11 March 2026- The North West Provincial Government has in the last two years increased efforts to create job opportunities. As of early this year, the province has shown significant improvement in its labour market, with the official unemployment rate decreasing by 6.2% points year-on-year.
Delivering the 2026 State of the Province Address (SOPA) during the official Opening of the North West Provincial Legislature in Mahikeng, the North West Premier, Lazarus Mokgosi, lauded the provincial department of Health for contributing to the provincial employment statistics through the absorption of over 4500 Community Health Workers on a full time and temporary basis.
Mokgosi said CHWs across the province now have a confirmed employment status, either through permanent absorption into the public service or through fully standardised contractual arrangements with regulated remuneration.
“Of these, 2564 Community Health Workers who hold a matric qualification have been permanently absorbed into Level 2 posts, while 1999 workers without matric have been fully contracted and are receiving standardised pay. The department has further confirmed full back pay compliance for non-matriculant Community Health Workers.
“The Ngaka Modiri Molema and Bojanala Platinum Districts collectively account for 69% of the provincial Community Health Worker workforce, with Ngaka Modiri Molema contributing 42.6%, followed by Bojanala Platinum at 26.5%. Dr Kenneth Kaunda and Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati Districts are at 17.3% and 13.5% respectively,” he said.
Mokgosi further commended the creation of opportunities for young people through their enrolment under the Nelson Mandela–Fidel Castro (NMFC) Medical Programme. He added that as a provincial government, they committed to send 31 unemployed young people from across the North West into the Nelson Mandela Fidel Castro (NMFC) Medical Programme to pursue medical studies in Cuba, and this was achieved.
“An additional thirty young people will undergo this programme in the next financial year. There are plans by the provincial administration to continue to collaborate with SETAs, Organisations in the Skills industry, as well as business to build skills capacity and human development in the province,” said Mokgosi.
Picture: North West Premier, Lazarus Mokgosi hand over RDP houses to beneficiaries/Supplied
By REGINALD KANYANE
11 March 2026- The North West Premier, Lazarus Mokgosi, accompanied by the North West MEC for Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs (COGHSTA), Oageng Molapisi, recently handed over six houses to rightful beneficiaries at Bokamoso and Thekwane villages in the Rustenburg Local Municipality.
Handing over the houses last Friday, Mokgosi said the gesture was not only about giving beneficiaries a roof over their heads, but also about restoring their dignity and ensuring that they have security, worth and a sense of purpose. He described this as an important aspect of living a dignified life.
“The handover came at the right time as we celebrate Human Rights, urging us to accelerate the fight against inequality and discrimination in all its forms. Government is prioritising housing developments that are fully integrated with infrastructure and social amenities.
“This approach aims to address historical spatial inequalities by ensuring that new housing developments have access to basic services and social amenities. This vision will only be realised, if all stakeholders adhere to the principles of the District Development Model (DDM),” he said.
Mokgosi further said for many years their focus has been on the number of houses built. He added that while this helped to reduce the housing backlog they are facing, they have realised that in doing so, they sometimes overlooked other basic services such as reliable water supply, sanitation and electricity.
North West MEC for COGHSTA, Oageng Molapisi, echoed the Premier’s sentiments, stressing that access to basic services remains a critical part of the government’s housing mandate.
“Our mandate as the department goes beyond simply building houses. It is about creating sustainable human settlements and improving the quality of life for residents by ensuring that they have access to basic services.
“Government now aims to ensure that new housing projects are connected to infrastructure and social amenities in order to create communities where residents can live, work and access services without being isolated,” he said.
Molapisi urged the beneficiaries to take care of their new homes, as they are investments for their future and that of their loved ones. He said this was made possible through strong coordination between local and provincial governments in an effort to create sustainable and integrated human settlements.
Irene Taunyana (79) pensioner, who had been living in a house built from precast walls, was one of the beneficiaries who received her house during the visit to Thekwane village. Taunyana, who was overjoyed, could not hide her excitement when she received her new home and sang at the top of her voice.
“This is a miracle. My life has just changed, and this generous gesture will help restore my health forever. What the government has done for me is a clear signal of how it cares about us, its citizens,” said Taunyana.
