KwaZulu-Natal Premier, Honourable Thamsanqa Ntuli, today tabled Budget Vote 1 for the Office of the Premier for the 2026/27 financial year before the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Legislature in Pietermaritzburg.
Delivering the address, Premier Ntuli said the Budget Vote was more than a set of figures, but a statement of intent that reflects the priorities, 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,” said Premier Ntuli.
The Premier said the Office of the Premier plays a strategic role in ensuring that departments, municipalities and social partners work in a coordinated manner towards the developmental objectives of the province.
He emphasised that while frontline departments deliver services directly on the ground, 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,” said Premier Ntuli.
Premier 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.
The Premier reported that KwaZulu-Natal has recorded progress in investor confidence, job recovery and crime reduction since late 2024. He noted that the province secured R89 billion in investment pledges in 2024 and R101 billion in 2025, representing an increase of R12 billion.
He further stated that key categories of crime had shown a decline, including murder, attempted murder, sexual offences, aggravated robbery, carjacking and residential burglary.
“These are not just numbers. These are families sleeping easier at night,” said Premier Ntuli.
Premier Ntuli also highlighted the role of major infrastructure programmes in creating employment, including the Durban Port logistics upgrade, N3 corridor improvements, Dube TradePort expansion, Richards Bay Industrial Development Zone, road rehabilitation, water infrastructure and renewable energy projects.
According to the Premier, more than 6 000 jobs have been recovered since late 2024, while provincial economic growth moved from 1.1% in 2024 to 1.8% in 2025 and 2.0% annualised in the first quarter of 2026.
As part of strengthening coordinated governance, Premier Ntuli announced that the Office of the Premier has formalised and operationalised six councils chaired by the Premier. These include the KZN Council Against Crime, the KZN 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 councils bring government, business, labour, civil society, academia and traditional leadership together to provide advisory input and support collective decision-making.
The Premier placed particular emphasis on the Human Resource Development Council, saying it will play a central role in addressing skills mismatch, workforce planning, labour market alignment and youth unemployment.
He said the province will work with higher education institutions, TVET colleges, community colleges and the private sector to address shortages in technical, engineering, ICT, artisan, health, logistics and managerial skills.
Premier Ntuli said future-oriented skills such as artificial intelligence, robotics, data analytics, cybersecurity, renewable energy, advanced manufacturing and digital services would also be prioritised.
The Premier further announced that the Office of the Premier would continue strengthening Operation Sukuma Sakhe and the District Development Model as key platforms for integrated service delivery and public participation.
He said Cabinet Izimbizo have been held in all 11 districts since October 2024, bringing government closer to communities and helping identify service delivery challenges on the ground.
However, Premier Ntuli acknowledged that some OSS War Rooms are not functioning consistently and that challenges remain in water, sanitation, roads, electricity, housing, crime, unemployment and municipal capacity.
In response, the Provincial Government will revitalise OSS War Rooms, strengthen monitoring and case management, deploy multidisciplinary teams to support struggling municipalities, sharpen consequence management and accelerate infrastructure delivery.
The Premier also outlined key special programmes driven by the Office of the Premier, including Engangeni Ngesango Liyafohla, which addresses undocumented migration and its impact on services and jobs; ICHILO, which confronts gender-based violence and femicide; Ngeke Life Ngathi, which responds to the impact of climate change; and the Secondary Cities Initiative, which seeks to drive targeted investment beyond major urban centres.
Turning to the budget allocation, Premier Ntuli announced that the total budget for the Office of the Premier for the 2026/27 financial year is R856.2 million.
The budget is divided across three programmes: Administration, allocated R234.2 million; Institutional Development, allocated R392.7 million; and Policy and Governance, allocated R229.2 million.
Premier Ntuli said Programme One will support executive governance, intergovernmental relations, Operation Sukuma Sakhe, the District Development Model and international relations.
Programme Two, which receives the largest allocation, will focus on public service professionalisation, human capital development, digital transformation, ICT modernisation, government communication, legal governance, ethics, integrity and anti-corruption.
Programme Three will support monitoring and evaluation, Premier’s priority programmes, youth empowerment, social cohesion and moral regeneration, HIV/AIDS coordination, and support to the Zulu Monarchy and Royal Household.
Premier Ntuli also addressed the modernisation of the Zulu Monarchy, saying tradition and progress can work together in strengthening development and social cohesion.
He said the establishment of the Board of the Zulu Royal Household Trust marks an important step in strengthening governance, securing assets and identifying revenue-generating opportunities for the institution.
The Premier said the Trust will focus on agricultural projects, including a beef production project at the Royal Farms in Ulundi, as well as possible investment in property, particularly student accommodation.
Concluding his address, Premier Ntuli said the Office of the Premier remains committed to building a capable, ethical and coordinated province.
He thanked the Portfolio Committee, the Director-General, advisers and officials for their work in supporting the Office of the Premier as the coordinating centre of government.
The Premier formally commended Budget Vote 1 to the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Legislature for consideration and debate.