PROVINCIAL NEWS - Premier Alan Winde will deliver his 2026 State of the Province Address (SOPA) in George at the Conville Community Hall this evening, Wednesday 25 February, to mark the official opening of the Western Cape Provincial Parliament.
“There is much we can take pride in across the Western Cape. At the same time, significant work lies ahead of us in 2026," Winde said in a statement released this morning.
"My State of the Province Address offers an opportunity to reflect on the progress we have made over the past year - particularly in growing the province’s economy and job creation - and to outline our goals and priorities, not only for 2026, but for the next several years.
"I look forward to telling the residents of our great province how we will continue working as hard as we can to lead strong, diverse, and inclusive growth to create many more jobs,” said Winde.
This year marks the sixth time that the Official Opening and the Premier’s State of the Province Address will be hosted remotely.
"This year it’s the turn of the one district that has not hosted SOPA yet, the Garden Route. Our commitment to take parliament closer to the people of the Western Cape has come full circle,” said Speaker Daylin Mitchell.
The 2026 SOPA will take place at the Conville Community Hall in George tonight at 18:30. Photo: Supplied
"The Conville Community Hall holds special historic significance for the Western Cape Provincial Parliament.
"On 16 September 2004, during the first session of the third Western Cape Provincial Parliament, the first ever sitting of the House in a remote venue was hosted in the Conville Hall in George.
"The subject for discussion on that day’s Order Paper was: 'The threats and opportunities for sustainable social and economic development in the Western Cape'.
"This year, 22 years later, we are back in the same hall in George - another full circle moment for participatory democracy and building relationships with communities all over the province,” Mitchell said.
Winde's address will start at 18:30 this evening. His address and tomorrow's following debate and reply will be livestreamed.
Links to livestreams on the WCPP website:
- State of the Province Address, 25 February at 18:30.
- Debate on the State of the Province Address, 26 February at 08:00.
- Reply by the Premier on the State of the Province Debate, 26 February at 12:00.
‘We bring you the latest Garden Route, Hessequa, Karoo news’