Meanwhile, out of a total of 250 housing units in Bokamoso, 161 houses have been built, while in Thekwane 43 houses have been built out of a total of 50 houses. The Department of Human Settlements has reaffirmed its commitment to providing citizens with adequate housing connected to essential services.
10 March 2026- The North West Premier, Lazarus Mokgosi has announced the implementation of a coordinated provincial response to reduce the scourge of teenage pregnancy and strengthen support for adolescent mothers. Mokgosi, who outlined this plan while delivering his State of the Province Address (SOPA) at the official Opening of the North West Provincial Legislature recently, said the initiative which will be led by the North West Department of Health, will see the Departments of Social Development and Education coming on board to implement this multi-sectoral effort.
“The coordinated response will ensure a unified, evidence‑driven response that protects our girls, supports young mothers, and strengthens the wellbeing of communities. The scourge of teenage pregnancy in our province, particularly among under‑age girls, can no longer be normalised.
“Teenage pregnancy in the North West is a critical concern for the government with a 12.8% birth rate among women under 20, driving school dropouts and socio-economic instability. Significant concern has been raised regarding high rates of underage pregnancy in areas like Setlagole and the Ditsobotla sub-district,” he said.
Mokgosi further said working hand in glove with the North West Departments of Social Development and Education, the Department of Health has been assigned to lead this initiative, recognising that teenage pregnancy is a downstream effect of broader social determinants including poverty, school dropout, violence, and limited access to youth‑friendly services.
5 March 2026- The North West Premier, Lazarus Mokgosi has reiterated the government’s bold commitment to inclusive economic growth, investment attraction, tourism expansion and sustainable job creation during his 2026 State of the Province Address (SOPA).
Delivering the address at the official opening of the North West Provincial Legislature (NWPL) in Mahikeng, Mokgosi emphasised that the government remains resolute in tackling socio-economic challenges and ensuring that the gains of democracy translate into real opportunities for all citizens. Demonstrating tangible progress, Mokgosi informed the provincial legislature that the province created 78 000 jobs in the last two quarters of 2025, resulting in a 6.2% decline in official unemployment, which is the largest decrease recorded nationally during that period.
“This milestone reflects the successful implementation of the Provincial Growth and Development Strategy (PGDS), positioning the North West as a competitive and attractive investment destination.
“To strengthen local economic infrastructure and advance environmental sustainability, the Premier has directed the provincial Department of Economic Development, Environment, Conservation and Tourism to intensify targeted support to municipalities, particularly Ditsobotla and City of Matlosana,” he said.
In a concerted effort to unlock tourism potential in the province, Mokgosi emphasised key infrastructure initiatives which include the reactivation of Pilanesberg International Airport in partnership with Infrastructure South Africa. He further said this project is expected to boost tourism and stimulate commercial activity in major hubs such as Sun City Resort and Pilanesberg National Park.
“The R150 million Majakaneng to Sun City Road project will further improve access and strengthen tourism infrastructure. To drive industrialisation and large-scale investment, the province will revitalise and officially license the Bojanala Special Economic Zone in the 2026/27 financial year.
“Supported by R12 billion in investments, the SEZ is projected to create 12 000 additional jobs and unlock opportunities across diverse economic sectors. International economic cooperation is also being deepened with strategic partners including Botswana, Namibia and People’s Republic of China, particularly along the Trans-Kalahari Economic Corridor, to promote trade, skills development and investment flows,” added Mokgosi.
He said a comprehensive turnaround strategy is also being implemented in collaboration with the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) to restore the financial sustainability of the North West Development Corporation (NWDC) and strengthen its investment facilitation capacity. Mokgosi said in advancing environmental sustainability and rural economic inclusion, the government has launched the commercialisation of fourteen provincial nature reserves, securing investment commitments of approximately R420 million.
“This initiative is set to create jobs, stimulate enterprise development and ensure that rural communities, landowners and traditional authorities benefit meaningfully from the province’s natural resources.
“We remain steadfast in our commitment to build a province free from poverty, inequality and unemployment, and to create opportunities that improve the lives of our people,” he concluded.
