Less yada yada, more action: Parties demand action from Winde ahead of Sopa

With less than a week to go before Western Cape Premier Alan Winde delivers his State of the Province Address (Sopa), political parties’ wish lists are already stacked high, with housing, crime and the water crisis sitting right at the top. Winde is expected to deliver the annual speech in George on Wednesday, in a town where a so-called Day Zero is only weeks away. Political parties in the legislature have called on Winde to steer clear of “empty promises” and instead lay out clear plans that his government will actually carry out.

Gillion Bosman, DA chief whip in the legislature, said: “We look forward to Sopa in the heart of the Garden Route, a district that has set the tone for the local government elections.” He said the party expected the premier to be firm when it comes to economic priorities. “We look forward to hearing the premier emphasising job creation, economic growth and investment,” he said. Bosman said the party wanted Winde to address the deployment of the army.

He also said they wanted updates on infrastructure projects. “We want him to talk about the multiple infrastructure projects from health and wellness, to education, transport and human settlements,” he said. Bosman said the party was also keen to hear about progress by the water council, particularly in areas of the Garden Route and Karoo.