Pretoria – North West Premier Supra Mahumapelo has, during a meeting with the local business community, revealed a plan to rebrand, reposition and renew the image of the province.
Premier Mahumapelo, accompanied by members of the new Provincial Executive Council, told a meeting with business representatives on Tuesday that as part of his plans, the provincial capital Mahikeng would become a vibrant and industrialised city.
This would require government and business to work together.
“The Saamtrek-Saamwerk philosophy underpins the partnership between government and the business sector, which is critical to massify and expand our economy for the province to move forward with speed and quality,” he said.
He urged the business sector and communities in the province to contribute their suggestions for his inaugural State of the Province Address (SOPA) to be delivered on the 27 June. Suggestions can be emailed to sopa@nwpg.gov.za or posted on the website www.bualesupra.nwpg.gov.za.
The business representatives raised issues around access to funding; the reopening of the Mafikeng International Airport; youth empowerment; the cleanliness of the Mafikeng town; the prevalence of people from outside the province benefiting from tenders awarded to the exclusion of those in the province and the recapitalization and commercialization of key infrastructure assets as some of their challenges.
MEC for Public Works and Roads, Madoda Sambata, appealed to the business sector to assist his department to clean corruption and for the sector to stop corrupting government officials.
Local businessman Youssuf Dada, of Dada Motors, said the meeting had inspired hope that the province was moving in the right direction.
Businesswoman Babadi Tlatsana, of Kenk Suppliers and Distributors, said the meeting had been positive and laid the foundation for the business sector to contribute its skill in the rebranding, repositioning and renewal project. – SAnews.gov.za
