As part of his delegated responsibility to foster social cohesion and champion nation building initiatives across South Africa, Deputy President Shipokosa Paulus Mashatile will on Thursday, 10 April 2025, lead the 32nd Commemoration of the late liberation struggle icon and freedom fighter, Chris Thembisile Hani, taking place at the Chris Hani Memorial Site, Sabalele Village, Cofimvaba in the Eastern Cape Province.

The commemoration marks 32 years since the passing of Chris Hani, a giant of the liberation struggle and one of South Africa’s most revered revolutionary leaders. Under the theme “Remembering Our Hero, Chris Hani,” the commemorative event will sound a call to the nation to reflect on his life, ideals as well as his unwavering commitment to justice, non-racialism and economic freedom.

This year’s commemoration takes place during Freedom Month, underlining the enduring relevance of Chris Hani’s vision for a democratic, inclusive and socially just South Africa. As the country remembers his assassination on 10 April 1993, just a year before South Africa’s first democratic elections, Government also honours his lifelong fight for a nation where all people enjoy equal rights and dignity.

Chris Hani’s legacy stands as a beacon of courage, selflessness, and service to the people. “A fearless soldier, a servant of the masses, and an intellectual strategist of the liberation movement, Chris Hani sacrificed comfort and safety in pursuit of justice and the dismantling of apartheid. His memory therefore reminds us of the unfinished task of building an economically liberated South Africa,” said Deputy President Mashatile.

The commemoration will feature a walkabout at the Chris Hani Library and Museum, tributes from Government, elected political party representatives and community leaders as well as cultural performances to honour his legacy.

Details of the commemoration are as follows:

Date: Thursday, 10 April 2025
Time: 10h00 (Gates open at 08h00 for media and public)
Venue: Chris Hani Memorial Site, Sabalele Village, Cofimvaba, Eastern Cape Province

Media wishing to cover the event must please send their RSVPs to Mthuthuzeli Nqumba (DSAC) on 066 302 5397 or mthuthuzelin@dsac.gov.za or Yonela Dekeda (ECOTP) on 083 378 0968 or yonela.dekeda@ecotp.gov.za or Bongani Majola (The Presidency) on 082 339 1993 or bonganim@presidency.gov.za 

Media enquiries: Mr Keith Khoza, Acting Spokesperson to the Deputy President on 066 195 8840.

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

Deputy President Shipokosa Paulus Mashatile has today, 08 April 2025, at the Union Buildings in Pretoria, convened a meeting of the Water Task Team, comprised of the Ministers responsible for the Departments of Water and Sanitation, COGTA, Finance, Human Settlements, Public Works and Infrastructure, Agriculture, Police, Electricity as well as Land Reform and Rural Development.

The meeting took place following a successful Water and Sanitation two-day Indaba hosted by the Department of Water and Sanitation, which received inputs from President Cyril Ramaphosa, Deputy President Mashatile, Ministers as well as representatives of Water Boards, Management Agencies, SALGA, Traditional Leaders, Civil Society and sector experts.

Today’s meeting received presentations from the Department of Water and Sanitation, the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Human Settlements and Infrastructure South Africa. 

Issues discussed included measures and interventions by the departments to work towards resolving the challenges of water and reticulation. In particular, the meeting noted issues such as the non-payment for water services, lack of effective reticulation, declining infrastructure and capacity challenges at the local government level.

The meeting then agreed to intervene within the prescripts of existing legislation, also directing that all budgetary allocations for water in various departments be pooled together to ensure effectiveness. An update was also received on ongoing work under the Strategic Integrated Projects initiative by Government to create water retention facilities as well as enhancement of water treatment plants.

The Water Task Team also resolved after discussion to accelerate the formalisation of informal settlements, which will assist with the provision of services to residents. This applies to 4 076 illegal settlements who use illegal means to connect to water. Furthermore, it was agreed that all incomplete water projects must be completed and to that effect, the meeting requested departments to review their turn-around times on water projects. 

The meeting then proposed a structured mechanism for effective coordination in the form of the following workstreams:

Workstream 1 - Responses to water supply disruptions in prioritised areas,

Workstream 2 - National and Municipal water institutional reforms, 

Workstream 3 - Accelerating private investment in municipal water services, (through the Partnership Office)

Workstream 4 - Improving municipal sanitation services and management of wastewater, 

Workstream 5 - Improving turn-around time in regulation and funding, 

Workstream 6 - Institutional reforms (led by COGTA, SALGA, DWS & Human Settlements, and  

Workstream 7 – Communication. 

Deputy President Mashatile commended the work and interventions of the various departments in the area of water supply and preservation.

Media enquiries: Mr Keith Khoza, Acting Spokesperson to the Deputy President on 066 195 8840.

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

Deputy President Shipokosa Paulus Mashatile has today, 08 April 2025, at the Union Buildings in Pretoria, convened a meeting of the Water Task Team, comprised of the Ministers responsible for the Departments of Water and Sanitation, COGTA, Finance, Human Settlements, Public Works and Infrastructure, Agriculture, Police, Electricity as well as Land Reform and Rural Development.

The meeting took place following a successful Water and Sanitation two-day Indaba hosted by the Department of Water and Sanitation, which received inputs from President Cyril Ramaphosa, Deputy President Mashatile, Ministers as well as Representatives of Water Boards, Management Agencies, SALGA, Traditional Leaders, Civil Society and sector experts.

Today’s meeting received presentations from the Department of Water and Sanitation, the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Human Settlements and Infrastructure South Africa. 

Issues discussed included measures and interventions by the departments to work towards resolving the challenges of water and reticulation. In particular, the meeting noted issues such as the non-payment for water services, lack of effective reticulation, declining infrastructure and capacity challenges at the local government level.

The meeting then agreed to intervene within the prescripts of existing legislation, also directing that all budgetary allocations for water in various departments be pooled together to ensure effectiveness. An update was also received on ongoing work under the Strategic Integrated Projects initiative by Government to create water retention facilities as well as enhancement of water treatment plants.

The Water Task Team also resolved after discussion to accelerate the formalisation of informal settlements, which will assist with the provision of services to residents. This applies to 4 076 illegal settlements who use illegal means to connect to water. Furthermore, it was agreed that all incomplete water projects must be completed and to that effect, the meeting requested departments to review their turn-around times on water projects. 

The meeting then proposed a structured mechanism for effective coordination in the form of the following workstreams:

Workstream 1 - Responses to water supply disruptions in prioritised areas,

Workstream 2 - National and Municipal water institutional reforms, 

Workstream 3 - Accelerating private investment in municipal water services, (through the Partnership Office)

Workstream 4 - Improving municipal sanitation services and management of wastewater, 

Workstream 5 - Improving turn-around time in regulation and funding, 

Workstream 6 - Institutional reforms (led by COGTA, SALGA, DWS & Human Settlements, and  

Workstream 7 – Communication. 

Deputy President Mashatile commended the work and interventions of the various departments in the area of water supply and preservation.

Media enquiries: Mr Keith Khoza, Acting Spokesperson to the Deputy President on 066 195 8840

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria