North West municipalities stabilising – Mokgosi
North West Premier Lazarus Mokgosi called a media briefing in Mahikeng to reflect on the first 100 days in office.
Mokgosi said interventions at municipalities had begun to yield positive results, making way for improved service delivery.
He said the progress was evident in the recent reports by the Auditor General of South Africa.
Of the province’s 22 municipalities, 21 submitted Annual Financial Statements for the 2022/23 financial year, with the exception of the troubled Ditsobotla Local Municipality.
“Three municipalities, namely; Dr Kenneth Kaunda, City of Matlosana, and Moses Kotane obtained unqualified opinions in 2021/22 and 2022/23 financial years.
“Progress was also registered in Moretele Local Municipality which moved from Qualified to Unqualified, Ngaka Modiri Molema District Municipality from Adverse to Qualified, and lastly Kgetleng-Rivier Local Municipality from Disclaimer to Qualified Audit outcomes.”
The premier said the stabilisation of municipalities has enabled the provincial government to focus on the rollout of various water and sanitation projects, which have cost over R60 million and benefitted over 41,000 residents.
“Through our Bi-Weekly Thuntsha-Lerole initiative we officially opened a R97 million bulk sewer and water reticulation project at Rekgaratllile township near Stella in Naledi Local Municipality.
“Similar projects are being implemented while some have been completed in Moretele, Kgetleng, Ramotshere Moiloa, Mahikeng, Matlosana, Tswaing, Greater Taung, and Kagisamo-Molopo Local Municipalities, and in total twenty-nine water projects are being rolled out across the province,” Mokgosi added.
During an oversight visit to the province in September, a delegation from the National Council of Provinces raised the alarm over delays and the poor planning and execution of water infrastructure projects.
While on their visit at the Rooigrond Wastewater Treatment Works, the delegation flagged the more than six-year delayed completion of the project, which was initially planned to be completed in 2018.
“It is unacceptable that the over 1,000 households that would have benefited [from] the projects are still waiting to this day. While the delegation notes the plans by Magalies Water Board to complete the project in July 2025, it is concerning that the initial plans were inadequate thereby raising the hopes of the community for quality sanitation services,” said delegation leader Sylvia Sithole.
MAKING INROADS TOWARDS IMPROVED ROAD NETWORK
Mokgosi’s predecessor Bushy Maape was criticised when he told parliamentarians that North West roads were in good condition.
The new premier said several roads, with combined cost of R1.1 billion, were handed over across the province since June.
“The provincial government also opened a completed R190 million second phase road construction projects between Schweizer Reneke and Christiana in Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District Municipality.
“Maubane community in Moretele Local Municipality was also handed over the newly repaired D625 road which was upgraded at the cost of over R47 million.”
He said the upgrading of Road D533 from the Manamakgotheng intersection through Sandfontein to Dikweipi, where mining firm Anglo Platinum as contributed R108 million, is in full swing.
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