By REGINALD KANYANE
24 March 2025- The African National Congress (ANC) Chief Whip in the North West Provincial Legislature, Motlalepula Rosho on Thursday commended the R55.740 billion budget presented by the North West MEC for Finance, Kenetswe Mosenogi. Rosho said the allocation biased towards rural development will address infrastructure challenges facing the province and create the much-needed jobs for the unemployed.
She further applauded the focus on empowering marginalised communities, women and youth to ensure that growth achieved will be shared across all levels of society in order to create an equitable and self-sustaining economy. Rosho added that the allocation of R258.723 million towards rural roads should alleviate the plight of historically marginalised communities that are inaccessible particularly during rainy seasons.
“Coupled with R127.225 million allocated for the Comprehensive Agricultural Support Programme Grant targeting black subsistence and distressed commercial farmers will improve access to formal and institutional markets.
“The job creation priority has been allocated sufficient resources for all departments, state owned enterprises and municipalities to adequately respond to the challenge of youth unemployment,” she said.
Rosho highlighted that the budget was in line with the North West Premier, Lazarus Mokgosi’s State of the Province Address (SOPA) pronouncement placed youth at the centre of government’s Programme of Action to mitigate against rising unemployment.
“We are further encouraged by the allocation of R81.492 million for the continuation of the Presidential Youth Employment Initiative for the benefit of 3 094 young people and partnership for labour activation programme targeting creation of more than 24 000 job opportunities.
“We concur that the strategic investments in small business, agriculture, tourism, public infrastructure including the revamp of the Pilanesberg and GD Montshioa Airports will lay the foundation for long-term economic sustainability, economic growth and prosperity,” said Rosho.
She said the budget advances the vision of the Freedom Charter as expressed in the ANC’s January 8 statement. Rosho said the allocation of R1.848 billion towards servicing of 5403 sites and construction of 3555 housing units will reduce the inherited housing backlogs and reduce mud houses across the province in order to restore the dignity of the historically marginalised.
“We welcome measures aimed at tightening the Supply Chain Management (SCM) processes by subjecting all major bids to vetting in collaboration with the State Security Agency (SSA) to curb corruption in awarding of tenders.
“The budget reflects a shared dedication to improving the lives of our people while also reaffirming the ANC’s historic mission of advancing the interests of the working class because education and healthcare remain central pillars of government spending, ensuring that economic transformation is felt in the everyday lives of our people,” she asserted.
Rosho said the departmental policy and budget debates that are expected to follow will further unpack policy interventions aimed at strengthening the fight against violent crime including Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF), supporting municipalities to address service delivery as well as water challenges and high cost of living affecting most indigent households.
The Guardian 