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This week Deputy Minister Paul Mashatile found himself having to defend the ANC government after EFF MP Mmabatho Mokause compared it to the apartheid regime, which has failed to address the needs of ordinary South Africans for 30 years.
While he acknowledged the frustrations of some South Africans who had not witnessed the struggles of the past, including studying by candlelight as well as long commutes to school, Mashatile said there was a stark contrast to the present.
He was responding to a question from Mokause, who pointed out the 1994 mandate to improve the lives of marginalised communities and deliver services, which she believes the ANC had not fulfilled.
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She said:
She said there was a fear that the local government might collapse.
“A total of 128 municipalities in 2021 were reported to be in financial distress; now, the number of municipalities under distress increased to 168, with only 5% in stable condition,” said Mokause.
She then inquired about solutions offered by the District Development Model (DDM) to build internal state capacity.
This capacity would enable the state to improve service delivery at the local level and maintain infrastructure, including roads, water, railways, schools and housing.
She further emphasised the critical state of hospitals and pressed for solutions, stating, "hospitals are a priority, but they have collapsed. What are your solutions?"
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Mashatile said that the DDM ensured that the three spheres of government [national, provincial and local] were working together to attend to those issues.
He said the party was attending to these issues as one government adding that there was progress on the ground.
He said:
“We can forgive you, honourable member, maybe you were young at the time. Ask us who lived under apartheid,” said Mahatile responding to Mokause.
“We will tell you that it is better today. When I was a student in the 1970s, I used a candle to study because, in Alexandra, we had no electricity.
“In fact, it was called dark city,” he continued.
Mashatile went on to remark that there were many individuals who could recount stories about walking hundreds of kilometres to school since there was just one school in each village.
“Today, there are many schools in our communities, houses provided by the state, access to water even in deep rural areas,” he argued.
Mashatile acknowledged that service delivery would always put pressure on infrastructure and resources. However, he emphasised government's efforts through the DDM.
He cited infrastructure programmes, such as Thuntsha Lerole as examples of their commitment to improving infrastructure, including schools, hospitals and roads.
“We will continue to work while others continue to talk,” he added.
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Mokause raised a point of order, but instead of a response to her question, there were murmurs of disagreement in the background, including a suggestion to "take her out of the system".
Mashatile added that there were also presidential imbizos specifically designed to interact with people. These imbizos aim to empower citizens by informing them about the challenges faced by the country.
He acknowledged past criticisms that government seemed distant, residing solely in Pretoria. However, he emphasised the current approach of holding imbizos, stating: “People are always facing challenges, and these imbizos are meant to address those challenges and find solutions through intervention.”
