cooperative Governance Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa leads a G20 Disaster Risk Reduction Working Group Ministerial Outreach in Cape Town.

DA Gauteng health spokespersons Jack Bloom and Nicola du Plessis conduct an oversight visit to the Johannesburg Anatomical Pathology Laboratory over severe delays in cancer biopsy processing.

Solidarity and AfriForum continue their US visit, promoting a proposed trade framework to address tariffs and strained relations. Government has branded the trip divisive and “anti-democratic”, insisting it undermines official diplomacy.

The United Nations General Assembly marks its 80th anniversary, with 195 world leaders addressing the General Debate in New York throughout the week.

World leaders are expected to recognise Palestinian statehood at a UN summit on Palestine and the two-state solution.

Kamala Harris sits for her first major TV interview since losing the 2024 US presidential election, appearing on MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow Show to promote her new memoir 107 Days.

Rosh Hashanah begins at sunset, marking the Jewish New Year and the start of the High Holy Days.

South Africa Women face Pakistan Women in the final ODI of the series at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.

The 2025 Ballon d’Or ceremony takes place in Paris, with leading nominees including Jude Bellingham, Erling Haaland, Kylian Mbappé, Vinícius Júnior, Aitana Bonmatí and Alexia Putellas.

Tuesday 23 September
President Cyril Ramaphosa addresses the UN General Assembly, where he is expected to call for UN reform, multilateralism and global solutions to conflicts and economic challenges.

US President Donald Trump along with the presidents of Mozambique, Egypt, Angola and Morocco will also address the UN General Assembly.

The Pretoria High Court hears a case brought by former Deputy President David Mabuza’s daughter, who is seeking a ruling over a R44 million pension fund in an ongoing family dispute.

Deputy Higher Education Minister Mimmy Gondwe leads a skills and business imbizo in Oudtshoorn.

Deputy Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition Zuko Godlimpi addresses the South Africa–China Trade and Investment Promotion Conference in Midrand.

Statistics South Africa publishes its monthly land transport survey, tourist accommodation figures and food and beverages data.

The OECD releases its Interim Economic Outlook, with updated analysis and projections for the world economy.

The UN marks the International Day of Sign Languages.

Wednesday 24 September
Deputy President Paul Mashatile leads national Heritage Day celebrations in Oudtshoorn under the theme ‘Re-imagine our Heritage Institutions for a New Era’.

The Gauteng Indigenous Games begin at the Randburg Sports Complex. More than 500 athletes will compete in nine different traditional games, including diketo, kgati, drie-stokkies, morabaraba, and dibeke.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa are scheduled to address the UN General Assembly.

The inaugural Pan African AI Summit opens in Accra, Ghana, bringing together policymakers, academics, and industry leaders to explore the role of artificial intelligence in driving productivity and growth across Africa.

Former US President Barack Obama speaks at The O2 Arena in London.

Thursday 25 September
Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy Gwede Mantashe addresses The Africa Energy Investment Summit 2025 in New York.

Statistics South Africa publishes the Producer Price Index for August 2025, a key measure of inflationary pressure.

The International Blueberry Organisation Summit opens in Cape Town, bringing together producers, distributors, and experts from across the global blueberry industry.

The International Maritime Organization marks World Maritime Day.

Friday 26 September
The DA in KwaZulu-Natal is set to announce its mayoral candidate for eThekwini. This follows the party’s nomination of Helen Zille as its Johannesburg mayoral candidate last weekend.

The Homeopathic Association of South Africa hosts its annual congress at the Mount Nelson in Cape Town, featuring international researchers and clinicians including Dr Alexander Tournier.

World Environmental Health Day is observed under the theme ‘Clean Air, Healthy People’.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is scheduled to address the UN General Assembly.

The UN observes the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons.

NATO’s Military Committee meets in Riga, Latvia, with Chiefs of Defence from all 32 Allies gathering to discuss collective deterrence and defence.

World Contraception Day is marked to encourage family planning and safe sex.

The Ryder Cup tees off at Bethpage Black Course in Farmingdale, New York.

Saturday 27 September
Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture Gayton McKenzie leads a historic reunion of ex-political prisoners at the Robben Island Museum.

Seychelles holds presidential and parliamentary elections.

Gabon holds elections for its National Assembly, the first since the country’s 2023 military takeover and subsequent political transition.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov is scheduled to address the UN General Assembly.

The United Nations marks World Tourism Day.

The Springboks take on Argentina at Kings Park Stadium in Durban in a Rugby Championship match.

Canada face England in the Women’s Rugby World Cup final at Twickenham.

Sunday 28 September
The UK’s governing Labour Party opens its annual conference in Liverpool.

Moldova holds parliamentary elections.

The Women’s Global Network for Reproductive Rights marks International Safe Abortion Day.

International Daughters Day is observed, drawing attention to gender inequality and the persistence of son preference worldwide.

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Ockham Communications relies on a range of sources to compile the Ockham Observer and cannot be held responsible for any inaccuracies or omissions.