From farming to crime prevention, water delivery to HIV treatment—South Africa’s challenges remain deeply rooted, despite government promises and interventions.

Deputy President Paul Mashatile addressed several of these pressing national issues in Parliament on 12 June 2025, and his message was clear: progress is happening, but not nearly fast enough.

Small Farmers Left Behind Without Land Titles

One of the biggest barriers facing small-scale farmers is access to credit, and according to Mashatile, that largely comes down to one missing document—title deeds.

In provinces like KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, and the Eastern Cape, many farmers are still waiting to officially own the land they farm.

Even though government has made funding available—R500 million and 44,000 hectares of land set aside for redistribution in the 2025–2026 financial year—real progress has been slow.

The numbers come straight from the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform, and Rural Development’s budget.

But some Members of Parliament say bureaucracy and legal red tape are standing in the way.

Despite Thousands of Arrests, Gang Violence Persists

In his role as chair of the Justice, Crime Prevention, and Security (JCPS) Cluster, Mashatile also addressed the country’s ongoing gang violence.

Operation Shanela, a police initiative aimed at disrupting criminal networks, resulted in over 13,000 arrests in just one week—from 17 to 23 March 2025.

But arrests alone aren’t enough. Areas like the Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal continue to suffer from gang-related crime.

The problem is being made worse by youth unemployment, which Stats SA recently placed at a staggering 45.5%.

Experts from the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) have weighed in, saying that unless government tackles poverty and education gaps, the cycle of crime will continue.

Over 100 Municipalities Are Failing to Deliver Basic Water Services

The country’s water supply crisis is getting worse, with Mashatile confirming that 105 municipalities are underperforming when it comes to providing water.

The Department of Water and Sanitation has had to deploy engineers to monitor and assist with failing projects.

A recent performance report from the department reveals that water losses of up to 50% are occurring in some metropolitan areas—mostly due to theft, leaks, and billing problems.

In Emfuleni, where the infrastructure hasn’t been upgraded in over 40 years, the situation is especially dire.

The municipality now owes over R17 billion to water boards, and residents are growing increasingly frustrated.

HIV Treatment in Jeopardy After US Cuts Critical Funding

Mashatile also warned of a looming health crisis.

The United States is pulling its support from PEPFAR, a major funding program that has supported HIV treatment in South Africa for years.

This will leave an R8 billion annual gap in the country’s HIV response budget.

While government insists it can keep providing antiretroviral (ARV) medication for the next two years using domestic funds, advocacy groups are sounding the alarm.

The Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) says the most vulnerable patients—many of whom rely heavily on international aid—could be left at serious risk.

The South African National AIDS Council (SANAC) had ambitious goals through its “Close the Gap” campaign, hoping to place 1.1 million people on ARVs by the end of 2025. That goal now seems uncertain.

What’s Your Take on Where the Country Stands?

These issues paint a sobering picture of where South Africa is in 2025.

Do you think government is doing enough? What’s working—and what clearly isn’t?