Picture: North West MEC for Public Works and Roads, Elizabeth Mokua and other delegates/Supplied
By STAFF REPORTER
12 February 2026- The North West Department of Public Works and Roads wishes to inform the residents of Tshunyane village and surrounding areas that the department has committed to the upgrading of Road D433, situated south of the N18 and approximately 26km from Mahikeng CBD. The department said this commitment follows a constructive engagement between the North West MEC for Public Works and Roads, Elizabeth Mokua and the Chief of Nadibe-A-Kubu, Kgosi Mosekaphofu Lekoma, where community concerns regarding the condition of the road were discussed.
Mokua said D433 road with a total length of 34.5km, is earmarked for upgrading from gravel to surfaced standard. She further said due to the limited budget available in the current financial year, the department will commence with the upgrading of an initial 5km stretch during the upcoming financial year.
“In the interim, to improve trafficability, the department will continue with routine maintenance which includes regravelling and reblading. We would like to express appreciation to the community for their continued patience and constructive engagement.
“We wish to thank the community of Tshunyane for their patience and for engaging the department through proper channels. We remain committed to improving rural road infrastructure and ensuring that our people have safer and more reliable access roads,” added Mokua.
She said they will continue to prioritise the remaining sections as resources become available. Mokua said the department will continue to work closely with the traditional authority and community stakeholders as the project progresses.
“We will communicate further developments in due course,” she said.
12 February 2026- The ANC said today the Republic of South Africa president, President Cyril Ramaphosa is set to deliver the State of the Nation Address (SONA) at a defining moment in the life of the democracy. The party said this address is grounded in the core principles of participatory democracy, the expressed will of the people and a people-centred, people-driven model of governance and development.
The ANC national spokesperson, Mahlengi Bhengu said it is both a reflection and a commitment, a report to the nation and a vision for the future. Bhengu said as they mark 32 years of democratic governance, this State of the Nation Address reflects on the achievements of recent years, confronts the hurdles that continue to impede socio-economic transformation and charts a clear path forward.
“It builds on the programme articulated in the January 8 Statement, the outcomes of ANC and Cabinet makgotlas and consultations with a broad cross-section of South African society. South Africa enters this address on a trajectory of recovery and renewal.
“State-owned enterprises have shown measurable improvement, with Eskom stabilising operations and South African Airways recording profitability. Rail infrastructure is undergoing revitalisation,” she said.
Bhengu further said South Africa has been removed from the Financial Action Task Force grey list, restoring confidence in the financial system. She added that, the implementation of the National Minimum Wage continues to protect vulnerable workers, while reforms within SASSA and NSFAS are strengthening the integrity and efficiency of social support systems.
“Through the 10-Point Economic Action Plan, government has accelerated industrialisation, diversified trade partnerships, strengthened revenue collection, and stabilised the fiscus to ensure sustainable infrastructure investment and responsible management of competing national priorities.
“Tourism has rebounded strongly, with 10.48 million recorded arrivals, reinforcing South Africa’s standing as a world-class destination. Economic indicators signal cautious optimism,” she said.
Bhengu said strengthening of the rand to R15.80 against the US dollar provides hope for interest rate relief. She said inflation remains moderated, with CPI at 3.6% in December 2025, among the lowest levels recorded in over two decades, positioning the country for further economic stabilisation and growth.
“In last year’s SONA, land reform was prioritised in line with our historic commitment to redress. The passage of the Expropriation Act marked significant progress in this regard. The establishment of the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry reaffirmed our determination to confront corruption and crimedecisively. Gender-Based Violence and Femicide was declared a national crisis, demanding collective societal action.
“The introduction of lenacapavir, to be rolled out in April as a groundbreaking HIV prevention injection, underscores our commitment to safeguarding public health. Yet we are mindful of the challenges that persist,” said Bhengu.
She said the water crisis affecting communities requires urgent infrastructure investment to restore dignity and ensure reliable service delivery. Bhengu said stablisation and strengthening local government remain an urgent priority, as reaffirmed during their 114th anniversary commemoration in Moruleng.
