Picture: A CHW addressing patients/Generic
By BAKANG MOKOTO
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.
The Guardian 