Note to Broadcasters: Please find attached soundbites in English and Afrikaans by Wolfgang Wallhorn
The North West Adjustment Budget, tabled on Tuesday, 26 November, exposes the province’s persistent failure to effectively utilise allocated funds, resulting in deteriorating infrastructure and service delivery. Chronic underspending has led to R263 million in rollovers from the previous financial year, with no new funding from National Treasury—a clear sign of poor planning and governance.
Rollovers, intended as an exception for unforeseen delays, have become the norm due to poor planning, incompetent execution, and lack of accountability.
Highlights of this year’s rollover circus:
- Health: R8.927 million rolled over while facilities like Gelukspan Hospital remain nonfunctional, with critical infrastructure left incomplete.
- Education: R4.130 million for Early Childhood Development delayed, stalling essential investments in young learners.
- Road Maintenance: R22.420 million rolled over to Public Works as unsafe, poorly maintained roads persist across the province.
- Department of Economic Development, Environment, Conservation, and Tourism: R4.756 million rolled over again for the Taung Skull Heritage Project.
- This project, initiated in 2013/14, remains incomplete due to poor planning, incompetent contractors, and a lack of consultation with local communities and traditional leaders.
Despite the dire need for infrastructure investment, a 4.7% deficit is now built into the Adjustment Budget, to be financed through loans—an alarming trend for the province’s financial health.
The DA calls for urgent accountability and consequence management within the North West Government. Without decisive action to address these inefficiencies, the province risks further decline in the quality of life for its residents. Rollovers should not become a norm—they signify failure, not progress.