THURSDAY, 3.00PM
THE Bushbuckridge Committee on Wednesday decided to sever all ties with the Northern Province government. The decision was taken after a meeting between the committee and Northern Province officials. In terms of the decision, no Northern Province officials will be allowed to address public meetings in the area and circulars put out by the provincial government will be vetted by the committee before being issued in Bushbuckridge.
THURSDAY, 4.30PM
Meanwhile, the Northern Province government on Thursday announced the creation of a seventh administrative region within the province to cater for the specific needs of Bushbuckridge people, Premier Ngoako Ramatlhodi said.
“This decision confirms our commitment to provide the people of Bushbuckridge with the community services they deserve,” Ramatlhodi said. He added the creation of the new administrative unit is in line with the compromise agreement reached earlier this week between the Northern Province and Mpumalanga governments on the joint delivery of services to the area.
Ramatlhodi and Mpumalanga Premier Mathews Phosa, together with Provincial Affairs Minister Mohamed Valli Moosa on Tuesday agreed Bushbuckridge will remain in Northern Province but certain government functions will be provided by Mpumalanga on a agency basis.
“We have entered a new phase of co-operative government where neighbouring provinces jointly work together in the interest of the communities they serve,” said Ramatlhodi, adding that the government expects Bushbuckridge to be an example to the country of how co-operative governance can be achieved.
Ramatlhodi said details on the boundaries, functions and composition of the new regional authority will be announced once an inter-provincial task team has finalised its investigation into the joint administration of Bushbuckridge.