Tuesday, May 24, 2022

As a province we have a huge backlog on the maintenance and upgrading of roads from gravel to tar surfaced roads. Our indications in line with our draft ten year roads master plan suggests that we have a total of 19 783 kilometers of road of which 5 125 are paved and the remaining 14 658 are gravel roads. The reality of the situation suggests that we will only be able to achieve 500 kilometers at the end of the ten year period if the allocations from the equitable share remains the same. There are competing interests between rural roads and the economic urban infrastructure that is much needed for economic...[Read]

Wednesday, March 23, 2022

It is almost exactly two years since I stood before you to announce that South Africa would be entering a nation-wide lockdown to contain the spread of the COVID-19 virus. This was a drastic and unprecedented measure. But it slowed the spread of the virus so that our health facilities – and indeed our society – had time to prepare for the anticipated surge in infections. Since then, we have had to adjust our response as the pandemic has changed, as infections have risen and fallen, and as our health facilities have come under pressure. For two years, our lives have been shaped by this pandemic....[Read]

Monday, March 14, 2022

Claims of the corruption in the public service, call to end Section 100 intervention poor, and the ever deteriorating state of the road infrastructure in Mahikeng and its surrounding villages were topped issues raised by residents of Ngaka Modiri Molema District during their engagement with President Cyril Ramaphosa during the Presidential Imbizo on Saturday, to oversee the implementation of the District Development Model which integrates planning and budgeting across all the three spheres of government. President reflects on corruption as raised during the Imbizo what government is doing about it...[Read]

Tuesday, March 08, 2022

The Department of Public Works and Roads receives a budget of R3.352 billion in 2022/23 and R6.813 billion in the last two outer years of the MTEF. Through this budget, the department will be able to provide for both building and road infrastructure that is accessible, integrated and environmentally sensitive. An amount of R363 million is allocated to Community Based Programme to ensure the implementation of Expanded Public Works Programs (EPWP) and through this programme, the department will coordinate the creation of 25 882 job opportunities across all departments in the province. To this end, an amount of R5.338 billion for the 2022/23 financial year has been allocated for infrastructure provision of which maintenance constituted R998...[Read]

Wednesday, February 23, 2022

Corruption is a major blight on our country. It has lowered our economic growth potential, made us fiscally more vulnerable, and severely weakened the capability of the state. Accounting officers need to ensure that their procurement processes have integrity, provide value for money, and are free from interference from politically connected persons and bidders. We also need to be clear on what we are fighting. We must differentiate between corruption and minor transgressions of the rules of policy prescripts that are audited as irregular expenditure. The National Treasury is engaging with the Auditor-General to continue to ensure transparent disclosure of minor transgressions, but outside the financial audit process...[Read]

Friday, February 18, 2022

North West has finally taken a position and outlined its plans to deal decisively with the findings as contained in Part 1 of the State Capture Report detailing serious allegations of corruption and wrong doing related to SA Express contract issued by the North West Provincial Government. Delivering his first State Of the Province Address in Mahikeng today (Fri), Premier Bushy Kaobitsa Maape said he took the findings ``very seriously’’. To this end, he has directed the affected Departments to prepare a plan to be adopted by the Executive Council, on how to implement the Commission’s findings and recommendations. Whatever approach we adopt, I can guarantee the public that we will be guided by the law to lay criminal charges, recover state funds and institute...[Read]