NWU political analyst, Prof. André Duvenhage, said he is expecting the North West Government to get rid of the legacy of the former premier Supra Mahumapelo. 

His statement comes ahead of the much-anticipated State of the Province Address (Sopa), which will be delivered by Premier Bushy Maape at the Legislature Chamber on Friday 24 February 2023. Duvenhage said the Sopa will follow the line of the State of the Nation Address (Sona) with regard to the progress the province has made in respect of key development programmes. However, he is expecting Maape to prioritise service delivery issues, especially with recent developments which led to the by-elections in municipalities such as Ditsobotla.

“The North West are also in a regime change with the takeover of Nono Maloyi and I'm expecting more or less the same scenario as is the case in the Free State, but they will also focus on service delivery. We know the major challenge in the province with regard to the local government is to get rid of the legacy of Supra Mahumapelo and what is related to him. Basically, it is a reinvention or rebuilding of state structures,” added Duvenhage.

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The Ditsobotla Local Municipality has recently been in the spotlight following service delivery challenges, which resulted in dissolving the council. The North West provincial government dissolved the council after the municipality had two mayors and two municipal managers at loggerheads. By-elections were held and the ANC won with a margin of 40%, leaving the troubled municipality with a hung council since the party failed to win with an outright majority.

ALSO READ: Police in Ditsobotla operating from dilapidated shack

The province has been under fire for infrastructure challenges which result in a lack of service delivery. Recently the legislature committee had an oversight visit to the Ditsobotla Local Municipality and discovered a dilapidated police station, which could not render services to residents due to the shortage of vehicles and staff, amongst others.  

ALSO READ: North West clinic in appalling dysfunctional state

The committee also discovered a dysfunctional clinic, which was in an appalling state. This is where the health workers were performing their duties without functional lights and running water in a dilapidated building. He explained the committee also found the clinic is located at an unused school building which is neither accessible to wheelchairs nor disability-friendly.

ALSO READ: North West Legislature to officially open on 24 February

Despite the challenges encountered in the province, Maape is also expected to boost about the province's achievements thus far, intervention measures and plans to improve on the challenges or the state of the province.

ALSO READ: Intervention measures in full swing in North West

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