On the three-sphere coordinated process of the District Development Model

REPLY:
Honourable Chairperson
Thank you, Hon Chief Whip, for bringing up this important issue of coordinated three-sphere planning to address collapse of service delivery through the implementation of the District Development Model (DDM).

Honourable Chairperson, allow me to provide a response that would demonstrate that our implementation of the DDM is through employing the whole-of-government approach to address challenges related to service delivery.

On 6 June 2025, we launched the Clean Cities and Towns Campaign in Kliptown, Soweto in collaboration with SALGA, Gauteng Provincial Government, the Department of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs and the Department of Environmental Affairs. The Clean Cities and Towns Campaign connects with the DDM by implementing the DDM's concepts of collaboration and integrated service delivery.

The Clean Cities and Towns Campaign is a nationwide initiative aimed at fostering cleaner, greener, and more inclusive urban spaces, while advancing sustainability, equality and solidarity among all citizens. This campaign provides us with an opportunity to interact with communities at local government level as part of our efforts to address service delivery challenges, utilising a whole-of-government approach.

Since the launch of this Campaign, we have visited Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality in the Free State Province, Moretele Local Municipality in the North-West. We have also conducted an oversight visit in the Western Cape's Overberg District Municipality to advance our land reform programme and promote community development.  

On 6 September 2025, I requested Minister Patricia de Lille in her capacity as a DDM Champion in the Western Cape, to lead the Clean Cities and Towns Campaign at Zwelihle Township in Overstrand Local Municipality. 

Through the participation of relevant National Ministers, Deputy Ministers, Premiers, MEC’s and DDM Champions in the Clean Cities and Towns Campaign, we can pull together all relevant stakeholders to report on progress, whilst we interact with communities to understand their service delivery challenges. 

We also encourage municipalities and cities themselves, all over the country, to conduct their own cleaning campaigns, promote citizen participation, and partner with local businesses to address community concerns, while promoting cleaner, safe and healthier environments.

In addition, on the 19th of August, I visited the Eastern Cape Province where I had engagements with His Majesty King Ndlovuyezwe Ndamase of amaMpondo aseNyandeni. This forms part of our government’s holistic approach to service delivery that is inclusive, culturally sensitive, and responsive to the diverse needs of our communities.

Lastly, on the 18th of Sept 2025, together with the Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure, I will have an opportunity to engage the Public Works MiniMec at Kariega in the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Municipality to address, among other matters, progress on the roll-out of Public Employment Programmes, infrastructure development and other service delivery challenges.

In addition to existing initiatives to ensure efficient service delivery in municipalities, through the implementation of Operation Vulindlela Phase II, the Presidency, National Treasury and the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs are currently working on institutionalising local government reforms. 

Our focus is to reform local government funding and revenue collection model, professionalising municipal management by enforcing minimum competency requirements for senior officials, reviewing the institutional structure of local government through an updated White Paper and the introduction of a utility model for trading services (water, electricity, waste) to ensure financial sustainability.

By utilising this approach, we will continue to bring together all spheres of government to strengthen collaborative and localised planning to address service delivery challenges.

I Thank you!

On Municipalities owing Water Boards

REPLY:
Honourable Chairperson.
Let me thank Honourable, Dr Scheurkogel for raising this important matter. 

On 08 April 2025, The Department of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) and the Department of Water and Sanitation briefed the Water Task Team on the performance of Water Services Authorities (WSA’s) and presented the status of municipal debt to Water Boards. As of June 2025, the collective debt owed to Water Boards across the country stands at R25.1 billion. 

To address this challenge, the Ministry of Water and Sanitation has made a call to all affected municipalities to make regular payments on current accounts for undisputed debt, ring-fence disputed amounts and enter into structured payment agreements for historical debt. 

In addition, National Treasury has agreed to withhold equitable share transfers to the worst performing municipalities in terms of non-payment to Water Boards, at the request of the Department of Water and Sanitation. The equitable share is withheld in tranches on a quarterly basis and released proportionally as municipalities make payments to Water Boards. 

The implementation of this mechanism began in December 2024, and it is in progress for municipalities that are failing to comply with payment obligations to Water Boards.

These measures have already begun to show some level of improvement in the financial sustainability of municipalities across the country. 

