Reacting to Premier Lazarus Mokgosi’s address in Mmabatho on Thursday (26/25), the DA said the province needs measurable delivery, not recycled promises. In his address, Mokgosi placed the repair of local government at the centre of his speech, arguing that municipal performance remains the single biggest determinant of both service delivery and economic growth in the province.

He drew a direct link between functional municipalities and economic expansion, warning that weak administration undermines service delivery and erodes investor confidence.

According to Mokgosi, stabilising and strengthening municipalities is key to unlocking growth and restoring public trust in government institutions.

However, the party dismissed the address as lacking substance. DA caucus leader Freddy Sonakile described the Sopa as a mixed bag. While acknowledging positive pronouncements, he expressed doubt about their implementation. “It was one of those speeches where you just feel like too late, too little, too late.”

DA chief whip Johni Steenkamp said the address focused heavily on the municipal portfolio, particularly plans to fix local government. “Sopa was very focused on the municipal portfolio and how to fix that, you can see it’s an election year we are in, but didn’t give any how, when, or any detail,” said Steenkamp. 

Decline, decay, unemployment

The speech was vague and amounted to a tick-box exercise, with Mokgosi saying all the right things people want to hear without substance, she added. The DA maintained while the Mokgosi struck the correct tone on the importance of functional municipalities, the address fell short of providing clear timelines, measurable targets, and concrete plans to turn struggling municipalities around.

The FF Plus said North West has, under ANC rule, continuously experienced serious systemic problems due to corruption and maladministration at all levels of government. The fact that nine of the eleven provincial departments are still receiving qualified audit reports speaks for itself.

“The state of the larger economic centres – Matlosana, JB Marks, Rustenburg and Madibeng – creates a clear picture of the real circumstances of the people of the North West,” said FF Plus provincial leader Michal Groenewald. “It’s a picture of sustained decline, decay, unemployment and disinvestment as a result of corruption and maladministration.”

None of these problems would be resolved without the “decisive eradication of the culture of corruption and self-enrichment that continues to thrive within ANC ranks”.

“It was also notable … that the premier made no mention of the grand job-creation promises he made in last year’s provincial address,” Groenewald said. “The residents of Matlosana are still waiting for the promised 10,000 jobs that were to be created through investments by China Africa Precious Metals and Harmony.”

The premier did refer to a decline in the provincial unemployment rate. However, said Groenewald, “he (didn’t) mention that 50% of the province is still unemployed. Furthermore, he (failed) to point out that the decline can largely be attributed to temporary job opportunities in the agricultural sector (seasonal) and fixed-term contract work in the construction industry.”

• Have a news tip to share? Phone or whatsapp the OFM News Hotline: 066 487 1427.

OFM News/Kekeletso Mosebetsi mvh