Cape Town: Deputy President Paul Mashatile will answer oral questions in the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) in Parliament this afternoon. As the Chairperson of the Water Task Team, the Deputy President will update Members of Parliament on government’s plans to deliver quality water services to communities across all provinces, particularly focusing on the North West, Eastern Cape, Limpopo, and KwaZulu-Natal.
According to South African Government News Agency, the Deputy President will also apprise the NCOP on progress achieved in facilitating the settlement of outstanding land claims, particularly those that have been kept on hold following the Land Access Movement of South Africa judgments. The Presidency highlighted the importance of these discussions ahead of Thursday’s session.
On government efforts to contribute towards finding lasting peace and stability in Africa, Deputy President Mashatile will brief members on South Africa’s strategy in supporting the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in its efforts to achieve lasting peace and stability, with an aim to create an enabling environment for sustainable development and prosperity.
Deputy President Mashatile will present a range of government initiatives to provide sustainable quality water to communities through infrastructure investments, among other measures. In his capacity as the Chairperson of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Land Reform, he is also expected to reiterate the State’s commitment to finalising all outstanding land claims through a backlog strategy developed by the Commission on Restitution of Land Rights to accelerate the settlement of old-order claims.
The session in Cape Town will commence at 2pm.