MAHIKENG – North West Premier Lazarus Mokgosi has officially tabled a R633.669 million budget allocation for the Office of the Premier for the 2026/27 financial year.
The budget, announced on Friday, 26 June 2026, aims to drive the office’s legislative mandate by strengthening coordination and oversight across provincial government departments and institutions.
The R633.6-million budget will be heavily directed toward information technology, human resources, and youth development. The major cost drivers include:
- ICT Transformation: R85 million
- SmartGov Initiative: R50 million
- Microsoft Licences: R34 million
- Victor Sifora Bursaries: R33 million
- Early Retirement and Exit Programme: R6 million
Premier Mokgosi highlighted the office’s strong fiscal discipline, revealing that the department achieved an unqualified audit opinion for the sixth consecutive year, maintaining a clean streak since the 2019/20 financial year.
“Continuous implementation of ameliorative strategies has addressed the shortcomings which prevented the Office from obtaining a clean audit in previous years,” Mokgosi stated.
For the 2025/26 financial year, the office recorded an unaudited expenditure of R586 million. This represents 97% of its R602 million adjusted budget. Crucially, the office incurred zero unauthorised expenditure. Mokgosi credited this milestone to the provincial Internal Control unit, which continues to enforce strict adherence to governance regulations, policies, and prescripts.
Call for Calm Ahead of Purported Shutdown
The Premier concluded his address by tackling immediate provincial security concerns. He acknowledged widespread anxiety regarding a rumoured national shutdown over illegal immigration, planned for 30 June.
“The tabling of this budget speech takes place when our communities are on tenterhooks and gripped by fear,” Mokgosi told the Legislature.
While validating the public’s right to peaceful protest, the Premier issued a stern warning against lawlessness. He strongly cautioned residents against turning to vigilantism or committing criminal acts targeting foreign nationals or undocumented immigrants.
The Provincial Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (ProvJoints) has finalized tactical deployments across key hotspots to guarantee public safety and uninterrupted economic activity. Acting Provincial Commissioner Ryno Naidoo confirmed that law enforcement personnel, including specialized tactical units and traffic departments, will maintain a zero-tolerance approach to lawlessness.
Security forces are operating under strict directives to protect strategic infrastructure, commercial hubs, and transport routes. Commissioner Naidoo emphasized that while the Constitution guarantees the right to peaceful protest, it equally protects the rights of citizens to freedom of movement and economic participation.
The scheduled enforcement operations coincide with a historic milestone as South Africa commemorates 30 years since the adoption of the 1996 Constitution. Government stakeholders have noted that maintaining strict law and order is vital to honoring the sacrifices made to achieve a constitutional democracy.
Reflecting on three decades of democratic governance, provincial leaders reiterated that the Constitution remains the ultimate tool for redressing past imbalances. The state’s current focus on stabilizing immigration and public safety is framed as a necessary step to protect the socioeconomic rights of all residents, ensuring sustainable access to state housing, healthcare, and educational facilities.
Reflecting on three decades of democracy, provincial leadership highlighted massive strides in restoring human dignity through basic services. Across many North West communities, access to essential services has hit significant milestones:
- Water access has surpassed the 80% mark.
- Electricity supply has crossed the 80% threshold.
- Housing delivery has risen above 80% in targeted areas.
Accelerated Impact via Thuntsha Lerole Reloaded
To clear remaining backlogs, the province relies heavily on its flagship initiative, Thuntsha Lerole Reloaded. Launched four years ago, this accelerated service delivery plan forces departments to step out of their offices and expedite projects directly in communities.
The initiative has successfully unblocked several developmental bottlenecks. This hands-on approach has rapidly accelerated both the construction and maintenance of critical infrastructure, including: Road networks connecting rural economies, Sanitation systems ensuring public health, New schools expanding educational access and Community health centres bringing care closer to home.
“Since the adoption of this initiative four years ago we have been able to attend to several service delivery backlogs afflicting our communities and developmental agenda.
“This has culminated in accelerated infrastructure development and maintenance in the form of roads, water provision and sanitation, schools and community health centres among others,” said Mokgosi.
