Premier Lazarus Mokgosi: Executive Council Quarterly media briefing

12 Aug 2026

North West Provincial Executive Council Quarterly media briefing, 12 August 2026, Provincial Disaster Management Centre

Programme Director
Members of the Executive Council present here today,
The Director General, Heads of Departments.
Members of the Media present here today and those following us on various platforms,

Residents of North West, Bagaetsho Dumelang

Programme Director, we meet here today on our quarterly engagements, following the death of fourteen illegal mineworkers, who comprise largely of foreign nationals.

This is a tragic incident that has sent shockwaves across the country and belove province.

We understand that eight people who were rescued following this calamity have been admitted in hospital and are receiving medical treatment.

Three have been discharged after receiving treatment and were arrested for contravening the country’s immigration laws.

As we send our heartfelt condolences to the grieving families, we are equally concerned about the surge of illegal mining activities in our province.

The scourge of illegal mining continues to wreak havoc in many parts of our province, and particularly the Bojanala-Platinum District Municipality which has become a hotspot.

However, law enforcement agencies have been hard at work to deter these incidents as heavy machinery which is used in the commission of these activities has been confiscated and arrests have been made.

We are hopeful that the appointment of the new Provincial Commissioner of Police, Lieutenant-General Arthur Peter Adams will strengthen our resolve in dealing with this matter and its spill-over effects in our communities.

Illegal mining has become a single dominant sophisticated criminal network in our province, which must be nipped in the bud.

Programme Director, as the provincial government we are also concerned about the rise of unemployment figures which continues to bedevil the developmental trajectory of our province.

Just yesterday, Statistics South Africa released its Quarterly Labour Force Survey Report for the Second Quarter of 2026, where extended unemployment rate in our province has reached an alarming rate of fifty six percent.

This is despite various intervention measures that we have initiated to address unemployment in the province.

Therefore, under the weight of these figures, it cannot be business as usual. Drastic measures need to be explored to find a lasting solution to the scourge of unemployment.

However, these solutions must be centred on our advocacy and promotion for good governance practices, that will culminate in the attraction of investments in our province and in particular, municipalities.

Municipalities are constitutionally mandated to act as primary catalysts for local economic growth through provision of reliable services, by building and maintaining

core infrastructure facilities, as well as forging partnerships between local enterprises and private investors.

Our municipalities are not yet out of the woods but through various interventions that have been implemented by the Executive Council, there is enormous progress that has been registered to improve their audit outcomes.

These measures have culminated into improved financial governance outcomes

Moses Kotane, JB Marks, and Greater Taung Local Municipalities improved from qualified to unqualified audit opinions; joining the Bojanala Platinum District, Dr Kenneth Kaunda District, and Moretele Local Municipality in the 2025/26 financial year

Mamusa Local Municipality has moved from adverse to qualified opinion

Notably, disclaimer audit opinions have decreased significantly from nine municipalities in 2020/21 to just one in 2024/25, which is Ditsobotla Local Municipality.

As the provincial government, we also want to applaud Ratlou Local Municipality for improved performance, from a disclaimer to a qualified outcome.

This municipality has successfully completed the submission of the Annual Financial Statement (AFS) without the use of consultants.

Programme Director, the Provincial Executive Council (EXCO) has approved a recalibrated implementation approach to strengthen the province’s response to municipalities experiencing financial difficulties.

We continue to accelerate the implementation of Financial Recovery Plans (FRPs) in municipalities placed under provincial intervention.

This decision follows a comprehensive assessment of the implementation of mandatory and voluntary financial recovery interventions across the province.

While progress has been recorded, the assessment has established that most municipalities continue to experience severe financial and governance challenges, necessitating a strengthened intervention approach to restore financial sustainability and improve service delivery.

As part of the revised implementation strategy, the Provincial Executive Council has approved enhanced Terms of Reference for Provincial Executive Representatives (PERs) deployed in municipalities.

The revised Terms of Reference give practical effect to the provisions of Section 139

(5) (c) of the Constitution, read together with the Municipal Finance Management Act (MFMA).

The revised approach seeks to ensure that municipalities themselves assume greater ownership of the recovery process, while Provincial Treasury, through the Provincial Executive Representatives, provides strategic oversight, technical support, monitoring and coordination to accelerate implementation of approved Financial Recovery Plans.

Programme Director, the support to municipalities has also been strengthened by the roll-out of road infrastructure projects to reincarnate economic activities in our peri-urban and rural communities.

As a province we continue to make significant strides in delivering strategic road infrastructure projects.

