Bokone Bophirima Provincial Government and the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to commence collaboration on funding for infrastructure development. The signing which Premier Supra Mahumapelo described as one that is critical in pursuing the objectives of the National Development Plan and the conceived strategy to Rebrand, Reposition and Renew the Province, was done today, Saturday 1st November, at Rustenburg Civic Centre, Bojanala Platinum District Municipality.
Premier Supra Mahumapelo said this MoU is a practical expression of the Bokone Bophirima government's firm resolve to join forces with other stakeholders to radically deal with challenges such as infrastructure backlog for roads, water, electricity and housing.
"As a means to primarily implement the objectives of the National Development Plan, this process will contribute greatly towards the attainment of the Province’s set economic growth to 6% by 2019, thus enabling us to progressively overcome the triple challenges of unemployment, poverty and inequality. By signing this MoU”, Premier emphasised “we are committing ourselves as partners who share the same mission, to assertively face the challenges before us and ensure that the lives of the people in Bokone Bophirima Province are changed for the better".
DBSA Chief Executive Officer, Patrick Dlamini acceded that this MoU signals the two parties’ intent to provide better services, saying the institution will work tightly with the Province to successfully achieve this goal which is also expressed and stressed in the National Development Plan.
“We are excited because the infrastructure development approach we are planning for Bokone Bophirima Province will soon be used as a model for the country, an approach which challenges all of us to up our game in an effort to ensure that the citizens enjoy their rights to access better services”, said Mr Dlamini who applauded Premier Mahumapelo for having taken the initiative to approach the DBSA for support.
Dlamini said while the infrastructure development projects for Bokone Bophirima Province could not be quantified at present, it is expected that the funding which will be guided by the Province’s needs, will be huge.
The Executive Mayor of the Rustenburg Local Municipality Cllr Mpho Khonou who also attended the signing ceremony, welcomed the move as a step in the right direction.
The DBSA is a Development Finance Institution wholly owned by the government of South Africa and focuses on large infrastructure projects within the public and private sector. Its main objectives are the promotion of economic development and growth, human resource development, institutional capacity building, and the support of development projects in South Africa, the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region and other parts of Africa.
Enquiries:
Bonolo Mohlakoana
Tel: 018 388 4390
Cell: 082 901 2435
E-mail: Bmohlakoana@nwpg.gov.za
