During the State of the Province Address (SOPA) in George on Wednesday evening, Alan Winde said the Western Cape is leading the country in economic growth and job creation, having generated 93,000 new jobs in the final quarter of the previous financial year.
He identified employment, investment, exports, tourism, and infrastructure development as key drivers of provincial growth.
Speaking to VOC News, economist Xhanti Payi highlighted that that premier is not only dealing with local issues but also issues beyond local grounds.
*Listen to the full interview here.
Meanwhile, Enoch Godongwana announced during the 2026 Budget Speech that South Africa’s debt is stabilising for the first time in 17 years. He attributed the improvement to government reforms and disciplined spending, which he said have helped narrow the budget deficit and restore investor confidence.
Godongwana noted that debt is projected to peak at 78.9% of GDP before gradually declining in the years ahead.
Political analyst Redge Nkosi cautioned that the premier’s remarks should be “taken with a pinch of salt.”
*Listen to the full interview here.
Photo: @GovernmentZA/X
