Hon Speaker of the Provincial Legislature,
Hon Members of the Executive Council,
Hon Deputy Ministers present
Hon Members of the Provincial Legislature,
Foreign dignitaries,
Leaders of political parties represented in this House,
Chairperson of the House of Traditional Leaders
Our Esteemed Traditional Leaders,
Your Worship Executive Mayors and Mayors of our Municipalities,
Speakers of our Councils,
Heads of Our Security Agencies,
The Director General Dr Lydia Sebego and Heads of Provincial Departments
Leadership of Chapter Nine Institutions
Chairpersons and Chief Executive Officers of State-Owned Enterprises,
Leaders of Labour Movements, Civil Society, Faith Based-Organisations and Business,
The South African Local Government Association Chairperson,
Comrades and friends,
People of the North West
Ladies and gentlemen,
Dames en Here

Hon Speaker, once more we begin this state of the province address by paying tribute to Mme Rebecca Kotane who celebrated her 106th birthday on the 12th February 2018. Mme Rebecca Kotane is a living guardian of our democracy. We thank God for allowing up his blessing by extending the life of this stalwart of our people whose life remains an inspiration to all our people. On behalf of the Government and people of Bokone-Bophirima we wish Mme Kotane the blessings of God to continue to enjoy good health.

Madam Speake and Honourable members, we chose to have this this state of the Province Address hosted by Marikana because we must push and move forward with Reconciliation Healing and Renewal. ( RHR).The people of Marikana you are part of us and we part of you. Nothing should be allowed to separate us. I therefore take this opportunity to bring you warm heated greetings from the President of the Republic Honourable Cyril Ramaphosa.You heard him in parliament on Tuesday saying we need to heal the wounds of our  past  and move South Africa forward.

Hon Members, the year 2018 has been declared to be the year of Nelson Mandela as we will mark the centenary anniversary of the birth of our former President on the 18th July 2018. The legacy of Nelson Mandela and his teachings of humility, commitment to serve and ability to surrender himself to the course of struggle for the liberation of all South Africans is an inheritance we will preserve for posterity.

In this year, we will also remember the life of Mme Albertina Sisulu a true leader of our people whose fearless struggle re-ignited the mass democratic movement during years of apartheid oppression. Her leadership at the time in absence of many of our leaders who were exiled by the apartheid regime, kept our hope for freedom alive.

In her name, and through her efforts today we stand proud to have experienced the benefit of freedom in our lifetime as declared by the generation of Nelson Mandela, Lillian Ngoyi, OR Tambo, Walter Sisulu, Ruth Mompati and others.

Hon Members, the beginning of the 2018/19 financial year marks the penultimate year for the term of office of the fifth administration. As we enter this important phase of our service delivery tenure, it is important that we take a moment to make an appraisal of the journey we have travelled in the implementation of the Medium Term Strategic Framework (MTSF) as adopted by Government for the period 2014-2019.

Hon Speaker, we would like to anchor the reflection on the work of the fifth administration to date in the context of the inspirational observation made by President Nelson Mandela when he said:

“I have walked that long road to freedom. I have tried not to falter; I have made missteps along the way. But I have discovered the secret that after climbing a great hill, one only finds that there are many more hills to climb”, Nelson Mandela.

Hon Members, allow me to report to you on our journey since June 2014, the many mountains we have climbed, and many more that are still required to be navigated in the context of rebranding, repositioning and renewing Bokone-Bophirima by implementing the National Development Plan through the five concretes.

These are the mountains we have climbed:

• In 2014/15 Financial Year when the fifth administration took office, accruals amounted to R 1billion.  Hon Speaker, we successfully reduced this to R 750m in the last financial year and we have taken a decision to further reduce this to R 600m when we close our books at the end of 17/18 financial year in March 2018;
• The fifth administration took a good step as early as 2015 and ensured that the 2009/10 to 2013/14 financial year unauthorized expenditure amount of R 829million is cleared from the books through the North West Provincial Legislature process. The Legislative process is at an advanced stage to clear the amount of R 285million incurred in the 2014/15 Financial Year.
• In 2014 Fruitless and Wasteful Expenditure stood at R10, 78 billion. Hon Members, I am happy to announce that the Provincial Advisory Committee (PACO) for irregular and fruitless expenditure has engaged with all departments with regard to irregular expenditure and to date an estimated amount of R2 billion has been submitted to National Treasury for consideration and condonement. These efforts would be sustained in the 2018/19 financial year and in a collaborative approach, the Province has engaged the Auditor General to reduce all incidents of disagreement during the audit process.
• Whereas in 2014 Provincial Departments average adherence to payment of suppliers within regulated 30 days stood at 80% – In the last three months of the 2017/18 Financial Year, Provincial Departments recorded 90% with five (5) Departments achieving over 95% performance by paying suppliers within 21 days.
• In 2014 majority of Departments had acting capacities in Heads of Departments, with most Departments hugely unequal in gender representation. Hon Speaker, we are happy to announce that Heads of Departments positions were filled 100% until a resignation in the last two months, but the position is already at interview stage. We are also proud to report that 50% of Heads of Departments are women. We are also pleased to report that as promised in the last SOPA, we managed to publish qualifications of all senior managers across Departments.
• The fifth administration’s Agriculture, Culture and Tourism (ACT) pillar has borne fruit for the province in that we have seen a steady and sustained increase in the number of people coming into our province. For example our international arrivals have since 2014 grown steadily by no less than 50 000 tourists coming into the province, bed/nights have increased by over 1 million and it is estimated that the industry has created some additional 20 000 jobs. All these are linked to the various initiatives of repositioning Bokone Bophirima as a business, leisure, recreational and tourism destination of choice.

