Deputy President Paul Mashatile told the National Assembly on 12 June 2025 that small-scale farmers still struggle to obtain credit due to the lack of title deeds, particularly in KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape, and Limpopo.
He says the government granted R500 million and 44 000 hectares for land redistribution in the 2025–2026 fiscal year.
This is in line with the numbers in the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform, and Rural Development’s 2025 budget vote. Some parliament members say progress is still slow because of bureaucratic and legal delays.
GANG VIOLENCE CONTINUES DESPITE OPERATION SHANELA ARRESTS
Mashatile, head of the Justice, Crime Prevention, and Security (JCPS) Cluster, says Operation Shanela has led to 13 000 arrests. The operation ran from 17 to 23 March 2025.
The programme’s main goal is to stop gang violence in places like the Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal. Stats SA Q1 2025 data shows youth unemployment at 45.5 percent, further pushing gang recruitment.
Security experts at the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) Africa say we can’t stop crime without dealing with poverty and gaps in education.
105 MUNICIPALITIES ARE FAILING
Mashatile attested to 105 municipalities’ poor water supply performance. The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) sends engineers to keep an eye on failing projects.
Theft, leaks, and billing errors cause water losses of up to 50% in some metros, according to the DWS 2025 performance report.
Outdated water infrastructure in places like Emfuleni, which has not been updated in over 40 years, has led to over R17 billion in debt owed to water boards and growing public discontent.
HIV: US WITHDRAWS PEPFAR FUNDING, LEAVING A R8 BILLION GAP
Deputy President Paulus Mashatile warned that the United States’ withdrawal from the PEPFAR would leave South Africa with an annual R8 million shortfall.
He said domestic resources will secure antiretroviral (ARV) medications for the next two years.
The South African National AIDS Council’s (SANAC’s) “Close the Gap” campaign aimed to place 1.1 million people on antiretroviral treatment by 2025.
However, groups like Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) warn that without ongoing funding, most vulnerable patients face serious risks.
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