The North West Premier Lazarus Kagiso Mokgosi declared the provincial government is now operating on a “modern digital foundation built for the future” to reinforce the provincial government’s firm commitment in using technology as a key enabler for development and responsive governance.
Addressing members of the media at Mmabatho Palms Hotel, on Wednesday, 08 April 2026, Mokgosi announced the province’s essential partnership with Microsoft and Boxfusion – who are partnering in implementing the provincial digital transformation agenda. The provincial government is expected to use technology as a key enabler for development and responsive governance. Partnerships with Microsoft and Boxfusion will deliver training programmes for public servants, support local ICT businesses and provide digital skills development opportunities for young people at no cost to the province.
“The North West Provincial Government is not only envisioning a digital future, we are actively building it, we are implementing it, and we are delivering it,” Mokgosi said. During his state of the province address (SOPA) in February 2026, Mokgosi announced that government will bring such digital transformation initiatives forward, on 1 April to improve governance, strengthening service delivery and enhancing operational efficiency across the provincial administration. The province has now moved from manual, paper-based processes to a fully integrated and automated administrative system anchored by the SmartGov platform.
SmartGov is expected to automate a range of administrative and procurement processes, including submissions, approvals, invoice tracking and contract management.
“Departments are currently undergoing a structured onboarding process that includes training officials and aligning internal workflows with the new system.
“This phased rollout, he explained, is designed to ensure stability while gradually eliminating manual processes and embedding digital operations into daily government functions.”
Business people and the residents of the province will be happy to hear that all provincial departments are now part of this initiative.
Mokgosi indicated this would improve efficiency, enhance transparency and accountability, and create a more predictable environment for businesses, particularly small and emerging enterprises seeking to participate in government opportunities.
Another important aspect is the introduction of a real-time monitoring and evaluation capability within the Office of the Premier. It will integrate reporting across provincial departments, state-owned entities and municipalities.
The system will provide live performance data through interactive dashboards, enabling quicker decision-making, improved oversight and early identification of risks.
Mokgosi said the transformation extends beyond administrative systems to the province’s broader digital infrastructure, including the migration from legacy platforms to Microsoft 365 and the adoption of the Microsoft Azure cloud environment.
Cyber security
Cybersecurity has also been beefed up through advanced endpoint protection measures, while all implementations have been carried out under State Information Technology Agency frameworks to ensure compliance with national regulations.
Economic inclusion and skills development
Mokgosi said the initiative aims to drive economic inclusion and skills development through partnerships with Microsoft and Boxfusion. These partnerships will deliver training programmes for public servants, support for local ICT businesses and digital skills development for young people at no cost to the province.
