ANC WC hopes Winde underscores plan to address racism, crime, unemployment

CAPE TOWN - The African National Congress (ANC) in the Western Cape says it hopes Premier Alan Winde's address will outline plans to deal with crime, job creation and more affordable housing among other things.

Winde is set to officially open the first session of the seventh administration of the Western Cape provincial Parliament on Wednesday morning.

Leader of the opposition Khalid Sayed said the ANC also wants to see tougher action on racism, especially at schools.

This comes in the wake of an incident at Pinelands High School, where a video posted on social media shows black learners placed in a cage and "sold on auction."

Sayed added that policies which seek to divide the people and set the province apart must end now.

"In line with the spirit of the GNU [Government of National Unity] and international solidarity, we are also expecting the premier to echo the call made by national government, by civil society, for apartheid and genocidal Israel to be banned from the current Olympic games that are taking place and show solidarity with the Palestinian people and against genocide."

Meanwhile, the GOOD Party's Brett Herron said Winde must learn from his first-term failures and show investment in those who need it the most.

Herron said Winde's government had failed to live up to the promises he made after his first address in 2019.

"He must announce his plans to release provincial public land for public good, including the provision of well-located affordable housing. He must justify the continued defunding of education and health budget to fund a safety plan that is not working. He must tell us how he plans to ensure that the Western Cape’s economy grows."