The Phelindaba multi-year project road has now reached practical completion and is expected to be completed ahead of schedule.

The project forms part of the province's strategic cross-border road network, strengthening connectivity and facilitating economic trade between the North West and Gauteng provinces.

Furthermore, the 300-million-rand Wolmaransstad–Wesselsbron Road project, another strategic cross-border corridor linking the Dr Kenneth Kaunda District Municipality with the Free State Province, was completed in May 2026

The upgraded route enhances the movement of people and goods, supports regional trade and contributes to broader economic development.

We have also introduced contractors for the construction of the Dwarsberg to Pachsdraai Road via Pitsedisulejang, emphasising the need to improve access to public infrastructure and safer road networks.

Building on this momentum, work will start in earnest for the upgrading of the Koster to Magaliesberg Road, as an alternative corridor to the N4 toll road.

The project is expected to improve mobility while easing the financial burden associated with toll fees, particularly for low-income commuters and taxi operators who rely on this road for their daily livelihoods.

Bagaetsho, we are pleased to announce that government has completed and finalised the appointment of a contractor for the Nelson Mandela Phase 2 in July 2026.

As per the pronouncements made, this is a major catalytic project which is aimed at revitalising the capital city of the North West Province, Mahikeng.

The project will entail the widening of the Danville Bridge and completion of the stormwater structure which was constructed in Phase 1 of the project.

To reduce public disruption and road user inconvenience, the Department of Public Works and Roads has planned to repair and resurface all alternative routes which will be utilised as detours during the main construction works, to ensure they are trafficable and safe for road users.

This will include the Bophelong Road from Danville Circle to Vryburg Road and other identified roads/streets in and around the CBD.

Due to the complexity and magnitude of the project, the Department of Public Works and Roads will commence with the extensive mobilisation period in August 2026 which will include Stakeholder Engagements with all affected businesses in the CBD area, communities, SMMEs and relevant regulatory bodies for all required statutory requirements.

As per policy directives of the 2026/2027 Provincial Policy Statement, we are supporting municipalities where capacity is constrained by completing major strategic infrastructure projects.

These interventions are in the Ditsobotla Local Municipality

A comprehensive assessment of priority municipal streets in Lichtenburg has been undertaken to inform road maintenance interventions in this municipality.

The identified roads include Nelson Mandela Drive, the R52 and Beyers Naudé Drive.

These interventions will comprise of pothole patching; asphalt overlay and road rehabilitation in partnership with SANRAL.

In addition, we will undertake the resealing of Dr Mangope Drive and First Street in Itsoseng, with construction scheduled to commence this month.

The provincial government has also reached practical completion of the rehabilitation of Road D933 and Road D2095 between Lichtenburg and Gelukspan.

The R479.6 million project has upgraded approximately 25.8 km of road infrastructure, significantly improving mobility and connectivity within the Ngaka Modiri Molema District.

These projects have resulted in the creation of employment opportunities as part of our ongoing efforts to respond to the job crisis confronting the province.

Job creation efforts have also been given impetus by the recruitment of over six thousand young people in the Construction SETA, Services SETA and MER-SETA in the current Financial Year.

Moreover we have facilitated the creation of over 21 000 jobs within the liquor industry, while an estimated R14 million was generated through liquor license renewals.

Furthermore, the regulated gambling sector sustained over 1 600 direct employment opportunities.

This gaming activity yielded R2.38 billion in revenue, of which R164.5 million was contributed directly to the provincial fiscus.

As a vital driver of the province’s Gross Domestic Product, the tourism industry experienced substantial growth, generating 9,242 employment opportunities and adding R10.9 billion to the economy.

Moreover, accommodation establishments comprising of over six thousand rooms and twelve thousand beds registered close to three thousand jobs.

The tourism sector will be reinforced by the return of the South African Music Awards and the hosting of elite soccer matches as we recently demonstrated with the Toyota Cup where we hosted Kaizer Chiefs and Scotland FC.

Programme Director, the final stages in the implementation of the Bojanala Special Economic Zone are nearing completion following the appointment of two senior officials by Minister of Trade and Industry, Parks Tau to provide strategic governance and policy guidance for the SEZ.

This includes providing technical expertise to support the finalisation of the SEZ designation process.

Once fully operational the SEZ will create over twenty thousand work opportunities through a targeted fifteen billion rands in investments.

Bagaetsho, in a quest to instil sound fiscal discipline the province managed to spend ninety-nine (99) per cent of the R57 billion appropriated in the 2025/26 financial year.

