**SayPro North West Provincial Government on hosting a courtesy visit from a delegation from the US Embassy

North West Provincial Government cements relations with United States

The North West Provincial Government has reinforced its relations with the United Stated and is hoping for an enhanced support which is aimed at effecting social change and improving the lives of people in the province.

This as the province hosted a delegation from the US Embassy that is on a 3-day courtesy visit to the province to introduce the new US Ambassador to South Africa, His Excellency Ruben Brigety II.

The US Ambassador who was joined by the US Consul General, Mr Vincent Spera was welcomed by Premier Kaobitsa Bushy Maape, MEC for Health Madoda Sambatha and the Executive Mayor of Mahikeng, Tshepiso Mphehlo during a gala dinner.

In his address Premier Maape appreciated the financial support the province is receiving from the United States, in implementing various projects. Premier Maape further indicated the need for more collaborations to tackle various challenges of socio-economic concern confronting the province and in particular the escalating scourge of gender based violence in the country.

“We are saddened when we get reports of women being abused, sometimes being killed in a brutal way. Some were stabbed. You get a sense that this is the work of a monster

and that the person really needs help because no normal human being can engage in this type of violence and cruelty” remarked Premier Maape.

Premier Maape maintains pragmatic economic programmes are needed to deal with the triple challenges of poverty, inequality and unemployment afflicting various communities around the province. He insists the mining sector needs to be diversified through investing in new technologies and emphasis must be placed on mineral beneficiation.

“We don’t want to destroy jobs in Gauteng as you know that’s where we get most of the smelters, but unfortunately these smelters have aged, and they use old technology. So, we need to built new smelters to create more jobs in our province” said Premier Maape.

Premier Maape has also appealed to the delegation to further engage and grow relations by identifying other areas of collaboration which may include exportation of goods as well as education and tourism.

The new US Ambassador to South Africa, His Excellency Ruben Brigety II, has welcomed the remarks by Premier Maape and believes relations with his embassy will be more focused on creating socio-economic opportunities for the people of North West.

As part of their three-day visit, the US delegation visited the Koster Women and Vulnerable Children center. They will further visit the DREAMS Community site in Signal Hill village and the TB, HIV Care Sex Worker site in Industrial Site which are both in Mahikeng.