Bafokeng and Asanteman to cooperate

Johannesburg, April 23, GNA - The King of the Royal Bafokeng Kingdom of South Africa, Gkosi Leruo Tsetsekedi Molotlegi, has welcomed a proposal by Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, for the two kingdoms to establish a Joint Commission for Collaboration to explore areas of collaboration and cooperation.

The proposal was made in an address delivered to the Supreme Council of the Bafokeng Kingdom by the Asantehene at Phokeng in the North West Province of South Africa.

"We have the finest opportunity to establish the basis for greater and larger collaboration, with a view to linking our people to each other for mutual advancement", Otumfuo stressed, indicating that he was particularly interested in the areas of Brick and Tile, ICT, Agriculture, Manufacturing, and Tourism.

Otumfuo praised the Royal Bafokeng Economic Development Board for the role it is playing in driving the economy of the richly resourced kingdom of 300,000 people.

He recognized the separate initiatives being taken by both leaders in Education and Health and suggested that they could consider exchange programmes among traditional leaders, cultural researchers and service providers.

On the need for their people to acquire skills in using information technology, the Asantehene hoped that he would see in the nearest future 'a situation, where the children in schools in Ashanti can identify friends in Bafokeng and communicate with them on the Internet, learn about each other, acquire more knowledge and become better assets for Africa.'

Otumfuo reiterated his call for traditional leaders to partner with central government to accelerate development in their respective communities.

The King of the Royal Bafokeng Kingdom later took Otumfuo and his delegation on a tour of some of the investment projects in the kingdom, including the Royal Bafokeng Resources Holdings Limited (RBR), which manages the Kingdom's mining and mining-related interests. Otumfuo's delegation was informed that the assets under RBR's management include 50 per cent joint venture with Anglo American Platinum in Bafokeng, Rasimone Platinum Mine and 33 per cent shareholding in SA Chrome & Alloys Limited.

The delegation later toured parts of Sun City in Rustenberg. The Asantehene is scheduled to meet the Ghanaian community tomorrow.