Western Cape’s delivery claims face scrutiny over housing and emergency response - IOL

Stanford Western Cape Premier Alan Winde highlights the provincial government's achievements during the launch of its 2025/2026 Record of Delivery report, as housing activists and civic organisations question whether the reported progress translates into meaningful improvements in residents' daily lives.

While Premier Alan Winde highlights progress in education, jobs, healthcare and crime prevention, critics say housing shortages, unemployment and emergency response failures expose a gap between government statistics and residents' lived realities.

The Western Cape Government (WCG) has highlighted its achievements in the 2025/2026 Record of Delivery (RoD), but housing activists and civic organisations have questioned whether the reported successes reflect meaningful improvements in people's lives.

Speaking at the official launch, Premier Alan Winde said transparency and accountability were essential to building public trust.

The RoD, which will be published annually, outlines departmental achievements and includes stories from residents who have benefited from provincial programmes.

Among the headline achievements are an 88.2% matric pass rate, R7.5 billion in procurement spending on women-owned businesses, and 24 000 jobseekers registered through the Getting YOU to Work transport voucher programme since February 2024, with approximately 7 000 reportedly securing employment.

The WCG also reported a 7.7% reduction in murders in LEAP-supported policing precincts, compared with a province-wide decrease of 0.4%.

Education MEC Jaco Londt said improving learning outcomes remained central to delivering quality education. The province added 243 classrooms, while its #BackOnTrack programme continued supporting learners.

Mobility MEC Isaac Sileku emphasised that affordable transport should not determine access to employment, highlighting the jobseeker voucher initiative.

Police Oversight and Community Safety MEC Anroux Marais said LEAP officers continued playing a vital role in removing illegal firearms and strengthening community safety.

Health and Wellness MEC Mireille Wenger highlighted support for mothers and children through Khulisa Care, which provides eligible beneficiaries with R525 monthly food vouchers and community health worker visits.

However, despite 18.4 million health visits and 871 659 emergency incidents managed, only 43.1% of Priority 1 urban emergencies received a response within 30 minutes.

Social Development MEC Wendy Kaizer-Philander said supporting vulnerable families remained a priority.

“Our focus has always been on supporting children at risk, assisting survivors of gender-based violence, and helping vulnerable families,” she said.

Infrastructure MEC Tertuis Simmers said completed infrastructure projects represented more than statistics.

“Infrastructure delivery is about more than numbers, behind every home completed is a family gaining dignity and security, and behind every road improved is a community benefiting from safer, better connectivity,” Simmers said.

The department reported completing 3 411 housing units and resurfacing or resealing 565 096 square metres of provincial roads.

However, Ndifuna Ukwazi spokesperson Yusrah Bardien challenged the government's housing record.

“The WCG has no record of delivering affordable housing in the inner city not only in 2025/2026, but since 1994. This is why the Constitutional Court has asked them to report on what their plans are to remedy the problem in the Tafelberg matter,” Bardien said.

Her criticism follows the Constitutional Court's July 2026 ruling concerning affordable housing obligations in central Cape Town.

Sandra Dickson of STOP COCT also criticised what she described as selectively presented achievements.

“The Western Cape Government is once again presenting carefully selected statistics as proof of successful governance, while the harsh realities experienced by ordinary residents tell a very different story,” Dickson said.

She questioned whether the housing figures, matric results and emergency response performance represented adequate service delivery.

“Clean audits are important, but they do not mean that public money is being spent effectively or that communities are receiving the services they deserve.”

Dickson added: “The Western Cape Government must stop confusing administrative achievements with meaningful improvements in people's lives. Residents need measurable results, not another glossy report designed to make government look good.”

Economic Development MEC Ivan Meyer highlighted investment, tourism and business development, while Agriculture initiatives included approximately 154 255 foot-and-mouth disease vaccine doses to protect livestock and farming livelihoods.

Local Government MEC Anton Bredell emphasised strengthening municipal services and water resilience, while his Environmental Affairs portfolio prioritised biodiversity protection and climate adaptation.

Provincial Treasury MEC Deidré Baartman highlighted financial accountability and procurement reform, with 20 municipalities achieving clean audits.

Despite the criticism, Winde maintained that the government remained committed to expanding opportunities and improving residents' lives.

“We know there is still much to be done. We will continue working as hard as we can, in partnership with communities and other stakeholders, to help residents lead dignified lives,” he said.