Mitchell’s Plain residents shared their thoughts on Premier Alan Winde’s State of the Province Address (SOPA) , which he delivered at Rocklands civic centre last week, making it the first time the address was delivered outside of the provincial legislature in the city centre.
Jonathan Jonkers, from Strandfontein, protested across the road from the State of the Province Address, wanting to know the status of the suspended MyCiTi bus service from Mitchells Plain to the Cape Town civic centre. Many Mitchells Plain residents are dependent on this service, which has not been running since May last year.
Alessia Marcus, a pupil at Beacon Hill Secondary School in Beacon Valley who is also the deputy speaker of the Nelson Mandela Childrens Parliament said: I enjoyed the SOPA. It was amazing. What the premier outlined are crucial things that need to happen in our province. The premier stated that 500 officers have been put on the ground. I know that was a promise that the premier made before he became the premier. For him to fulfil that promise, speaks volumes of his leadership and his skills. I am thankful he chose Mitchells Plain to host the SOPA, it makes me see that he is here as a leader for the community.
Chairperson for Woodlands Ratepayers’ Association Morrice Kok and chairperson of New Woodlands Ratepayers’ Association, Shahien van Nelson. Mr Van Nelson said: “Fantastic experience at SOPA 2020.” However he added: “The speech of the premier was nothing concrete where Mitchell’s Plain is concerned especially our dilapidated MyCiTi bus service. On crime, I like the ideas of having extra boots on the ground but the implementation and their mandate was not clear enough.”
Founder and chairperson of Mitchells Village Civic Association, Sulyman Stellenboom said: I think this is a waste of taxpayers money. Yes, they brought it to Mitchells Plain, but we did not have an input in it being here. They should have stayed at the initial venue as I think it is just lip service. With all these meetings with them, there is nothing that actually materialised in our community. Alan Winde asked for the army to be here, (but) the killing increased. I dont see the joy in the SOPA being in Mitchells Plain.