A Swedish delegation visited the J.B. Marks Local Municipality from 22 to 27 October as part of the continued partnership between South Africa and Sweden since 2005. The J.B. Marks Municipality visited the Växjö Municipality in Sweden earlier this year, and it was now the Swedish delegation’s turn to visit Potchefstroom.

According to J.B. Marks municipal spokesperson Jeanette Tshite, the delegation comprised two groups. The first represented a monitoring committee of partnership consisting of leading politicians and coordinators from the three municipal partners.

“The prime role of the monitoring committee is to monitor ongoing projects, follow up on ended working and make new project proposals for the future,” stated Tshite.

“Delegates are formal ambassadors for the partnership with the role of taking strategic contacts and interacting with key functions and vital stakeholders of public, private and civil society,” added Tshite.

The monitoring committee meets physically in Sweden and South Africa twice a year. They also utilise digital tools to communicate, keep track and make decisions. The second group comprised the Political Coalition Project that started in January 2023. The project implemented its first international activity in Sweden in June.

“The new project version would be implemented for almost three years with participation from 12 political parties seated in two councils. The project specifically focused on political leadership and working through political coalitions. The new initiative highlights scientific conclusions and best practices in the fields and invites political majority and opposition to learn and participate,” explained Tshite.

The Swedish Delegation also visited the Freedom Front Plus and highlighted various aspects at a local municipal level in J.B. Marks.

During the event, the FF Plus presented the party’s policy, value system and role in, among other things, coalitions in South Africa.

According to FF Plus councillor in J.B. Marks, Marlene Steyn-Du Toit, the delegation noted concerning levels of corruption and observable decay in towns like Potchefstroom and Ventersdorp. “Issues like the erosion of minority rights in education and the lack of cultural recognition were also addressed,” stated Steyn-Du Toit in a press release.

“This liaison with the Swedish delegation was a valuable opportunity to bring South African realities to the attention of influential members of different political parties in Sweden,” she added.