The Democratic Alliance (DA) in the Western Cape’s Provincial Executive Committee (PEC) yesterday held its last ordinary meeting for the 2019. Following a challenging but productive year, the PEC is confident that we are ready for 2020. The PEC reflected on the successes of the year which were not limited to our successful retention of the Western Cape in the May elections.
Since the National and Provincial Elections in May, the DA hit the ground running attending to concerns of service delivery across the various municipalities in the province. Premier Winde launched the most expansive safety plan which is currently taking shape and will help us address and curb crime.
Winde also announced a clear vision and set out specific goals to alleviate poverty, unemployment and inequalities in the Western Cape. Statistics South Africa and the Auditor General’s report clearly indicate that we are on the right track to achieving the goals set out.
We are now busy preparing for our Policy Conference and Federal Congress taking place in April and May next year respectively. We are re-establishing our structures in order to strengthen our party on the ground.
Yesterday we took a number of resolutions namely:
1. We are going to refer the allegations of racism by Councillor Basil Stanley against Mayor Tijmen van Essen to the Federal Legal Commission for investigation. It is important that we clearly demonstrate our commitment to fairness and the rule of law.
2. The PEC noted the performance of the party in by-elections contested over the past year. We will interrogate the results and review our by-election strategy going forward.
3. The PEC further resolved to convene a strategic planning session to map the road to the elections in 2021.
I want take this opportunity to thank all our staff members and activists who’ve been our backbone and central to our success in this province. I also want to thank the DA leadership at all levels who have steadied the ship during very difficult times, we remain resolute and confident that we will overcome our challenges.