Design competition for North West Province's new Mace

The legislature, headed by Speaker Thandi Modise, says prizes on offer range from a one-year educational bursary through a computer, printer, and training to food vouchers for a year - all to the value of R11 000.

"We chose a range of prizes because we are aware that the needs of our people are not all the same," says Modise.

"The competition runs from April to 31 May 2005 and entry forms are available from all municipal offices in the North West Province as well as weekly in a number of regional newspapers or on the North West Provincial Legislature website (www.nwpl.org.za).

The new mace must be representative of the North West Province's pastoral farming history, sunny climate, labour and all mining especially platinum and diamonds and must include a reference to our national flag and the diverse cultural heritage of the province.

Elements on the mace must be clearly detailed in the design such as platinum, gold or wood and where and how they will be applied and for maximum effect the design must be presented in full colour with an explanation of each component and why it was used.

"We are running this competition to get the buy in of our people and expose the talents of our citizens, but most of all to so that in the future, when our people sit in our Parliament to participate in the decision making process, they will feel ownership in every part of the process including the Speaker's procession to the Speaker's chair, where the Sergeant-at-Arms carries the Mace into the Chamber," Modise explains.