3 March 2026- The North West Premier, Lazarus Mokgosi has reaffirmed government’s commitment to advancing infrastructure development and improving service delivery. Mokgosi, who delivered the 2026 State of the Province Address (SOPA) at the official opening of the North West Provincial Legislature (NWPL), outlined a range of priority projects scheduled for implementation in the 2026/2027 financial year.
He further announced that the North West Department of Public Works and Roads will work in partnership with the North West Department of Economic Development, Environment, Conservation and Tourism (DEDECT) to strengthen waste management and road maintenance initiatives. Mokgosi added that, this collaborative approach forms part of government’s broader drive to ensure a clean, safe and healthy environment for residents across the North West.
“Road infrastructure development is gaining significant traction with more than R1 billion earmarked for catalytic projects in Phelindaba, Makwassie, Verdwaal and Ramokokastad. These targeted investments are intended to stimulate local economies, improve mobility and restore connectivity within communities.
“We have prioritised the upgrading of Nelson Mandela Drive in Mahikeng, allocating over R700 million for the project. The work will include widening the existing bridge to serve as a carriageway, with construction expected to commence in April 2026,” he said.
Mokgosi said construction will also resume in the new financial year in Dwarsberg and Pitse Disulejang in Moses Kotane Local Municipality, Komkruil, as well as along the Lebotlwane-to-Tlholwe route in Moretele Local Municipality. He said these roads were severely damaged by floods, disrupting access for learners, workers and surrounding communities.
“Their rehabilitation reflects government’s continued commitment to restoring critical infrastructure and ensuring reliable access to essential services. In addition, we announced a Public-Private Partnership initiative aimed at eliminating potholes across the province while tackling youth unemployment.
“The provincial government is finalising a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Central University of Technology (CUT), to roll out pothole repair programmes in our municipalities, with a focus on empowering 7 000 unemployed young people,” he said.
Furthermore, Mokgosi committed the North West Department of Public Works and Roads to providing asphalt for designated municipalities to fast-track project delivery. He said this intervention will enhance alignment across national, provincial and municipal road networks, expand access to economic opportunities and improve mobility for residents throughout the province.
Picture: North West Premier, Lazarus Mokgosi/Facebook
By OBAKENG MAJE
26 February 2026- The North West Premier, Lazarus Mokgosi said they have declared 2026 as a “Year of Decisive Action to Fix Local Government and Transform the Economy.” Mokgosi said as this year is earmarked for Local Government Elections, they fully commit to support the Electoral Commission to conduct free and fair elections.
He further said municipalities as often mentioned is the closest sphere of government within reach of ordinary people and affects their daily lives directly. Mokgosi added that it is also the practical location of enterprises, big or small, domestic or international.
“The developmental mandate of local government is derived from Section 153 of the Constitution which amongst others places an obligation on municipalities to promote the social and economic development of the community.
“The duty of the local government to correct and restore its administrative functionality is important both for meeting basic needs of the people and creating enabling conditions for businesses to operate and create jobs,” he said.
Mokgosi said there is therefore a positive correlation between a functioning local government and a growing economy that works for all the people. He said as a result, it is their duty to restore the administrative functionality of municipalities by improving provision of basic services such as water, electricity, refuse removal and road maintenance.
“We are not unfairly fixated on weaknesses in local municipalities whilst ignoring the provincial government. We recognise that a seamless eco system of good governance is critical for all spheres of government to build a mutually reinforcing order of cooperation and interdependence. Provincial government is following the example set by the National Government to improve governance by turning the tide of poor audit outcomes with nine out of eleven departments receiving unqualified and clean audit outcomes in the last audit cycle.
“We can confirm that all senior managers in all provincial departments have complied with submissions on financial disclosures. This is aimed at promoting good governance practices with emphasis on ethical leadership,” said Mokgosi.
He said but critically to avert incidents of conflict of interest by deterring any possibility of malfeasance. Mokgosi said all members of the executive council have signed agreements with him to measure their performance and where there is dereliction of duty, political consequence management will ensue.
“Moreover, several cases implicating government and municipal officials are being investigated by law enforcement agencies while others are before the courts. Progress in relation to these matters will be announced by relevant units at an appropriate time.
