As the 2026 municipal elections approach, the Executive Mayor of Dr Kenneth Kaunda District Municipality, Nikiwe Num sat down with Journal News to unpack the challenges, progress, and priorities that shape the region’s political landscape. The mayor discussed service delivery, youth unemployment, infrastructure development, and the municipality’s plans to improve transparency and community engagement.

By Abigail Visagie

Thank you for taking the time to sit with us today — we truly appreciate it and happy belated Women’s Day. I must say, your leadership portfolio is quite impressive. How long have you been serving the people of the North West?

Thank you. I’ve served the people of the North West Province in various capacities over the past 36 years - both within ANC structures and later in different government offices.

Let’s start by focusing on Women’s Month this August, as the country commemorates the role of women in our society. Given your experience as a woman in the male-dominated world of politics, what are some of the key challenges you’ve faced that your male counterparts may not have had to deal with?

There’s still quite a bit we need to do as a society, especially in spaces where women are expected to perform alongside men. The first step is acknowledging and internalising the fact that women carry multiple roles. It’s not just about stepping into the boardroom and holding your own in discussions — it’s also about stepping out and being a mother, a sister, an aunt, a daughter, all while still being expected to give your best at work.

Personally, I’ve never felt threatened in a male-dominated field. I’ve spent much of my career working alongside men who recognise potential, accept imperfections, and are willing to guide and point out areas for growth. That, to me, is what the gender struggle is really about. It’s not just about being seen as a woman — it’s about being recognised for the potential I bring, if given the opportunity. In fact, I believe women often surpass men in many ways, because we bring both tenacity and unwavering determination to everything we do.

Do you believe that women are fully emancipated, thirty years into democracy?

Over the past thirty years, significant policy achievements have been recorded, and there has consistently been a conscious effort to ensure that women are given opportunities and empowered. However, thirty years cannot undo the effects of over a century of inequality. There is still a long way to go. We also recognize that the struggle for women’s emancipation exists within the broader context of the national democratic revolution and the wider emancipation of society. As such, progress is often uneven and, in some areas, still falls short.

I hear you, Mayor. Let’s shift the focus and talk about other pressing issues — the Foot-and-Mouth Disease, which appears to be quite prominent in your district. What measures have you taken to support farmers in dealing with this?

The outbreak has dealt a serious blow to our farmers — including commercial farmers — particularly since our province contributes significantly to the country’s economy and GDP. In response, the Department of Agriculture and Land Affairs, in collaboration with local governments across the province, has implemented strategic plans to raise awareness and promote advocacy. Once the disease was officially declared an outbreak, field officers were deployed to engage both commercial and emerging farmers, helping them identify and understand the signs of Foot-and-Mouth Disease.

The Department of Agriculture has intervention programs in place, and many of our farmers have been able to benefit from these initiatives. Fortunately, the outbreak did not escalate to the level we initially feared and has been largely contained. While our farmers may not always have formal academic qualifications, they possess a deep understanding of their animals and agricultural practices. They listen, they learn, and their responsiveness has played a key role in successful interventions — particularly in remote areas where government reach is limited. We continue to monitor the disease closely and remain committed to ensuring that the department is accessible and responsive to farmers who need assistance.

Another major concern in your district is the rising number of illegal mining activities, sexual offences, and assaults. How is your office addressing these issues?

We acknowledge that, as government, we have not done enough — particularly when it comes to addressing illegal mining. We are facing significant challenges with mining shafts that were never properly decommissioned or closed, as well as with the continued influx of people who originally migrated here seeking work in the mines.

We are actively engaging the relevant departments and calling for assistance in repurposing these mines, as the ongoing activity indicates there are still resources underground that could be legally and safely utilized. Law enforcement has also been brought on board, and plans are underway to address the issue of illegal mining shafts. We believe that once these matters are resolved from a legal and structural standpoint, we will start to see a decline in related criminal activities.

