Three women lead N Cape
Rene-Jean van der Berg
3 May 2004
The new driving force behind the Northern Cape comes in the form of three women who have been elected Premier, Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the provincial legislature.
Former Health MEC Dipuo Peters was elected as the province's premier during the inaugural session of the legislature in Kimberley last week, while former Safety and Liaison MEC Connie Seoposengwe was elected Speaker, with Grizelda Cjiekella as Deputy Speaker.
Peters was inaugurated as premier later in the week, after which she named her provincial cabinet for the next five years.
Former Education MEC Tina Joemat-Petterson is now agriculture and land affairs MEC, while the education portfolio goes to Archie Lucas.
Former Housing MEC Pakes Dikgetsi has moved to finance and economic affairs, the health portfolio has been taken over by Kagisho Molusi, while Eunice Silao becomes MEC for local government and housing. Molusi and Silao were both members of the previous
provincial legislature.
Former Social Development MEC Fred Wyngaardt is now MEC for public works, roads and transport, Jakob van Wyk takes over from Connie Seoposengwe as sfety and laison MEC, while former Finance MEC Goolam Akharwaray becomes MEC for social development.
Newcomer Temsi Madikane becomes MEC for sports, arts and culture, while Pieter Saaiman takes over tourism, environmental affairs and conservation.
Addressing the legislature after her inauguration, Peters promised wide ranging socio-economic development in the province over the next five years.
"In the main these are reduction and eradication of poverty, job creation and opportunities for all, improving levels of skills and expertise, deepening health-care for all, enhancing the capacities of local governments to deliver more efficient social services, dealing with abuse of women and children and neglect of the elderly, and creating an enabling environment for greater participation of
differently abled people.
"These are the main planks of the integrated socio-economic development strategy which the Northern Cape provincial government will unfold in the coming months and years", Peters said
Peters thanked former premier Manne Dipico for having "laid a solid basis and foundation to ensure prosperity" in the province.
Source:BuaNews
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