Paul Mashatile Emphasizes Unity and Collaboration to Achieve Strategic Goals

The Deputy President outlined several key responsibilities, including accelerating land reform, improving service delivery, and assisting in the rollout of the District Development Model (DDM).

In his address during the 2024/25 Budget Vote in Parliament, Deputy President Paul Mashatile highlighted the importance of unity and collaboration among political parties to achieve the strategic goals set forth in President Cyril Ramaphosa’s recent Opening of Parliament Address (OPA).

The goals outlined by President Ramaphosa include promoting inclusive growth, job creation, poverty alleviation, addressing the high cost of living, and establishing a capable, ethical, and progressive State. Deputy President Mashatile emphasized that these objectives are too significant to be achieved in isolation and stressed the need for collective efforts to drive progress.

"These goals are too important to be pursued alone. We must complement each other and view collaboration as the cornerstone of our success," Mashatile told Members of Parliament (MPs). His remarks followed the recent May General Elections and the formation of a Government of National Unity (GNU) in the seventh administration.

Mashatile urged MPs to prioritize the well-being of the people over political desires, asserting, "Our actions must be driven by a commitment to improving people’s lives. We must live up to our duty to serve."

He reaffirmed the Presidency's commitment to supporting and fulfilling obligations as outlined in the Statement of Intent and the Medium-Term Development Plan. The Presidency aims to enhance transparency, accountability, and trust in governance, serving as a guiding force for the nation to achieve a more equitable, democratic, and prosperous South Africa.

The Deputy President outlined several key responsibilities, including accelerating land reform, improving service delivery, and assisting in the rollout of the District Development Model (DDM). He also highlighted his role in championing social policy through the South African National AIDS Council (SANAC) and the Human Resources Development Council (HRDC), as well as initiatives focusing on traditional and Khoi-San leaders, military veterans, and water management.

Mashatile emphasized the need to expedite actions and implement reforms effectively. "The Presidency is prioritizing the acceleration of execution and introducing a discipline of getting things done," he said.

He stressed the importance of strengthening partnerships with local communities, including traditional leaders, and enhancing support for municipalities through the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA). Efforts will be made to improve service delivery and engage with the private sector to create jobs, particularly for marginalized youth.

The Deputy President also committed to supporting the Department of Basic Education’s reading campaign to foster a reading culture in schools and communities. In the fight against HIV/AIDS, he noted that as of February 2024, over 5.9 million people were under treatment, with more than 4.3 million having achieved a reduced viral load.

Regarding tuberculosis (TB), Mashatile called for relentless efforts to locate and treat missing individuals as part of the National TB Recovery Plan. He also reiterated the importance of land reform as a priority, aimed at achieving restorative justice and transforming colonial and apartheid spatial planning.

Additionally, he highlighted the progress in providing pension benefits for military veterans. The Department of Military Veterans has partnered with the Government Pensions Administration Agency (GPAA) to process applications for new pension benefits, with a target of processing 4,000 applications for the current financial year.