WC Premier conducts “oversight blitz” in Klein Karoo, Cape Winelands & Cape Town
17 October 2024 | SANews
From 9 October 2024 to 14 October 2024, Premier Alan Winde conducted a series of unannounced visits to public facilities in the Klein Karoo and Cape Winelands districts; and to raise awareness of Mobility Month he used his bicycle and public transport to get to many of these visits.
“Our residents deserve the best possible services. It is important that I see firsthand how services are being delivered, by ourselves and other spheres of government, and to see where we can improve what we do and help stakeholders to do the same,” remarked Premier Winde as he stopped by Oudtshoorn Police Station.
The station’s newly appointed commander, Brigadier Avral Kriga, told Premier Winde that he ensures that members of the public do not have to wait for long periods before they are served. There are enough vehicles to patrol and serve the community, but “I would not be opposed to more,” he quipped.
Among the issues Brigadier Kriga raised were:
- working with other law enforcement agencies like provincial traffic services and the local hospital to speed up the processing of blood sampling for drunk driving arrests;
- better regulation of spaza shops and liquor outlets which amongst others includes closer working relationships with the Western Cape Liquor Authority;
- increasing the number of accredited neighbourhood watch groups; and
- improving intelligence-gathering.
On Wednesday, 10 October, the Premier cycled to the Oudtshoorn Hospital, where management raised concerns about the impact that the unprecedented in-year budget cuts of 2023/4, caused by the nationally-negotiated public service pay increase agreement, were having on services to our residents.
The Premier stated, “We understand budgetary pressures are adding strain on frontline services, especially healthcare and education. This fiscal emergency is being felt across the country. The Western Cape Government (WCG) is, however, taking steps to alleviate the pressures on the public health system by:
- reducing costs and ensuring as much efficiency as possible;
- managing the cost of employees;
- strengthening contract management;
- Reducing inefficiencies & wastage;
- maximising resources;
- revenue enhancement;
- seeking out alternative financing and donor funding; and
- leveraging technological and innovation advancements Innovation to improve healthcare.
One of the concerns raised with the Premier at the hospital was the impact that the pressures of working on the frontlines had on the mental well-being of staff at our facilities. It just so happened that Wednesday, 10 October was World Mental Health Day and the Premier encouraged staff members to, “Talk to each other and offer support to each other when the strain of work can feel overwhelming. We know that these budget cuts have exacerbated the pressure on our staff, and I cannot thank them enough for the good work that they are doing under very trying circumstances. The homework I am taking back to the offices in Cape Town is to see how we can find ways to support the mental and physical well-being of our staff,” said the Premier. Premier Winde reiterated this commitment when he visited the Calitzdorp clinic and chatted to the staff there.
Premier Winde also carried out oversight visits at the Calitzdorp Police Station and the WCG’s e-Centres in both Ladismith and Robertson. At the Robertson e-Centre he was thrilled to meet one of the staff members who started as a client, became an intern, and is now employed full-time to help other young people use the services available at the WCG’s e-Centres.
A theme that emerged at both the Department of Social Development Services’ offices in Ladismith and Robertson was the delay in issuing identification documents for young children who need support from the state. This was further highlighted when Premier Winde visited the Home Affairs Office in Robertson where members of the public spoke about the delays being experienced in issuing documentation. “This is something that I will be taking up with my colleagues in social development and the Government of National Unity. We must make sure that our residents have access to critical identification documentation so that we can provide them with the services that they need.”
He concluded his “oversight blitz” in Cape Town this week by taking a train ride from Bellville to Cape Town to mark Mobility Month. The Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) and Metrorail Western Cape management joined him and explained how services are gradually being restored on key railway lines. Around 104 000 passengers are currently making use of trains on a daily basis. This is up from around 50 000 commuters recorded in March 2024. The Premier chatted with commuters, some of whom said delays in services still remain a challenge.
“Even though the provincial government currently does not have the mandate to manage rail services, given the importance of this mode of transport to many of our residents and economy, we must monitor all efforts to get trains back on track. I commend PRASA and Metrorail for the steady progress they are making. Much still needs to be done, though, and I urge them to work flat-out to ensure the Western Cape’s rail network is rehabilitated to aid economic growth and ease the burden on residents,” said the Premier.