As audit outcomes for the 2025/26 Financial Year continue to trickle in, we take this opportunity, to congratulate both the Provincial Treasury and the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs for obtaining clean audits.

We believe that we have put systems in place that would result in more Departments achieving clean audits and where there are challenges, we will intervene.

We have also managed to fill all the vacancies of Heads of Departments with the recent appointment of Ms Lebogang Diale as an Accounting Officer for the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.

This appointment affirms our support for employment equity and women empowerment in the Executive and Senior Management positions of government.

To date, four out of ten HoDs are female, and we will continue on this trajectory until we reach our employment equity objectives.

The appointment of Ms. Diale means Dr Hans Kekana will revert to his substantive position as Head of Department for Community Safety and Transport Management.

We take this opportunity to thank Dr Kekana for holding the fort as Acting HoD for the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.

Programme Director, the registered preliminary expenditure for the first quarter of the financial year is R14.841 billion or 25.35 per cent, is slightly above the expected threshold of 25 per cent by 0.35 per cent and consistent with spending in the prior financial year.

Despite operating within a constrained fiscal environment, the North West Provincial Government has demonstrated prudent financial management while continuing to prioritize service delivery.

The Province spent R1.210 billion on infrastructure by the end of June 2026. This represents 21.31 per cent of the infrastructure budget for the 2026/27 financial year. The bulk of this delivery is carried by four departments.

Human Settlements leads at 25.85 per cent, followed by Public Works and Roads at 21.57 per cent, Health at 20.44 per cent and Education at 17.94 per cent.

These departments are responsible for constructing houses, roads, clinics and schools on which our communities depend, and their spending confirms that projects are underway in the opening quarter.

These resources were directed towards programmes that address poverty, unemployment and inequality while improving the lives of residents.

Bagaetsho, I am pleased to announce another significant milestone in our programme to build a modern, efficient and digitally enabled North West Provincial Government.

As part of implementing our Digital Transformation Programme, the Province has been exploring opportunities to modernise government systems while reducing duplication and ensuring that we derive greater value from public resources.

Through engagements between the Office of the Premier and the Gauteng Department of e-Government, the North West Provincial Government has now successfully secured the source code and technical framework of Gauteng’s Online Professional Job Centre, its e-Recruitment System, at no acquisition cost to our Province.

This is a significant achievement for the North West. The e-Recruitment platform will assist us in modernising the way the North West Provincial Government manages recruitment.

We want to progressively move away from fragmented and manual processes towards a more efficient digital environment that improves administration and makes it easier for citizens to access employment opportunities within their Provincial Government.

This e-Recruitment initiative demonstrates that our digital transformation journey is beginning to translate strategy into tangible results not only through better technology, but through real savings, greater efficiency and smarter government.

Programme Director, in line with stringent Government measures to ensure learner safety, we continue to conduct a compulsory inspection and verification of scholar transport busses in all four Districts.

Amongst others, the inspection focuses on verifying roadworthiness and safety requirements, authenticating the number of vehicles deployed per route and confirming the validity of operating licenses.

This is primarily aimed at ensuring that an operator license of a specific bus, corresponds with applicable permits of the contracted vehicle.

Operators are once more reminded that failure to comply will lead to termination of contracts as learner safety is a non-negotiable priority and will not be compromised.

So far ninety-four (94) operators have been terminated for failing to comply with the guidelines as contained in the Service Level Agreement.

Bagaetsho, we are hopeful that we will find a lasting solution the NTI’s governance shortcomings. This entity belongs to the North West Government but provides a commuter service to Gauteng especially in and around Pretoria.

It is for this that there had been interactions between us as the North West Government and the Gauteng Government

These engagements chaired by both Premiers and attended by respective MECs are a high-level government engagement to look for strategic approaches to recapitalise the entity and to return it to profitability and finance its operational obligations

Programme Director, as I conclude I wish to emphasise that government through the adoption of Medium Term Development Plan, has mandated us to see to the full realisation of the three priorities encapsulated in this programme and as aligned to the Provincial Growth and Development Strategy recently in 2026

These are; (1) to drive inclusive growth and create jobs, (2) reduce poverty and tackle high costs of living, (3) build a capable, ethical and developmental state.

As a result, we are duty bound to evaluate respective Departments and their Executives in adhering to this mandate.

Therefore, in terms of Section 132 (1) and (2) of the constitution the Premier has the Executive Powers to make changes and strengthen the work of government in the implementation of these objectives and having assessed the performance of various Departments I have taken a decision to make the following changes: