North West Premier Supra Mahumapelo has responded to criticism regarding plans by his government for renaming the province after struggle hero, Moses Kotane.
Mahumapelo was responding to questions raised by members of the Provincial Legislature this week, during the debate on his State of the Province Address delivered last week.
During the debate, the matter of taking the legislature to the Mogwase Stadium near Sun City in Rustenburg was also raised as a concern. Among the question that mostly dominated the debates on Tuesday was the issue on the extravagance in taking the legislature to Mogwase.
In his response, Mahumapelo says although it is the dictates of the constitution to sometimes take parliament to the people, he is suggested having a pronouncement from the citizens of the province on the matter.
“It may be necessary for the office of the Speaker to consider the possibility of asking the people of this province as to whether we must continue to adhere to this dictates of the constitution by taking parliament and the legislature to the people. Maybe to lay this matter to rest, it may be necessary for us to ask the people of Bokone Bophirima to participate in the determination that we have made as to whether you must continue to hold sittings of the legislature in the villages or not,” says Mahumapelo.
On the renaming of the province, Mahumapelo still argues in favour of his proposal. He has criticised those arguing that this will be a costly exercise.
“The contribution by Moses Kotane in the liberation of people of this country is priceless, therefore there is no amount that we can attach to his contribution. Moses Kotane is just about the name, it’s about the value system, which Moses Kotane pursued; which he lived for; which he adhered to. So we want to call on all our people to understand that it is important for us to embrace the values like selflessness, respect hard which he pursued.”
Alfred Motsi of the EFF says his party supports taking the legislature to the people
Alfred Motsi of the Economic Freedom Front says his party supports taking the legislature to the people. However, he is not happy about what he terms the waste of tax payers’ money.
Democratic Alliance leader in the province, Chris Hattingh, was quick to say Mahumapelo’s responses were not satisfactory.
“For instance, the continued deployment of cadres to all government departments where some of the departments sit is at a figure of 98% in conflict of equity employment act. He did not respond to that. Because it is so embarrassing in his own department whites, Indians and coloureds have been worked out. There are almost 96% of blacks in his own department. This comes at his own statistics.”
Meanwhile, Mahumapelo has emphasised that necessary consultation with all stakeholders on the intended name change will be undertaken.
– By Patrick Dintwa
