The speech by the Premier was dull and uninspiring.  The Premier presents no plan to deal with the key difficult areas in the Province, which are:

• The provision of housing for people that promotes the integration of poorer communities into the wealthier areas, closer to the city and job opportunities.

• The provision of a detailed transport plan that brings together all modes of transport and all levels of Government.

• The safety and security plan that prioritizes policing in the area of need instead of in the wealthy areas with ADT security.

• The plan to roll out health services to all communities that are at least equal to the health services that provide facelifts to the Madams. This skewed health services provision in the W Cape has led to many people dying unnecessarily.

• The provision of an education plan that will provide township children with the same educational facilities and opportunities as the suburb schools attended by the politician's kids.

• The provision of a clear plan that grows the economy and the Industrial base of the W Cape in a manner that creates and defends local jobs.

• The provision of a clear plan that strengthens social cohesion through the development of a more equalised society. Specific measures that government is to put in place to advance these.

• The provision of a clear plan that addresses the DA disregard for gender and race equity and makes the Western Cape a province that is more friendly to the groups that are presently being undermined by Provincial Government. 

• The Premier must announce a clear plan to restore the democratic authority of the Provincial Government to the Legislature and stop the DA cabal in her office from undermining Government by imposing their agenda on the province

The Premier is confusing her role and obligation with that of her Public Prosecutor.  There is no vision and leadership provided by the speech.  The premier is defending the status quo because it advances privileged white interest in the Western Cape.  COSATU will now have to present a set of demands through Nedlac to force the provincial government to respond to the desperate needs of Western Cape working class communities, which is ignored by provincial government.

Statement issued by COSATU Western Cape provincial secretary, Tony Ehrenreich, February 19 2010

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