The Platinum province occupies 116 320
sq/km of the total South African land. Only 1.7 million people of a total
population of 3.7 million are eligible to vote. The most widely spoken
language in this province is Setswana although other languages including
Afrikaans, Xhosa, and Southern Sotho are also spoken in the province. The
province is divided into four districts, each with a number of
municipalities. The districts are: Bophirima, Bojanala, Southern and
Central districts.
The province has built an excellent system
of government in the past 10 years by improving the system inherited from
both the Bophuthatswana government and the Apartheid government. The
province has shown an economic growth of between –0.1% and 2.0 % in the
past 10 years. Although the province has lost major investments in the
past two years, its economy has remained relatively stable. The
province’s economy is boosted by the mining industry, agriculture and
tourism.
Mining
plays a dominant role in the economy of the province, contributing 55% of
the province’s GGP and employing a quarter of the labour force.
Only ten political organizations will be
taking part in the provincial election. And only two of those
organisations are running for the first time.
According to the South African Social
Attitudes Survey conducted by the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC),
which was conducted nation-wide. The ANC will enjoy a considerably higher
voter turnout of 86,7% in the North West province after the April 14
provincial election. The other parties that will take part in the
provincial poll will then share the remaining percentage, which will see
the UCDP, DA, and the NNP getting one seat each in the provincial
legislature. The PAC which did not get a seat in the 1999 outcome, could
get a seat that the FF will lose. The survey predicts that the ANC is
likely to secure 29 of the 33 seats in the North West provincial
legislature.
Source:
www.hsrc.ac.za/media/2003/12/20031223_3.html
Challenges
Basic services:
-
Provision of water:
Since 1994 about 650,000 people have been provided with basic water
supply at a cost of approximately R730 million.
-
Energy supply: Since
1994, 531 schools, 4,114 farm dwellings and 300,626 houses have been
electrified.
-
Housing and municipal
services: since 1997 124,469 subsidies at a value of R1,7 billion
have been approved while 86,432 serviced sites and 50,576 houses have
been completed.
-
Health care: Since
1994 seven hospitals and 26 clinics have been renovated and upgraded.
Twelve new gateway clinics have been built at 12 provincial hospitals.
-
Basic Education:
Since 1994 the provincial government erected 2,533 classrooms at 356
schools. During the same time 423 specialized function rooms, 104
administrative blocks and 3,844 toilets were erected.
Economic challenges -
The main economic challenges facing the
province are inequality and job creation coupled with economic growth and
the structure of the North West economy.
Physical
infrastructure - The physical infrastructure in the province is
deteriorating rapidly. According to the Department of Roads and Public
Works, approximately R2 000 million is required over the next three
years to bring the physical infrastructure up to an acceptable standard.
Currently the funds for maintenance are to a large extent being
crowded-out by social infrastructure and personnel expenditure.
Tourism -
Historically, tourism in the North West Province was built around
gambling, which only benefited a privileged few. This was a great
advantage for the province but it was also contrary to the national
ideal on equal distribution of economic benefits, economic opportunities
and the distribution of wealth to all the people of South Africa.
Manufacturing
- Manufacturing is almost exclusively dependent on the performance of a
few sectors (fabricated materials – 51%, food sector – 18% and
non-metallic metals – 21%). Approximately 94% of all industries are low
capital/labour ratio industries. Some potential for rural
industrialization is evident and should be exploited. Assistance and
support in removing blockages experienced and creating attractive
investment opportunities is urgently required.
Inequality -
The inequalities manifest themselves in the province between population
groups, between urban and rural dwellers and between males and females.
More challenges:
-
Job creation with emphasis
on promoting the economic growth in the province, improving access to
economic opportunities and alleviating poverty, particularly in the
rural areas where it is rife
-
Physical infrastructure with
emphasis on improving the maintenance of state infrastructure.
-
Skill development with
emphasis on improving the low skills base in the province and the
empowerment of public servants. This will assist in capacity building in
Government.
-
Crime prevention, including
crime prevention in the public service.
-
Combat HIV/AIDS in a
structured and coordinated way.
