North West MEC for Finance, Kenetswe Mosenogi, announced that provincial treasury support has enabled municipalities to write off R5.5 billion in legacy Unauthorized, Irregular, Fruitless, and Wasteful Expenditure (UIFW&W).
She made the announcement while delivering the 2025/26 Provincial Budget Speech in Mafikeng.
This marks the first budget of the 7th provincial administration following last year’s elections.
Mosenogi reaffirmed the Provincial Treasury’s commitment to strengthening municipal financial stability, emphasizing its mandate under Section 154 of the Constitution to support municipalities in addressing historical financial challenges.
She noted that beyond facilitating the UIFW&W write-off, treasury support has also bolstered Municipal Public Accounts Committees and council oversight structures.
Looking ahead, she said, ongoing programs will continue to drive financial governance and transformation.
“To sustain improved audit performance, the province and municipalities will collaborate to increase the number of unqualified audit opinions and resolve outstanding disclaimers and adverse findings,” said Mosenogi.
“Targeted support is currently being provided to Bojanala Platinum, Dr Kenneth Kaunda Districts, and Moretele Local Municipality to help them achieve clean audits.”
Wolfgang Wallhorn, the DA’s spokesperson on finance in the North West Provincial Legislature, criticised Mosenogi’s budget, calling it an empty framework filled with empty promises.
“The provincial budget delivered by MEC Kenetswe Mosenogi is underwhelming, to say the least,” Wallhorn said.
He argued that Mosenogi’s claims of improved stability and functionality in municipalities ignored ongoing crises, particularly in Ditsobotla Local Municipality, Tswaing Local Municipality, and Ngaka Modiri Molema District Municipality.
While acknowledging her mention of R320 million allocated to fund salary increases and the R5.5 billion in unauthorized, irregular, fruitless, and wasteful expenditure written off, Wallhorn remained critical of the budget’s priorities.
The DA took note of the 5,500 temporary jobs Mosenogi aims to create through infrastructure development and the 3,094 assistant educator positions but warned against short-term job creation that lacks long-term sustainability.
“Mosenogi only dedicated a single line to one of the province’s most pressing issues—water and sanitation. She provided no specific budget allocation and made no reference to the numerous commitments previously made by the Premier during his State of the Province Address,” Wallhorn added.
However, the ANC in the North West Province welcomed the budget presented by Mosenogi.
ANC Provincial Secretary, Louis Diremelo, praised the budget’s comprehensive approach, noting its alignment with Premier Lazarus Kagiso Mokgosi’s recent State of the Province Address (SOPA).
“This is a set of realistic commitments by a people-driven government, in line with the resolutions of the recent North West ANC PEC Lekgotla, which has consolidated a pact aimed at driving our vision for a prosperous and equitable North West Province, in line with the Freedom Charter,” said Diremelo.
He added that the 2025/26 budget reaffirms the 7th administration’s commitment to advancing inclusive growth and job creation, reducing poverty, addressing the high cost of living, and building a capable, ethical, and developmental state.
The Provincial Budget allocation is set to increase to R56.352 billion in 2026/27 and R58.329 billion in the outer year of the 2025 Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF). Key priorities include infrastructure development, healthcare services, education and skills development, and economic recovery and job creation.
Diremelo also welcomed the budget’s emphasis on filling vacant but funded posts in the Provincial Government, coordinated by the Provincial Treasury and the Office of the Premier.
“Unemployment remains the most pressing concern for the ANC in the North West Province, and we appreciate that this budget prioritizes efforts to address it,” he said.
INSIDE METROS