Note to Broadcasters: Find attached the soundbites in English and Afrikaans by Hendriëtte van Huyssteen, MPL
The NW Provincial Legislature’s delays in adopting the North West Provincial Budget jeopardise the completion of key infrastructure and service delivery projects, as promised by Premier Lazarus Mokgosi in his 2026 State of the Province Address (SOPA). The 2026/27 NW Provincial Appropriation Bill, which sets out the proposed budgets for the different NW Departments, was tabled by MEC Kenetswe Mosenogi on 10 March 2026. Public Hearings on this Bill took place across the province on 13 March 2026. The new financial year started on 01 April 2026, with no budget adopted. Departmental Budget Vote debates are only scheduled to take place from 23 to 26 June 2026, almost three months into the new financial year.
Because of this delay, the North West government is currently operating under Section 29 of the Public Finance Management Act, limiting departments from spending more than 45% of the previous year’s budgets in the first four months and placing a limitation on spending on any new projects not already contained in the previous financial year’s budget. The delay drastically constrains efforts to implement new infrastructure programmes and make efforts to change public policy to support them, running the risk of procurement freezes, the compression of timelines and the risk of projects simply not being completed.
The State of the Province Address made reference to some of the most important projects that are now hanging in the balance:
- Nelson Mandela Drive in Mahikeng upgrade – a key bridge widening upgrade to dual carriageway status for which the Premier has pledged over R700 million. The project is essential for the growth of local economies and reconnecting communities.
- The catalytic road infrastructure projects from Phelindaba, Makwassie, Verdwaal, Ramokokastad, and other municipalities with more than R1.6 billion pledged towards these projects.
- Construction of bulk water supply schemes in Rustenburg and nearby municipalities for continuous water access to more than 140,000 residents through joint ventures with Magalies Water Board and local mining companies.
- Building 1,148 housing units in Madibeng, Moses Kotane, and Matlosana, including bulk infrastructure projects at over 1,800 sites, will help bridge housing shortfalls in a struggling mining community.
- The opening and renewal of the Bojanala Special Economic Zone, expected to be a major job creator, funded through investments of R12 billion.
Delays in budget approval put these kinds of projects on hold until well into the financial year. It risks implementation being pushed into a rapid and rushed manner that will erode quality and impact, potentially leading to substandard job creation and economic benefits that do not meet the expectations set by the initial investment plans. The ANC-governed North West Administration’s poor planning is responsible for this situation.
In stark contrast, the Western Cape province, under the governance of the Democratic Alliance, has already successfully adopted its provincial departmental budgets for 2026/27, thus allowing new initiatives to be launched without disruption and ensuring good governance for the people.
The people of North West deserve more than grand promises and bureaucratic delays.
The DA confirms they will be strictly monitoring budget execution and ensuring accountability, calling on the NW government to keep their promise and to give communities the infrastructure and services they require.