Deputy President Paul Mashatile: Parliamentary Press Gallery Association

Minister in the Presidency, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni;
Members of the Parliamentary Press Gallery Association;
Ladies and gentlemen,

Good Evening, Ndi Madekwana, Riperile,

I wish to express my sincere appreciation and gratitude to the Leadership of the Parliamentary Press Gallery Association for extending this gracious invitation to engage with us. 

The significance of your work to my responsibilities as the Leader of Government Business, as delegated by the President, is of great magnitude.

Your role in reporting on the intricate workings of our parliamentary processes cannot be overstated because you are the conduit through which vital information is disseminated to our citizens, ensuring executive accountability to Parliament.

Challenges and progress

Ladies and gentlemen, we are currently in the 3rd term of the 6th Democratic Parliament and nine months away from the end of the sixth administration. We are also approaching a critical milestone of thirty years of our democracy.

For many of us who lived through the transition from apartheid-to-democracy, we cannot forget the events that led to the 1994 elections. 

The attainment of free and fair elections was made possible through the involvement of several stakeholders, including the media.

Some media outlets played a major role that framed issues in such a way as to encourage negotiation, reconciliation, free and fair elections, and the formation of an all-inclusive government. 

By contrast, the media discouraged violence, belligerence, and separatism.
Collectively, we have demonstrated that we can overcome any obstacle. As we look back on the past few decades, it is evident that we have been a nation of immense resilience, overcoming numerous obstacles on our path towards progress.

Working together with various stakeholders under the umbrella of the South African National Aids Council (SANAC), we have made substantial progress in the fight against the HIV/AIDS and TB epidemics.

During the late 1990s and early 2000s, South Africa had one of the highest rates of HIV infection in the world. We are currently implementing the National Strategic Plan (2023-2028), which highlights bold strategic objectives that aim to reduce barriers to accessing health and social services. It promotes a new and urgent focus to reduce inequalities for all people living with HIV, TB, and STIs who are not benefiting from treatment and care services.

In this regard, we can proudly say that South Africa is making progress in the fight against HIV, TB, and STIs, as envisaged by the National Development Plan 2030.
In terms of the economy, 

South Africa has made remarkable progress in attracting foreign investment and promoting economic growth, despite the challenges that came with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Our country's evolution from a primarily resource-based economy to a diversified one has led to the expansion of sectors such as finance, manufacturing, and tourism. However, challenges such as unemployment, income inequality, and load shedding still persist.

As government, we are currently implementing targeted measures to deal with these and other challenges that are hampering the economic growth of our country. Efforts have also been made to address historical injustices by implementing land reform initiatives to rectify the imbalances resulting from the apartheid era.

We are at work reversing the 1913 Native Land Act, which forced thousands of African families out of their property. 

We are focusing on utilising unused land for agricultural output through the Land Reform programme, with 1.5 million hectares acquired for redistribution, restitution, and tenure reform.

In 2020, the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Agriculture and Land Reform released 700,000 hectares of state land, with 896 farms designated for the Agricultural State Land Allocation Project, with 11,749 allocated to women and 2,634 to youth.

In a nutshell, our government has evidently made strides in reversing apartheid's spatial, social, and economic challenges. For example,

• More than 84% of South Africans have their homes electrified
• 4.5 Million South Africans living with HIV receive ARVS
• 1.2 Trillion invested in national infrastructure projects over ten years
• 17.5 Million South Africans benefit from social grants
• 88.6% of South Africans have access to clean drinking water
• 3.2 Million free houses have been built since 1994 and
• 94.35 South Africans can read and write.

In addition, despite having gained material prosperity, we have achieved the most important freedom, which is the freedom of movement for our people as well as their dignity.

Our role as Leader of Government Business.

Fellow compatriots, as I have mentioned, one of my delegated responsibilities is that of Leading Government Business in the National Assembly, as provided for by Section 91(4) of the constitution.

Through regular reports (LoGB) to the Cabinet, we are able to monitor and track executive accountability to Parliament. This we do by presenting reports on outstanding responses by Members of the Executive to questions for written reply in both the National Assembly and the NCOP.

Commendable work has been done in this area to reduce the number of questions endorsed as unanswered and thereafter lapsed at the end of each Parliamentary session from 403 in 2019 to 83 at the end of the 2022 Parliamentary session.

However, much more needs to be done to ensure that Members of the Executive prioritise their parliamentary responsibilities by appearing before various Committees of Parliament when required and submitting reports and other documentation within stipulated timeframes as provided for by the Rules of Parliament.

 In line with the responsibilities of the Leader of Government Business in Parliament as defined by the Joint Rules of Parliament, I have undertaken to perform the following important tasks:

• Monitor the implementation of the Legislative Programme by Parliament.
• Introduce measures to effectively monitor and improve the quality of legislation submitted by the executive for Cabinet approval.

On March 29, 2023, Cabinet approved the 2023 Legislative Programme with 42 Executive Bills. Cabinet further instructed Members of the Executive to advise the Leader of Government Business about priority legislation that needs to be approved by Cabinet and introduced to Parliament before the end of the 6th Administration.

