Speaking during a recent engagement with North West premier Lazarus Mokgosi in the Rio Hotel in Klerksdorp, Tsakani Maluleke painted a stark picture of regression and poor accountability.

“The outcomes for the 2024/2025 financial year showed a regression in the province,” she said, highlighting a worrying backslide in governance and poor financial management standards.

Maluleke emphasised the need for collaboration among the province’s leadership, noting while commitments have been made by various stakeholders, implementation and collective responsibility remain key challenges.

“I communicated with the legislature, provincial executive, and administration on their importance in implementing the commitments which they made, continuing to work on their respective roles and mandates in a way that is not just effective individually but is a collective effort dealt with collaboratively.”

The province must urgently refocus on ethical leadership and accountability. “It’s going to be crucial for the province to drive discipline, execution of its plans to ensure there is a renewed posture of ethical governance, there is effective consequence management when things go wrong so that we can start to push back on the culture of impunity.

“Our belief is if the premier, speaker, and DG and the other HODs implement commitments that they’ve made, we will start to see a better picture around governance, financial management, performance management, and ultimately service delivery within the province.”

‘Need for ethical leadership’

Mokgosi acknowledged the significance of the engagement with the AG, describing the meeting as very fruitful. He said there is a need for ethical leadership and strong control measures to restore public trust.

North West has long been plagued by political instability and governance challenges. Municipalities such as Ditsobotla and the Ramotshere Moilwa Municipality in Zeerust have reportedly been under the influence of armed groups, with individuals described as inkabi (hitmen) allegedly exerting control over municipal operations.

In response to the deepening crisis, the government has intervened in Ditsobotla, placing the municipality under administration in an effort to restore order and improve service delivery.

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OFM News/Kekeletso Mosebetsi dg