The Northern Cape provincial legislature will spend R2,5 million on this year’s State of the Province Address (SOPA). This is a slight decrease from last year’s expenditure of R3 million.
Political parties in Northern Cape want Premier Zamani Saul to deliver on his previous promises.
Premier Saul will deliver his address under the seventh Government of National Unity (GNU) administration.
Political parties say an array of promises were made during the 6th administration and years before that, while little to nothing has changed for the residents.
In his 2024 address, Saul recommitted himself to modernise the province, growing its economy and building state-of-the-art schools. He announced, amongst others, the implementation of a 120 Megawatts combined Renewable Energy Project to the tune of R2.4 billion.
EFF’s Provincial Chair, Shadrack Tlhaole says Saul outlined good things but achieved little.
“We went to different schools in the province, and you will be surprised and shocked that the budget was set aside for the schools. A contractor was appointed, but it is now eight or nine years, and the project is not completed. Go to Dithaking village, we have engaged Bogosi and they said it is a problem. There was a school that was supposed to be built there, budgeted at almost R700 or R800 million, but the project has collapsed,” says Tlhaole.
Wynand Boshoff, the FF + Northern Cape leader says the premier’s plans need to be realised.
“There are a number of good plans that the premier has announced before and those plans need to come to fruition before we can expect new exciting, ground-breaking plans. If the premier is going to announce new things while the old plans have not been realised then he is going to lose credibility and I think he knows it,” says Boshoff.
DA leader in the province, Harold McGluwa, will keenly listen to Saul’s plan of action.
“We will look currently at the state of our municipalities and we will be looking into the new developments, the water infrastructure here in Sol Plaatje, the R2.5 billion that is invested. As opposition parties, I think it is high time now in the Northern Cape that we work together to see that things are done in the province,” he says.
Some residents of Lorato Park in Kimberley say more than five years ago, Premier Saul promised them electricity, water, roads and schools, but nothing has changed in their area.
“We have been here since 2019 and they promised us electricity every year. We are in 2025. Still nothing. It is dark. People get hurt. Our shanties burn. Our places get broken into and it is frustrating for us. We feel neglected,” says one of the residents.
“Our Premier Zamani Saul once promised he would build a state of the art school, up until today we don’t have a school. It is so painful,” says another resident.
“Mr Zamani Saul, I remember there was an event a long time ago. He was promising us a lot of things but he didn’t deliver. So, for me as a parent, as a resident of this place, please and I ask if he speaks, he must deliver for us. Please,” says another resident.
Priorities change overnight
Political analyst Professor Sethulego Matebesi says government priorities don’t change overnight.
The professor says it might seem as if the premier is repeating himself, but maintains that the challenges facing residents of the Northern Cape require serious intervention.
“I foresee a situation where the focus will be on how municipalities will be revived, but it will be like the same speech all over, without any tangible issues being raised. People should definitely look forward to State of the Province Address because that gives you an idea of what will be the focus of the provincial government of the Northern Cape, going forward to this year,” says Matebesi.
Provincial government spokesperson, Naledi Gaosekwe says major strides have been made.
“We launched our first phase of the R1 billion housing project, with contractors currently on site to deal with the housing backlog. We achieved eight clean audits, which marks the highest ever in the history of Northern Cape provincial administration. Last year, we recorded five cumulative expenditure of R24,7 billion on infrastructure. This accounts for 19 modern state-of-the-art schools, 11 clinics, roads and libraries, water, as our bucket eradication,” says Gaosekwe.
In 2024, Premier Saul announced, as part of maintaining and improving public infrastructure, R30 million will be made available for the renovation of Mayibuye Centre.
This multi-million rand building stands idle after closing its doors a year ago.
