Wednesday, March 19, 2025

The 2025/26 Provincial Budget proposals that we are tabling today are not mere abstract numbers but are intended to address the lived realities of millions, the silent struggles of our youth and the deferred dreams of generations who placed their faith in our democracy. This budget we wish to demonstrate our commitment to fiscal prudence, economic revitalisation, and sustainable development. It is not about making easy choices, but the right ones-choices that will lay the foundation for a thriving economy, a vibrant democracy and a province in which every individual can prosper. In 2024, the economy grew by only 0.6 per cent as per the Stats SA Gross Domestic product (GDP) report. Minister Godongwana, during his delivery of the 2025 Budget Speech, indicated that over the medium term, GDP growth is projected to. avarage 1.8..[Read more]

Wednesday, March 12, 2025

The postponement of the tabling of the Budget three weeks ago was a regrettable, but perhaps an understandable feature of multiparty governance. It is a sign of a maturing and resilient democracy. The delay has stimulated an unprecedented level of public debate about the difficult policy trade-offs we, as a nation, face. A vital debate about which policies to fund and how to fund them. About which priorities to pursue now, and which ones we may need to delay in the context of our limited resources. As much as the debate has been dominated by the proposed increase to value-added tax (VAT), the bigger debate must be about how we grow the economy for the benefit of the majority. A bigger, faster growing economy, and the larger fiscal resources that comes with it, would give us more fiscal room to meet more of our developmental goals....[Read more]

Thursday, February 27, 2025

“We need a state that is capable and competent, underpinned by a professional public service. South Africans want a state that treats all people with dignity, humility and respect. A state with leaders who are prepared to serve our people with complete dedication, and public servants who are ethical, skilled and properly qualified”. I need to out rightly indicate that as a province we are concerned about the high levels of unemployment and poverty confronting our communities. We are a province endowed with natural resources such as minerals and weather conditions that permit a conducive environment for agriculture to thrive as well as majestic tourist attraction sites that we must exploit to create economic opportunities for our people.The recent Quarterly Labour Force Survey, where our province shed twenty thousand jobs putting the expanded unemployment rate at fifty-two percent, must galvanize and unite all of us to tackle these...[Read more]

Thursday, February 06, 2025

Government will spend more than R940 billion on infrastructure over the next three years. This includes R375 billion in spending by state owned companies. This funding will revitalise our roads and bridges, build dams and waterways, modernise our ports and airports and power our economy. Through the Infrastructure Fund, twelve blended finance projects worth nearly R38 billion have been approved in the last year. These are projects in water and sanitation, student accommodation, transport, health and energy. Construction of the Mtentu Bridge construction continues. This bridge will rise above the river between Port Edward and Lusikisiki, and will become the tallest bridge in Africa. The Polihlali Dam will feed 490 million cubic metres of water a year from the Lesotho Highlands into the Vaal River System, securing water supply to several provinces for years to come. Working with international partners, we are revitalising small harbours, unlocking economic opportunities for coastal communities...[Read more]

Tuesday, August 27, 2024

This moment marks a significant step forward in our collective efforts to enhance the energy infrastructure of North West. The challenges we face in ensuring a reliable and consistent power supply are well-known, and the support we receive from our international partners plays a crucial role in overcoming these obstacles.This is indeed, a rewarding partnership with the People’s Republic of China, which we as a province, will forever cherish and support beyond this occasion. We are indeed pleased, Minister Ramokgopa, that you kept your word, and delivered on the commitment you made in very jovial mood then. The commitment that you want to see a portion of this second consignment from our friends in the People Republic of China, finds its way too, to the North West Province. We are accepting this generous offer and support with open hands. I feel privileged that my province will be counted among the 500 or so, public facilities across the country to have benefitted from this donation...[Read more]

Wednesday, August 07, 2024

Today, marks a very important step in the direction our Seventh Administration is taking. My wish is, to see this happen very often in other communities in the province during the five-year journey we have just embarked on. It is indeed a remarkable development we are witnessing here today. If the President of the country was in attendance: I have no doubt, he would be pleased with this development, because he said it during his address in Parliament. ``We will support the growth of rural enterprises and must invest in public infrastructure in under serviced areas. ``…we will take economic activity to where most of our people live so that more jobs can be created.’’ We are beginning to see that happen, because we have found each other. Not only as leaders of various political parties, but big business too is coming to party to work with government, for the good of the province, the country and all its people. I am indeed privileged to be among the witnesses to this occasion. It confirms that indeed, partnerships between the private and public sector..[Read more]