North West Premier Lazarus Mokgosi says the provincial government is now operating on a “modern digital foundation built for the future”.
He said this when he outlined progress in the province’s digital transformation programme at a media briefing at Mmabatho Palms Hotel, on Tuesday.
Mokgosi said the province had delivered on commitments made during the State of the Province Address earlier this year, confirming that key digital systems became operational on 1 April 2026.
He described the shift as a transition from manual, paper-based processes to a fully integrated and automated administrative system anchored by the SmartGov platform, now live across all provincial departments.
Departments are currently undergoing a structured onboarding process that includes training officials and aligning internal workflows with the new system.
This phased rollout, he explained, is designed to ensure stability while gradually eliminating manual processes and embedding digital operations into daily government functions.
SmartGov will automate a range of administrative and procurement processes, including submissions, approvals, invoice tracking and contract management.
Mokgosi said this would improve efficiency, enhance transparency and accountability, and create a more predictable environment for businesses, particularly small and emerging enterprises seeking to participate in government opportunities.
He highlighted the introduction of a real-time monitoring and evaluation capability within the Office of the Premier, which will integrate reporting across provincial departments, state-owned entities and municipalities.
The system will provide live performance data through interactive dashboards, enabling quicker decision-making, improved oversight and early identification of risks.
Mokgosi said the transformation extends beyond administrative systems to the province’s broader digital infrastructure, including the migration from legacy platforms to Microsoft 365 and the adoption of the Microsoft Azure cloud environment.
These changes, he noted, support a more collaborative and mobile workforce while ensuring scalability and resilience for future demands.
Cybersecurity has also been strengthened through advanced endpoint protection measures, while all implementations have been carried out under State Information Technology Agency frameworks to ensure compliance with national regulations.
Beyond government operations, Mokgosi said the initiative aims to drive economic inclusion and skills development through partnerships with Microsoft and Boxfusion. These partnerships will deliver training programmes for public servants, support for local ICT businesses and digital skills development for young people at no cost to the province.
Looking ahead, the next phase will focus on expanding broadband infrastructure to connect government institutions, schools, healthcare facilities and communities. Mokgosi said this would extend digital transformation beyond government systems and into the broader society, forming the backbone of a “Smart Province.”
He described the initiative as the foundation of a North West Digital Government Platform, integrating systems, data, infrastructure and connectivity into a unified ecosystem aimed at improving service delivery and responsiveness.
“The North West Provincial Government is not only envisioning a digital future, we are actively building it, we are implementing it, and we are delivering it,” Mokgosi said. – SAnews.gov.za