“In the last financial year, we spent 98% of our provincial allocation by the National Treasury. This upward trend is being witnessed in the current financial year as we do not expect any money to be returned to the national fiscus,” he said.
Mokgosi said from the beginning of the 2026/27 Financial Year, they will introduce a province-wide Smart-Gov Monitoring and Evaluation Dashboard. He said all his departments will be integrated into a single executive oversight platform that allows real-time tracking of performance, expenditure and service delivery outcomes.
“The stabilisation of the provincial government has enabled us to focus our energies on municipalities. The encouraging signs of recovery as reflected in audit outcomes bear testimony to the ongoing commitment of the government to support municipalities through financial recovery plans, administrative support, planning and budgeting.
“As a consequence, municipalities such as Moses Kotane, Taung and JB Marks have improved from qualified to unqualified audit opinion. We will be dedicating our ongoing efforts in assisting Bojanala Platinum and Dr Kenneth Kaunda District Municipalities as well as Moretele Local Municipality to move from unqualified to clean audit outcomes,” said Mokgosi.
He said they also note the decrease in Disclaimer Audit Outcomes from nine municipalities in 2020/21 to only one in 2024/25, which is Ditsobotla. Mokgosi said, however, they are satisfied with progress registered so far following the introduction of a National Cabinet Representative under Section 139 (7) of the Constitution.
“While endowed with sufficient private sector investments across critical industries like cement manufacturing, regional agricultural companies, poultry and more. This municipality is a textbook example of how bad governance and instability can lead to value destruction in the local economy, deprive a municipality of revenue and consequently poor service delivery accompanied by high levels of unemployment.
“We will be introducing Section 154 of the Constitution in identified municipalities to strengthen their capacity in areas such as waste management and road maintenance,” he said.
Mokgosi said the Departments of Public Works and Roads as well Economic Development, Environment, Conservation, and Tourism will be seized with the responsibility to assist with the aforementioned. He said Ditsobotla and Matlosana Local Municipalities will be their starting point, where their cooperation will include working with SANRAL and Farmer’s organisations.
“Section 106 investigations into alleged acts of maladministration at City of Matlosana, Madibeng and Tswaing have been completed with remedial action plans being implemented. In relation to Matlosana, we are using other various legislative measures to stabilize the municipality.
“This is aimed at strengthening administrative stability and financial accounting. Further to this Eskom will assist municipalities grappling with load reduction with energy efficiency and demand management grants,” he said.
Mokgosi said the North West MEC, Oageng Molapisi will elaborate further on these intervention measures during the budget speech. He said through “Adopt a Municipality” initiative the Ramotshere Moiloa Local Municipality has officially signed a Memorandum of Cooperation with Infrastructure South Africa.
“In the next 24 months the municipality will be working hand in glove with ISA to roll-out various projects to fast-track infrastructure development, enhance technical capacity, revenue collection, and address maintenance backlogs.
“The Provincial Local Government Kgotha-Kgothe resolutions are going to inform our Programme of Action for the 2026/27 Financial Year. This will be done through the establishment of monitoring mechanisms to promote and oversee the effective implementation of all our action plans,” said Mokgosi.
He said they have developed a performance dashboard to track the implementation of key deliverables in the form of various infrastructure projects. Mokgosi said in this regard, they are already making progress with the construction and completion of various water projects in our communities.
“We have recently introduced a contractor in Seweding village in Mahikeng to deal with challenges of sewer spillages in the area. We take this opportunity to profusely apologise to our residents for this setback, which equally has been as a result of various acts of vandalism and criminality.
“We have since reported the matter to the South African Police Service to follow all leads in arresting the perpetrators of this heinous crime. The upgraded Bulk Water Supply Scheme in Rustenburg Local Municipality, will increase provision of water services in the villages of Bethanie, Modikoe, Berseba and Makolokwe,” he said.
Picture: North West Premier, Lazarus Mokgosi/Supplied
By OBAKENG MAJE
24 February 2026- The North West Premier, Lazarus Mokgosi said his province continues to demonstrate an upward trend in job creation following the recent Quarterly Labour Force Survey. Mokgosi said according to Statistics South Africa (SSA), whilst the official unemployment rate in the country decreased by 0.5% point, the province recorded the largest drop of 6.2% in the country last year.
