With only two days to go before North West Premier Job Mokgoro tables his State of The Province Address (SOPA) on Friday, the Democratic Alliance (DA) has questioned his legitimacy to do so.
The DA argues that since the province has been placed under the administration of the national government, Mokgoro has been stripped of his executive powers.
The party also argues that service delivery has collapsed in municipalities under Mokgoro’s watch.
The provincial government was stripped of its powers in 2018 following violent protests where communities complained about a lack of service delivery.
DA North West leader Winston Rabotapi says: “In terms of section 100 {1} b, the national government assumes responsibility for the relevant obligations in the province. Subsequently, the executive powers of the premier have been taken away, including the responsibility to summon the legislature to an extraordinary sitting as per section 127{b} of the Constitution for the purpose of delivering his SOPA.”
Mokgoro’s Spokesperson Vuyisile Ngesi, however, says the premier still has executive powers to deliver the SOPA.
“There’s nothing constitutionally barring the premier from exercising his duties because section 100 doesn’t usurp any powers of the premier. It actually empowers the premier to work with administrators to ensure that the administration of government and the delivery of services in the province is accelerated.”
WATCH | Shops looted in Mahikeng as protests in the area were intensifying in 2018:
