The Speaker of the North West Provincial Legislature (NWPL), Hon. Nono Maloyi will be heading the official opening of the “the Parliament of the North West Province” on Friday, the 17th February 2012. This is an annual event where the Premier presents the State of the Province Address (SOPA) after the President of the Republic of South Africa had presented the State of the Nation Address (SONA) to the joint sitting of both the National Assembly and the National Council of Provinces (NCOP).
The objective is to make this year’s official opening special and different. We shall do this by extending invitations to the ordinary citizens who were normally not catered for during the previous official openings. The chambers of the NWPL do not have capacity to accommodate more than 650 people. Consequently, the Great Hall of the North West University (Mafikeng campus) has been identified as a suitable venue to accommodate this envisaged large crowd which cannot be accommodated by the chambers of the NWPL. The expected crowd for this event is about 3000. As a matter of protocol and security the NWU (Mafikeng campus) will be declared “the precinct of the NWPL”, consequently, the national key point.
The Great Hall of the NWU (Mafikeng campus) accommodates about 3000 people. That is, 2000 sitting at the gallery and 1000 seated on the floor. Ordinary citizens from four different districts of the North West Province will be flocking to this event. This august event will be taking place in the jurisdiction of Ngaka Modiri Molema District Municipality which comprises of Ditsobotla Local Municipality; Tswaing Local municipality, Ratlou Local Municipality and Mafikeng Local Municipality. The Mayors of these respective municipalities have been put on board to make sure that this official opening becomes a glorious success.
For the people who will be disadvantaged to arrive at this mammoth event, an arrangement in the form of audio visuals has been made. This arrangement will cover the four different districts. These district are: Bojanala; Ngaka Modiri Molema; Dr. Ruth Segomotso Mompati and Dr. Kenneth Kaunda. Public viewing of the official opening of the NWPL and Premier Thandi Modise’s State of the Province Address will henceforth be enjoyed by the masses of our people.
Municipal Locations are identified by the Speaker in consultation with the Premier, for audio video feeds for sattalite links within the Four District Municipalities. People who will be at those identified locations at the time of House proceedings will be able to see and hear the address by the Premier.
Polotical motivation
- The intention is to take parliament to the people wit view of broadening public participation.
- It is also to revive the spirit of revolutionary activism amongst the masses of our people. Furthermore, it is to renew the people’s contract with the masses; who are our people, in deepening our collective cause to make their lives better.
- This event will be a continuation of the commitment made by our forefathers in 1912; to unite and free our people in general and the African poor in particular, using the state and its resources and the legislature in particular; to liberate this critical motive force of our revolution from the shackles of socio-economic bondages.
- We will pay special tribute to Rre Solomon Tshekisho Plaatjie, the First Secretary General of the ANC then South African Native National Congress who was also a resident of Mafikeng, a seasoned editor of Koranta ya Batswana based here in Mafikeng and an activist against the acrimonious Land Act of 1913 and 1936, leader of the African Delegation to present the African Claims in London before the Queen of Engaland.
- We will honor the Barolong-bo-Ratshidi in whose land this event will be taking place and be grateful that they donated the wisdom of the likes of George Montshioa, Dr. Modiri Molema (the first Treasurer General of the ANC), among others, who influenced the idea of the formation of the ANC.
- ·The institution will also honour the icon of our people`s struggle the late Moses Kotane whose mortal remains are buried in the Russia. It also a reminder that his dearest wife Mrs. Kotane is still alive and is also turning 100 years this year.
- The event will also be a crucible for the three arms of the state at the level of the province. That is, the Premier as the head of the executive; the Judge President as the head of the judiciary; the pair will be distinguished guests of honour, hosted by the Speaker as the head of the legislature. Ostensibly, this will be an expression of depth and growth of our constitutional democracy and healthy separation of powers as observed in the trias politika.
- It is in this Great Hall of the Mafikeng Campus of the NWU where leaders of the mass democratic movement, the students and youth formations suffered the long knights of apartheid tyranny and abuses. Our invitation is extended to the student and civil activists of yesteryears such as both Judge and Professor Mokgoro and many others who come from Mafikeng. This will encapsulate variety of political activists who led the Mafikeng Resistance Forum (MAREF).
- It is also in this Great Hall of the Mafikeng Campus, NWU, where the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) sat in an attempt to heal the injustices of our tearful past. We are therefore not wrong as the NWPL in what we are doing – taking this historical sitting of the Legislature to the Great Hall of the Mafikeng Campus, NWU.
- Former Premiers of the North West Province have been invited; ie. Mr. Popo Molefe, Mrs Ednah Molewa and Mrs Maureen Modiselle. This will further include former MPLs and MPs since 1994.
Enquiries:
Lawrence Modimokwane
Cell: 072 180 2529