Electrification

In the 2013/14 Financial year, the electrification backlog in the Province was estimated at 127 000 households. Bagaetsho, today we are happy to report that this backlog has been reduced to only 35 000 thereby improving the North West electrification coverage to 86% and therefore the backlog is only 14%.

Crime

• Since 2014 the Province has achieved an overall 0.9% decrease in serious crimes with good successes in the following:
• Arson a decrease of 7.6%
• Commercial crime decreased by 7.1%
• Theft in general decreased by 6.4%

Community issues

In 2014 the Province experienced high levels of justifiable and unjustifiable Impatience among some sections of society on service delivery challenges – Hon Members, the introduction of Setsokotsane Operation Centre intervention has significantly improved the level of satisfaction of communities. In the 17/18 financial year alone, Setsokotsane Operation Centre resolved just over 1500 complaints raised by members of the public. Provincial Departments will provide more details to the public during budget speeches later this year.

Hon members, as Nelson Mandela cautioned, the more successes one registers, the more realization that more mountains still need to be climbed. Given the historical legacy of our inequality and service delivery backlogs across communities, it is only fair to accept that we would not have been able to address all challenges in the time we have had since 1994 and specifically since 2014 when the term of office of the current administration started.

As we navigate through and climb many mountains ahead of us, the fifth administration is committed to increase the speed and urgency to improve Government performance across the system by:

• strengthening accountability and consequence management, and ensure that with effect from April 2018, all the performance contracts of Accounting Officers will include the following financial management indicators which will be monitored on a monthly basis by the Office of the Premier and Finance.
• Payment of service providers within the stipulated time-frames (21 days and 30 days payment period);
• Revenue enhancement and meeting of all revenue targets
• Villages, Townships and Small Dorpies (VTSD) spending target of 70 per cent in terms of procurable goods,  service budget  and infrastructure;
• Improvement of audit outcomes including the compulsory implementation of Post Audit Action Plan;

VTSD Economic Development

Madam Speaker: One of the trademarks of the fifth administration is the focus on improving the lives of all those who call Bokone Bophirima their home. As a result, the fifth administration has developed various measures to combat unemployment, poverty and inequality which had negative effect on the provincial economic growth rate. Our provincial economic growth rate is now moving in the right direction and I am pleased to report that our economy grew by 3.4% during the first quarter of 2017, followed by another 4.9% for the second quarter and another 4.3% for the third quarter. During the same period, the national economy grew by -0.6% for the 1st quarter, 2.8% for and second quarter and 2% for the third quarter.

We are cautiously awaiting the fourth quarter result in a few weeks’ time from today, which I am optimistic that they will not disappoint us.

Hon Speaker, the fifth administration adopted an economic growth strategy anchored on Agriculture, Culture & Tourism in 2014 whilst placing mining as a strategic tributary sector to grow the Provincial economy. We are pleased to report that our economy grew above the national average in the last quarter. We are also excited that our choice of agriculture as the lead sector in our economic growth strategy has been vindicated “as agriculture made the largest contribution, by a significant margin, to the improved growth of our economy in the second and third quarters of 2017”- as announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa during his State of the National Address on 16th February 2018.

As part of the Special Economic Zone initiative, the Province intends to bolster manufacturing capacity particularly in the platinum sector, to strengthen the role of mining as a strategic economic tributary. Demand for Platinum globally will shoot up as China has decided to explore its use in the environmental quality air implementation.

Through the North West Development Corporation (NWDC), we continue to use existing state expenditure as leverage to introduce industrialisation with a specific mandate to change patterns of ownership for black people in general and Africans in particular in VTSD areas. Government has a moral and legal duty to use the budget as a tool to level the playing field for black people in general and Africans in  particular in VTSD areas to be major participants and beneficiaries of our industrialization strategy.

Hon Members, some of the industrialization opportunities identified in the Province include the following:

• The use of Learner Support Material budget allocation to set up a stationery manufacturing factory in the Province to supply all schools and Government Departments with stationery, working together with existing retailers in VTSD areas. This project is aimed at establishing a provincial printing house. A process of sourcing potential partners is under way and it is envisaged to create more than 100 jobs and also benefit local Small Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs).
• The introduction of People’s Security Services which will create opportunities youth across all the VTSD areas with an annual budget of R400 million per annum or R1.2 billion over the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF).
• The Chicken Bird Holdings (CBH) - Due diligence has been finalized on the proposed transaction, an agreement will soon be reached once a fair value of the business is determined.
• VTSD Retail Economy and Bakeries 
• The acceleration of VTSD Agro-Businesses to build small scale agro hubs across the province.
• Establishment of a Provincial Feedlot, Feed bank and Abattoir Scheme working together with both commercial and small scale farmers as part of our Saamwerk-Saamtrek initiatives.
• Establishment of the North West Agricultural Fund (NWAF) through the Department of READ and NWDC.  
• R 110 million secured for the establishment of the Special Economic Development Zone (SEDZ). The project is estimated to attract investment to the value of R 4bn, potentially creating 6045 jobs over a 5 year period.

People’s Security Services

Hon Speaker, I am happy to report that since the pronouncement last year, the Bokone-Bophirima Owned Security Company has been established and to date, seven (departments) and two (2) state-owned entities are now using the services from this establishment. Going forward this service will also take the form of corporatives in order to accommodate more people and fight poverty, Inequality and unemployment.

Youth Entrepreneurship Services ( YES) VTSD Economy

In the last SOPA, we pronounced on the establishment of the VTSD Retail Economy that would see the establishment of warehouses across the 4 districts to support South African owned retail stores.

