Deputy President Outlines Water Strategy, Justice Reforms, and Debt Relief in NCOP Q&A

CAPE TOWN – The Deputy President, addressing the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) on Tuesday, November 25, 2025, provided extensive updates on national strategies spanning infrastructure investment, water service delivery, legislative priorities, crime fighting, and land reform. The session also coincided with the start of the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children Campaign.

Focus on Water Security and Public-Private Partnerships

 

Responding to a question on expanding public-private partnerships, the Deputy President acknowledged the severe decline in municipal capacity to deliver water services, noting that the national average for reliability is down to 68% and water quality is deteriorating in about 60% of water supply systems.

Government is responding through the Water Task Team to improve infrastructure and reform institutions. Key interventions include:

• Water Partnership Office (WPO): The DWS has established the WPO at the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) to help municipalities prepare projects for private sector investment.

• Olifants River Management Model: This $50:50$ Public-Private Partnership program in Limpopo is being implemented to address bulk water needs, with mining companies contributing half of the project cost.

• Infrastructure Fund: The DWS, Water Boards, and Water Service Authorities are working to increase collaboration with the Infrastructure Fund for more Blended Finance Water Projects over the next three years.

In a separate response on the water crisis in rural communities, the Deputy President highlighted the Municipal Infrastructure Grant (MIG), which allocates approximately $\text{R}9.5$ billion per annum (54% of the total grant) for water services in rural areas. Specific projects cited include:

• The handover of the $25\text{ml}$ Moretele South Bulk Water Supply Reservoir in North-West Province on August 1, 2025.

• The Lesotho Highlands Water Project (LHWP) Phase II—a major transfer scheme essential for water security in Gauteng, Free State, Mpumalanga, North-West, and the Northern Cape—is making significant progress.

The Deputy President also cautioned municipalities against the long-term reliance on water tankers, which must only be used as temporary emergency measures, and urged communities to report corruption related to tanker operations.

Justice System and Crime-Fighting Strategies

Addressing systemic issues in policing and the justice system, the Deputy President detailed integrated strategies being implemented by the Cabinet Committee on Justice, Crime-prevention and Security (JCPS).

• Anti-Gang Strategy: The National Anti-Gang Strategy is being implemented in the Western Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape, and Gauteng. This involves expanding anti-gang units to cover crimes such as drug trafficking and murders.

• Operation Shanyela: This South African Police Service (SAPS) operation is focused on stabilizing violent crime through weekly, intelligence-led, high-density operations in the Top 30 plus 5 high crime contributing stations.

• Case Backlogs: The Department of Justice and Constitutional Development has established a National Case Backlogs Committee—comprising the Judiciary, the NPA, and other key departments—to address blockages, delays, and postponements that contribute to growing case backlogs in the courts.

• Transnational Organised Crime: The SAPS is finalizing a strategy that integrates various agencies, including the NPA, Home Affairs, and SARS, to dismantle criminal networks.

Municipal Financial Debt Relief

To address the escalating municipal debt, which stood at $\text{R}25.1$ billion to Water Boards as of June 2025, the National Treasury has introduced a Municipal Debt Relief Package.

• Corrective Action: Part of the plan involves Top-Slicing Transfers, where National Treasury withholds Equitable Share transfers from non-compliant municipalities and redirects the funds to settle debts with bulk service providers like Eskom and Water Boards.

• Reform: Through Operation Vulindlela Phase II, Government has launched reforms to the Local Government Funding Model, including a review of the $1998$ White Paper on Local Government.

• Local Investment: The Sol Plaatje Local Municipality was highlighted, receiving a $\text{R}2.5$ billion allocation from the Budget Facility for Infrastructure (BFI) over seven years for water infrastructure upgrades.

Legislative Agenda and Land Reform

On legislative initiatives, the Deputy President confirmed that the seventh administration’s legislative program is guided by the Medium-Term Development Plan (MTDP) 2024–2029, which focuses on inclusive growth, job creation, and poverty reduction.

• Leader of Government Business (LGB): The LGB is responsible for developing and monitoring the Executive’s Legislative Programme. While the LGB does not control Private Members Bills, the Executive will support such legislative proposals if they align with the priorities of the Government of National Unity.

On land reform, the Deputy President reported that since $1996$, Government has spent over $\text{R}58$ billion on land restitution, acquiring $4$ million hectares of farmland. A key focus is the Professionalisation of Communal Property Associations (CPAs) through institutional support, training, and partnerships with experienced farmers to ensure restituted land is productively managed.

16 Days of Activism Campaign

The Deputy President began his address by noting the start of the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children Campaign under the theme “Letsema”—a call for collaborative, shared societal responsibility to end Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF).