Media release by Premier Alan Winde ahead of the State of the Province Address

Premier Alan Winde to make announcements on infrastructure-enabled job creation, violence prevention, our GBV response and a new way of work in the Western Cape Government

I am looking forward to delivering my State of the Province Address (SOPA) tomorrow, marking the Official Opening of the Provincial Parliament. This will take place for the very first time in Velddrif – which is part of our commitment to bringing parliament closer to the people.

During the SOPA, I will set out my response to the second pandemic of unemployment, guided by the ‘north star’ priorities of our government, that is, to deliver jobs, safety and well-being for our residents.

With COVID-19 now becoming endemic, we have a window of opportunity to look to the future and make the changes we need to grow the economy and help businesses create jobs while ramping up our efforts to fight crime.

I will reflect on the lessons we learnt from the pandemic, and how we will now use them in our response to unemployment, with a specific focus on infrastructure-enabled job creation, violence prevention, and our response as a province to Gender-Based Violence.

As we approach this next year, we also have to commit to a new way of work, so that we have the right culture in our government to effect the change we need to move forward.

I am also looking forward to welcoming special guests at SOPA to recognise and honour them for the outstanding work that they are doing in their communities. These honoured guests include:

• Marlon Parker who is the founder of RLabs, an organisation born on the Cape Flats and was awarded social innovator of the year by the World Economic Forum and the Schwab Foundation.
• Betty Zodumo Duli-Mkinase who runs the Siyakula Soup Kitchen in Gugulethu. She has recently partnered with the Western Cape Government on the Vaxi Taxi initiative, mobilizing people to get vaccinated near her soup kitchen. She also uses bikes which she recently received from Pedal Powers to transport her food further to those who live further away and who are in need.
• Dumisani Ntsodo who is the Director of Ikasi Soccer School which is an organization, based in Khayelitsha, that focuses on opportunities in football for girls and providing them with a safe space.

In the afternoon following the delivery of the SOPA, I will be joining the Provincial Minister of Cultural Affairs and Sports, Anroux Marais, for the opening of the Noordhoek Public Library in Velddrif following its expansion.

I will later also be joining the Provincial Minister for Human Settlements, Tertius Simmers, for the handing over of 9 title deeds to beneficiaries of the Noordhoek Housing Project.

I encourage you to watch this year’s SOPA which will integrate high-definition footage of the proceedings in Velddrif, Cape Town and the virtual participation. The Livestream will be aired here.

The SOPA debate and reply will take place in the same venues and on the same platforms on 16 February. The SOPA debate, starting at 09:30 am can be viewed here and the Premier’s reply to the SOPA debate, starting at 14:00, can be viewed here.