Pretoria: President Cyril Ramaphosa says he is pleased with Deputy President Paul Mashatile's recovery following a minor surgical procedure.
According to South African Government News Agency, the President visited the Deputy President on Tuesday afternoon and was assured he will soon be back at work. Mashatile was appointed as the Deputy President on 6 March 2023 and has been entrusted with several significant responsibilities. These include serving as the Leader of Government Business in Parliament and spearheading efforts to fast-track land reform alongside coordinating government programs to accelerate agricultural support.
Mashatile is also tasked with implementing rapid response interventions on service delivery issues and troubleshooting in service delivery hotspots. He assists the President in rolling out the District Development Model, aimed at improving the functioning of municipalities and addressing community concerns through effective coordination of different government spheres.
Additionally, Mashatile leads the South African National AIDS Council, overseeing the country's integrated response to HIV and AIDS challenges. In his role as Special Envoy on South Sudan, he leads peace missions across the continent as required. He also presides over the National Human Resource Development Council, fostering collaboration between the government and social partners to address skill shortages in critical economic sectors.
Furthermore, Mashatile promotes social cohesion initiatives, with a focus on Traditional and Khoi-San Leaders, as well as Military Veterans. He chairs the Cabinet Committees on Governance, State Capacity and Institutional Development, and Justice, Crime Prevention and Security.