I am pleased to announce that the first VTSD Retail Warehouse was opened in Potchefstroom and is currently supporting 100 retail stores in the form of tuckshops, hardware stores, hair salons and butcheries mainly in the JB Marks municipality and will be extended to areas of Mahikeng, and Ramotshere Moiloa .Three (3) more warehouses will be opened in the rest of the remaining districts over the next 2 years. The total cost associated with this initiative is R90 Million over a period of 3 years.

During the State of the Province Address, President Cyril Ramaphosa said the following about Youth Employment Services:

“Working in partnership with business, organised labour and community representatives, we are creating opportunities for young people to be exposed to the world of work through internships, apprenticeship, mentorship and entrepreneurship”

The province will actively and fully participate in the Youth Employment Service (YES) initiative as pronounced by President Ramaphosa and in this regard the rollout of the Youth Enterprise Combo and the subsequent launch of the sustainable service delivery based @Worx Enterprise Combo last year allowed government to broaden access to enterprise development opportunities to over 1600 young people across the 4 districts of the province. These dynamic and innovative enterprise development platforms continue to facilitate the development of sustainable enterprises, business incubation, job creation and market access.

As part of Setsokotsane and in the context of VTSD approach, we will establish a youth employment programme through the NWDC. This programme will act as a platform for job creation, enterprise development and opportunity management.

The Premier will hold quarterly sessions with the youth focusing on entrepreneurship, science, technology, innovation and Sports. Private sector companies will be invited to participate in these sessions as part of the Saamwerk Saamtrek philosophy.

Rationalisation of State owned Entities

Hon Members, in line with the presidential process on the rationalization of state owned entities, the Executive Council has initiated a process to review the current structural make-up of Provincial state owned entities.

The ultimate outcome of this process will be the establishment of the People’s Economic Growth Agency (PEGA) which will house all developmental and economic mandate in the Province. The process of establishing PEGA is underway and the first critical milestone will be reached by 31st March 2018. We would like to assure all affected that we will do everything possible to ensure that no jobs are lost as a result of the creation of PEGA.

Ladies & gentlemen, as part of coordinating the implementation of the ACT concrete, the Department of Economy and Enterprise Development plays a very important role in empowering previously disadvantaged people in Villages, Townships and Small Dorpies (VTSD). The department has a crucial role to play in developing strategies that will stimulate economic growth and development in areas such as skills development, research and entrepreneurship.

Honourable Speaker, in delivering on the above-mentioned mandate, allow me to outline some of the interventions to support small Enterprises in the Province;

• Bokone-Bophirima initiated the Growth Accelerated Program (GAP) which serves as the feeder to the National Gazelles.  Approximately 64 Top performing SMMEs with potential for growth and employment creation and a turnover of between R250 000 and R1m were selected to participate in the flagship SMME support programme.
• The Provincial Government, in an effort to formalize businesses in VTSD areas, managed to coordinate the establishment of VTSD Chambers of Commerce in four levels of VTSD areas, Local Municipality, District and Provincial level this was done in collaboration with municipalities.

Hon Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to inform our people that the Premier’s VTSD Advisory Council has been appointed and will soon hold its inaugural council meeting. The council will advise the Premier on VTSD economic Development with specific focus on ACT concrete implementation and the role of our economic tributary (mining) and economic catalysts like ICT, Skills, Infrastructure Water, Energy and Sanitation.

Agriculture, Culture, Tourism (ACT)

The ACT concrete focuses on poverty inequality and unemployment generally in the Province and VTSD areas in particular.

Tributary sectors of the economy such as mining, manufacturing and retail will also remain critical economic pillars in the development of the province.

Villages, Townships and Small Dorpies ( VTSD)

Villages, Townships and Small Dorpies are the highly affected with poverty, unemployment and inequality. The strategy focuses amongst others on growing the VTSD economies, investing in basic infrastructure such as water, energy and sanitation, redirecting government expenditure to VTSD areas (minimum 70%) and ensuring that communities partner with the state and private sector and other areas of the economy. In this regard some Departments need to pull up their socks particularly education Sports Development, Health and Public Works and Roads.

Reconciliation Healing and Renewal ( RHR)

Through this concrete the Province facilitates the healing of the divisions of the past as well as the establishment of a society based on democratic values, social justice and fundamental human rights as espoused in our founding constitution.

Honourable Speaker, I am happy to announce that on 18 July 2017 we launched and adopted the Reconciliation, Healing and Renewal Charter in Ikageng. The adoption of the RHR Charter was a culmination of a series of consultations with a broad spectrum of stakeholders.

The Provincial Government participated and contributed in the late Kgosi Lucas Mangope’s funeral in January 2018 and the family expressed gratitude towards the Provincial Government.

We engage and worked in communities of Kanana in Matlosana to combat gangsterism and the abuse of drugs and alcohol

We resolved the problems of racism and instability in Coligny, we are opening the house for a white resident.

Setsokotsane

Setsokotsane is a quick service delivery intervention mechanism to deal with service delivery challenges across the Province in partnership with National Government, Municipalities, Private Sector, Non – Government Organisation, Traditional Leaders and Communities. The Provincial Setsokotsane Operation Centre has been established and is functional. We have further established ward based Setsokotsane Operation Centres to ensure that more is done to make them more operational and better known and used by communities.

Saamwerk Saamtrek

Madam Speaker, we extend a word of gratitude to Standard Bank North West Province for their partnership in providing library facilities in rural and farm schools.  Working with Standard Bank in 2017, the following Corporate Social Investments project we delivered;

• Doornbuilt Primary School
• Marotse Primary School

Hon Members, we are pleased to report that the following school libraries will be officially opened this year as part of Government / Standard Bank partnership:

• Ga Israel Primary School in Mocoseng
• Hakboslaagte Primary School in Coligny - Half the school learners come from informal settlement and the school is competing on a national level in academics.  It is also a  no fees school  and;
• Naauwpoort High School  - public state combined school located at Naauwpoort Farm, Rustenburg,

Madam Speaker, we are grateful for the partnership with Standard Bank to build libraries in the Province, and hope that this project will see more schools benefit across the Province.

