Mokgosi vows to turn around dysfunctional municipalities
North West Premier Lazarus Mokgosi says the provincial government will this year restore the functionality of local government.
Mokgosi made the promise during the State of the Province Address at the provincial legislature in Mahikeng on Thursday.
Various municipalities in North West have become synonymous with poor service delivery, largely due to a lack of maintenance on critical infrastructure.
Some of the issues include the water crisis in Madibeng, Taung, Zeerustband other mostly rural areas.
"An additional R1.9 billion rand has been set aside for ongoing bulk water supply projects in Madibeng, Ratlou, Mahikeng and Ramotshere Moiloa Local Municipalities." he said
Roads infrastructure maintenance remains a challenge for the provincial government, as potholes have become a norm in areas including the capital city Mahikeng, and Ditsobotla.
Mokgosi said they will lool to improve service delivery in the platinum-rich province ahead of local government elections, which will be held later this year.
The province unemployment rate dropped by 6.2 percentage points year-on-year.
"Ther is a need to for accelerated service delivery and turning around dysfunctional municipalities." he said
Mokgosi said the provincial government wants an equity partner to ensure the sustainability of troubled North West Transport Investment.
Workers at the state-owned entity have gone months without salaries due to unpaid subsidies as a result of a subsidy dispute between two provincial governments.
The company has been under business rescue since 2022.
"We have intervened in mitigating the challenges of non-payment of salaries in the North West Transport Investment as a temporary measure," the premier said.
"Plans to recapitalise the entity through an equity partner are underway to preserve jobs and ensure the business sustainability of the entity we expect this process to be concluded in the next three months."
On the foot-and-mouth disease, Mokgosi said the provincial government has received 100,000 vales of vaccinations to help tackle the outbreak.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has declared the outbreak a national disaster as farmers are battling to contain the virus.
Mokgosi said they will start with the distribution of vaccines next week Friday.
"I must indicate that our province has been significantly affected by the outbreak of the foot-and-mouth disease."
However, opposition parties believe Mokgosi’s plans for the year will not solve the service delivery problems in the province.
North West Premier Lazarus Kagiso Mokgosi will delivers the State of the Province Address at the Official Opening of the Provincial Legislature in Mahikeng #NWSOPA2026 pic.twitter.com/E1OPCefyJE
— Jacaranda FM Newswatch (@JacaNewswatch) February 26, 2026
