Issued by: North West Communication Service 15 February 1996
STATEMENT BY THE PREMIER OF THE NORTH WEST PROVINCE, MR POPO MOLEFE
The North West Executive Council meeting of 14 February 1996 has approved the decision of Premier P S Molefe, taken in terms of his prerogative under Section 149 (4) of the Interim Constitution, on the restructuring of departmental functions and portfolios in the North West Province.
The decisions taken will be with effect from 1 March 1996.
After 21 months of governance, it is appropriate that there should be an assessment of the most appropriate combination of functions to ensure accelerated delivery and development within the province.
In view of the importance that the provincial Government attaches to the development of eco-tourism, and its potential for job creation and economic growth in our province, the functions of Tourism and Environmental Affairs are to be combined, with the Hon Mr A A Venter being appointed as MEC for Tourism and Environmental Affairs.
It was also noted that the North West is the only province with a separate Department of Media, Arts and Culture, with the necessity of this arrangement being questioned.
It has been decided accordingly that the Media and Broadcasting functions are allocated to the Hon MEC Dr M P Sefularo within the Dept of Health and Developmental Social Welfare, while the Arts and Culture function is allocated to the MEC for Education, Sports and Recreation as part of the portfolio of the Hon Ms M J Gaoretelewe.
As a consequence of the above decisions, the portfolio of Agriculture and Environmental Affairs, will now become Agriculture alone under the Hon Rev J O Tselapedi, while Economic Affairs will be combined with Finance to make the Hon Mr M J Kuscus the MEC for Finance and Economic Affairs.
While these are significant portfolio changes, the composition of the 9 person Executive Council, as currently constituted, remains the same.
It should be emphasised that the portfolio changes are geared towards maximising the effectiveness of government through the optimal combination of functions and do not reflect any lack of confidence in any particular member of the Executive Council.
It should also be noted that aspects of departmental restructuring emerging from these decisions are referred to the Provincial Service Commission and the Director General for recommendation and implementation through a consultative process.
Personal positions and conditions of service within the public service will not in general be affected and there will be a minimum of disruption within the affected departments.
I thank you.