We are also delighted to announce the following the following initiatives which strengthen the Saamwerk Saamtrek initiative:

• Anglo American has constructed Sefikile Clinic near Swartklip
• Glenco Mine has constructed Ikemeleng Clinic near Kroondaal
• Sibanye Mine formally Anglo American has constructed Seraleng Clinic and donated two (2) ambulances
• Rhovan Mine has constructed Bethani Clinic

Setsokotsane 10x10 campaigns

Hon Members, the Setsokotsane 10 / 10 campaigns is an initiative introduced by the current administration as a mechanism to coordinate government service delivery interventions, and mobilise communities. We would like to take this opportunity to provide feedback on some of the activities implemented under the campaigns:

1. Bua le Puso  Monthly Community Meetings at all Wards          
2. Cleaning and environmental activism                               
3. VTSD Entrepreneurship Development Initiative                        
4, Healthy living life styles campaign                                              
5. Roads and street light fixing                                              
6. Payment of rates and taxes                                               
7. Education
8. Greed, Crime and Corruption    
9. Saamwerk-Saamtrek in the Reconciliation, Healing and Renewal -
10. Human Settlement, Water and Sanitation Services

• Bua-le Puso Community Meetings

In order to improve communication and contact between councillors and communities they service, all councillors in the Province are required to hold monthly meetings to provide feedback and solicit community input in local and provincial governance issues. To date 300 reports were received on public meetings held and Department of Local Government & Human Settlements continues to monitor and engage councils to ensure facilitation of these meetings.

VTSD Entrepreneurship Development Initiatives

Some of the examples of how this campaign was implemented include the following:

• Black Farmer Commercialisation Programme
• North West Agricultural Fund (NWAF)
• Agricultural Market Development:
• Agriculture and Agro-processing 
• Recreational Horse Racing Programme
• Bokone Bophirima Wildlife Academy
• Donkey Value Chain
• Beef Export to China

Roads and Street Lights Fixing

Through the Department of Public Works & Roads we have made substantial investment and covered approximately 167Km of new upgrades in the Province. Some of these projects are as follows:

• Upgrading from gravel to tar of 34 km of road D313 from Morokweng to Tseoge
• Upgrading from gravel to tar of 31 km of road D3492 from Morokweng to Bona-bona
• Upgrading from gravel to tar of 36 km of road D327 from Ganyesa to Vargas ( border Free State)
• Upgrading from gravel to tar of 5km of road Z566 and D514 in Bojating village
• Upgrading from gravel to tar of 23 km of road D413 from Setlopo to Meetmekaar
• Upgrading from gravel to tar of 20km of road D548 from Mantsho to Bierkraal
• Upgrading from gravel to tar of 18 km of road D201 from Kgomotso to Mmamutla

The following re-seal and rehabilitation projects were also completed:

• Schweitzer to Wolmaranstad of 71 km
• Itsoseng to Goedgevonden of 48 km
• Matooster to Ruighoek of 31 km
• R101 passing through the Carousel 7km

Education Programmes

Hon Speaker, let me share with this house some of the achievements in education over the past year:

• Forty eight (48) retired teachers were mobilised to volunteer their teaching services in the form of extra classes to learners in schools where they live, working NGO’s like Boitekong Progressive Youth, Thuto-Lesedi and Philani NGO were formed.
• To address the recurrent problem of poor performance in Mathematics, Maths Laboratories were built in 524 primary schools across the Province. Grade 3 and 6 teachers were subsequently trained to use of the lab gadgets.
• Early Childhood Development, care and pre-primary education, were resourced with educational resources such as a jungle gyms, slides, swings and educational toys for 540 schools in the VTSD areas.
• Initiatives to Fights Greed, Crime and Corruption
• Mashwi ke phepa ke le nosi selabe se tla le motshwara kgamelo  

President Ramaphosa aptly stated the following in relation to corruption and fraud in the recent State of the Nation Address:

We must fight corruption, fraud and collusion in the private sector with the same purpose and intensity.”  This is because the ANC at its Nasrec Conference recommitted itself to   fighting Greed, Crime and Corruption at all fronts.  

Hon Members, Ladies& Gentlemen, The North West is in full compliance with the Public Service Regulations issued by the Minister for Department of Public Service and Administration issued the Public Service Regulation in 2016 which provides for financial disclosures by employees employed in the Middle Management Service (MMS), Occupation Specific Dispensations (OSD), Supply Chain Management (SCM) and Finance sections. On average 95.5% of all employees employed in the Middle Management Service (MMS), Occupation Specific Dispensations (OSD), Supply Chain Management (SCM) and Finance sections of Provincial Departments submitted their financial disclosures on time.

Hon Speaker, during last year’s State of the Province Address (SOPA 2017), we committed to strengthen the Provincial Forensic, Ethics and Integrity Forum; comprising members from Hawks, SAPS, Auditor General, Legal, Provincial Treasury and Office of the Premier. I am glad to announce that progress was registered in 2017 to strengthen this multi-sectoral partnership with regard to fighting corruption that is impeding the efforts of government to improve the quality of lives of the people of Bokone Bophirima.

Hon Members, The Province is happy to report that we have initiated and obtained a Presidential Proclamation in collaboration with the Special Investigative Unit (SIU) to conduct investigations in the Department of Public Works & Roads regarding allegations of corruption.

Hon Members, we welcome the emerging urgency to support the fight against greed, crime and corruption particularly in the public sector. In this context we urge former political heads of Departments (MECs) and former Heads of Departments (HODs) to make themselves available to assist with whatever information required to speed up investigation processes in those departments.