In addition, the Minister of Water and Sanitation has announced that Mangaung, Johannesburg and Tshwane Metropolitan Municipalities have managed to pay-off their debt to Water Boards. This improvement is commendable and must be replicated by other municipalities.

As we continue to implement measures against non-compliant municipalities, we will turn the tide of rising debt and move closer to improving the delivery of water and sanitation services to all South African citizens.
I Thank you!

On the increase in unemployment rate

REPLY:
Thank you Honourable Chairperson,
Honourable Molokomme, the rate of unemployment in our country is indeed a concern to all of us. As such, Government is currently implementing several collaborative initiatives to address youth unemployment including by improving labour market functioning through skills training, work experience, entrepreneurship support, and wage subsidies.

Furthermore, Government is utilising labour-intensive programmes such as the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP), Public Employment Programmes and Community Work Programme (CWP) to provide temporary employment and income support, especially to unemployed young people in sectors like infrastructure, environment, and social services.

To this end, Cabinet approved Phase V of the EPWP in February 2024 which aims to create 5 million more work opportunities between April 2024 and March 2029, with an estimated budget requirement of R178 billion over a five-year period.

This programme aims to address youth unemployment by offering young people access to work opportunities through the massification of projects like road maintenance including pothole patching, public infrastructure development, cleaning and beautification of public spaces, waste management and social services.

Honourable Chairperson
Through the Human Resource Development Council, which I lead, Government is collaborating with social partners, including business, labour, and civil society, to develop and execute a collective response to youth unemployment. 

In this regard, through the National Skills Development Plan and National Skills Fund, Government is collaborating with social partners, private sector, and educational institutions to equip youth and marginalised groups with market-relevant skills and facilitate job creation initiatives. 

To this end, on 29 August 2025, I addressed the official launch of the Jet Skills Desk, National Jet Skills Advisory Forum, and Multi-Donor Initiative at the Gallagher Convention Centre in Midrand, Gauteng. 

These Joint initiatives are aimed at providing leadership and coordination for a demand-driven skills development agenda, empowering disadvantaged and marginalised groups to participate in the green economy through employment and entrepreneurship.

Moreover, the Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, in collaboration with the Department of Defence, have conceptualised the SANDF-led National Youth Service Programme, which I had the opportunity to launch in 2024. This programme seeks to empower Women, Youth, and Persons with Disabilities to become emerging industrialists in sectors like agriculture, energy security, aerospace, maritime, the digital economy, and defence.

Honourable Chairperson
As Government we are committed to transition from fragmented responses to an integrated national programme that incorporates skills development, economic opportunity, workplace experience, entrepreneurship support, soft skills, and civic education to foster resilience and adaptability.

I Thank you! 

On supporting and empowering Non-Profit Organisations

REPLY:
Honourable Chairperson
In response to the perceived challenges of the withdrawal of US funding on HIV/AIDS programmes, Government has moved swiftly to mitigate the negative impact of the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) withdrawal for instance.

The measures we have put in place include the implementation of contingency plans by the National and Provincial Departments of Health to ensure sustained delivery of health services, especially in the 27 Districts that were funded by PEPFAR.

In this regard, the National Department of Health, together with Provincial Departments conducted a review of the approved HIV and AIDS Conditional Grant Business Plans for the 2025/26 financial year, to reprioritise activities to avoid service disruptions.  

Furthermore, the Minister of Health has engaged the Minister of Finance to look into the possibility of funding these gaps from the fiscus. These engagements have paved the way for the National Department of Health to submit a request for funding to the National Treasury to assist in closing the gap left by USAID, as it relates to supporting local non-profit organisations involved in the implementation of HIV and TB programmes.  

To this end, the Department of Heath sub-contracted non-governmental organisations led by People Living with HIV to support the implementation of the “Close the Gap” HIV Treatment Campaign. This campaign seeks to accelerate the enrolment of People Living with HIV on treatment, with the view of attaining the UNAIDS 95-95-95 targets by December 2025.   

When delivering the Ministry of Health Budget Vote, Minister Motsoaledi announced that the National Treasury would allocate R590,4 million to provinces to close the gap left by USAID withdrawal. The Provinces of Limpopo, Western Cape, Mpumalanga, Free State and Gauteng are already using these funds to contract non-profit organisations to continue implementing various HIV, TB and STI interventions.  

