Now is the time for the Western Cape to step up — with urgency and common purpose

Daily Maverick

17-06-2025

In my government, every second, every day and every year matters. There's a saying I often return to: 'Without a sense of urgency, desire loses its value.' For me, that urgency hasn't faded – it's only grown stronger. It's what drives my team and I to deliver every day on the mandate we've been given.
But I've always believed that the Western Cape's success is inseparable from the success of South Africa as a whole. As political leaders, we come from different backgrounds, but we share a common responsibility: to serve our residents and shape a future where everyone has the chance to thrive. Partnership and coalition-building are part of my DNA. Progress happens when we work together, with a shared focus on helping businesses grow and create jobs, and equipping people with the skills they need to take up those opportunities. And we must do this work with urgency.
While I am confronted by the immense challenges we still face, I'm also proud of the progress we've made in areas that matter most to our residents: jobs, energy, safety, water security and good governance.
We've consistently maintained the lowest unemployment rate in the country – currently 19.6%. In the first quarter of 2025, the Western Cape added 121,000 jobs year-on-year, which is four times the number created by Gauteng, which added 30,000 jobs over the same period. Quarter-on-quarter, the Western Cape added 49,000 jobs, while Gauteng added 9,000. These are not just statistics, they mean that more people are able to build a better life for themselves and their families.
It was an honour to see our government's Growth for Jobs Strategy recognised by the Cape Chamber of Commerce this month. What makes this especially meaningful is that the recognition came from organised business, the very community we're working to enable to create more jobs. When the businesses we want to help tell us we're on the right track, it's a sign that we're getting something right. But four out of five people employed is not good enough – that is why I have made economic growth and job creation the number-one priority of my government for this term.
We know that a growing economy needs a strong infrastructure foundation. Our newly announced Western Cape Infrastructure Framework 2050 is a long-term vision for how we, together with our partners in government and the private sector, will create the right conditions for our economy to grow and for people to thrive.
But infrastructure isn't just about concrete and steel, it's about dignity, access and opportunity. I'm especially encouraged by the progress we've made on affordable housing projects like Leeuloop, and many more that will get off the ground this term.
To support our vision, the Western Cape government is allocating R9.83-billion to infrastructure in the 2025/26 financial year, as part of a broader R27.9-billion investment over the next three years. This is how we lay the groundwork, not just for growth, but for real, lasting impact in the lives of our residents.
We are also making significant strides in healthcare infrastructure development, prioritising modernisation and accessibility for underserved communities. We have invested R86-million in the construction of Eerste River Hospital's Acute Psychiatric Unit (APU), which is part of a bigger initiative to build APUs at health facilities across the province at a cost of R279-million. In May, we officially launched 63 new and replacement mobile clinics, replacing 57 outdated mobile clinics and adding six new units to strengthen the School Health Programme. These mobile clinics serve rural and remote communities across the province, providing essential healthcare services such as preventative care, vaccinations and chronic medication.
Safety remains a top priority for me, as anyone who's spent more than five minutes in my company will know, because no economy can grow, and no community can truly thrive, if people don't feel safe.
Our LEAP programme, in partnership with the City of Cape Town and part of the Western Cape Safety Plan, is making an impact. We've recorded three consecutive drops in the murder rate, and we continue to push for our fair share of policing resources and powers from the national government to protect every resident, because crime is still devastatingly high.
By addressing safety through evidence and data, we adapt our strategies, as we have with our double-up deployment of LEAP resources. This was a very difficult decision – to take resources away from some areas and double-up in the worst-affected areas. But tackling crime is complex, and we must be agile. Since the second half of 2024, LEAP has been deployed in six high-priority areas: Delft, Nyanga, Philippi East, Gugulethu, Khayelitsha and Mitchells Plain. Of these, there were decreases in Gugulethu of 39.7%, Khayelitsha of 9.5%, and Nyanga of 12.5%. Worryingly, there were increases in Delft of 1.5% and Philippi East of 63.9%. This suggests that our approach can make a difference, but we still have so much more to do.
In our schools, we are investing heavily in giving pupils the best possible start in life. Our Rapid School Build programme is building more schools faster than ever. So far, we have completed 15 new schools, in communities where demand for school places is highest.
Over the next three years we aim to complete 29 new and replacement schools in the Western Cape. Our matric class of 2024 made us very proud, achieving the highest pass rate yet for the province (86.6%), the highest bachelor's pass rate yet for the Western Cape (47.8%) and the top mathematics pass rate in the country – to name just a few accolades.
We've also made real progress on energy, a key foundation for a bustling economy. Through our Energy Resilience Programme we've added 1,000MW of non-Eskom energy to the grid, with another 1,000MW in the pipeline. That's nearly R7-billion invested to protect households and businesses from the uncertainty of load shedding.
But resilience and securing future economic growth isn't just about electricity: it's about water too. Our Water Resilience Strategy will help us protect this vital resource for generations to come. It's grounded in the same forward-thinking, science-led approach that helped us avoid Day Zero just a few years ago.
And underpinning it all is a strong foundation of good governance. For the second year in a row all 14 provincial departments and 11 public entities have received clean audits. That's not just good financial management, it's a signal to investors, partners and residents that their money is being used wisely and transparently, and that we are building a foundation for our residents to live lives that they value.
While I am proud of our progress, I'm far from satisfied. There is still so much more to do. And in these tough economic times, we have to do more with less. That means working smarter, acting faster, thinking bigger, and never settling for second-best.
We know we can't afford to go backwards. Too many South Africans are still out of work. Too many families still feel unsafe. And too many communities are still waiting for the change they've been promised.
That's why I feel that urgency in my bones. It's why I show up every single day determined to keep pushing forward.
If there's one thing I've learnt, it's this: the Western Cape succeeds because we step up. We don't wait for permission. We don't make excuses. We get things done. We plan, we partner, we innovate – and above all, we deliver.
And in the time I have left in office I will continue to do everything I can to drive success, not only for this province, but for South Africa. DM