For instance, there are many families across the province with incomplete RDP houses, slabs and foundations in their yard and no action has been taken against anyone in dealing with this matter.  All of us must agree that this is unacceptable and urgent action is required more than ever before. We therefore urge the former and current MECs Mohono, Maloyi, Doduvu, Maine of Department of Local Government and Human Settlement to fully cooperate with the investigations we are commencing in this regard.

Equally, we appeal to former HODs and CFOs to cooperate with investigations that are to commence with special focus on these incomplete projects, structures, foundations and weaknesses in governance and financial management. We urge current and former MECs, HODs and CFOs to cooperate with investigations that are to commence with special focus on incomplete projects, structures, slabs, foundations and weaknesses in governance and financial management. These are to be done in the following departments:

In the same breath, the Department of Public Works and Roads has experienced an unacceptable phenomenon of incomplete projects, shoddy work, particularly in the construction of some government buildings and roads. We appeal to former MECs Mayisela, Raymond Elisha, Madoda Sambatha, Mahlakeng Mahlakeng and all other relevant officials, to assist and corporate when the investigations and necessary actions are taken in this regards.  This will also apply to all former and current Officials.

Similarly, in the Department of health matters which relate to security, ambulances, buildings, pharmaceuticals, hospital catering, medical waste and equipments, etc. requires urgent intervention.  It is our humble request that former and current MECs  N Rasemeni, M Mayisela should corporate with us and law enforcement agencies to prosecute this matter.  Included in this will be current and former officials.

In the Department of Finance Economy and Enterprise Development, M. Rosho Matsemela, Louisa Mabe, Martin Cascus, Maureen Modiselle, Paul Sebegoe, Darkie Afrika and the current MEC and all other relevant officials should come to the party in ensuring that all matters related to historical procurement anomalies are attended to.  Relevant officials in this regard would also be of necessity.

In the Department of Culture Arts and Traditional Affairs, there have been many historical issues raised by forensic investigations and Auditor General in relation to infrastructure and procurement matters.  To provide the necessary illumination and subsequent action in this regard, we would require the cooperation of current and former MECs C. Chauke, Grace Botman, Duma Ndleleni and Tebogo Modise.  Relevant Officials in this regard will also be of assistance.

In the Department of Education and Sports Development, there have been serious challenges of learners and teacher support material, disbursements to Schools and SGBs, building of schools etc. Former and current MECs , M. Gaoretelelwe. P. Tolo, OJ Tselapedi, W. Matsemela and any other officials will be expected to come to the party.

As far as the Department of Rural Environment and Agricultural Development is concerned, we will require the corporation of current and former MECs Tselapedi, Kgasu, Mohono, Serfontein and all other relevant officials to assist in dealing decisively with matters related to houses, equipments, animals as raised by the forensic reports and Auditor General.  All other relevant officials former and current will be expected to cooperate with the investigations.

In the Community Safety and Transport Management, the current and former MECs Mahlakeng, Elisha, Molapisi, Mayisela, Motsepe, Vilakazi must assist in dealing with all cases related to scholar transport, traffic uniforms, traffic management (licences) and all other cases of theft.  It is our request to all former and current officials to assist in this regard.

In the Premiers Office, we will expect the current and former Premiers Molefe, Modise, Molewa, Modiselle to assist with the decisions and subsequent implementations relating to matters such as change of ownership of Sun City, Project Management Units (PMUs), Information and Communication Technology (ICT) related matters and all other issues raised by the Auditor General with regard to such matters.  Former and current DGs and other relevant officials will be expected to cooperate in this regard.

In the following municipalities:

• Madibeng, Matlosana, JB Marks, Naledi, Mahikeng, Tswaing, Ramotshere, Ditsobotla, Dr Kenneth Kaunda and Ngaka Modiri Molema and others, we need to deal with all perennial allegations and financial irregularities identified through the forensics and Auditor General`s report and former municipal managers such as Mapulane, Motsemme, Segapo, Mere and many others including CFOs and other directors will have to assist in the protracted task of unravelling these matters.

All the State Owned Entities will also require and urgent clean-up campaign and all former and current Board members will be of great assistance in executing this important task of intensifying the struggle at all fronts against greed crime and corruption.

In supporting what President Ramaphosa said during the State of the Nation Address, the province will embark on an important exercise of Lifestyle audits across the board commencing with all the Politicians and the head who is the Premier in this regard, will be the first one to be attended to.  All things being equal, we should have this report ready for public perusal by the end of April 2018.

In my discussions with the Speaker on matters of ongoing handover processes between the former and the current Speaker, we are on the same wavelength to the effect that, urgent attention must be paid to matters of greed, crime and corruption as they relate to the travel of claims by all former and current Honorable members of the legislature. 

Hon Speaker, it is important that we clarify that the fight against greed, crime and corruption is not directed at any particular individual/s. We wish to clarify that the mandate to launch an onslaught against greed, crime and corruption is an ANC resolution as confirmed by the 54th National Conference and subsequent ANC Lekgotla. It is on this basis that the ANC mobilises society in general to join the fight, and therefore it is expected that ANC members including its deployees in Government should lead this struggle.

As part of ongoing handover process between the former and current speaker I  agreed with the current Speaker to investigate travel claims of members of the Legislature as part of this task to confront Greed, Crime and Corruption, we do this acutely aware that: Mosega eiye ke moelela dikeledi

Hon Members, I would like to appeal to all people affected or allegedly implicated in these investigations to cooperate with investigating authorities. On our part, Government will offer any help required to speed up investigations and no officials in Government will be permitted to delay or withhold any information required to assist the process.

