By Obakeng Maje

Mahikeng-The announcement by the Premier of  the North West Province, Thandi Modise, that the NW Government intends to embark on a provincial consultative process with the intention to change the name of the North West Province  to Moses Kotane, should be seen for what it is: an attempt in the run-up to the elections to shift the focus away from the NW’s dismal and still declining ability to deliver services to its communities said Democratic Alliance’s Leader in the province, Chris Hattingh.  

“It is doing so as an attempt to unify the deeply divided  NW ANC in expensive road shows and public hearings which conveniently are to be held in the campaigning  phase of the 2014 elections” said Hattingh.

The shift of the Premier’s focus from  endemic NW fraud,  corruption, incompetence, maladministration  and non-delivery, to a state sponsored combined name-change and election campaign is indicative that she and her government has lost hope to turn the NW province around and has now turned into a fight for survival said DA.

The predecided new name for the North West Province, Moses Kotane, also set the agenda  for a “For” or “Against”  debate (referendum?) leaving no options  for other  name proposals.

“Premier Thandi Modise should focus on the implementation turn-around strategy for the North West Province and if the time comes must propose  a name that unites the province, rather than divides, and represents the future and not the past” said Chris Hattingh.

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