They came in large numbers to interact face-to-face with their public office bearers, government leaders led by the office of the North West Premier, Lazarus Mokgosi.
Ordinary men and women — the young and the old — they flocked to Ga-Mogopa near Venterdorp in the North West, armed with a litany of questions that required answers. Finally, the residents, many exasperated with a lackadaisical service delivery programme that had left a lot more underwhelmed by the government’s performance, wanted to hear everything from the horse’s mouth.
They came from Ga-Mogopa, Goedgevonden and Boikhutsong villages as well as Tshing and Ikageng townships, which fall under JB Marks Local Municipality in Dr Kenneth Kaunda District. It is a sprawling municipality named after a true legend and stalwart of the SACP and ANC, John Beaver Marks, who died in exile in Russia on August 1, 1972.
Affectionately known as JB Marks, he was reburied in a state funeral in March 2015. His majestic service was held in the Tshing Sports Grounds in the heart of Ventersdorp, the same sports field where the provincial government held its regular grassroots Thuntsa Lerole event with the citizens.
Thuntsa Lerole, also known as the Accelerated Service Delivery Programme, has proven itself as a formidable phenomenon, a true vehicle through which citizens can sit in the same room with government leaders and engage in meaningful exchange of ideas.
Residents of the province have come to know that Thuntsa Lerole is not a lip service initiative, but rather a genuinely direct engagement with communities of the various districts since its inception in July 2023 during the previous sixth administration.
Of greater significance, too, is that the people of the Platinum Province are privileged to be served by a caring government that engages them at the coalface level.
Having attended the previous Thuntsa Lerole events, which have always been led by the Premier, Members of the Executive Council, Executive Mayors and Mayors of District and Local Municipalities, the facial excitement of the locals who attend the event is just so heart-warming and memorable.
Even the ever-increasing attendance numbers are proof that the communities regard Thuntsa Lerole as a purposeful effort by the provincial government to continue providing administration and technical support to their struggling municipalities.
Brian Setswambung, spokesperson for the North West government, explained: “The communities love Thuntsa Lerole because it fast-tracks some of the services to them which include the handing over of title deeds, passing on of RDP houses, sharing of information on grant funding and issuing of application forms, registration and updating of companies’ details on the Central Supplier Database, and many more other things which are not easily accessible to them.”
Some of the social services that are also provided on the day include the application and issuing of smart ID cards and passports, and applications for the much sought-after Social Relief of Distress grants.
Fundamental to this programme is not only to intensify and accelerate the provision of basic services, but to intervene where there are service delivery blockages and promote consistent engagement with different communities across the province on service delivery issues. In addition, to also afford beneficiaries of services that were provided during the previous Thuntsa Lerole activities the opportunity to reflect and give an account of the effectiveness of this programme. That has become an effective feedback mechanism in the art of interacting with residents at the local level.
South Africa could become a better country for all if the other provinces could adopt a similar programme. This is empowerment through engagement where and when it matters the most.
The event in the former conservative Ventersdorp, which is part of the greater Dr Kenneth Kaunda District Municipality, is happening a week before the upcoming visit of President Cyril Ramaphosa and Cabinet in the province next week, on 12th September, along the platinum belt town of Rustenburg.
The presidential visit stems from the National Government Programme of Action of 2025 to foster and strengthen Inter-Government Relations (IGR) to see to the full implementation of the priorities of the Medium-Term Development Plan (MTDP-2024-2029).
As part of addressing challenges of unemployment and poverty, the province recently adopted the Growth and Development Strategy which is centred on repositioning the provincial economy through its main economic drivers which are mining, agriculture and tourism. This includes prioritising the full functioning of the Bojanala Special Economic Zone (SEZ), according to Setswambung.
The SEZ, also known as the Platinum Valley SEZ, is focused on leveraging the region’s mineral wealth for economic transformation. And its key sectors prioritised are mineral beneficiation (especially platinum), agro-processing, and renewable energy, with plans for integrated infrastructure including logistics, industry, and social amenities.
The SEZ aims to attract investment and create employment, has so far garnered investments commitments of over R200 billion and will create close to 20 000 jobs once granted an operational license, and subsequently alleviate the provincial scourge of unemployment and poverty that is afflicting communities.
Planned developments to benefit the people of the province include clinics, a college, and other municipal services.
In relation to the state of local governance, the province is assisting municipalities to address various service delivery challenges impacting their administrative and developmental trajectory.
In the words of Premier Lazarus Mokgosi: “Local government is critical towards addressing challenges bedevilling our developmental trajectory. Therefore, without proper infrastructure, we will not be able to address these challenges, hence the Accelerated Service Delivery Programme initiative.”
