By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Deputy President Paul Mashatile told MPs that they would guard against any abuse of state institutions and resources to serve political party interests.
Mashatile was responding to questions in the National Assembly on a range of issues from political interference in the NPA, including his own legal challenges.
Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema asked Mashatile whether he found a recent decision by the NPA to review its decision not to charge him for perjury as a political conspiracy targeting his political career.
Malema also asked him about the abuse of state institutions in the run-up to the ANC’s elective conference.
“Should we be worried that as you go closer to the conference of your party, we will see more abuse of state resources to settle political scores?”
Mashatile said that state abuse concerns were always there, but they would watch it closely.
“I want to say we will guard against that so that it doesn’t happen.”
Mashatile said those heading to an elective conference from any political party should campaign and contest without relying on outside influences.
Pepfar funding
Mashatile outlined the mobilisation of various resources from other quarters to plug the gap caused by the withdrawal of President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (Pepfar) funding.
Mashatile assured parliamentarians that the government was currently taking measures to prevent the negative effects that could result from withdrawal of the US funding.
He noted that the UNAid and other partners have indicated the funding withdrawal without adequate replacement could lead to significant increase in HIV-related death and new infections over the next decade.
“The abrupt withdrawal of the funding has resulted already in job losses and a negative impact on the national response to HIV, TB and sexually transmitted infections.”
Mashatile said Science, Technology and Innovation minister Blade Nzimande has announced the establishment of a working group on science, technology and innovation funding to advise him on the implication and the impact of recent withdrawal of funding particularly on key research and development programmes in the country.
“The working group will examine risk-mitigating considerations related to external funding, particularly of research and development programmes in critical areas of national systems and innovation,” said Mashatile.
Mashatile added that the South African National Aids Council has approached the national Lottery Commission (NLC) and the private sector to garner further funding.
“The NLC has submitted a funding application which is considered by discretionary emerging funding. We are hopeful all these resources mobilisation efforts will yield positive results as we can’t afford to have service delivery gaps in relation to health programmes, particularly those focusing on HIV and TB.
“We will continue with our efforts to find sufficient resources to sustain health programmes, including engaging other countries not only to assist us in funding but looking at affordable drugs,” said Mashatile.
Operation Vulindlela
Mashatile explained that Operation Vulindlela’s second wave had three major objectives, starting with the review of the 1998 white paper on local government.
That 120-page document laid the foundation for today’s municipalities, and a review will go hand-in-hand with a review of the funding model for all local government municipalities.
Mashatile only expects these reviews to be published in March 2026, but initial phases have already made headway.
“National Treasury has completed a review of local government conditional grants, and this process will be implemented in various stages,” said Mashatile.
The third part of the reforms will target the financial, technical and corporate services of the eight metros and will come into effect on 1 July.