10. Prioritise the provision of Human Settlement, Water and Water and sanitation

The Department of Water and Sanitation has embarked on the construction and commissioning of the following projects:

Pilanesburg Bulk Water Supply North (Phase 1)

The Pilanesburg BWS North (Phase 1) water supply system transfers water from the Vaalkop WTW to the La Patrie reservoir systems and beyond.  The water supply system draws water from the pressure main to La Patrie, at Evergreen, and transfers water to the proposed new reservoir system at Mafenya, from these reservoirs, water will be distributed to consumers such as Mines, Moses Kotane LM and Rustenburg Local Municipality which includes the Royal Bafokeng Administration.

The following areas will benefit from this project:

• Ledig
• Phatsima
• Sun City
• Tlhatlhaganyane
• Tlhabane
• Wesizwe Mine
• Suncity village

Pilanesburg Bulk Water Supply South (Phase 2)

The Tuschenkomst to Ruighoek bulk pipeline and pump station project has been completed. The following villages will benefit from this project:

• Mabeskraal
• Letlhakeng
• Makweleng
• Seolong
• Makoshang
• Bapong
• Masilela
• Tswaneng

Taung Bulk Water Supply

To increase the storage capacity, the following reservoirs have been constructed as part of the Taung BWS:

• 1 Ml reservoir
• 3 Ml reservoir
• 6 Ml reservoir
• 1 Ml reservoir
• 500 KL tower
• 5 Ml reservoir
• 5 ML reservoir
• 10Ml reservoir

In addition, an upgrade of bulk pipeline from Pudimoe Works to Vryburg, and Gravity pipeline from Taung dam to New Taung Water Works have also been completed.

Benefiting villages from the above infrastructure are as follows:

• Pudimoe
• Taung North
• Taung Tower
• Dry hurts
• Mmanokoane
• Bogosing
• Magogong
• Taung Depot
• Vryburg/Huhudi
• Ventersdrop Bulk Water Supply
• In Ventersdrop, a 5.5 ML reservoir has been completed.
• Moretele South BWS

An upgrade of the Klipdrift Water Works with additional 18 Ml/d to 42 Ml/d has been completed.

War on Leaks

A total of 537 leaners are deployed in various municipalities to assist with fixing of leaks. The following municipalities are benefitting from the project:

• Maquassi Hills
• JB Marks
• Matlosana
• Ngaka Modiri Molema
• Madibeng
• Moretele
• Rustenburg

Bucket Eradication

A total of 636 of waterborne toilets and installation of water reticulation and sewerage system have been constructed. The following municipalities have benefited from the project:

Matlosana LM (Kanana & Jourberton)

Lekwa-Teemane (Boitumelong Township in Bloemhof)

• In 2014 bucket eradication projects had a backlog of 403. This was reduced to 233 in the 2015/16 Financial Year. Hon Members, we are happy to report that currently the Province has cleared the bucket eradication backlog in all formal settlements.

Social Development

Honorable Speaker, Ladies and Gentlemen, during the period under review the Department of Social Development implemented the Reconciliation, Healing and Renewal concrete in its quest to deliver on the National Development Plan (NDP) objective to create an inclusive social protection system that is responsive to the needs, realities, conditions and livelihoods of children, persons with disabilities and the elderly who are most vulnerable.

With the resources allocated, the Department of Social Development in partnership with Non-Profit Organizations achieved the following:

• Eight hundred and fifty-two (852) persons with disabilities had access to day care services; 193 participated in protective workshops thereby participating in the economy;
• 407 beneficiaries were cared for in residential care facilities;
• 3 858 beneficiaries received social rehabilitation services.
• The disability sector will continue to be prioritized during the 2018 MTEF.
• The first state-run residential care facility for persons with disabilities for the province will be designed in 2018/19 and constructed during the MTEF period in Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District.
• Twenty three thousand eight hundred and fifteen (23 815) senior citizens received care and support from residential care facilities and community based projects. Halala Bo Tlhogo Putswa Halala!

Cutlture , arts and Traditional Affairs (CATA)

Hon Members, the 5th Administration in its inception undertook to deal decisively with traditional leadership disputes especially long standing ones, which resulted in the appointment of Maluleke Commission.

However during the tenure of the Commission, the retired Judge who chaired the Commission passed on and there was unavoidable delay. The Commission had to be reconstituted with the appointment of Adv. Mabel Sesi Baloyi as the new Chairperson of the Commission of Bakgatla Ba Kgafela, Batlhako Ba Leema and Bapo I & II.

Hon Speaker, the approach on resolution of traditional leadership disputes is approached in the context of High Court decisions which specifically order that disputes need Commission of Inquiry for investigation. It is on that basis that there is now a Commission of Inquiry duly gazetted for Bahurutshe Ba Gopane, Barolong Boo Ratlou Boo Seitshiro and Bakgatla Bo Mmakau.

We wish to reiterate the position of Government, that we have no intention of usurping the right of Traditional Councils and/or Royal Houses right to determine traditional leadership succession and to resolve disputes arising there from. The legal mechanisms provided for in our law and the guidance provided by the courts from time to time, work only if relevant structures of traditional leaders are able on their own to resolve internal succession disputes.

In line with our 2017 pronouncement, the Department has completed recording studios in the following areas:

• Rustenburg
• Ramosa
• Taung

These will be officially opened before the end of April this year. Wi fi connectivity is to be prioritised in the following villages working with Vodacom:

• Mocoseng
• Manonyane
• Mofufutso
• Gopane

We urge Vodacom to speed up the process so that connections are completed by the end of the current calendar year.

Education and Sport Development

Hon Members, the rebranding, repositioning and renewal of the Province is supported through strategic marketing and hosting of major sporting events. During 2017 the Province hosted the Annual North West games, COSAFA cup, Maize Soccer Cup, North West Sport Awards, the Provincial Boxing Championships and the Golf Challenge in various small dorpies.