He further said in the last two quarters of 2025, the province cumulatively created close to 80 000 jobs, with agriculture, construction and public service being the largest contributors in employment. Mokgosi maintains the implementation of the Provincial Growth and Development Strategy (PGDS) is well underway and is beginning to yield desired results.
“We officially adopted the PGDS last year to drive economic growth and create jobs. We are now starting to witness an upward trajectory on our job creation initiatives, which have culminated in the reduction of unemployment by over six percent.
“Of concern is the extended unemployment rate which was reduced by a measly 1.9% in the same period. Participating in the State of the Nation Address (SONA) debate more recently, I flagged a litany of intervention measures aimed at addressing the scourge of unemployment in the province,” he added.
Mokgosi said this includes the resuscitation of the Pilanesberg International Airport to reincarnate commercial activities in the tourism sector in and around the Moses Kotane Local Municipality. He said this Friday, they will be signing a memorandum of understanding with the national Department of Public Works and Infrastructure to see the full implementation of our plans for the Pilanesberg Airport.
“I am therefore hopeful that these activities will result in more job creation opportunities for the people of North West,” concluded Mokgosi.
Meanwhile, the Democratic Alliance (DA) Caucus Leader in North West, Freddy Sonakile said: “Mokgosi celebrates a drop in numbers while the province drops the ball. The government is turning the corner. While any real job creation is welcome, the people of this province deserve substance, not selective statistics, recycled promises, and governance by press release.
“A year-on-year decline in the official unemployment rate does not, in itself, demonstrate a sustainable economic recovery. The lived reality across the North West remains one of collapsing municipal services, deteriorating roads, unreliable water supply, failing infrastructure, and shrinking local economies.”
17 February 2026- The North West Premier, Lazarus Mokgosi said they are hard at work to turn the tide against a litany of socio-economic challenges afflicting their developmental path. Mokgosi said the upward trajectory in audit outcomes speaks to the systems they have put in place to ensure that they put emphasis on ethical leadership.
Mokgosi, who was delivering his speech during the State of the Nation Address (SONA) debate in Cape Town on Tuesday, said eight out of ten departments in the province received clean and unqualified outcomes in the last audit cycle. He said this stability has trickled down to the Departments such as Health as it continues to lead the pack in drug-resistant TB management in the country with a success rate of between 84% and 86%.
“These efforts have also been bolstered by an allocation of additional R200 million rand for the employment of nurses, doctors as well as procurement of new ambulances.
Furthermore, the NSC results of 2025, which currently sits at 88.94%, the fourth highest in the country after affluent provinces, is consistent with our efforts of infrastructure development in our distressed communities.
“There are equally improvements in the overall outcome of these results in rural and farm schools. As a consequence, we managed to reduce the learner performance gap between disadvantaged schools with resourced ones, and as a matter of fact 54% of Bachelor passes in our province were recorded in no-fee schools,” he said.
Mokgosi further said they are fixing the local government and working hand in glove with the national government. He added that they have brought stability in Ditsobotla Local Municipality following the introduction of the National Cabinet Representative.
“We are monitoring developments in Matlosana Local Municipality with a view of strengthening existing intervention measures to improve the situation. On a positive note the Ramotshere Moiloa Local Municipality will this Friday sign a Memorandum of Cooperation with Infrastructure South Africa under the auspices of Adopt A Municipality Initiative.
“This will see the municipality benefiting from various infrastructure projects that are aimed at expediting provision of services for residents. This municipality has ticked all the right boxes in the form of improved audit outcomes as well as honouring payments with third parties,” said Mokgosi.
He said they have recently held the Local Government Kgotha-Kgothe under the theme: “Every Municipality Must Work”. Mokgosi said this is part of the ongoing commitment by the provincial government to ensure that all municipalities are functional, responsive, and accountable to the people they serve.
“There are encouraging signs of recovery after the province recorded 42 000 new jobs in the third quarter of the 2025/26 financial year. Our efforts of creating an additional 12 000 jobs are gaining traction as we seek to implement the Bojanala Special Economic Zone, which will be anchored on investment commitments amounting to R12 billion.
