The opening of the North West Provincial Legislature and tabling of the State of the Province address by Premier Bushy Maape took place last week Friday. The Premier primarily highlighted on the objectives achieved in the past year and reflected on those the provincial government were focusing on achieving for the current financial year.
Maape stressed that “2023 is the year of service delivery, the biggest government delivery programme which will be the primary activity and dominant focus of all work of the government over the next 12 months. We are abandoning the comforts of planning and sitting in conferences. We are moving into our neighbourhoods, streets and roads which are critical points of contact for service delivery as our permanent homes for the next twelve (12) months.” Stated Maape.
“We have established a Steering Committee joint with the Minister of Water and Sanitation, Honorable Senzo Mchunu, to urgently attend to water and sanitation across the province. The committee has developed a plan to deal with immediate water challenges with priority given to Ditsobotla, Naledi, Madibeng, Ramotshere Moiloa and others,” stated Maape.
“We wish to recognize the following for their commitment to the province and the well-being of its people.
- The North West Chamber of Commerce & Industry for their partnership in the turning around of Ditsobotla and the many contributions by their affiliate members such as the NWK.
- The Sedibelo Pilanesberg Platinum Mine for their investment of R9.4 billion with 3000 job opportunities created in the Moses Kotane Local Municipality.
- Harmony Gold in the City of Matlosana for the R7 billion investment which will sustain six thousand (6000) jobs.
- African Rainbow Energy which is investing about R2 billion in a solar plant in Ditsobotla.
- Supreme Chicken in Tigane for the investment of R180 million ramping up economic activity sustaining over 2000 locals,” added Maape.
Regarding the education sector, Premier Maape stated that the NW Provincial government wanted to reclaim “their” position as one of the two best-performing provinces in terms of National Senior Certificate results. “Government will roll out access to the Internet through broadband and Wi-Fi from the current 25% of learners to 75% in the current academic year. This will see the government expanding broadband connectivity to schools to the tune of R31.2 million.
“In fulfilling our obligations to meet the adequate nutrition levels of the most vulnerable, Dingake primary in Verdwaal, Rabodigelo primary in Ditshilong (Taung), Gaeonale primary in Kgokgojane, Modubyane primary in Pitsedisulejang and Kgolane primary in Dwarsberg will be amongst the first 300 schools in poor and economically marginalized communities where breakfast will be introduced.
To date, the government continues to feed 744 320 learners in more than 1 300 schools across the province. We will be rolling out the sanitary dignity towels to 120 000 learners in quintile 1 to 3 schools at a cost of R17.7 million,” added Maape.
The Premier also reflected the government’s efforts to fight the HIV-AIDS pandemic and Tuberculosis which has yielded desired positive results. Part of the campaign includes the province hosting this year’s National TB Day which will be addressed by the Deputy President of the Republic.
Maape stated that by the third quarter of the 2021/22 financial year, HIV positivity rate had dropped from 2.1% to 1.8%. Maape also assured the province that the Mahikeng and Klerksdorp campuses of the North West Nursing College will be completed in the 2023/24 financial year and a further 44 health clinics across the province will be renovated at a cost of R51 million through a contract development programme targeting grade 2-5 contractors from designated groups.
With regards to upgrades to provincial roads, Maape stated that Infrastructure South Africa (ISA), through the Presidency has set aside R13 billion for road upgrading and maintenance in the current financial year.
“The road from Phelindaba to Pecanwood which serves huge tourists traffic from Gauteng to Hartebeespoort Dam is currently being upgraded at a cost of more than R600 million. Contractors are appointed for the equally strategic road for tourism, that leads from Sun City to Pilanesberg National Park which will be to the tune of R61 million,” continued Maape.
In conclusion, the Premier reported that R12 million was set aside to support 60 youth-owned businesses that have been successfully incubated at Mahikeng Digital Innovation Hub. A further R21.4 million was also set aside for the Thebe Sifora Provincial Bursary Scheme for the 2023 academic year.
The Bojanala Special Economic Zone received an investment pipeline boost amounting to R6.1 billion. Amounts of R10 million and R8 million were allocated for the Mamusa and Mahikeng Trade Markets respectively.
