3–4 minutes As we reflect on the year that was, 2025 will be remembered in the North West Province not as a year without hope, but as a year that quietly revealed an important truth; we do have successes to celebrate, but we are still learning how to celebrate in ways that build an economy, not just moments. There were genuine positives. The revival of the North West Agricultural Show in Vryburg stood out as more than a diary event. It reaffirmed agriculture as one of the province’s most reliable economic pillars. Farmers, agri-businesses, financiers and communities came together around production, markets and innovation. This is where government leadership matters; agriculture requires coordination, policy alignment and scale. When the state convenes with purpose, it can unlock real economic value. Equally important were provincial Heritage Month celebrations, hosted in partnership with municipalities and traditional leadership. These events reminded us that heritage is not backward-looking. Culture is identity, social cohesion and a gateway into creative industries; crafts, performance, food, fashion and tourism. In a province searching for confidence and cohesion, these moments of collective pride mattered. Yet 2025 also exposed a reality many citizens experience instinctively; citizen-led initiatives are often better organised and more impactful at ground level than government-run ones. Privately promoted platforms such as the North West Mega Expo in Rustenburg demonstrated sharper execution; clearer programming, better logistics and a stronger focus on participant value. The reason is simple. When citizens lead, failure carries real consequences. Events must start on time, deliver value and attract audiences again next year. Discipline is not optional; it is survival. To understand what the North West could become, it helps to look beyond provincial borders. The Cape Town International Jazz Festival remains one of South Africa’s most successful cultural platforms. It is not government-run. Its strength lies in professional production, clear branding, consistent delivery and a deep understanding of audiences, sponsors and artists. Government may support the arts broadly, but the festival’s credibility comes from independence and execution excellence. Similarly, AfrikaBurn, staged annually in the Tankwa Karoo, thrives because it is community-built and participant-driven. Thousands of people co-create a functioning cultural economy under clear rules, strong values and minimal bureaucracy. It works precisely because creativity is trusted, not over-managed. The lesson for the North West is not that government has no role. It is that government should not try to do everything. Where the state attempts to be both organiser and controller, events often struggle; delayed planning, procurement bottlenecks, technical failures and an over-emphasis on speeches rather than outcomes. Where citizens are enabled to lead, platforms evolve, audiences grow and economic activity follows. The way forward is maturity, not withdrawal. Government’s role should be to enable creativity and enterprise, it should open access to venues and infrastructure, streamline permits, support safety and mobility, provide seed funding without capturing programmes, and measure success through outcomes; jobs created, vendors supported, artists paid, local supply chains activated. Celebration should not be a once-off performance. It should be a repeatable platform. The North West is rich in culture, sport, heritage and entrepreneurial energy. What it needs is a policy environment that trusts citizens to execute and understands that creativity and business flourish when bureaucracy steps back and support steps forward. As we close out 2025, the province does have something to celebrate. But the real celebration will come when our events no longer end with applause alone, but leave behind confidence, livelihoods and platforms that return stronger the following year. That is how celebration becomes development. And that is the North West story still waiting to be fully written. By Mothusi Shupinyane, Mo Media Chairman Post navigation Weekends invite reflection — yet truth, as ever, refuses to rest. ANC takes January 8 rally to Moruleng
