STATE OF THE PROVINCE ADDRESS (SOPA) 2025

On Wednesday, 26 February 2025, Premier Alan Winde delivered his 2025 State of the Province Address (SOPA).

Message from the Premier: "In 2025, we are stepping up to build a stronger, safer, and more prosperous Western Cape. Through innovation, investment, and collaboration, we are shaping a future where every resident has the opportunity to thrive." 

READ THE FULL SPEECH HERE: State of the Province Speech 2025

A few highlights from the speech include: 

A Thriving Economy & Job Creation

• In just the last few months, another 62,000 jobs – almost half of the 132 000 jobs created nationally - have been in the Western Cape
• The province has the highest Absorption Rate (55.2%) and Labour Force Participation Rate (68.7%) in South Africa
• The "Getting YOU to Work" Jobseekers Travel Voucher programme has helped thousands reach job interviews, more than 2,300 job seekers have registered for vouchers; roughly 50% of surveyed voucher users have found employment; and over 90% report that the programme has been beneficial to them

Quality Education & Youth Development

• Western Cape matric class of 2024 achieved an 86.6% pass rate, a 5.1 percentage point increase on last year, as well as the highest pass rate ever for the Western Cape
• The #BackOnTrack initiative has helped students recover up to 205 school days' worth of learning losses
• While our youth unemployment rate is more than 10 percentage points lower than other provinces, we must keep pushing forward. That is why we are working with partners to create pathways into jobs, entrepreneurship, and further education

Investing in Infrastructure

• In the last 10 years (2014/15 – 2024/25) the Western Cape Government has spent R98 855 526 000 on physical infrastructure investment! And we are seeing the fruits of that investment everywhere we look

Building a Safer Province

• 12,074 arrests in 2024 through the Law Enforcement Advancement Plan (LEAP)
• 40,065 total arrests & 740+ firearms confiscated since LEAP's inception
• Increased crime prevention in high-risk areas like Delft, Gugulethu, and Philippi East, with crime reduction results up to 5x more effective than standard policing

Reliable Water & Energy Security

• The province has added 2,000MW of new energy capacity and is on track to 5,700MW by 2035
• Hessequa Municipality's solar project (R210m) will make Riversdale load-shedding-free
• The Three Capes Green Hydrogen Corridor is set to create thousands of jobs

The Western Cape: A Global Investment Hub

• 296 Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) projects have injected R171 billion into the provincial economy
• The Go George bus service now carries 21,000 daily passengers and continues to expand
• The Cape Town Air Access initiative has secured seven new airlines and one million additional inbound seats

Issued by Corporate Communication, Department of the Premier