Note to Broadcasters: Please find attached soundbites in English and Afrikaans by Wolfgang Wallhorn
The DA has written to the North West Premier Lazarus Mokgosi demanding a full disclosure of the qualifications of all staff members in his office.
This after the Public Service Commission (PSC) reported that 36% of personnel in the Premier’s Office are unqualified for their positions. It was further revealed that 9% of senior managers across the provinces’ 12 departments lack the necessary qualifications for their roles.
The DA has long emphasised the need for transparency in government appointments, particularly in the North West, which remains South Africa’s most underperforming province due to rampant unemployment, economic decline, and systemic governance failures. The DA previously demanded vetting reports on all NW senior managers but received no response.
The severity of the ongoing crisis in the North West Province prompted national government to intervene in 2018 under sections 100(1) and 100(10) of the Constitution, leading to the establishment of an Inter-Ministerial Task Team (IMTT) to assess provincial departments. Despite these measures, the province continues to regress, with the latest Quarterly Labour Force Survey confirming a staggering 56% unemployment rate – the highest in the country. This alarming figure underscores the dire consequences of placing unqualified cadres in critical government roles.
While Premier Mokgosi’s office has dismissed the PSC’s findings, claiming that all senior managers meet minimum requirements and attributed the discrepancies in the report to “data inaccuracies”, the DA maintains that only an independent, verifiable audit can restore public trust.
In the report requested by the DA, the Premier must provide a detailed breakdown of each employee’s academic and professional credentials, their dates of appointment and the qualifications they possessed at the time of appointment. Additionally, the DA will require copies of the original vacancy advertisements to assess whether the stated requirements align with the appointments made.
The DA remains committed to exposing maladministration and ensuring that those entrusted with public service are fully qualified to fulfil their mandates.
The people of North West deserve a government led by competent, ethical officials who prioritise service delivery over political patronage.