QUESTION 
13. Mr J S Malema (EFF) to ask the President of the Republic:
Considering the upsurge of Afrophobic violence instigated by the March and March and other groupings in the Republic, and noting the impact such actions have had on the standing of the Republic in the African continent, including the snubbing of his special envoy to the continent, the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Mr R O Lamola, by the Nigerian president, what medium to longterm interventions has he put in place to restore the credibility of the Republic as an honest PanAfrican voice in the continent and in the diaspora? NW4719E
 
REPLY
Honourable Members,
 
South Africa remains a respected member of the African community of nations and a principled Pan-African actor.
 
We continue to participate actively in continental and regional bodies and processes.
 
While some African countries have raised concerns about anti-migrant actions by some groups in South Africa, as a Government, we have firmly and publicly rejected xenophobia, Afrophobia, vigilantism, and all forms of discrimination against migrants. 
 
At the regional and continental level, we have reinforced South Africa's commitment to Pan-Africanism through cooperation with the Southern African Development Community, the African Union and partner states on migration governance, regional integration and burden-sharing.
 
We have had direct engagements with a number of Heads of State and Government to explain our position and approach.
 
Last week, at the 46th Ordinary SADC Summit, hosted in eThekwini, we had the opportunity to brief the leaders of the region on the situation in the country.
 
In its Communiqué, the Summit called for a coordinated and multidimensional dialogue at regional level to address the underlying drivers of migration and develop comprehensive, sustainable and effective responses.
 
Through our Comprehensive Approach to Managing Migration, we have emphasised that migration challenges must be addressed through the rule of law, respect for human dignity and the strengthening of state institutions – not through unlawful actions targeting foreign nationals.
 
An important part of this approach is the reform and modernisation of South Africa's migration governance framework. 
 
This includes strengthening border management, addressing corruption within the immigration system, improving legal migration pathways, and implementing the White Paper on Citizenship, Immigration and Refugee Protection. 
 
These measures are intended to enhance public confidence in the state's ability to manage migration effectively while upholding South Africa's constitutional and international obligations.
 
South Africa continues to advocate for collective African solutions to the drivers of migration, while engaging diplomatically to address concerns about developments in the country.
 
I thank you.

 
QUESTION 
14. Mr M Ntuli (ANC) to ask the President of the Republic:
Given that the role of Interim Chair of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) places a particular responsibility on the Republic to contribute to the preservation of constitutionalism, democratic governance, peace and stability in the SADC region, and noting that the political developments in the Republic of Madagascar have raised important questions regarding the restoration of constitutional order, protection of democratic institutions and establishment of a credible and inclusive political process, what (a) concrete measures has the Republic implemented, in its capacity as Interim Chair of SADC, to ensure that the Republic of Madagascar returns to constitutional and democratic order and (b) is the time frame within which SADC expects the transition to be completed? NO4639E
 
REPLY
Honourable Members,
 
South Africa continues to play an active role – through SADC – to support Madagascar's return to constitutional governance through sustained diplomatic engagement, mediation and oversight of the transition process. 
 
This support includes the deployment of the SADC Panel of Elders, led by the former President of Malawi, Dr Joyce Banda, which undertook three missions to Madagascar.
 
The Community also expanded the mandate of the SADC Panel of Elders to facilitate dialogue, consensus-building and reconciliation among key stakeholders.
 
Approval was given for the deployment of a SADC Liaison Office in Antananarivo to support the implementation of the Programme for the Refoundation of the Republic of Madagascar, electoral reforms and the organisation of the referendum and general elections.
 
South Africa and SADC maintain that the reform and re-foundation process must remain inclusive, transparent, impartial and time-bound. 
 
The process should serve as a pathway towards the restoration of a full constitutional order and the establishment of a democratically elected government.
 
In this regard, SADC continues to engage all relevant stakeholders to encourage adherence to agreed commitments and to support conditions conducive to a peaceful and credible transition.
 
The completion of the transition remains guided by the sovereign will and democratic aspirations of the Malagasy people.
 
The ultimate objective is to restore constitutional governance, strengthen democratic institutions and ensurelong-term peace and stability in Madagascar.
 
I thank you.

 
QUESTION  
15. Mr G Michalakis (DA) to ask the President of the Republic: 
Following previous interventions, what has he found to be the reasons that the National Water Crisis Action Plan will not be successful in (a) restoring reliable water to deprived communities and (b) eradicating sewage pollution? NO4711E
 
REPLY
Honourable Members,
 
In responding to the water crisis, we are drawing on the experience of our successful response to the electricity crisis.
 
The implementation of the Energy Action Plan brought to an end more than a decade of persistent load shedding.
 
We have taken the same approach of focused, coordinated actions into developing the National Water Action Plan.
 
The Plan, which is being overseen and coordinated by theNational Water Crisis Committee, was developed following extensive consultation with municipalities, water boards and relevant departments.
 
The National Water Action Plan is based on a thorough analysis of the root causes of the water crisis at municipal level and what needs to be done to address the challenges. 
 
It identifies actions that will significantly improve water service delivery in the short-term as well as actions – suchas legislative and other reforms – that will take longer. 
 
Both the Energy Action Plan and the National Water Action Plan are part of Operation Vulindlela, the reform programme being coordinated and driven by the Presidency.
 
The challenges in the water sector are caused by deep structural problems at the municipal level.
 
