Speaker of the North West Provincial Legislature, Hon Susanna Dantjie

Deputy Speaker of the North West Provincial Legislature, Hon Viola Motsumi

Judge President of the North West Division of the High Court, Judge

Monica Leeuw and members of the judiciary present

Honourable Members of the Executive Council

Honourable Members of the North West Provincial Legislature

The Chief Whip of the Majority Party in the North West Provincial

Legislature, Hon Paul Sebegoe

Members of the National Assembly from the North West, who are present in this house this morning

Honourable Delegates to the National Council of Provinces

Former Premiers of the North West present

Executive Mayors and Speakers of Municipalities in this province

The Chairperson of the House of Traditional Leaders, Kgosi Moshe Mabe.

The leadership of the governing African National Congress in the North West; ably led by the Co-ordinator, Cde Hlomani Chauke and the Alliance Partners

The leadership of the Labour Movement

Members of the Diplomatic Corps

The Provincial Commissioner of the South African Police Service, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena; I wish to extend our sincerest welcome to you on behalf of the Provincial Government and the people of the North West Province.

Distinguished guests

Members of the media

Citizens of the North West Province

Dames en Here

Bagaetsho, dumelang.

Honourable Members, on Wednesday the 12th February 2020, I had the honour and privilege to visit the home of Mme Rebecca Kotane to join the family in celebrating her 108th birthday. We took the opportunity on behalf of the people of the North West and South Africa at large to thank Mme Kotane for the blessings of her life, courage and inspiration.

In all the challenges and difficulties we still have as a Province, we are proud to still have Mme Rebecca Kotane in our midst.

Her life is a daily reminder of the unique and rich contribution of this Province to the history of our country, in particular our contribution to the struggle for national liberation.

Ladies and gentlemen, Mme Kotane is in good health, and she sends her blessings and good wishes to all the people of the North West.

In her honour, the Office of the Premier will announce a number of social collaboration programmes with the Moses Kotane Foundation, the Ruth Segomotsi Mompati Foundation and the JB Marks Foundations.

The rich history of the North West is an important cultural heritage that holds opportunities for social cohesion but also presents untapped potential for economic benefits for tourism.
Honourable Speaker, as South Africa today observes the sinking of the SS Mendi 103 years ago, wherein 616 South Africans perished, allow me to quote from renowned Setswana poet, MS Kitchin, when he wrote about the sinking;

“Mephato e boile, bone ba sa tlhokafala, re saletse go oketsa
diphatlha ka diatla fela”.

This is a poetic but profound reminder to those of us who still love this province, having survived our recent and turbulent past, to appreciate what our committed hands can play in closing the gaps that came about from our differences.

Honourable Speaker, we also take the opportunity of the State of the Province Address to celebrate the achievements of men and women of the North West whose achievements propelled the name of our Province to greater heights. 

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