WC Premier delivers SOPA in Beaufort West

Western Cape Premier, Alan Winde, on Wednesday, delivered the 2025 State of the Province Address (SOPA), at the official opening of the Western Cape Provincial Parliament, outlining the Western Cape Government’s plans for the year ahead and reflecting on its achievements over the past year.

COURTESY: X - @WCProvParl

This year’s SOPA was held at the old Dutch Reformed Church Hall or "NG Kerk" in Beaufort West. Winde’s theme for this year’s SOPA was ‘’Make 2025 the year we all step up’’

‘’stepping up is exactly what leadership demands especially in times of uncertainty. In May last year, we all raised our hands to serve and made that choice. But leadership does not only begin when you are elected. Leadership is about how we act and how we are constant in a world that feels increasingly divided and uncertain.’’

‘’For the past five years each time I have delivered this annual address we have faced major challenges. Whether it was a funding shortfall, a water crisis, or a global pandemic; time and again we have been called to step up. Yes, it has tested us. We all have a few more grey hairs and wrinkles to show for it. But we have also proven – beyond any doubt – that we can adapt, innovate and respond, no matter the crisis… In times like these, it can be tempting to take the easy route—to play politics instead of solving the world’s wicked problems. But that is not who we are. We are not afraid to make the tough calls, and difficult decisions because we know that when we focus on one clear goal we will achieve the extraordinary’’

Winde says his provincial government aims for the next five years is helping businesses grow and to create jobs

‘’More people can find a job in the Western Cape than anywhere else in the country. For the last half of 2024 our employment rate was below 20% at 19,6%. The Western Cape now leads on all four employment metrices that Statistics South Africa measures quarterly. But our work is far from done. Unemployment is still horrifyingly high. One in five jobseekers is still unable to find work. We recognise the critical need that social grants play for the vulnerable, but I want us to rather celebrate people progressing off social grants because they have found a job and a chance to step up for themselves.

We also know that programmes like Expanded Public Works help our residents get that critical step up. Last week, the Western Cape Government hosted Community Information Sessions in Kwamandlenkosi, here in Beaufort West, informing residents of upcoming EPWP 2-month temporary employment opportunities. A job is more than just financial security. It gives you purpose. It restores dignity. But weak national economic growth is holding us back.’’

Winde said that the Government of National Unity (GNU) has given South Africa a reason to be hopeful, following years of decline.

‘’The GNU is imperfect. We acknowledge this. But I believe the centre will hold, and that all GNU partners – no matter their policies and ideologies – have one thing in common: putting our residents first so that we can see our country succeed. Here in the Western Cape and South Africa we are often consumed with all that is wrong. But I was recently invited to participate in the Munich Security Conference and what struck me was that while the north is consumed with talk about tariffs, increasing military spending, wars, cuts to critical aid and division, here in South Africa and particularly in the Western Cape our focus has shifted much more to hope and optimism: in South Africa because of the hope that the GNU has given us all; in the Western Cape because we are the province of hope and opportunity in action.’’

‘’While the GNU has begun the difficult task of righting the wrongs of previous administrations, we are grappling with the consequences now. The next few years are going to be very difficult for our country as we work to change South Africa’s trajectory. Many of the challenges remain with us. These challenges, particularly jumpstarting South Africa’s economy, will further intensify before the situation improves.

‘’We know that if South Africa succeeds the Western Cape succeeds, and we will build on the foundations that this government has laid to ensure a thriving jobs-rich economy that supports the work of the GNU.’’

COURTESY: X - @WCProvParl

The Premier believes that more jobs will be created in the agriculture sector. According to him, over 240,000 people are employed in the sector in the Western Cape

‘’That is why we must do even more to grow the many opportunities in this critical industry. Over the past several years the Western Cape’s agri-processing exports to the rest of Africa increased from 35% to 37%, and the relative share of primary agriculture and agri-processing to the Americas increased from 6% to 9% and 7% to 10%.’’

Winde also touched on education, and boasted about well the province is doing when it comes to matric pass rate, the Western Cape has the second-highest pass rate in the country for Learners with Special Education Needs (LSEN)

‘’While our youth unemployment rate is more than 10 percentage points lower than other provinces, we must keep pushing forward. That is why we are working with partners to create pathways into jobs, entrepreneurship, and further education.’’

