Source: President of South Africa –
Programme Director;
Premier of the Western Cape, Mr Alan Winde;
Rector and Vice-Chancellor of Stellenbosch University, Prof Deresh Ramjugernath;
Director of the Centre for Social Justice, Prof Thuli Madonsela;
Representatives of the United Nations in South Africa;
Leaders of SALGA;
Development partners;
Members of the Executive, Legislatures and Judiciary;
Mayors, Councillors and Local Government Representatives;
Traditional and Khoi-San Leaders;
Religious Leaders;
Representatives of Civil Society, Labour, Business and Academia;
Young People and Community Representatives;
Distinguished Guests;
Members of the Media;
Ladies and Gentlemen.
Good morning,
It is an honour to address the 8th Social Justice Summit on behalf of the Deputy President of the Republic of South Africa, His Excellency Mr Paul Mashatile.
The Deputy President extends his warm greetings and appreciation to the Centre for Social Justice at Stellenbosch University and its partners for convening this important gathering.
Over the years, the Social Justice Summit has become a valuable platform for dialogue, reflection and collaboration on issues that affect the wellbeing and future of our nation. It continues to provide an opportunity to assess our progress in advancing the constitutional vision of a just, inclusive and equitable society.
This year’s theme, “The District Development Model (DDM) Inter-Governmental Relations as Catalysts for Achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Social Justice,”underscores the importance of cooperation across all spheres of government in driving development, improving service delivery and advancing social justice.
The theme speaks to a simple but important reality: the challenges of poverty, unemployment, inequality and uneven access to services cannot be addressed by any institution acting alone. They require coordinated action, shared responsibility and a steadfast focus on the needs of our people.
As we mark 30 years of our Constitution, we are reminded that its promise extends beyond the protection of rights. It calls on the state to create the conditions necessary for every person to live with dignity, equality and opportunity.
This Summit therefore provides an opportunity for honest reflection. We must ask whether the gains of our democracy are being felt in the everyday lives of our people and whether the promises of our Constitution are becoming a lived reality for all.
South Africa has made notable progress over the past three decades. Access to services has expanded, democratic institutions have matured, and fundamental rights are firmly protected. Yet many citizens continue to experience poverty, unemployment, inequality and inadequate access to opportunities.
Ultimately, social justice is measured not by policies or programmes, but by people’s lived experiences. It is reflected in the quality of education children receive, access to healthcare, reliable water and sanitation, decent housing, safe communities and opportunities for economic participation.
It is also reflected in whether young people can realise their potential, whether women and vulnerable groups can live free from discrimination and insecurity, and whether every South African has a fair opportunity to succeed irrespective of where they live or the circumstances into which they were born.
Against this backdrop, the District Development Model offers a practical framework for translating constitutional commitments into tangible outcomes. By strengthening cooperation between national, provincial and local government, the DDM seeks to improve planning, align resources and ensure development reaches communities more effectively.
It was introduced to improve coordination across the three spheres of government and address fragmented planning and implementation. Through a district-based approach covering all 44 districts and eight metropolitan municipalities, the DDM seeks to ensure that development is responsive to local needs and aligned with national priorities.
Its guiding principle, “One District, One Plan, One Budget,” is aimed at improving coherence, reducing duplication and accelerating service delivery. The success of the DDM will not be measured by the number of plans produced, but by the positive impact it has on people’s lives.
All district and metropolitan spaces have now developed One Plans, providing a foundation for integrated planning and investment. The task before us is to ensure effective implementation and measurable results.
Encouraging progress has already been recorded in areas such as infrastructure development, water security, healthcare and local economic development. These examples demonstrate the value of coordinated action and partnership across government.
However, communities rightly judge success by outcomes. They want reliable services, quality infrastructure, access to economic opportunities and safer neighbourhoods. Development must be visible and tangible in everyday life.
As we strengthen implementation of the DDM, five priorities should guide our efforts:
* Accelerating implementation of funded and achievable projects;
* Strengthening alignment between planning and budgeting;
* Building institutional capacity, particularly in infrastructure delivery and financial management;
* Expanding partnerships with business, academia, civil society and communities; and
* Measuring success through improved services, economic inclusion and better living conditions.
At its core, the DDM is about building a capable, responsive and developmental state that works as one to serve the people of South Africa.
The Constitution establishes a system of cooperative governance founded on partnership, accountability and shared responsibility. It envisions a developmental state committed to improving the quality of life of all citizens.
The DDM gives practical effect to this vision by promoting integrated planning and coordinated implementation. It recognises that challenges such as housing, healthcare, education, infrastructure and economic development are interconnected and therefore require integrated solutions.
This approach remains particularly important as South Africa continues to address the enduring legacy of apartheid, which left deep spatial, social and economic inequalities. Advancing social justice requires deliberate efforts to overcome these disparities and expand opportunity for all.
The Sustainable Development Goals reinforce this imperative. Their focus on eradicating poverty, reducing inequality and promoting inclusive development aligns closely with both the constitutional vision and the objectives of the DDM.
For South Africa, this means ensuring that development reaches communities that have historically been excluded from economic opportunities and essential services, particularly women, young people, persons with disabilities, rural communities and other vulnerable groups.
Both the Constitution and the SDGs remind us that development is ultimately about people. Success must be measured by whether it expands opportunity, reduces inequality and improves the quality of life of our citizens.
Locally within our borders, we should acknowledge the key success we have achieved in the democratic dispensation. Since 1994, South Africa has made progress in building democratic institutions and improving access to essential services, with over 90% of households having mains electricity and substantial access to water and sanitation by 2025.
