North West Premier Lazarus Mokgosi says negotiations are nearing consensus stage between the provincial task team comprising two members of his executive council, the local traditional authority and the national government regarding a disputed piece of land where Mahikeng Student City was earmarked to be constructed in Mahikeng.
The Barolong Boora-Tshidi traditional council took the matter to court, halting a planned project aimed at developing a 10 000-bed facility in the province’s capital.
During his State of the Province Address (SOPA) last Thursday, Mokgosi announced that a private-sector funding has been secured positioning the project to break ground as soon as the final land matters are concluded.
He also assured the residents that all major technical work including engineering designs has been completed ensuring the project is construction ready.
Speaking on YOU FM Newshour, Mokgosi described the project as strategic and very important as it is projected to unlock over 3,500 jobs, creating meaningful economic opportunities for SMMEs, youth, women and persons with disabilities.
“We are intervening as the provincial government in this land dispute, because Barolong Boora-Tshidi traditional council is claiming compensation over a piece of land identified for this project.
The matter is in court, but I am happy with the report I have received from the two MEC’s I have entrusted with this matter. (MEC for Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs Oageng Molapisi and his Agriculture and Rural Development Department counterpart Madoda Sambatha.), explained,” added the Premier
Mokgosi is optimistic that the matter will be resolved signalling a speedy commencement of the project.
Meanwhile, Mokgosi said that he is encouraged by the recent figures of the Quarterly Force Labour Survey (QLFS), that has indicated that the province created 78 000 jobs in the last two quarters of 2025, reducing official unemployment in the province by 6.2%, the largest in the country.
“These figures have been given impetus by the adoption of the Growth and Developmental Strategy which is currently being implemented.
In our continued efforts to revive the provincial economy and ensure a common vision for driving inclusive provincial economic growth we have taken decisive steps towards the establishment of the North West Development Fund, set at R100 million rand,” emphasized the premier.
