Note to Broadcaster: Please find the attached soundbites in English and Afrikaans by Hendriëtte van Huyssteen.
Today, the North West MEC for Finance, Kenetswe Mosenogi, presented the NW Adjustment Budget, increasing the provincial allocation by R1.41 billion—from R55.8 billion to R57.2 billion. While the province has received an additional R1.41 billion, the Democratic Alliance warns that ordinary residents face a harsh reality of failing services and crumbling infrastructure, as very little of these funds will reach residents. These funds will primarily be utilised by departments to pay accruals and salaries.
Fiscal challenges deepen as the province remains overly reliant on the National Treasury’s equitable share, which has recently been cut, leading to serious budget shortfalls across departments. There is no clear plan to diversify revenue, putting vital service delivery at risk.
Municipal governance is in crisis: only 49% of municipal finance officials hold relevant qualifications. Of the seven municipalities under financial recovery, only two show real progress, prolonging poor service delivery.
Despite recognising gender-based violence as a national emergency, the budget does not offer clear funding to tackle this crisis. Infrastructure decay continues unchecked, with water, sanitation, roads, and tourism sites in disrepair and rising costs further burdening households.
Worryingly, the budget lacks clear delivery timelines, measurable targets, and accountability measures to curb wasteful expenditure and corruption.
The DA demands transparency: publish funded projects, disclose maintenance reports, set firm deadlines for infrastructure fixes, and hold officials accountable. Increasing expenses without addressing the province’s fundamental issues is a clear betrayal of ordinary families.
North West urgently needs honest leadership and bold action to transform promises into progress—because its people deserve nothing less.