Deputy President Mashatile Responds to NCOP Questions
Cape Town – 11 September 2025
Deputy President Paul Mashatile addressed a hybrid plenary sitting of the National Council of Provinces (NCOP), responding to oral questions on service delivery, municipal debt, unemployment, HIV/AIDS funding, transparency, and municipal governance.
On the District Development Model (DDM), Mashatile highlighted the nationwide Clean Cities and Towns Campaign, launched in June 2025, as part of a “whole-of-government” approach to improve service delivery. Oversight visits have been conducted in Free State, North West and Western Cape municipalities, with upcoming engagements scheduled in Nelson Mandela Bay. Operation Vulindlela Phase II is also being implemented to reform municipal funding and professionalise management.
Addressing municipal debt to Water Boards, Mashatile reported that municipalities owe R25.1 billion as of June 2025. National Treasury has begun withholding equitable share transfers to non-compliant municipalities, with Mangaung, Johannesburg and Tshwane having cleared their arrears.
On unemployment, he pointed to labour-intensive programmes such as the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) Phase V, targeting 5 million work opportunities by 2029 with a R178 billion budget. He also outlined initiatives under the Human Resource Development Council, new skills partnerships, and the SANDF-led National Youth Service Programme.
In response to concerns about non-profit organisations and HIV/AIDS funding following the withdrawal of some US support, Mashatile said government has reprioritised conditional grants and allocated R590.4 million to provinces to ensure uninterrupted health services.
On leadership transparency, Mashatile confirmed that Parliament’s Ethics Committee imposed a R10,000 fine for incomplete disclosure of interests, which he has paid in compliance.
Responding to the SA Human Rights Commission’s findings on Free State municipalities, he outlined interventions such as wastewater treatment refurbishments, road maintenance, waste management upgrades, and technical support via the Municipal Infrastructure Support Agent. Operation Vulindlela reforms are expected to strengthen financial viability and oversight in local government.