These structural problems include the fact that revenue from the sale of water is not ring-fenced and re-invested into water provision.
 
In most municipalities, there is no proper separation of the functions of water services authorities and water services providers.
 
The measures being undertaken to improve water services in the short-term include projects to increase access to water in unserved communities and completion of long-delayed water services projects.
 
We are increasing support to struggling municipalities and strengthening interventions in poorly performing municipalities in terms of existing legislation.
 
We are also combating corruption and criminality in the water sector, including theft of metal parts for sale as scrap metal and the water tanker mafia.
 
Through the progress we are making, we are confident that the implementation of the National Water Action Plan will result in the resolution of the water crisis, both in terms of restoring reliable water to deprived communities and eradicating sewage pollution.
 
Importantly, it will address many of the immediate water challenges that communities face, while establishing a foundation for sustainable and secure water supply into the future.
 
I thank you.

 
QUESTION 
16. Ms N A Gcaleka-Mazibuko (ANC) to ask the President of the Republic:
 
Considering that local government is the sphere of government closest to the people, yet it has become the weakest in terms of financial management, governance and service delivery, what structural reforms have been implemented by his administration to (a) restore the capacity of municipalities and (b) strengthen accountability to ensure that communities receive reliable basic services which will enable job creation NO4640E
 
REPLY
Honourable Members, 
 
Effective local government is essential to improving the lives of our people, supporting local economic development and creating the conditions for investment and job creation.
 
According to the Constitution, the three spheres of government are distinctive, interdependent and interrelated.
 
While the Constitution says that each sphere must respect the constitutional status, institutions, powers and functions of government in other spheres, it places a responsibility on national and provincial governments to support and strengthen the capacity of municipalities.
 
The strengthening of municipalities is an important priority of this administration.
 
Regarding the restoration of municipal capacity, we havefocused on building a more capable, professional and developmental local government system by strengthening leadership and administration in municipalities.
 
We have been working to improve coordination across the three spheres of government, including through the introduction of the District Development Model.
 
We have undertaken targeted support to municipalities experiencing the greatest governance and service delivery challenges.
 
In respect of strengthening accountability, government has intensified oversight and monitoring and strengthened consequence management.
 
We have supported interventions where municipalities are unable to fulfil their constitutional obligations.
 
National government has also enhanced collaboration between institutions responsible for governance, financial oversight and combating corruption.
 
Looking to the future, we are close to completing a review of the White Paper on Local Government, which envisages far-reaching reforms to this critical sphere of government.
 
These reforms are directed towards building stable, capable and accountable municipalities that can deliver reliable basic services.
 
They are directed towards restoring public confidence in local government and creating an enabling environment for inclusive economic growth and sustainable job creation.
 
I thank you.

 
QUESTION 
17. Mr R A P Trollip (ActionSA) to ask the President of the Republic:
 
On which objective metrics did he base the statement he made on 4 May 2026 that the Mayor of the Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality, Ms Babalwa Lobishe, was doing very well and was stabilising the specified municipality? NO4644E

REPLY
Honourable Members,
 
On the 4th of May this year, in my capacity as President of the African National Congress, I participated in an oversight visit by the ANC National Working Committee to the Nelson Mandela Bay Metro.
 
Following engagements with the ANC regional leadership on the state of governance and delivery in the metro, including site visits to various projects, I was asked to reflect on the performance of Mayor Babalwa Lobishe.
 
My comments were based on an in-depth assessment of the challenges in the metro – some going back many years – and the steps that had been taken by the current mayor and metro leadership to address them.
 
I noted that while progress was being made in a number of areas, we would like to see better and faster progress on key issues that affect the lives of the residents of Gqeberha.
 
Details on the metrics used by the National Government to assess the state of municipalities may be sought from the Department of Cooperative Governance.
 
I thank you.
 

QUESTION 
18. Ms M L Mofokeng (ANC) to ask the President of the Republic:
With reference to his State of the Nation Address on 12 February 2026, wherein he announced the deployment of Operation Prosper to combat illegal mining, what tangible and/or measurable progress has been achieved to date in respect of the targets of the operation? NO4700E
 
REPLY
Honourable Members,
 
Since the announcement in the State of the Nation Address on the 12th of February 2026, Operation Prosper has achieved tangible and measurable progress in combating illegal mining.
 
Joint operations by the South African Police Service and the South African National Defence Force under Operation Prosper have disrupted illegal mining in the Free State, Gauteng and North West through high-visibility policing, vehicle checkpoints and air support. 
 
These operations have resulted in arrests, the dismantling of illegal mining sites and the confiscation of firearms, explosives and illegal mining equipment.
 
Through interdepartmental coordination with the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources, the joint deployment has resulted in the arrest of 1,080 individuals, among them armed suspects and undocumented miners.
 
During these targeted operations, the deployment seized 19 firearms, over 2,000 rounds of ammunition and 41 commercial explosives.
 
In addition, it has seized 83 generators, over 1,000 refining drums, nearly 2,000 kilograms of gold-bearing material and approximately 150 kilograms of gold. 
 
These actions have disrupted the operational and financial lifelines of illegal mining networks.
 
To prevent the resurgence of these activities, the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources has closed many illegal shafts, with further closures planned. 
 
The South African Police Service and the South African National Defence Force continue to secure these locations through ongoing foot patrols, vehicle checkpoints and air-to-ground monitoring.
 
I thank you.