Issued by: Constitutional Assembly
Cape Town, 22 March 1996
This afternoon Premiers leading delegations from provincial legislatures held an historic meeting with the Constitutional Assembly's Management Committee, to share views on those chapters of the new Constitution which impact on Provinces.
Delegations from the Eastern Cape, Free State, Gauteng, Mpumulanga, Northern Cape, Northern Province, North West Province and Western Cape attended the meeting.
Discussions focused on the National Council of Provinces, powers of provinces and provincial finance.
The Premiers expressed their appreciation for the consultation with the Constitutional Assembly and welcomed the work done in the Constitutional Assembly so far in finalising the Constitution. The Provinces were especially pleased with the proposal to replace the Senate with a Council of Provinces which will have direct links with the Provinces.
The provincial delegations welcomed the progress made in the negotiations on the powers of provinces and it was agreed that further submissions would be made on the powers of provinces through the respective political parties.
Chairperson of the Constitutional Assembly Mr Cyril Ramaphosa said that the ongoing participation by the provincial legislatures and executives had enriched the constitution-making process and alerted the Constitutional Assembly to many of the practicalities of governance in the provinces which should be addressed in the new Constitution.
Released by: Katharine McKenzie, Media Liaison Officer 083 651 2222