WORCESTER – In a significant move towards devolution of powers, on Monday 29 January the Western Cape Provincial Government convened a public hearing at the Worcester Town Hall to discuss the proposed Provincial Powers Bill.
Attended by a diverse array of stakeholders, including government officials, community leaders, and concerned citizens, the session aimed to solicit feedback and foster dialogue on the bill’s provisions.
The Provincial Powers Bill, a cornerstone of the government’s agenda for decentralisation, seeks to grant the Western Cape independence in various spheres, ranging from policing and public transport to energy, including electricity generation, transmission and reticulation. The provincial ruling party, the DA, argues that empowering provinces with more decision-making authority could lead to more tailored solutions to local challenges and greater responsiveness to the needs of communities.
During the hearing, participants engaged in spirited debates over the potential implications of the bill like the infringement of their constitutional rights.
The DA highlighted the opportunities for innovation and efficient governance that increased provincial powers could bring, while the ANC, Patriotic Alliance and the EFF expressed concerns about going back to an apartheid state, potential fragmentation, and inequality across regions.
ANC Councillor Hector Yabo said “South Africa belongs to all of us, this bill is not constitutional, we are rejecting this bill”.
Community leader Andile Gili seized the opportunity to voice his question on the legalities of this bill saying “why do you want to waste tax payers’ money by proceeding with public participation about a bill that you know was declared unconstitutional by legal opinion”?Chairperson of the standing committee on constitutional matters Christopher Fry said in response “The legal opinions were given by the Western Cape Provincial Parliament, and they are just that; legal opinions, what we are doing here is an exercise of democracy, which will be judged in court.”
The Bill was rejected by the majority in the Boland.
As discussions continue and the legislative process unfolds, the Western Cape Provincial Government remains committed to fostering an open and participatory democracy, where the voices of citizens shape the policies that impact their lives.
They plan to complete the public hearings on Friday 2 February.
