The office of the Premier has taken note of a media article attributed to Afriforum alleging that Government has changed the name of the province to Bokone-Bophirima without following procedure.
This is deliberate misinformation by AfriForum to mislead the public. We wish to indicate that Provincial Government has to date written to the Provincial and National Geographic Names Committees to request that a public process be initiated to change the name of the province from North West to Moses Kotane.
Equally as required by the Constitution a motion was tabled in the North West Provincial Legislature, which motion has been submitted to National Assembly which is required by the Constitution to support our proposal by two thirds majority.
Reference to the North West Province as Bokone-Bophirima is neither a change of name nor it illegal. Bokone Bophirima is a direct Setswana equivalent of North West and it is in recognition of usage of one of South Africa's Official language which is spoken by over 70% of the people of the this province.
The name change process is in the hands of all institutions with requisite legal and constitutional mandate to final this process. Members of the public and all bodies interested in this matter including Afriforum will soon receive information on public participation processes.
Sam Mokaila
Tel: 0728361854
Cell: 0183881324
E-mail: Mokailaoop@nwpg.gov.za
