State of the Province Address delivered by Eastern Cape Premier Hon. Lubabalo Oscar Mabuyane at the Eastern Cape Provincial Legislature, Independence Avenue, Bhisho
Honourable Speaker
Acting Judge President of the Eastern Cape
Members of the Executive Council
Members of the Provincial Legislature
Members of Parliament
Our Former Premiers
iiKumkani, iiKumkanikazi neeNkokheli zendlu yeeNkosi
Members of the Diplomatic and Consular Corps
Leadership of Salga and Mayors of our Municipalities
Leaders of Political Parties, Religious fraternity, Business,
Civil Society and Labour
Director General, Heads of Departments, and all Government Officials
Heads of Chapter Nine Institutions
Esteemed Guests
Ndibulisa ngokukhethekileyo abemi beli phondo lengqwele abasimamele emakhaya, koonomathotholo nakumakhasi onxibelelwano.
Molweni ephondweni.
Somlomo, kulonyaka ilizwe lethu loMzantsi Afrika ligqiba iminyaka engamashumi amathathu kwasekwa uMgaqo Siseko.
Siyakhumbula ukuba uMongameli Nelson Mandela watyikitya uMgaqo Siseko eSharpville ngomhla weshumi ka Disemba ngonyaka ka 1996.
In signing the South African Constitution, Dalibhunga said: “Today we cross a critical threshold. Let us work together in striving to banish homelessness; illiteracy; hunger and disease.”
Therefore, the measure of the State of our Province is the Bill of Rights contained in Chapter 2 of the Constitution which among other directives states that:
- Everyone has a right to health care, education, food, water and social security.
- Everyone has the right to have access to adequate housing.
- Everyone is equal before the law and has the right to equal protection and benefit of the law.
- Every citizen has the right to choose their trade, occupation or profession freely.
- Everyone has the right to fair labour practices.
Namhlanje sizokwabelana nabantu bephondo ukuba sindawoni ekufezekiseni amalungelo akuMgaqo Siseko. Madigawule ndiwarhuqa.
SIYAKHATHALA: REDUCING POVERTY AND TACKLING HIGH COST OF LIVING
Somlomo, siyakha, siyakhathala, siyaphambili, sisonke. Our constitution directs us to improve the quality of life of all citizens and free the potential of each person. We are fulfilling this obligation by focusing on education because the Bill of Rights states that everyone has the right to basic education, including adult basic education, and to higher education.
Pan Africanist Thinker, Franz Farnon once said: “Each generation must discover its mission, fulfill it, or betray it.”
Le generation yama 2000 iyibambile into yokubaluleka kwemfundo, kwaye iyapasa, umona phantsi. They really clock it as they say!
For instance, when the principal of Nowawe High School asks learners to attend Saturday classes, learners attend religiously. When the principal of Tyali High School asks learners to attend winter schools, learners oblige. This is the kind of discipline and commitment we want to see in all our schools, so that our children can achieve better results.
Fellow citizens, it is not a small achievement to pass matric. On that note, I invite the house to join me in congratulating the matric class of 2025 for both public and private schools. The Eastern Cape public schools maintained the 84% pass rate in the National Senior Certificate examinations, while the Independent Examination Board schools obtained 89%. This is a great effort from our learners, teachers, parents and officials who support our schools.
We congratulate all our Districts for achieving the 80 % threshold. We also take pride in the fact that we are number three in the country in terms of bachelor passes, which opens doors for more children to study in universities.
Going forward we are accelerating the roll out of Early Childhood Development Programmes towards closing the gap to access with over 130 000 children already enrolled in registered ECD programmes. We are currently recruiting 800 ECD practitioners with NQF level 6 qualifications to complement this work.
The three-stream curriculum model which focuses on Academic, Vocational, and Occupational pathways continues to be the main thrust of our basic education system to build a skilled human capital. Agriculture, blue economy, tourism, digital technology, and energy sectors is where our province has comparative advantages, where we can create jobs. Therefore, what we teach our children from a young age should open pathways for them to these sectors and more.
Umsebenzi wokwakhiwa nokulungiswa kwezikolo uzakuqhuba ngesantya esiphezulu, ukuze abantwana bethu bafundele phantsi kweemeko ezikhuselekileyo.
In the Eastern Cape, we have 458 schools that are built with inappropriate material. It’s a tall order that we are attending to with the seriousness it deserves. In 2025, government completed the construction of 25 new schools in the Eastern Cape.
Last month we marked the start of the 2026 academic year with the official opening of the new state-of-the-art Sitoza Senior Secondary School in the deep rural areas of Dr A.B Xuma Local Municipality.
The matric class of 2025 at the school achieved 93.6 % Bachelor Pass rate. Kuyaqhutywa mpela phaya!
The CEO of Telkom has informed me that they will donate 30 laptops to the school with routers to enable both teachers and learners to access the internet.
In 2026, the construction of 57 more schools will be completed for handover to communities. Ezo zikolo ziquka iLupindo e-Alfred Nzo, iDavid Livingstone e-Nelson Mandela Metro, Upper Corana e-OR Tambo, Jongulwandle e-Amathole kwakunye neKhanyisa Special School e-Chris Hani.
We are dealing with the challenge of 427 schools that have pit toilets, which poses a serious risk on the lives of learners. In partnership with the Department of Basic Education, we plan to eradicate 300 pit toilets in 2026. Injongo zethu kukukhusela abantwana bethu, sibanike isidima sabo.
