According to the provincial government spokesperson, Brian Setswambung, Premier Bushy Maape has appointed a panel of experts to help the province lure investments and drive the economy to full recovery.

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This move comes after the dairy giant Clover company relocated its Lichtenburg factory to KwaZulu-Natal in 2021, following allegations that the Ditsobotla Local Municipality failed to maintain the road infrastructure, among others. Poor service delivery was the main reason the National Government intervened in the first place. 

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Setswambung says the panel will also be responsible to look at the status of the provincial State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) and make recommendations to the Provincial Government on how these institutions can contribute to driving the provincial economy to fully recover.

“This will be done through the resuscitation of the Growth and Development Strategy. With the provincial unemployment rate currently sitting at around 34%, the government believes SOEs can play a meaningful role in repositioning the provincial economy by partnering with various financial and commercial institutions to attract investments. The panel will also be expected to advise the government on the feasibility of resuscitating old and abandoned projects by turning them into mega projects. This includes exploring and devising strategies in initiating new mega projects through various infrastructural projects,” he adds.

He says the appointment of these experts forms part of a broader strategy by the government to create employment and address the scourge of poverty and income inequalities affecting many communities across the province.

“The panel of experts include professionals from various academic backgrounds, as well as industries and organisations. They will work hand in glove with senior government officials in seeing to the full implementation of the aforementioned plans,” Setswambung further adds.

In June 2022, the Auditor-General (AG) Tsakani Maluleke announced that almost half (43%) of the money spent by North West municipalities was spent irregularly.

She said the municipalities in the province continue to record disclaimer audit opinions whilst the lack of service delivery and performance deteriorate. “There seems to be a culture of tolerating lawlessness across municipalities, with a lack of consequences in these municipalities. “Municipalities are not preparing to deliver services to communities and that is detrimental to these communities who are supposed to be served, Maluleke added.

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Maluleke also announced that all 22 North West municipalities failed to obtain a single clean audit.

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