“Decisive action is required to contain foot-and-mouth disease in the agricultural sector, a key pillar of economic activity and job creation. The fight against poverty, unemployment, crime, GBVF, and porous borders continues with renewed urgency.
“The State of the Nation Address outlines practical interventions to advance our developmental agenda and deepen inclusive growth. Globally, this address takes place amid shifting geopolitical and economic dynamics, renewed multilateralism, evolving trade arrangements including AGOA, the African Union’s Agenda 2063, CAEP. frameworks, and global trade tensions,” she said.
Bhengu said South Africa remains committed to progressive internationalism, inclusive multilateralism and strengthening bilateral relations with key partners including the European Union, China, the United States, Russia, and the African continent. She said the successful hosting of the G20 Summit positioned South Africa as a credible and influential global voice.
“At the same time, we remain vigilant against domestic forces that resist transformation and seek to undermine the vision of a united, non-racial, and equitable society championed by Tata Nelson Mandela, whose release from prison we commemorated just days ago.
“The President’s responsibilities demand careful balancing of competing needs, investing in infrastructure, expanding the social wage, strengthening local government, and accelerating economic transformation,” said Bhengu.
She said today’s State of the Nation Address reaffirms their collective determination to build a capable state, grow the economy, create jobs, empower SMMEs, develop skills, and invest in the youth. Bhengu said they call upon all South Africans to join hands in this national effort, to harness their creativity, resilience and shared purpose in shaping a future defined by dignity, opportunity, and inclusive prosperity for all.
12 February 2026- The North West MEC for Department of Economic Development, Environment, Conservation and Tourism (DEDECT), Bitsa Lenkopane said is advancing its investment attraction programme at the 2026 Investing in African Mining Indaba, where a series of bilateral engagements yielded tangible outcomes and culminated in the several strategic investment opportunities towards industrialization. Lenkopane said the province’s participation reflects a deliberate effort to chart a new path for investment that places communities at the centre of economic activity and ensures that local beneficiaries play an active and meaningful role in the provincial economy.
During the Indaba, Lenkopane and Head of Department (HOD), Relebohile Mofokane has
been engaging industry leaders, investors and partners across the exhibition floor, usingevery interaction to profile the North West as a competitive and investment ready province. Lenkopane’s walkabout through the exhibition hall created opportunities for continuous dialogue with mining companies, technology innovators, financiers, and other role players, while also
showcasing the depth of investment opportunities at the North West exhibition stall.
“These engagements highlighted district level strengths and emphasised the province’s
readiness to welcome transformative investment. We also held several strategic meetings with investors and partners.
“Day one included fruitful engagements with Glencore Empire Investment Bank, Shaanxi Non-Ferrous Metals Group, Valterra Platinum, Sibanye-Stillwater and Limpopo Provincial Government. Day two consisted of bilateral’s with Glencore, Free State Provincial Givernemnt and many others which are actively working with the department to advance economic interests,” she said.
Lenkopane further said the sessions
explored investment prospects in mineral beneficiation, manufacturing, renewable energy,
agro-processing, and community development initiatives. She added that through these engagements, she reinforced that the North West is land ready, infrastructure ready, SEZ ready and Special
Purpose Vehicle (SPV) ready, with a portfolio of opportunities geared toward job creation,economic diversification, and inclusive local growth.
“A notable feature of the first day was a high-level bilateral meeting with Glencore CEO,
Jappie Fullard. During this bilateral and others, parties reaffirmed their commitment tostrengthening collaboration, expanding the province’s investment pipeline, and advancing the development of the Special Economic Zone (SEZ).
“The discussions underscored a shared vision to promote local industrial participation and ensure that mining related investments and
post mining economic plans and environmental, social and governance (ESG) criteria bring
direct benefits to communities across the province,” said Lenkopane.
