South African Deputy President Shipokosa Paulus Mashatile has unveiled a comprehensive plan for national development during his address on the Presidency Budget Vote in the National Assembly on Tuesday.
Speaking on behalf of the newly formed Government of National Unity (GNU), Mashatile emphasised that the budget reflects a collective vision for improving the lives of South Africans.
“We find ourselves in an extraordinary social, economic, and political environment,” Mashatile stated, highlighting the unique nature of the current GNU.
“The reality of our recent election results is that no party represented in this house won an outright majority to work alone legislatively or at the executive level. This underscores the importance of our collective responsibility in this new GNU.”
The Deputy President outlined key areas of focus, including health, infrastructure, education, and economic growth.
He stressed the importance of collaboration, stating, “Despite our diverse political party affiliations, it is crucial for us to combine our abilities to address and achieve the strategic goals set out by President Ramaphosa during his Opening of Parliament Address.”
On service delivery, Mashatile introduced the District Development Model (DDM), saying, “We are strengthening the implementation of the District Development Model through better coordination across the various levels of government. This will improve municipal efficiencies and operations and address community concerns.”
In the health sector, significant progress was reported in the fight against HIV/AIDS. “As of February 2024, over 5.9 million people were under treatment, and over 4.3 million had their viral load reduced,” Mashatile announced. He added, “We remain determined to end the HIV/AIDS epidemic in our country!”
Education and skills development featured prominently in the budget priorities. Mashatile outlined the Human Resource Development Council’s (HRDC) goals, including “Enhancing fundamental education programmes in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, languages, and life skills” and “Increasing access to quality post-school education and training.”
On the economic front, the Deputy President introduced Operation Vulindlela, explaining, “It is a target-driven process to ensure the successful implementation of reforms and the achievement of policy goals as outlined in the MTDP and the reforms introduced in the 6th administration.”
Land reform remains a key priority, with Mashatile revealing, “Since the inception of the Land Reform programme in 1994, 5.3 million hectares of land have been acquired through land redistribution, benefitting over 315 000 persons, including labour tenants, farm dwellers, and Extension of Security of Tenure (ESTA) occupiers.”
The budget also allocates resources for supporting military veterans. Mashatile announced, “The target for the 2024/2025 financial year is to process 4 000 applications” for new pension benefits.
Addressing social cohesion, Mashatile stated, “As The Presidency, one of the critical priorities we are concerned with is promoting social cohesion and nation-building. These efforts align with Chapter 15 of the country’s National Development Plan, which focuses on transforming society and uniting the country.”
The Deputy President concluded by emphasising the historic nature of this budget and the new GNU, quoting President Oliver Tambo: “Our strength lies in unity, and our unity lies in our diversity.” He added, “As President Ramaphosa previously stated, we, seated here today, have the opportunity to transform South Africa into what it should be.”
This budget, emerging from a unified government approach, represents a significant commitment to addressing long-standing challenges and fostering inclusive growth. It underscores the government’s dedication to improving service delivery, healthcare, education, and economic opportunities for all South Africans as the country marks 30 years of democracy.