In this regard, we are working tirelessly to expedite the processing of priority legislation by Parliament before the end of the 6th Administration. As of August 31, 2023, eleven (11) out of 42 bills in the 2023 Legislative Programme had already been introduced to Parliament.

Members of the Executive with priority bills have been able to submit their legislative proposals for introduction to Parliament before the September 4 deadline, as agreed to by the Speaker of the National Assembly.

In terms of our plan, critical legislation like the Electricity Regulation Amendment Bill, the General Intelligence Laws Amendment Bill, and the South African National Water Resources Infrastructure Agency SOC Limited Bill, to mention a few, will in all likelihood be processed by Parliament before the end of the Sixth Administration.

Esteemed Members, 

We must all be dedicated to the principle of building a democratic government that is stable for the benefit of our communities. It is for these reasons that we have recently convened the National Dialogue on Coalition Governments to ensure that together we build strong, stable, and resilient governments, especially at the local level.

Other delegated responsibilities to the Deputy President 

As part of addressing the skills shortage required to advance economic growth in our country, President Ramaphosa has entrusted me with the leadership of the Human Resource Development Council. This council serves as a collaborative platform, engaging multiple stakeholders from diverse sectors, including government, the private sector, academia, and representatives of civil society.

To give effect to this vision, the council has developed a strategy that focuses on building the human resources required for an improved and competitive economy. The strategy focuses on the following programmes:

• Strengthening basic education and foundation programmes in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, languages, and life orientation and skills;
• Higher Education and Training, Research, and Innovation;
• Developing the skills needed for the economy and society
• Building a developmental and capable state.

Having established consensus with our social partners through the signing of three social compacts, we have now agreed to move with the necessary speed to improve the discipline of execution in order to strengthen existing programmes and develop an appropriate and tangible action plan. 

The first signed social compact focuses on intensifying economic and social transformation efforts. 

The second seeks to focus our energies on creating the skills necessary to get the country on a positive economic trajectory, whereas the third compact focuses on developing a capable and progressive state.

These compacts are crucial because they symbolise our country's collective commitment to addressing the skills crisis, increasing the economy, and building an inclusive society through strengthening collaboration between government and social partners.

In this regard, since assuming the position of deputy president, I have engaged with various social partners, including JSE, and tomorrow we are going to meet with NEDLAC.

The collaboration among business, labour, community, and government, facilitated by the National Economic Development and Labour Council (NEDLAC), has demonstrated remarkable effectiveness in overseeing the execution of the framework agreement.

Furthermore, we are currently engaged in ongoing discussions with social partners to expedite the implementation of the framework agreement, including the Eskom Social Compact that was signed in 2020. The objective of this agreement is to stabilise Eskom, ensuring the provision of an efficient, reliable, and affordable energy supply.

This, in turn, will facilitate sustainable job creation and foster inclusive economic growth. These compacts support our country's most important social compact, the National Development Plan, which outlines growth and development goals as well as timelines.

In terms of service delivery, the government seeks to increase non-governmental organisations, (NPOs) and the private sector's participation in local development and service delivery programmes. This work also includes tailored training and skill-building programmes to make sure that people can access their basic social and economic rights. In addition, the government keeps running a number of projects that are meant to make the lives of ordinary South Africans better. 

Part of our delegated responsibilities include, amongst others, the implementation of rapid response interventions in service delivery and troubleshooting in service delivery hotspots.

Since we assumed office in March 2023, we have engaged in outreach programmes in various provinces and municipalities as part of our responsibility to troubleshoot service delivery hotspots. This area of work is coupled with our efforts to assist the President in the roll-out of the District Development Model (DDM) through effective coordination of the different spheres of government in order to improve the functioning of municipalities.

Moving forward, it is essential for all of us, as government, civil society, the private sector, and the media, especially the PGA, to work together as we navigate solutions to address the remaining challenges and construct a more prosperous, inclusive, and equitable South Africa.

As the world rapidly evolves and expands, your role as a media professional becomes increasingly vital. This is evident in the halls of Parliament, which is where democracy and governance intersect.

As journalists and media professionals, you are obligated to reaffirm your commitment to the truth and ethical standards. It is important for us to remember that journalism is not mere entertainment or clickbait; it is a powerful tool for educating the masses, fostering dialogue, and building bridges between communities.

Journalists must uphold the highest ethical standards, maintaining accuracy, independence, fairness, and accountability in their reporting. 

Therefore, I urge you to tirelessly pursue journalistic excellence.

Hold our elected officials accountable, reveal the truth, and provide the public with impartial information.

In conclusion, a well-known poet named Lord Byron once said, "Words possess a tangible impact, as even a small droplet of ink, akin to dew upon a thought, has the power to inspire countless individuals, perhaps even millions."

As journalists and editors, it is your responsibility to share accurate information with the public so that people can make decisions based on accurate information. Together, let us shape a brighter future for South Africa and its democracy.

I thank you.