She emphasised the significance of the province’s mission at the Indaba, noting that DEDECT is actively reshaping the investment landscape to open new opportunities for local stakeholders. Lenkopane highlighted that this platform creates unmatched opportunities for the province to foster strategic investment partnerships, drive local market expansion, beneficiation, explore post mining opportunities and secure long-term sustainable growth within the province.
“With over 1,400 mining companies, 1,300 investors, and more than 300 exhibitors, this is the
premier platform where deals are made and where both power and capital converge, creating
unmatched opportunities for strategic partnerships, market expansion, and long-term
sustainable growth.
“We further highlighted that the province is committed to building partnerships that drive
sustainable development and broaden economic participation,” she said.
Lenkopane said through deliberate investment, facilitation, the department is laying the groundwork for communities, cooperatives, SMMEs,
and local suppliers to participate more fully in the province’s economic value chains.
“As the Mining Indaba continues, the North West delegation remains focused on attracting investment, expanding opportunities, promoting local beneficiation and positioning the province as a destination where every investment opportunity translates into real, measurable
12 February 2026- The Portfolio Committee on Community Safety and Transport Management in the North West Provincial Legislature, chaired by Freddy Sonakile, has concluded its two-day engagements on matters relating to North West Transport Investment (NTI). Sonakile said the engagements focused on service providers who are signatories to the NTI Escrow Account, namely TansNat, Ziggy, and Triponza.
He further said these service providers appeared before the Committee to account for their role in the establishment and operation of the escrow account. Sonakile added that the Committee also received briefings from Mduduzi Sithole, a transport business owner from KwaZulu-Natal who made formal representations to the Committee, as well as Grace Sadiki, former Chief Executive Officer of NTI.
“All presenters shared information regarding their involvement with the entity and responded to issues and allegations previously raised.
“During the engagements, the three representatives provided detailed accounts outlining the sequence of events that led to the current situation at NTI,” he said.
Sonakile said following these presentations, the Committee resolved to request additional information to clarify outstanding matters. He said a final engagement session will be scheduled once this information has been received.
“In the interim, the Committee’s legal team has been instructed to begin compiling an interim report to guide further deliberations.
“The Committee also received an update on the payment of employee salaries and will continue to monitor developments in this regard,” said Sonakile.
He said furthermore, the Department of Labour briefed the Committee on the outcomes of its investigation, while the Hawks provided an update on the status of cases opened relating to NTI. Sonakile said in order to ensure a comprehensive and fair process, the Committee will convene an additional session to engage other stakeholders who have played a key role in the operations and future of the entity.
“As the Committee does not exercise direct oversight over the Gauteng Department, it will formally request the assistance of its Gauteng counterpart to ensure that the relevant authorities provide outstanding information and engage on subsidy and related matters.
“The Portfolio Committee remains committed to exercising rigorous oversight and ensuring accountability, transparency, and stability at NTI, in the interest of workers, service providers, and the broader public,” he said.
Setshwantsho: Terekere e amegile mo kotsing ya sejanaga
Ka OBAKENG MAJE
12 Tlhakole 2026- Sepodisi mono Taung se ikuelela go ba kgweetsi go kgweetsa ka kelo-tlhoko mo di tseleng tse di farologaneng. Se, se tla morago ga gore terekere e thulane le sejanaga sa poraevete kwa makopanelong a ditsela gaufi le seteishene sa sepodisi ka Labotlhano bosigo.
Go begwa fa sejanaga sa poraevete se se neng se tswa kwa ntlheng ya Mmabana Taung, se sa ema fa se ne se fitlha kwa makopanelong a ditsela, mme seo se ile sa dira gore mokgweetsi wa terekere a latlhegelwe ke taolo.
Sebueledi sa sepodisi mo sedikeng sa Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati, Warrant Officer Tryphosa van Rooyen are ga gona ope o boneng dikgobalo mo kotsing e.
“Kgetsi e ile ya bulwa, fela ke pego ya kotsi gonne ga gona ope o boneng dikgobalo. Sejanaga ga mmogo le terekere ke tsone tse di itemogetseng ditshenyegelo,” van Rooyen.
The Guardian 