The North West State of the Province Address (Sopa) got off to a rough start, with the EFF members forcibly removed from the legislature, when they called on Premier Bushy Maape to apologise to citizens of the North West province, for claiming there were no water shortages and bad roads in the province at the Sona debate in Parliament.
Maape’s remarks sparked outrage from political parties, the public, and different organisations, who are accusing him of not being in touch with the problems facing the residents.
During his Sopa at the provincial legislature in Mahikeng on Friday, Maape assured the residents of his government’s intention to fast-track service delivery.
He said the Infrastructure South Africa (ISA) through the Presidency has set aside R13 billion to maintain and upgrade thirty-nine roads across the province.
“We are pleased to announce that the ISA through the presidency has set aside R13 billion for the maintenance and upgrading of thirty-nine roads projects in the province. These projects will be implemented during the 2023/24 financial year. This is in addition to the R1.3 billion for road upgrading and maintenance in the current financial year.
“The bulk of the R13 billion will be earmarked specifically for rural roads projects, most of which will be labour-intensive paved roads in order to create jobs. We are upgrading the Nelson Mandela Drive in Mahikeng at a cost of R50 million.
“The road from Phelindaba to Pecanwood, which serves huge tourist traffic from Gauteng to Hartbeespoort 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 to Sun City and Pilanesberg National Park, which will be to the tune of R61 million.
“We are spending an amount of R149 million to upgrade the road between Hartbeesfontein and Ottosdal. The Department of Public Works and Roads will start on the Lichtenburg to Koster road, and a portion of the road connecting Koster and Derby to Magaliesburg,” he said.
Maape said a steering committee was established in collaboration with the Minister of Water and Sanitation, Senzo Mchunu to urgently attend to water and sanitation challenges across the province.
In a bid to address the high rate of unemployment, Maape said R12 million was set aside to assist businesses owned by the youth.
“In August last year, we hosted a two-day Youth Summit followed by the Integrated Youth Development Strategy 2025 workshop in partnership with the National Youth Development Agency.
“We appointed a youth development coordinator in the office of the Premier as part of the process of resuscitating the youth coordination mechanism in the province. The 60 businesses owned by the youth that have been successfully incubated at our Mafikeng Digital Innovation Hub will be supported,” Maape said.
However, opposition parties in the North West have rejected Maape’s Sopa.
EFF’s secretary in the North West, Papiki Babuile, said they will table a motion of no confidence against Maape.
“Because the Premier failed to apologise for lying to parliament about the state and conditions of our people. We are going to submit a motion of no confidence against the Premier of this province.
“He is a liar, even the Sopa that he presented today is totally nothing that he will implement because he failed to acknowledge the challenges that we are facing as a province,” said Babuile.
DA’s Chief Whip in the North West legislature, Freddy Sonakile, said Maape has no plans for the province.
“You know when you listen to what he said at Sona and what he said today, it actually makes sense. He is only talking about the R31 billion that is going to come from ISA, which is a national component. What is the plan from the North West? It means it has nothing,” Sonakile said.
The EFF said it is assessing its members’ conditions after they were forcibly removed from the legislature following several points of orders.
