Residents from the Ramotshere Moiloa Local Municipality in the North West are calling on Premier Lazarus Mokgosi to address their service delivery challenges ahead of his State of the Province Address (SOPA) this morning.
Recently residents from Zeerust staged a protest, blocking key entrances to the town over ongoing water shortages.
The communities of areas such as Dinokana, Welbedacht and Ntsweletsoku villages, which lack basic services like water provision and decent roads, say they are yet to reap the rewards of democracy.
The high rate of unemployment also weighs heavy on them.
One resident says, “He must come here and help us and render services here at home. Our kids are unemployed. It’s really tough for us.”
Another says, ”Whenever they say, they say to us come up with business plans, come up with something else so that you can employ people but at the end of the day they are not doing anything, even funds are not coming to us. Funds are going to other people, but we are black people sitting here standing and saying you know what, I have this degree and I have this. But at the end of the day, you are still gonna live in a shack.”
#NWPG Premie, Lazarus Kagiso Mokgosi will deliver the 2025 State of the Province Address on the 27th of February at the official opening of the North West Provincial Legislature led by the Speakers, Dr Desbo Mohono. #NWPL #NWSOPA2025 #LeaveNoOneBehind #LetsGrowNorthWestTogether pic.twitter.com/3nYNHkrlgr
— NWPG (@NWPGOV) February 20, 2025
Meanwhile, community leader Thabo Molefi blames government for failing to provide water.
”A popular slogan by the then President Rolihlahla Nelson Mandela… he said the people shall govern. There is no such, it’s just lip talk. People are not in charge, politicians are in charge. Few individuals who have been given the power to influence media, to influence the narrative of conversation, they are not doing their work. That is why we are asking for accountability.”
VIDEO | North West residents are hopeful SOPA will address their challenges:
