Load shedding, education, housing, crime and unemployment were among many issues in the Cape Winelands brought to the attention of President Cyril Ramaphosa on Friday (19 May) by residents living in the area.
Ramaphosa, together with national ministers, Western Cape Premier Alan Winde and Cape Winelands District Mayor Dr Elna von Schlicht, visited Paarl, where the sixth presidential imbizo took place at the Dal Josaphat Stadium.
Many people flocked to the venue to voice their concerns.
Winde highlighted that although the region faced many challenges he was proud the unemployment rate in the Western Cape had decreased to 21%. He continued to plead with Ramaphosa that he should consider reviewing employment policies and focus more on those who are unemployed than those employed.
“We musn’t focus on how we bring in legislation that determines outcomes of race among employed. Rather say how do we put our shoulders behind making sure that we get the last 21% in this province into jobs.”
The continuous rolling blackouts that South Africa has been facing every day for a few months now has also been a hot topic at the event. Winde says he has shared the province’s plan on how to tackle load shedding and hopes that the national and provincial government can partner to quickly bring an end to this problem. As part of the plan the province has set aside R1,1 billion for energy. Local municipalities within the province have also joined in and together the total budget for energy is just short of R7 billion.
Winde further made it clear that his two main focus areas in this province is bringing an end to load shedding and curbing crime.
“So Mr President, I would like to say to you on those two areas, on energy/electricity and crime, we need to – despite our differences – stand together and say we should do everything in our power to make sure that we end those two crisis that face our citizens.
“Because if we change those numbers we make a difference in our region like never before and then our citizens, I promise you, will have a different life.”
