North West Premier Supra Mahumapelo deplores attempts to politicise the Marikana situation
Bokone Bophirima Provincial Government has noted with dismay inaccurate media reports purporting that the Provincial Government did not attend the Marikana Commemoration that took place on August 16, 2015.
We would like to place it on record that in spite of not being invited to the Marikana commemoration the Provincial Government chose to attend.
Two MECs and 3 mayors attended on behalf of the Provincial Government. However, the organisers of the commemoration chose neither to recognise nor to give them platform to convey government message. In spite of this, Premier SOR Mahumapelo has emphasised that the Provincial Government remains committed to the Marikana Reconciliation, Healing and Renewal as evidenced by the forum that was recently established.
The forum comprises of the Provincial Government and all stakeholders such as business, labour, traditional leadership, religious leaders, civil society structures and all other interest groups in Marikana. It is aimed at ensuring that we collectively engage in dialogue and resolve challenges facing the people of Marikana such as housing, electricity and other related issues.
Currently, the government is busy with a housing project that will yield a total of 2 600 units in Marikana. The 1st phase of the project, which is expected to be completed in December this year, will change the face of Marikana Extension 2 area by yielding 292 Breaking New Ground houses and 252 Communal Residential Units.
The units will be spread among the four housing programmes namely Breaking New Ground, Community Residential Units, Social Housing and Financially Linked Individual Subsidy Programme (FLISP) in order to develop an integrated and sustainable settlement whilst addressing the huge housing backlog in the greater Marikana area.
Premier Mahumapelo has reiterated the call to politicians not to politicise such a tragic development instead of supporting on-going processes that are aimed at finding lasting and peaceful solution to the situation.
Enquiries:
Brian Setswambung
Acting Provincial Head of Communication
Cell: 084 702 4501 or 076 012 4501
E-mail: bsetswambung@nwpg.gov.za
