KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thamsanqa Ntuli says the Office of the Premier's 2026/27 Budget Vote is "more than a set of numbers", describing it as a statement of the provincial government's priorities and commitment to coordinated governance.
Tabling Budget Vote 1 before the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Legislature in Pietermaritzburg on Tuesday, Ntuli said the budget reflected the values and direction of the 7th Administration.
"Madam Speaker, this Budget Vote is more than a set of numbers. It is a statement of intent. It tells our people what we value. It tells our people where their taxes go, and why," he said.
The Office of the Premier has been allocated R856.2 million for the 2026/27 financial year, with R234.2 million earmarked for Administration, R392.7 million for Institutional Development, and R229.2 million for Policy and Governance.
Ntuli said while frontline departments deliver services directly to communities, the Office of the Premier provides direction, coherence, policy coordination, monitoring, evidence-based decision-making and implementation oversight.
"A hospital budget builds wards. A roads budget builds bridges. Our budget builds direction. It builds coherence. It builds the systems that make every other department's work possible," he said.
Ntuli reflected on the challenges inherited by the 7th Administration, including the impact of the July 2021 unrest, climate change-related disasters and ongoing economic hardship.
He said the Provincial Government has responded to these challenges through a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach aimed at restoring confidence, accelerating service delivery and inspiring new hope.
Highlighting signs of economic recovery, Ntuli said KwaZulu-Natal secured R89 billion in investment pledges in 2024, increasing to R101 billion in 2025.
He added that more than 6 000 jobs had been recovered since late 2024, while provincial economic growth improved from 1.1% in 2024 to 1.8% in 2025 and an annualised 2.0% during the first quarter of 2026.
He attributed employment gains to major infrastructure projects, including the Durban Port logistics upgrade, improvements to the N3 corridor, the expansion of Dube TradePort, development of the Richards Bay Industrial Development Zone, road rehabilitation, water infrastructure projects and renewable energy investments.
The Premier also pointed to improvements in public safety, saying key crime categories, including murder, attempted murder, sexual offences, aggravated robbery, carjacking and residential burglary, had declined.
"These are not just numbers. These are families sleeping easier at night," he said.
To strengthen coordinated governance, Ntuli announced that six provincial councils chaired by the Premier have now been fully operationalised. These include the KZN Council Against Crime, the Council on Climate Change and Sustainable Development, the Provincial Council on AIDS, the KwaZulu-Natal Economic Council, the Human Resource Development Council, and the Social Cohesion and Moral Regeneration Council.
He said the Human Resource Development Council will play a key role in addressing skills shortages and aligning education and training with labour market needs. The province will work with universities, TVET colleges, community colleges and the private sector to develop skills in engineering, ICT, logistics, healthcare, artisan trades and emerging sectors, such as artificial intelligence, robotics, cybersecurity, renewable energy and advanced manufacturing.
Ntuli said the Office of the Premier will continue strengthening Operation Sukuma Sakhe and the District Development Model to improve integrated service delivery and public participation.
While Cabinet Izimbizo has been held in all 11 districts since October 2024, he acknowledged ongoing challenges, including inconsistent performance of some OSS War Rooms, municipal capacity constraints, and persistent service delivery backlogs in water, sanitation, roads, electricity and housing.
To address these challenges, government plans to revitalise Operation Sukuma Sakhe (OSS) War Rooms, strengthen monitoring and case management, deploy multidisciplinary support teams to struggling municipalities, improve accountability and accelerate infrastructure delivery.
The Premier also highlighted flagship programmes led by the Office of the Premier, including, among others, Engangeni Ngesango Liyafohla, which focuses on undocumented migration and its impact on public services and employment; ICHILO (deep moral taboo or disgrace), aimed at combating gender-based violence and femicide; and the Secondary Cities Initiative, designed to stimulate investment beyond the province's major urban centres.
Preserving tradition
On the Zulu Monarchy, Ntuli said government is committed to modernising governance while preserving tradition.
He said the establishment of the Board of the Zulu Royal Household Trust will strengthen governance, protect assets and explore sustainable revenue opportunities, including agricultural ventures at the Royal Farms in Ulundi and potential property investments such as student accommodation.
Ntuli reaffirmed the Office of the Premier's commitment to building a capable, ethical and coordinated provincial administration. – SAnews.gov.za
