As part of our ongoing commitment to fostering dialogue and collaboration on critical issues impacting our region’s economic growth and development, we were honoured to host Premier Alan Winde at our recent CEO engagement. With a renewed five-year mandate, Premier Winde and the provincial government enter a significant period in history as part of our country’s Government of National Unity (GNU).
Ryan Ravens, CEO of Accelerate Cape Town, emphasised the enormous promise the newly formed GNU holds for South Africa’s future. He acknowledged several provincial successes resulting from hands-on provincial and local government but also reiterated the ongoing challenges that require effective collaboration between Western Cape businesses and provincial and local government.
Gary Markson, Divisional Head of Business & Commercial Banking Coverage for African Bank (event sponsor and one of Accelerate’s newest member companies), expressed their eagerness to get involved and commitment to actively participate in meaningful change both within the province and nationally. Gary called for innovative collaboration to solve problems.
Following a challenging election, Premier Winde shared his excitement about achieving the desired results. He noted a closer collaboration across all government spheres and a growing sense of hope within the administration and the public.
Premier Winde’s top priority is to secure the correct funding for the Western Cape in line with its current and growing population size. He also remains focused on provincial infrastructure and mobility, with the recently established Department of Infrastructure and Department of Mobility beginning to deliver on their mandates.
Safety is another key priority, as it is essential for attracting investment and fostering growth. The Premier highlighted the use of technology and modernisation, along with increasing personnel on the ground and violence prevention measures. He mentioned innovative initiatives such as the “eye in the sky” for surveillance and virtual reality training—currently the only such simulation in Africa.
Premier Winde also discussed the importance of changing behaviour at the grassroots level and engaging youth through initiatives like the recent NASA project in Matjiesfontein, where around 30 young people are learning about robotics and science.
Regarding health, Premier Winde noted that Groote Schuur Hospital now houses the top forensic laboratory on the African continent. This facility enables collaboration between police officers and medical staff during autopsies, providing critical DNA and evidence in real-time, which helps in crime prevention and prosecution.
Energy and water remain crucial focus areas. Although the region has not experienced loadshedding for over 100 days, reliable and sustainable energy is vital for a growing economy. The 7.5GW of power sourced from the private sector has been helpful but is still not enough. The Atlantis solar PV project, bolstered by international funding, is on track to secure sufficient and cost-effective power.
In line with its 15-year water plan, Cape Town is spearheading the largest water reuse system on the African continent. Water is an essential resource, and a repeat of “Day Zero” cannot be allowed. A local success story is the V&A Waterfront, which now produces at least 80% of its water through desalination, making it more cost-effective than sourcing from the municipality.
These initiatives are vital for economic growth and prosperity. The Growth for Jobs (G4J) programme and investment remain critical, but safety, energy, and water are the cornerstones of sustainable development.
Premier Winde also touched on the need for innovation in education, with some bold announcements expected soon. Additional focus areas include addressing the housing crisis and developing the coastlines to leverage their potential.
He shared his team’s focus on internal culture and customer relations for the eight million residents in the province. To enhance service delivery, the provincial government has entered a “best place to work” competition with over 1,700 businesses across the continent, engaging in discussions on best practices to foster a culture of continuous learning and improvement.
Premier Winde emphasised the need for ongoing partnership between the public and private sectors to find common areas for collaboration and develop effective solutions. He challenged the attendees to work together on the top three challenges, rather than focusing on random initiatives, to drive meaningful change.
Ryan Ravens underscored the importance of developing meaningful models of cooperation in the Western Cape, which could serve as a template for national replication.
The morning concluded with an interactive Q&A session, allowing members to explore specific areas of interest or concern.
Accelerate remains committed to facilitating meaningful interactions among all stakeholders and leveraging this platform to support public and private sectors in our shared goal of economic growth and prosperity.
Our sincere thanks to our speakers, guests, sponsors, and members for your continued support.