However, disparities persist, with many citizens facing inadequate services and living below the poverty line. The official unemployment rate was 33.6% in mid-2026, disproportionately affecting women. Despite advancements, inequalities rooted in apartheid continue to affect the population.
These realities remind us that social justice requires more than progress in aggregate indicators. It demands focused action to address structural inequalities and ensure that the benefits of development are shared more equitably across society.
We must also confront the reality that many municipalities remain under severe strain. Financial distress, weak governance, poor planning and capacity constraints continue to undermine service delivery and development.
The impact is felt directly by communities through unreliable water and electricity supply, deteriorating infrastructure, delayed housing projects and limited economic opportunities. When local government falters, it is ordinary citizens who bear the greatest burden.
Communities have a right to expect ethical, accountable and capable local government. Our task is therefore not simply to rescue struggling institutions, but to build municipalities that are sustainable, well-managed and responsive to the needs of the people.
This requires stronger support from national and provincial government, together with decisive intervention where failures persist. Our objective must be to restore institutional stability, improve performance and rebuild public confidence.
The recently approved Revised White Paper on Local Government provides an important framework for reform. Drawing on nearly three decades of democratic experience, it recognises that municipalities face different realities and therefore require differentiated support.
The White Paper places renewed emphasis on professional and merit-based administration, financial sustainability, sound infrastructure management and stronger accountability. It also seeks to strengthen collaboration with traditional and Khoi-San leadership structures and leverage technology to improve transparency, service delivery and oversight.
As we prepare for a new local government term, these reforms must move from policy to implementation. Public office must remain a vehicle for service, while professional administrators must be empowered to perform their duties without undue interference and with full accountability to communities and the law.
Ultimately, effective local government depends on capable institutions, stable leadership and a culture of accountability. Without these foundations, the goals of sustainable development and social justice will remain beyond reach for many South Africans.
In just over three weeks, South Africans will elect new municipal councils in the Local Government Elections scheduled for 4 November 2026. This presents an opportunity to renew our commitment to developmental local government and place communities at the centre of governance.
The true measure of success, however, will not be the election results themselves. It will be the ability of newly elected councils to govern effectively, deliver services and restore public trust.
Government must also listen carefully to the concerns and frustrations of communities and respond meaningfully.
At the same time, the destruction of public infrastructure such as schools, clinics, libraries, roads and water facilities only harms the very communities that rely on them.
Our collective challenge is to ensure that people have trusted and effective channels through which their voices can be heard, concerns addressed and solutions found before frustration gives way to unrest. In this way, we can deepen our democracy while advancing the social justice and development that our people deserve.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
With just four years remaining until 2030, the time for planning must increasingly give way to implementation. Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals will require coordinated action across government, business, labour and civil society.
The six thematic commissions of this Summit provide an opportunity to move beyond discussion and identify practical solutions to poverty, inequality, unemployment, poor development outcomes, governance challenges and climate resilience.
As we move forward, we must ensure that our decisions are informed by credible data. National averages can often hide the realities faced by communities on the ground. We need a clear understanding of where needs are greatest, who is being left behind, and what interventions will make the greatest difference.
Allow me to place five practical proposals before this Summit.
First, every reviewed One Plan must be backed by a clear project pipeline and an aligned budget. Communities should know who is responsible for delivering each project, how it will be funded, and when it is expected to be completed.
Second, all district plans should be assessed through a social justice lens, ensuring that development reaches those most in need, particularly women, young people, persons with disabilities and rural communities.
Third, every district should publish a simple delivery scorecard that tracks priorities, targets and progress, strengthening transparency and accountability.
Fourth, we must give infrastructure maintenance the same priority as new infrastructure. It serves little purpose to build new assets if we cannot maintain those we already have. Strong partnerships will be essential to mobilise the expertise and investment needed to sustain reliable infrastructure and services.
Fifth, we must deepen social compacts at district level. Government, business, labour, civil society, traditional leaders, faith-based organisations and communities must work together to drive development and monitor progress.
If we are serious about advancing social justice, we must move beyond consultation to collaboration, and beyond commitments to implementation. Together, we have the opportunity to ensure that development reaches every community and that no one is left behind.
In conclusion, programme director, I must reiterate that this Summit must leave behind more than a record of speeches and discussions.
It must produce practical outcomesthat improve lives. We should emerge from thisgathering with a shared commitment, a clearunderstanding of where inequality persists, anda credible plan of action towards 2030.
The Summit Declaration should align the objectives of social justice, the District Development Model and the SustainableDevelopment Goals behind a common nationalagenda.
Equally important, the outcomes of thisSummit must provide practical, evidence-basedrecommendations that strengthenimplementation and accountability across allspheres of government.
The Constitution envisioned local governmentas the sphere closest to the people, their needs,their aspirations and their daily realities. TheDistrict Development Model gives us theopportunity to make cooperative governancemore effective, responsive and accountable.
Our districts must become places wheregovernment works as one. Our municipalitiesmust become institutions that deliver. And ourcommunities must be active partners in shapingtheir own development.
For as long as families lack reliable services, young people remain excluded from economic opportunities, and vulnerable members ofsociety are left behind, our work remainsunfinished.
These challenges demand capableinstitutions, accountable leadership and asteadfast commitment to delivery.
Let this Summit be remembered not only for itsreflections, but for the actions it inspired; not forthe challenges it identified, but for the solutionsit advanced; not for the promises it made, but forthe progress it helped achieve.
Let us make every district count, everycommunity visible, and every public institutionaccountable.
I thank you.
