Issued by: North West Communication Service
PRESS STATEMENT BY THE OFFICE OF THE PREMIER OF THE NORTH WEST PROVINCE 12 JANUARY 1996
The premier of the North West Province, Mr Popo Molefe, was granted honorary citizenship of Texas by its governor, Mr George Bush Jnr, on Friday during a stopover in the USA state by Mr Molefe and an entourage from the South African province.
The award came when Mr Molefe and his entourage, including SA Ambassador to the USA Mr Franklin Sonn, visited Texas capital Austin at the invitation of Mr Bush Jnr.
During the visit, Mr Molefe and Mr Sonn held a private meeting with Mr Bush Jnr as well as with state law makers and business representatives.
The North West delegation later visited the 3M headquarters in Austin where Mr Molefe persuaded management to consider increasing operations in South Africa.
Mr Molefe was later hosted to a dinner by the investment group Camac Inc, which is also hosting the Texas leg of his tour.
The North West delegation, accompanied by Ambassador Sonn, also visited Houston in Texas where they were feted by State senators, representatives and business executives.
Addressing the gathering, Mr Molefe thanked Americans for heeding the call by President Nelson Mandela to help rebuild South Africa.
The North West premier further urged Americans to support the new-found democracy in South Africa in the same spirit that the US supported the Marshall Plan which was launched to rebuild Europe after the devastating World War II.
He argued that the Reconstruction and Development Programme was a version of the Marshall Plan, with its purpose being to improve the quality of life for those South Africans impoverished by apartheid. Later onbeing to improve the quality of Friday, Mr Molefe and his delegation will jet out to New York and New Jersey where he will have further meetings with business executives.
The North West delegation left South Africa on Tuesday on a foray to promote investment and trade in the North West province. Mr Molefe is accompanied by North West MEC for Finance Mr Martin Kuscus, Provincial Chief Whip Mr Joe Selau and leading black business executives in the province.
Contact: Office of the Premier (0140) 843-691