There are various local municipalities under your authority. What are you doing to assist them in becoming tax compliant in line with the Auditor-General’s reports, and how are you holding them accountable for their financial management?

We operate within the framework of intergovernmental relations (IGR), which regulates cooperation between different spheres of government. Municipalities are constitutionally empowered through legislation such as the Structures Act and the Systems Act, so our role is to coordinate and support them rather than to direct.

We use the IGR framework, strengthened by the District Development Model, to facilitate collaboration. In fact, this is the only district in the province that consistently convenes joint planning sessions. Together, we assess the impact of our social programs and analyse infrastructure development needs.

As part of our support efforts, we can physically deploy teams to municipalities — we “camp” there, so to speak — to provide hands-on support. The effectiveness of these interventions, however, depends on the municipality’s willingness and capacity to absorb and sustain the knowledge and systems we help implement.

Our district takes the lead in coordinating programs, projects, and information-sharing across municipalities. For instance, we have implemented an integrated roads network plan across all three municipalities in the district. We’ve also intervened in service delivery planning, particularly in areas of Maquassi Hills and Matlosana that require urgent attention.

In addition, we have shared services models in place. For example, Maquassi Hills requested assistance to strengthen their financial management, so they now share a risk and audit committee with us. These collaborative mechanisms allow us to improve governance and accountability across the district.

What are your top three priorities in your district municipality?

Actually, as a district — in collaboration with our local municipalities — we’ve identified five key priorities that we believe are critical to repositioning and revitalizing the district:

Strengthening Governance:

Our first priority is to improve governance by ensuring that municipal structures remain functional, accountable, and aligned with our service delivery goals. Good governance is the foundation for delivering the essential services our communities need.

Unlocking Economic Potential:

We are focused on driving economic growth by leveraging key sectors such as tourism, agriculture, training and skills development, and steel manufacturing. The district has access to raw materials that could support a local steel industry, which in turn could help us improve our road infrastructure and create jobs.

However, service delivery remains inconsistent in some areas. As towns have grown and mining activity has declined, our budget has become limited — so we need an extra push to meet community expectations.

Infrastructure Development:

Upgrading and maintaining infrastructure is essential for supporting both economic activity and quality of life. This includes roads, water systems, and other basic services.

Tourism Promotion:

We aim to harness our tourism potential to attract investment and create sustainable jobs. The district has natural and cultural assets that can be better marketed and developed.

Agricultural Development:

Agriculture remains a vital sector in our district. We are working to enhance support for emerging and commercial farmers to boost food security, rural development, and economic inclusion.

With local government elections approaching, how prepared are you — and do you believe you have done enough to stand the test of time and seek a second term?

We are well prepared — collectively as municipalities — to manage the responsibilities leading up to the local government elections. Our focus is not on doing anything extraordinary just because elections are approaching. Instead, we must remain consistent in delivering services and continue to improve where necessary. When communities see consistent, tangible improvements, they recognize the value of the work being done.We have established structures that allow us to engage regularly with councillors at the local municipality level. Recently, we developed a tool to assess service delivery across all 84 wards, helping us identify which areas have been neglected over the past 15, 10, or 5 years.

This data will guide our discussions with executive mayors as we determine where infrastructure development should be prioritized. Our Integrated Development Plans (IDPs) have all been approved by councillors, but while the expectations are high, our financial resources remain limited. That is why we have identified three key focus areas moving forward:

1.         Sustain and improve the areas where we are already performing well.

2.         Revisit wards where minimal or no development has taken place.

3.         Tackle the issue of illegal dumping by introducing sustainable waste management solutions.

We also have a responsibility to encourage civic participation. People must understand that exercising their right to vote is not just a democratic act — it is an expression of patriotism and a defence of our sovereignty. Choosing not to vote is, in essence, giving away your voice and your country.

As for myself, I remain available to serve. If the community believes I’ve earned their trust and chooses to support me for a second term, I am confident that I can continue to contribute meaningfully. With another five years, there is still much I can bring to the table to ensure that our communities are well-served and that our progress continues.