We were honoured to once again welcome Premier Alan Winde to our CEO Engagement networking session last week, as part of Accelerate Cape Town’s (ACT) continued commitment to promoting dialogue and collaboration between the public and private sectors.
Ryan Ravens, ACT CEO, opened the session by addressing the political uncertainty surrounding the GNU, noting its importance despite its imperfections. He highlighted the Western Cape’s strong performance, especially in job creation, but stressed that growth brings challenges requiring collective action. Further, Ryan urged business to focus regionally, partnering with government and academia to tackle issues head-on to deliver tangible outcomes. As part of ACT’s commitment to do just that, Ryan briefly showcased ACT’s upcoming initiative to spearhead a digital and AI skills framework aimed at empowering and upskilling our youth. The program will equip them to solve real-world problems—such as SME compliance—using accessible AI tools.
Premier Alan Winde agreed with Ryan that platforms like these should be more than just forums for discussion; he emphasised the need to build on them by taking real, practical steps forward.
Regarding geopolitical dynamics, Premier Winde referenced global instability, the impact of the Trump administration and noted the importance of agreements like AGOA to protect export markets and tourism.
On the subject of job creation, Premier Winde acknowledged the Western Cape’s success – again highlighting the creation of 121,000 jobs in the province but reiterated the urgency of scaling these gains. Regarding the GNU, Premier Winde acknowledged that while it faced challenges during the budget debate, it has managed to regain its footing. Nonetheless, he noted that there is still a long road ahead.
Other key focus areas addressed included:
- Energy Security: The Western Cape’s energy independence strategy remains robust, with 2,000MW already added and a 5,500MW pipeline in progress. Premier Winde highlighted some municipalities (e.g., George, Atlantis) who are pioneering municipality-owned solutions as well as the increasing involvement from the private sector. He confirmed that all is still on track with regards to the 2035 plan for total energy independence in the province.
- Water Management: Building on the energy model, the province is pushing for coordinated water governance. Though constitutionally a national and municipal responsibility, the province is leading the charge on integrating infrastructure and leveraging private partnerships.
- Production of Land: Premier Winde stressed the need to increase production of land to keep pace with demand. With Cape Town’s property market outperforming all other metros, the province is prioritising approvals and working with forums to cut red tape.
- Agriculture & Tourism: Agriculture remains a very healthy industry in the Western Cape, with higher growth than the national average. Tourism is also booming, with international arrivals up 17% year-on-year. Airlines are also expanding routes, signalling confidence in the region.
- Long-Term Planning: The province has adopted a 25-year infrastructure plan, supported by a R190 billion investment pipeline. Premier Winde stressed the need for long-term planning citing Helsinki as an example where government officials must provide a 100-year plan together with their 5-year one – critical for long-term consistency.
- Transport & Logistics: Efforts to revive rail and port operations are gaining momentum, with national collaboration and Requests for Information (RFIs) issued for private sector participation.
- Youth Development & Skills: Aligning with Youth Month, Premier Winde emphasised integrating young people into the workforce early, citing global best practices and local programmes like YearBeyond (YeBo) and YES. He called for partnerships with technical schools to align curricula with regional needs.
- AI & Digital Readiness: Premier Winde challenged the room by asking how many CEOs were actively studying AI, noting that half of his cabinet and department heads are currently doing so. He shared his belief of AI as a regional leapfrogging opportunity and underscored the urgency of public-private-academic collaboration in embracing it.
The morning’s session ended with an interactive Q&A session that allowed our members to delve deeper into areas of specific interest or concern.
ACT remains committed to promoting meaningful engagement among all stakeholders and to making even greater use of this platform to support both the public and private sectors. Our focus remains firmly on delivering tangible outcomes that contribute to our shared goal of economic growth and prosperity.
Thank you to our guests and members for your continued support and to Deloitte, our event sponsor.
