Issued by: North West Communication Service
JOINT STATEMENT BY THE EXECUTIVE COUNCILS OF THE NORTH WEST AND FREE STATE PROVINCES AFTER A MEETING IN MMABATHO, NORTH WEST, ON THURSDAY, 11 JULY 1996:
The Executive Councils of the North West and Free State provinces today (Thursday) held a meeting in Mmabatho to deal with several issues affecting the two provinces.
Among these were cross-border rationalisation of services and delivery in light of the Vaal Reefs mining area falling under both the North West and Free State provincial boundaries.
During deliberations, it was agreed that the MECs of Local Government in both provinces as well as the councils from Orkney and Viljoenskroon and other stake holders drive the process and report to the provincial cabinets.
At issue, are the levies that both councils are expected to receive. The meeting follows similar discussions held between the two parties at Viljoenskroon earlier this year. The meeting also focused on the Bophuthatswana Broadcasting Corporation in light of the integration recommendations by the Independent Broadcasting Authority.
A committee is to look into the following:
1. Assets remaining after integration with the SABC be utilised by all provinces in the region on a private and commercialised basis. 2. Radio Bop be retained to service provinces in the same region while Radio Sunshine be retained as a community radio station; and 3. The National Public Broadcasting Service be requested to increase window time for all provinces.
The meeting also agreed to share casino opportunities to avoid unnecessary rivalry between the two provinces.
The issue of North West Development Corporation and Mmabana Cultural assets in the Free State would also be discussed by the respective director generals of the two provinces with a view to rationalisation.
The Free State delegation, led by Premier Patrick Lekota, also discussed the issue of Bloemfontein becoming the seat of the national parliament. This matter will be further discussed by the North West provincial cabinet. A final response on the North West provincial government will be communicated to the Free State.