THURSDAY, 2.30PM
The eceutive committee of the Northern Province government will follow the African National Congress line on border disputes in Bushbuckridge and Groblersdal, local government MEC John Dombo said on Thursday.
If the proposal is accepted by the provincial legislature, it will mean that Bushbuckridge will remain in Northern Province, while Groblersdal will remain in Mpumalanga — in effect reversing an agreement reached last year between the two provincial governments.
Dombo said recent talks between government officials and community leaders in both areas indicated that the majority of residents will accept the decision. “They want to talk development, and the provision of services, and are anxious to get on with their lives”, he said. Referring to recent protest action in both areas, Dombo said it was quite evident the agitators were minority groups. He pointed out that the Constitution makes no provision for local referendums on the matter.
Meanwhile, the Bushbuckridge Border Crisis Committee has confirmed it will go ahead with Friday’s planned mass march to the Bushbuckridge police station, to demand the transfer of the district to Mpumalanga.
Meanwhile, the Bushbuckridge Border Committee has announced it will ask President Nelson Mandela to mediate in the border dispute. Committee chairman Enos Maunye was quoted by the Lowvelder newspaper as saying that committee members will occupy the Union Buildings when a delegation goes to Pretoria on Thursday next week to secure Mandela’s intervention.