As I have stated during the opening plenary of the 12th SA AIDS Conference on Monday, our Government will continue to pursue all funding interventions, including strengthening partnerships with the private sector, to ensure that essential health services, including life-saving HIV treatment and prevention, continue to be provided to our communities.

Together, we can create a future where HIV/AIDS is no longer a threat, but a distant memory of our collective strength and determination.

I Thank you!

Lack of leadership transparency

REPLY:
Honourable Chairperson
In fulfilment of my obligations as a Member of Parliament, I have declared my financial interests to the Ethics Committee of the National Assembly. 

However, following a complaint that was lodged through the Registrar of Members’ Interests on 5 March 2025, the Ethics Committee found that not all registrable interests had been fully disclosed. In this regard, I made my representations to the Committee; however, my submissions were not upheld by the Committee.

Consequently, the Committee recommended to the House that a fine of R10 000 be imposed for a first offence of breach of the Code. 

As a disciplined Member of Parliament who respects the rule of law and the integrity of this institution, I have complied with this decision, and the fine has been duly settled. 

I Thank you!

On challenges and recommendations by the South African Human Rights Commission on failing municipalities

REPLY:
Honourable Chairperson
We welcome the report of the South African Human Rights Commission released in November 2024 on service delivery failures in 18 of Free State Municipalities. This report outlines findings for each municipality and makes recommendations. Among other things, the report identified critical areas such as inadequate infrastructure maintenance, poor road infrastructure, weak refuse removal services, revenue collection challenges, and high levels of managerial and technical vacancies.  

The following constitutes a summary of key findings of the SAHRC Report:

The Provincial Department of CoGTA is not fulfilling its obligations under Section 154 of the Constitution and Section 105 of the Municipal Systems Act 32 of 2002 for the following reasons:  
- Ten (10) out of 23 municipalities in the province are classified by COGTA as dysfunctional. This figure has not shown much improvement in the past 3 years;  
- No municipality in the Free State has achieved a clean audit in six consecutive financial years;
- Several municipalities do not have functional municipal public accounts committees; 
- There is a high vacancy rate of senior managers in Free State municipalities, including but not limited to Municipal Managers.  

In this regard, the Provincial Department of CoGTA, in collaboration with the Department of Water and Sanitation as well as the National Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, has processed the report and established systems to implement the recommendations of the SAHRC report. This initiative aims to enhance the enforcement of section 154 of the Constitution and section 105 of the Municipal Systems Act 32 of 2002, ensuring effective monitoring and support for municipalities in the Free State. 

Honourable Chairperson, to address the widespread service delivery failures, several Free State municipalities have incorporated targeted projects into their MIG implementation plans. The implementation of these projects is coordinated by CoGTA, with support from the Municipal Infrastructure Support Agent (MISA), and provincial stakeholders.

To this end, municipalities such as Mafube, Kopanong, and Ngwathe are prioritising the refurbishment of wastewater treatment works, pump stations and boreholes. These efforts are aimed at restoring basic water and sanitation services, which have been compromised due to ageing infrastructure and poor maintenance. 

In Maluti-a-Phofung, operations and maintenance support are being provided through a cost-reimbursement model, and MISA has deployed engineers and graduates to assist. Road maintenance is being tackled through the acquisition of yellow fleet equipment such as graders and rollers, particularly in Mafube. 

Kopanong Local Municipality is focusing on pothole management, resealing, and stormwater channel maintenance, supported by partnerships with the CWP and the Central University of Technology.

To improve waste management, Mafube has allocated MIG funding for the procurement of specialised vehicles for refuse removal. Kopanong is developing a solid waste sector plan and upgrading landfill sites, although funding and technical support are still pending.

These projects reflect a strategic shift towards restoring core municipal functions and improving the quality of life for residents in distressed areas. 

The Government is set to tackle service delivery challenges through the rollout of Phase II of Operation Vulindlela, aimed at reforming the local government funding and revenue collection model, alongside the review of the White Paper on Local Government. This will further enhance the financial viability of municipalities.

These interventions demonstrate our commitment in addressing service delivery challenges as identified by the SAHRC report in Free State Municipalities. 

However, municipalities have a constitutional obligation to provide basic services to their local communities in a sustainable manner, without recurring interventions by National and Provincial Government.

I Thank you!