When it came to healthcare and social services, Premier Alan winde highlighted the province’s Cabinet-level Committee on Food security and Nutrition, which draws in resources from multiple departments to reduce food insecurity, improve nutrition, and support families.

‘’For those who have fallen to the margins of society, NGOs and government are often their last hope. But in this tough economic climate, NGOs are among those hardest hit, even as their role in supporting our most vulnerable residents remains critical. That is why we have partnered with the Health Foundation to implement the Cape Care Fund—an initiative to strengthen support for organisations that provide essential care and assistance. Our GBV Ambassador Programme, has trained over 170 residents to raise awareness in their communities about gender-based violence. These tenacious individuals think little of giving of their own time as part of our broader efforts to end all forms of violence, at the same time offering much-needed help to our social workers. Ordinary residents are stepping up and help us to end this scourge. Just yesterday, we launched the eighth Gender-Based Violence Ambassador programme for the Central Karoo. To expand our service footprint, we have taken our services on the road. Three DSD mobile offices – the first initiative of this kind for the Western Cape and South Africa - are traveling across the province, to bring services and dignity closer to you.’’

Winde says over the next decade, provincial government will invest R18.5 billion in metro healthcare infrastructure, increasing capacity, efficiency, and access to specialised care

‘’Villiersdorp now has a new Ambulance Station that houses three ambulances and a HealthNet vehicle to serve rural communities. This improves emergency response times and provides a base for training EMS staff, benefiting over 15,000 residents and handling approximately 500 calls monthly.

The Tygerberg Hospital Modernisation project is proceeding well. This R10 billion redevelopment will transform this hospital into a cutting-edge facility, improving specialised care and addressing Cape Town’s growing population needs. Planning is under way to deliver regional hospitals to the Klipfontein and Belhar communities.

In terms of infrastructure, and Winde says by the end of the current financial year, its road crews are aiming to repair and maintain more than 1 million square metres of road.

When it came to safety and, Winde admitted that the high levels of crime is a scourge. In August last year, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Western Cape Government, City

of Cape Town, and national government was signed and this agreement aims for a closer

collaboration, better use of resources and a shared focus on data and evidence in

policing. The Premier also touched on its Law Enforcement Advancement Programme officers, or LEAP.

Last year, we initiated a trial redeployment of LEAP resources. This saw LEAP officers redeployed to 6 precincts in Cape Town in a double-up project. Together with a 120- member roving Reaction Unit and SAPS members, we have intensified our focus on areas with high murder rates and the trial is paying dividends. Crime statistics for Quarter 4 of 2024 saw major year-on-year increases in illegal firearm arrests in Delft (up 70%),

Gugulethu (94%), Mitchells Plain (33%), and Philippi East (40%). These areas have benefitted from increased policing resources under this strategy. Similarly, drug arrests have increased in these hotspots, including Delft (43% increase), Gugulethu (114%), Khayelitsha (62%), and Philippi East (333%)

According to Winde, a thriving jobs-rich economy needs reliable, affordable and renewable water and energy. As such, he says his government has repurposed its Energy Council into the Integrated Energy and Water Council—

Despite good rainfall last winter, we cannot afford to be complacent. Annual rainfall is declining and could drop by 30% by 2050. Our 15-year Western Cape Integrated Drought and Water Response Plan is already being implemented, ensuring that:

• Science and collaboration guide our approach.

• Residents and businesses remain water-wise, even in non-drought years.

• Investments in infrastructure protect our water supply.

‘’The Western Cape’s electricity demand is growing fast—from 4,000MW to 4,479MW this year alone. If we want to grow our economy, we must continue expanding energy resilience. Our Energy Resilience Programme launched just two years ago, has already unlocked 2,000MW of new energy development and shown what can be achieved when you collaborate and focus on a critical foundation of the economy.’’

Winde concluded his address by giving hope to residents of the Western cape saying one should work together to better the province.

‘’Beyond all the hard work we have put in over the past year, I am filled with pride when I see government being done right like it is done here in die Wes Kaap.

While there is much to do, we can feel proud for all that we have been able to achieve. Urgency and hard work underscore how this government functions, because every day each of us is stepping up.

In the year ahead, every single day we have a choice, we can choose to be negative, break down, fight among ourselves or we can choose to step up, be constructive, to build a better province. This year let us all make a choice to step up to build a better Western Cape.

Done By: Mitchum George