Sport and recreation plays a very important role in social cohesion and promoting healthy lifestyles. The Department in partnership with the Office of the Premier hosted recreation events such as the big walk, indigenous games and golden games. The Departments also supported five (5) satellite sport academies with sporting equipment.

Hon Members, government is aware of the general outcry in community over lack of sporting and recreation facilities.  To address this, we are in the process of completing multi-purpose sport complexes in Manthe (Taung Local Municipality) and Ipelegeng (Mamusa Local Municipality).

In the spirit of saamwerk-saamtrek, Government will work with North West Cricket to roll out a cricket initiative which will involve communities falling within the VTSD areas. This partnership will allow for more facilities to be built and further promote and grow the game of cricket in the Province. Through this partnership, portable cricket pitches will be made available for cricket schools and clubs.

Hon Speaker, we are happy to report that an agreement has been reached with NW Cricket to develop a Provincial Marketing strategy which will see the Province host major cricket international events such as, test matches, 50 overs games and T20 matches. This strategy will be implemented in partnership with private sector sponsors to source funding for the upgrading of SENWES park stadium.

Hon Speaker, in 2017 we announced the much needed government investment and expenditure in the provision of infrastructure in public schools.  Some of our achievements in this regard are:

• 99 classrooms built at Public Ordinary Schools
• 81 emergency requests  addressed
• 7 Sanitation projects delivered
• 54 Specialist rooms for subject specialisation
• 2 New Schools  built
• Upgrading of Special Schools (85% completed)
• Bray boarding school has recently been completed through donar funding and handed over.
• Boarding facilities at Lykso Primary, MM Sebitloane Special, Ebenezer, and North West Secondary School for the Deaf has been constructed and are about to be handed over.
• To date, 148 learners with socio-psychological problems have been placed in boarding schools.

Community safety and Transport Management

Hon Members, the recapitalization of Mahikeng Airport precinct into an international cargo hub is progressing at an unimpressive pace. The Department has covered much ground in addressing all compliance issues as part of accelerating the process to restore the Mahikeng Airport International status. We hope that the National government can move faster on this matter. Dick Montshioa to replace Mahikeng Airport is now completed.

Hon Speaker, the airport precinct development is part of the broader Mahikeng Rebranding, Repositioning and Renewal Programme (MRRRP) and making Mahikeng the real capital city.

Scholar Transport

Hon Speaker, since 2014 scholar transport beneficiaries have increased by 22% from 33 334 to 42 421 in the current financial year with special focus on VTSD areas.

Hon Members, we wish to share with the house the following achievements registered by the Department over the past year in building transport infrastructure:

• Potchefstroom weighbridge is at 80% completion stage,
• Ventersdorp weighbridge completed;
• The refurbishment of the Ganyesa Vehicle Testing Station was completed in November 2017,
• Taung Vehicle Testing Station completed,
• The Province has recruited and trained two hundred and twenty five (225) Unemployed Youth as Traffic Officers. These young people have been drawn from Villages Townships and Small Dorpies within Bokone Bophirima.

Local Government and Human Settlements

The Freedom Charter says there shall be houses, security and comfort. In this regard, notwithstanding all the complex challenges we face 53 903 houses have been delivered.

Public Works and Roads

Brickmaking plan

The Department of Public Works and Roads is currently finalizing the establishment of 11 brickmaking plants in these areas: -

• Lebalangwe;
• Dryharts;
• Bloemhof;
• Christiana;
• Kagisano Molopo;
• Madibe a Kubu
• Ramatlabama;
• Tswaing;
• Ratlou;
• Moretele and
• Ventersdorp

These plants have the capacity to produce 5000 bricks a day to 25 000 bricks per day per shift. They are expected to create a minimum of 1000 work opportunities when fully operational.

Itirele Road Maintenance Programme

The Itirele Road Maintenance Programme, which is part of the Setsokotsane 10x10 campaign is the flagship job creation programme of the Department.  To date the programme has created 5114 work opportunities and by the end of the current financial year it is expected to have created 7 025 work opportunities.

Road infrastructure

In 2014 the Province was sitting with a huge backlog on upgrading and maintenance of roads with only 5083 km. In addition 157 km re-seal projects were completed.

In respect of bridge construction, the Department has set aside an amount of R25 million for the construction of the bridge (level crossing) over the Dr Moroka street in Rustenburg.  The repairs of bridges in the Dr Kenneth Kaunda District will proceed and it is planned that one repair project will be completed in the next financial year.

The Department is planning to upgrade a total of 60 km of gravel roads to a surfaced standard in the 2018/19 financial year.

Key projects in this regard include but are not limited to:

• Phase 2 of the Road D201: Pampierstad to Matlapaneng – 17  kilometres
• Phase 2 of Road D402 through the villages of Manamolela,Diretsane  to Deelpan to Kopela – 13 kilometres
• Phase 2 of Road P66/1 (Kgomo Kgomo to P65/1) and Road D614 / Z614 (P65/1 to Lebotlwaane to Tlholwe) and Road Z619 from Tlholwe to Ga - Habedi) and D639 from Moretele to Ga-Habedi – 6 kilometres
• Good progress has been registered on the rehabilitation of sections of Road P28/4 (Rooigrond) from Mahikeng to Lichtenburg.

Infrastructure Development & Maintenance

The Executive Council has taken a decision to strengthen infrastructure delivery and maintenance in the province. To this end, the Department of Public Works and Roads has been directed to establish a provincial infrastructure delivery unit by taking up all built industry professionals and resources from various departments to operate under one roof. This will enhance the government capacity to deliver infrastructure development and maintenance services.

