Picture: North West MEC for DEDECT, Bitsa Lenkopane/Supplied
By BAKANG MOKOTO
19 March 2026- The North West Department of Economic Development, Environment, Conservation and Tourism (DEDECT), together with its entities, the North West Parks and Tourism Board, North West Gambling Board and North West Development Corporation, has convened a high-level strategic planning session to reset priorities, strengthen accountability and accelerate service delivery for the 2026/27 financial year.
The two-day session took place from 17–18 March 2026 at the Mmabatho Convention Centre in Mahikeng and brought together key stakeholders from national and provincial departments, as well as state entities, to align on a clear programme of action.
The North West MEC for DEDECT, Bitsa Lenkopane said at the centre of the discussions is the development of the Annual Performance Plan (APP) and Annual Operational Plan (AOP), with a focus on measurable outcomes, responsiveness to community needs, and improved service delivery. Setting a firm tone, Lenkopane emphasised that the process must mark a decisive shift from routine compliance to real impact.
“This cannot be business as usual. We need to reposition the department as the engine of economic development, as our communities are running out of patience. This session must correct our course, sharpen our priorities and produce a plan that is measurable, implementable and responsive to the real needs of our people.
“There is a need to reposition the department and its entities to respond directly to socio-economic challenges, adding that alignment with the Provincial Growth and Development Strategy is critical to ensuring accountability,” she said.
Lenkopane further said job creation as the department’s flagship priority, calling for targeted interventions that unlock opportunities for SMMEs, township enterprises and youth. She added that in reinforcing a culture of accountability and performance, she recognised programmes that achieved 100% targets in Quarters 2 and 3 of the 2025/26 financial year, while the North West Parks and Tourism Board was acknowledged as the most improved entity.
“Despite the department achieving a record-breaking performance of over 91% in Quarter 3, we caution against complacency. This improvement is commendable, but it is not the destination. We must elevate our performance and ensure that every target translates into real impact in the lives of our people.
“Departmental plans must deliver tangible outcomes, including inclusive economic growth, a strengthened tourism sector, sustainable use of biodiversity resources, and effective environmental conservation,” said Lenkopane.
She said the session concluded with the adoption of a clear implementation plan and monitoring framework, placing community impact, including job creation, access to services, quality of delivery and citizen satisfaction at the centre of departmental performance.
The Guardian 