DA sets the record straight on WC Provincial Powers Bill

5 July 2023

On Monday, the DA’s Western Cape Provincial Powers Bill was officially ATC’d in the Provincial Parliament. The Bill will now be referred to the House at its next Sitting for a vote to establish an Ad Hoc Committee to oversee the legislative process.

The ANC national government has failed to carry out its statutory and executive responsibilities to the people of South Africa. The incompetence, mismanagement and corruption that has become endemic in the Union Buildings have come at the heavy price of collapsed service delivery and economic regression across the country.

The DA introduced the Western Cape Provincial Powers Bill as part of its commitment to expand federal autonomy for capable provincial and local governments and to empower them to manage devolved functions from the national government.

We are of the view that in order to stem the tide against state failure in South Africa it has become critical that greater powers are devolved to capable provincial and local governments such as the Western Cape. The Bill identifies five urgent areas where the Western Cape should assert existing powers or seek additional powers. These are policing, public transport, energy, trade and harbours.

However, the DA seeks to put the record straight: the Western Cape Provincial Powers Bill does not seek independence, nor does it make a case for cessation. Our commitment remains with fighting for the interests of all South Africans and working towards greater devolution in accordance with the South African Constitution.

Issued by Christopher Fry, DA Western Cape Spokesperson on Premier and Constitutional Matters, 5 July 2023