The intervention will also include capacity development through a training programme in partnership with relevant Sector Education Training Authorities and professional bodies. In this regard, unemployed graduates who need practical experience for professional registration in the built industry will be assisted and then recruited to join the unit.

Health department

Hon Members, In order to speedily address pending mal-practice and law suit cases, the Office of the Premier through the Head of Legal Service is considering introduction of central legal services co-ordination as a means of addressing similar challenges across the public service with the view to reduce litigation bill.

The Province has registered commendable progress in the roll out of the HIV/AIDS treatment Total number of patients. In 2013/14 patients remaining on ARVs were 176 260, number increase to 191 612 in 2014/15 and lastly 234 145 in 2015/16.

In the current financial year the Department has procured 40 new Ambulances and they are being distributed. In terms of Health facility improvements for VTSD economic development, the Department started with construction on 13 projects. The matter affecting the Department and widely covered in the media recently is a subject of investigation and action will follow the outcome of this investigation.

Communication and ICT transformation

Bagaetsho, Government communication represents a very important accountability mechanism to maintain a dynamic relationship between public representatives and the general public. Over the past year, Government has worked hard to improve and open more channels of communication to inform our people about the service delivery issues and challenges experienced in the delivery of services to the public.

Our communication machinery has sought to keep up with the pace and the need for instant dissemination of information by improving social media offerings to maintain link with mostly young people whose needs and interests drive public opinion on a number of issues.

Hon Members, as part of ICT transformation program we will also be launching Setsokotsane Radio Studio Network, to ensure that we reach all the audience in the entire province. This initiative will supplement existing platforms in the broad communication mix which include the weekly government newspaper (Semphete).

Hon Speaker, the province will ensure that ICT and Communication Transformation Agenda enables government through advanced and state of the art technology, to implement a Business Digital Platform that will provide real time data for decision making in propelling Radical Socio-Economic Transformation by giving young people in particular, opportunities to participate in the mainstream ICT economy of the Province.

Skills development

Hon Speaker, the Province held a successful VTSD Skills Development Lekgotla in September 2017 attended by role players from Government, academia, SETA’s and skills development industry in general. This Lekgotla brought together relevant brain power to craft practical workable solutions to address the structural nature of unemployment which afflicts our people and young people in particular. It is estimated that just over 300 000 young people in Bokone-Bophirima are Not in Employment, Education or Training (NEET). This is a critical mass of young talent needed by our economy in growth sectors like agriculture, mining, manufacturing and ICT.

The VTSD Skills Development Lekgotla produced a Provincial Action Plan which will be implemented by all Provincial Departments, municipalities and state owned entities. The Province has already registered progress in the implementation of the skills development action plan:

• The Province has In collaboration with the National Skills Fund ensured that 1000 youth attend the General Security Professional training
• 43 learners from rural areas in the Province have been registered with Denel Technical Academy to study artisan and aviation related training in aircraft mechanic, electrical engineering, fitter and turner and welding.
• In the beginning of 2019, the Province will open a Provincial Technical Academy as a satellite Campus of the Kempton Park Denel Academy at the Mahikeng Airport.
• We will be implementing Sefalana Poverty Eradication Initiative as part of VTSD industrialization to produce much needed food in our communities. This initiative will involve 700 unemployed youth across the province in agricultural food production of 10 food items for their households and to sell surplus to the market.

10 VTSD Sefalana Povery Eradication Items

• Honey
• Water
• Maize
• Cooking Oil
• Vegetables
• Milk
• Meat
• Bread
• Energy
• Fruit

1. Three TVET Colleges in the North West have been identified to be part of the 25 pilot projects as centres of specialization to produce much needed artisan skills in the following areas diesel mechanic (Mankwe Orbit College), electrical engineering (Brits Orbit College) and bricklaying (Vuzelela Klerksdorp Campus). The pilot project will give employment to 40 learners per campus. These learners will all be guaranteed employment in collaboration with industry employers at completion of their training;

2. The Province will also collaborate with the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) to launch a Provincial Skills Demand and Supply Research project in order to provide evidence based decision making for skills planning in both public and private sectors in the Province.

Hon Speaker, 680 public servants retired from the public service between January and December 2017. These are people who dedicated many years to the service of our people and contributed to the project of making the lives of our people better. We shall remain eternally grateful for their service in building responsive and effective government machinery since 1994. As a gesture of gratitude to these patriots Government will arrange workshops in April 2018 to expose them to entrepreneurial opportunities across all Provincial Departments in all four (4) districts.

These workshops will also provide retirees with appropriate information to facilitate informed investment decisions in order to empower them to use their pension savings to explore economic/business ventures. This arrangement will be done annually.

Hon Members, we continue to strengthen intergovernmental relations through structures such as Bokone-Bophirima Premier’s Coordinating Council (BBPCC), Premier’s Infrastructure Coordinating Council (PICOCO) meetings on a quarterly basis to review overall government performance. Municipal Managers, Chief Executive Officers of SOEs and HODs meet monthly to prepare for these meetings.

In addition, the executive has a good working relationship with the Legislature.

We wish to take this opportunity to thank the Legislature for the robust and cooperative oversight.

In honour of the contribution played by the late Cebo Manyaapelo we have taken a decision to rename the Leopard Golf Club as the Cebo Manyaapelo Golf Club on his birthday later this year (2018).

Madam Speaker and Honourable Members, “In the real world of entrepreneurship, the entrepreneur, that makes the most mistakes and learns from them, for example Thomas Edison failed over 1000 times before inventing the electric bulb. “Robert Kiyosaki. So let’s fear nothing in life, make mistakes as long as we learn from as the people of Bokone Bophirima.

I thank you!