'We’ve got to keep growing our economy', says WC's Winde ahead of SOPA
Alan Winde's address will outline provincial government’s plans for the year ahead and reflecting on its achievements over the past year.
Western Cape Premier Alan Winde during his State of the Province Address on 31 July 2024. Picture: Western Cape Provincial Parliament
CAPE TOWN - All roads lead to the Central Karoo town of Beaufort West on Wednesday, where Western Cape Premier Alan Winde is set to deliver his State of the Province Address (SOPA).
The roaming ceremony has been held in different locations every year since 2020 to improve access to the provincial administration.
Winde's address will outline provincial government’s plans for the year ahead and reflecting on its achievements over the past year.
Delivering education and health are among government's top priorities.
"Obviously, social development plays an important role, specifically when, over the last few years, we’ve seen our citizens feeling the brunt, and, in actual fact, we have been in South Africa getting poorer year after year.
"So that social net is a critical net, and the link is between national government and provincial and this debacle with SASSA, at the moment, that is very, very difficult to navigate at the moment."
Winde has highlighted the importance of growing the economy.
"We are privileged in the Western Cape. I mean, we have by far the lowest unemployment rate, we have great investment compared to other provinces.
"I mean, we’re way better off and we have got to keep driving and keep pushing that unemployment number down. We have got lots of cranes on the horizon, so we’ve got to keep growing our economy and finding the new nuances to our economy."