1/4 It was wonderful to celebrate the 100 year anniversary of Chapman’s Peak Drive with @mec_mitchell today #Chappies 🌄
2/4 Chappies has consistently been ranked among the most scenic drives in the world. It plays a significant role in connecting tourists, cyclists, commuters, & businesses between Hout Bay & Noordhoek, & demonstrates how infrastructure can enable growth.
3/4 As the @WesternCapeGov moves ahead with our own infrastructure projects today, we must ask ourselves: will they still be benefiting our residents 100 years from now – just as Chappies has done?
4/4 These are the questions I will be asking, as we move ahead with our strong focus on infrastructure enabled private-sector led growth in the Western Cape.
1/5 🚨 The WC could lose funding equivalent to 1615 doctors or 5981 nurses, and over approximately 9300 teachers if only 70% of residents get counted in the 2022 Census. This would severely undermine the quality of health care and education services that we provide.
2/5 In money terms, we stand to lose R9.7 billion, or over 16% of our provincial equitable share, if only 70% of residents get counted. This would shave R2.6 billion in funding off our health budget & R4.2 billion off our education budget.
3/5 In fact, as of 8 am this morning, with just 9 days to go until the count closes, Statistics South Africa #StatsSA is not even within sight of a 70% count. They have counted just 61% of residents to date.
1/4 I'd like to express my heartfelt gratitude to @DebbieSchafer for her excellent service to the people of the WC, especially our province’s children. Debbie will be leaving us to take up a position in the legal sector in the UK, joining some of her family who live there.
2/4 Anyone who knows Debbie knows that she is a strong and tenacious leader, who fights hard each and every day to ensure a well-run, quality focused education system in the Western Cape. Read full joint statement here: bit.ly/3vFADIS
3/4 We will miss her sharp attention to detail and steadfast commitment to the values we share, and I thank her for the important role she played in our Cabinet. I am confident that she will be a great success in her new endeavour.
1/4 I visited Langa yesterday following the devastating fires which destroyed 260 dwellings in the fire over the long weekend. I was also joined by the Provincial Minister of Human Settlements, @tertuis23, and the Deputy Minister of Human Settlements, Pamela Tshwete.
2/4 While in Langa, I expressed my heartfelt sympathies to those affected by the fire. Again, no family should have to suffer such an unimaginable loss, particularly over a period marked by joy and togetherness.
3/4 When visiting yesterday, it was deeply upsetting to see the toll taken on this community but, also encouraging to see the significant measures in place to support those in their time of need.
Media release on ongoing public violence in South Africa 📢
[1/14] The public violence unfolding in parts of SA today is deeply concerning to me and I call for calm, and a respect for the rule of law in the WC, and across the country. [THREAD]
[2/14] I strongly condemn all those involved in these acts of violence and looting, wherever they may be. I understand that President Ramaphosa will address the nation tonight on this matter.
[3/14] I will support all appropriate measures for order to be restored and for those responsible to be arrested and prosecuted fully.
1/5 The Western Cape to introduce system to manage walk-ins of eligible residents at sites, but we encourage residents to wait for their second SMS which will start arriving in greater numbers soon. Read more here ➡️ bit.ly/3bWnBxx
2/5 The Western Cape is avoiding a stop/start vaccination programme, by scaling up as more vaccines become available. Over the last 3 days, nearly 20 000 people vaccinated alone. Read more here: bit.ly/3bWnBxx
3/5 By next week, we will be administering 12 000 vaccines a day, and by the following week 24 000 a day. We plan to maintain this daily amount until the end of the vaccination programme in South Africa. Find out more here: bit.ly/3bWnBxx
1/5 We are intently focused on ramping up the speed of our mass vaccination programme, as well as its reach into rural areas, by rapidly opening more sites across the province. #LetsDoThis
2/5 We have set ambitious targets in this regard, and are aiming to move from vaccinating over 6000 residents per day this week, to 12 000 per day next week, to 24 000 per day the week thereafter. #LetsDoThis
3/5 We are pleased to report that we are due another shipment of Pfizer doses tomorrow, as well as two further shipments in the early weeks of June, all of which will enable us to move quickly to vaccinate more residents. #LetsDoThis