Metro status: Ruling party rubberstamps mandate to Provincial Government

With the ruling party in the province having rubberstamped the mandate to the provincial government to secure metro status for Limpopo’s capital, Polo-kwane residents could be forgiven for getting over-excited about the prospects of increased economic growth, job creation and improved services if such plans come to fruition in the long run.
The ruling party in Limpopo has resolved to mandate the provincial government to assist the city of Polokwane in applying for metro status, an announcement made by African National Congress (ANC) Provincial Secretary Nocks Seabi when wrapping up the outcomes of a two-day Provincial Executive Committee (PEC) meeting of the ruling party late Sunday afternoon.
Speaking to ANC Deputy Provincial Secretary Makoma Makhurupetje in her capacity as Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs (Coghsta) MEC upon conclusion of Sunday’s presser, she expressed the opinion that Polokwane having metro status would see residents better off in future.
She explained they would wish to see such an arrangement contributing to economic growth, job creation and improved service delivery.
She predicted that requiring approval and concurrence from national role players in terms of steering Polokwane towards metro status could take time. She didn’t want to attach a time line to the move as it depended on the process and speed at which national role players got on board to assist, she said. The ANC PEC’s endorsement meant the department had to immediately start engaging relevant stakeholders to start assisting with capacity assessment, according to Makhurupetje.
She indicated that they were looking at Polokwane Municipality as the first metro in Limpopo but saw Tubatse, Lephalale and Louis Trichardt, which were growing speedily, following suit. As and when they continued to assess the viability and sustainability of smaller municipalities in the next five years, the province would have to be able to say for it to provide services in a more sustainable manner it was the type of municipality they needed to have in the province in the long run, she concluded.
Having met at Bolivia Lodge from Saturday, the PEC of the ANC deliberated on, among others, the August local government elections results, economy and governance as well as plans for convening of upcoming gatherings.
In addressing the media, Seabi said it was imperative that the ANC moved with speed to build an economy that could create jobs, reduce inequality and was controlled by the majority. “It is against this background that the PEC has resolved to hold an extended PEC meeting focused on the economy and governance. As the PEC commences to re-focus the development of Limpopo province, the PEC has resolved to mandate the provincial government to assist the city of Polokwane to apply for a status of a metro. With the merger of Aganang, the City of Polokwane fulfils the requirements for a metro. The PEC has further mandated the provincial government to initiate a feasibility study on the possibility of the towns of Groblersdal, Mogalakwena, Thohoyandou and Tzaneen becoming cities within the next five years.”
The PEC meeting was held on the same weekend as the celebrations of the 72nd anniversary of the formation of the ANC Youth League (Ancyl). In Limpopo a gathering of the structure, taking on the form of a dialogue on the campus of the University of Limpopo (UL), started more than two and a half hours late on Saturday afternoon.

Story and photos: YOLANDE NEL
>>observer.yolande@gmail.com

Featured photo: African National Congress (ANC) Provincial Secretary Nocks Seabi listens attentively as his deputy, Makoma Makhurupetje addresses the media during a presser at Bolivia Lodge late Sunday afternoon.