“We envision the SEZ to be licensed in the next financial year.
In giving impetus to these bold pronouncements we will also be signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure this Friday, to resuscitate the Pilanesberg Airport,” he said.
Mokgosi said once fully operational the airport will serve as a strategic access point to Sun City, Pilanesberg National Park, as well as the Special Economic Zone, thus creating various economic opportunities for locals. He said this economic drive is further amplified by the implementation of four critical road projects at Madibeng, Moses Kotane and Taung Local Municipalities and they will serve as strategic corridor routes between the provinces of Gauteng and Northern Cape.
“A total budget of R980 million has been set aside for this initiative. The Department of Public Works and Roads has been allocated an additional R256 million, which includes R150 million in the form of a disaster relief fund to address repairs of roads and bridges that were damaged by floods last year.
“Moreover, the construction of 2900 housing units across the four districts of our province is well underway. We have resolved to allocate 80% of the budget to complete all blocked housing projects,” said Mokgosi.
He said to date 70% of these projects have been completed. Mokgosi said just last year, they handed over 300 housing units to residents of Tshing Extension 19, near Ventersdorp.
“Through Operation Bulela Metsi, several water infrastructure projects in Dinokana, Tlhabane, Ipelegeng, Ikageng, Lonely Park, Jourbeton, Ellaton, Loraine, Kanana and Khuma are at different stages of completion to ensure consistent supply of water in these areas.
“Plans are already in motion for the commercialisation of rural and communal farms, at Springbokpan in Ditsobotla Local Municipality. Over 100 farmers across 23 villages will benefit from these R40 million initiatives in the Ngaka Modiri Molema District Municipality,” he said.
Mokgosi said the provincial disaster management centre has been activated to assist farmers and help arrest the spread of foot and mouth disease. He said they have also put measures in place for farmers to adhere to the dictates of the protocols for the movement of cattle as a means to avert and curb new infections.
“We have never claimed to be perfect, but we will be true to the course of reversing all the injustices meted on our people by over 300 years of Colonial-Apartheid Rule,” said Mokgosi.
13 January 2026- The North West Premier, Lazarus Mokgosi said he learnt with deep sadness about the passing of Bishop Daniel Matebesi of the Independent Congregational Church of Southern Africa (ICCSA). Mokgosi said Matebesi was a devoted servant of God and a respected leader within the interfaith and broader community.
He further said Matebesi dedicated his life to ministry, offering spiritual guidance, wisdom and compassion to congregants and community members. Mokgosi added that beyond the pulpit, Matebesi was known for his humility, commitment to service and dedication to uplifting others.
“His consistent involvement in the provincial government’s programmes, notably, the Premier’s Operation Dignity Programme, as a Patron of the Gender Based Violence Forum and Chairperson of Moral Regeneration Movement in the Ngaka Modiri Molema District, did not go unnoticed, as he selflessly dedicated his time and contribution to restoring dignity and hope to those in need.
“I wish to, on behalf of the North West Provincial Government, extend our heartfelt condolences to the Matebesi family, the faith-based organisations, and all who were touched by his life and ministry,” he said.
Mokgosi said may they all find comfort in the legacy of faith, love and service that Matebesi leaves behind. He said he will be amongst the mourners who will pay their last respect to Matebesi during his funeral service scheduled for 15 January 2026, at the Grace Bible Church in Mahikeng.
5 January 2026- The North West Premier, Lazarus Mokgosi has expressed sadness at the passing of the Mma Mmutle Mothandi (104), who passed away on 30 December 2025. Last year, Mokgosi intervened on a pressing need that was identified through the Premier’s Operation Dignity Programme by building a Temporary Residential Unit and a house which had furniture for Mothandi, who was staying with her children and grandchildren.
“The family was further provided with cutlery and tools to start a fast-food business, for self-sustenance. At the time, Mothandi appreciated the intervention and believed it would outlive her and would ensure lasting dignity for her family.
“The Premier’s Operation Dignity Programme commits to ensuring that she gets a funeral service befitting her stature, tenacious character and resilience. The service will be held at Mmamokete Section, outside Zeerust on Saturday,” he said.
The Guardian 