Ixhala lethu elikhulu bazali yimeko embi yokuxhatshazwa kwabantwana besikolo.
Government has zero tolerance on the sexual abuse of learners. There are 413 cases of adolescent pregnancies that have been referred to the South African Police for investigation for statutory rape.
Siyathetha norhulumente ka zwelonke ukuba kuqeshwe uNontlalontle abemnye kwisikolo ngasinye, bazokwazi ukuhoyana neemeko ezikhathaza abafundi.
Honourable Speaker, the late Former Secretary-General of the United Nations Koffi Anan once argued that education is a universal right that acts as a tool for empowerment and a bridge from misery to hope.
It worries us when multitudes of our children who pass grade 12 struggle to find space in our institutions of higher education. We support the view that institutions of higher learning should consider using digital and online classes as part of expanding access to higher education.
Fellow citizens, all of us should be deeply troubled by the incidents of violence we witnessed in some of our institutions of higher learning last year. In 2025, we lost 19- year-old Sesethu Enhle Mboza, Deputy Vice-Chancellor Sinethemba Mpambane and student Sisonke Mbolekwa, all of them through violence inside our institutions of higher learning. The tipping point was the violent protests and the unprecedented destruction of property at the University of Fort Hare.
These incidents demand that we work together to strengthen institutional governance and foster better relations between the management of our universities and student bodies.
On a positive note, let me congratulate Retired Constitutional Court Judge, Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga and Dr Naledi Pandor for their appointments as Chancellors of Rhodes University and Nelson Mandela University, respectively. In the same vein we congratulate Dr Thandi Mgwebi for her appointment as the Vice-Chancellor of Walter Sisulu University. We also congratulate the University of Fort Hare for finally appointing a new University Council. This government is open to work with all our institutions of higher learning for the advancement of our people and our province.
Honourable Members, the Bill of Rights states that everyone has a right to access health care services. Backed by a budget of R7.1 billion to improve the health profile of our people, we are seeing improvements in maternal and child health.
Early antenatal bookings improved to 67.5%, above the 65% target. The maternal mortality rate dropped to 78 per 100 000 from 139 per 100 000. This notable improvement is attributed to improved clinical oversight on expectant mothers.
Somlomo, siyayandisa inkqubo yokuhanjiswa kwamayeza ezigulo ezinobuzaza ezifana neswekile. Abantu baphathelwa amayeza kumakhaya wabo, okanye kwiivenkile ezikufuphi kubo.
The number of patients benefitting from this programme is 534 300 in our province. Our Integrated Mental Health services benefited 29 000 beneficiaries who received psychosocial support, largely in disaster-affected districts.
Capacitating our health care facilities with highly trained health care workers is an ongoing commitment of this government. Between April 2025 and January 2026, we appointed 534 doctors and 993 nurses to care for patients in our health care facilities.
Undivuyisile umyalezo endiwufumene ku Dr Nkokheli Qhosha, othe yena noogxa bakhe abangamashumi amabini anesithandathu esabanceda ngemali yokufunda, basebenza kumaziko empilo eli phondo, banceda uluntu.
Bantu bephondo, siqhubela phambili ngomsebenzi wokwakha amaziko empilo, ukuze nifumane iinkonzo ezingcono.
Phambi kokuba lonyaka uphele, sizakugqiba ukwakha icandelo lomhlaza kwisibhedlele iNelson Mandela Academic eMthatha. Kulo msebenzi sityale iR416 million ukuze abantu bafumane ezinkonzo kufutshane, ingakumbi abaphesheya kweNciba.
We are determined to reduce dependence on other provinces for highly specialised healthcare services. Last month, this government launched a new state-of-the-art invitro fertilisation clinic to assist women who are struggling to conceive babies. The clinic is only the fourth public health facility in South Africa to offer IVF.
We are decentralising specialist services and bringing them closer to communities. Nelson Mandela Academic Hospital recently opened a state-of-the-art Urology Unit.
I must hasten to add this was made possible by a donation of R3.5 million from a mining company. We welcome all forms of donations, but state protocols must be observed and transparency is vital.
We have established a Renal dialysis unit at St Elizabeth Regional hospital in Ingquza Hill Local Municipality. As a result, patients from the far northeastern part of our province will no longer travel to Mthatha Regional Hospital for these services. We are establishing more renal dialysis units in Chris Hani and Sarah Baartman in the next financial year. The broader goal is the ensure each district has a bucket of basic specialist services in the next three years.
As we roll out these services, we also encourage our people to adopt healthy lifestyles and reduce the surge in non-communicable diseases.
In 2026 we will complete upgrades at Cecilia Makiwane and Dora Nginza Hospitals to accommodate Cerebral Palsy Centres of Excellence with specialised clinical, therapeutic, and family support spaces.
We welcome public-private investments to increase access to health care services in our province, such as the R250 million investment to build a hospital in Nxuba Yethemba Local Municipality.
Another obligation placed on us by the Bill of Rights is human dignity. Social protection remains the moral centre of this government. Every year, we invest R35 billion in social security to support families, older persons, children, and people with disabilities. In 2025, about 3 683 individuals received social relief during periods of disaster.
According to the Stats SA Poverty Trends Report of 2025, poverty in the Eastern Cape is decreasing. In 2015, about 36% of the Eastern Cape population lived below the food poverty line. By 2023, that number dropped to 23%. This means more people have access to food and income support.
Every day, we provide nutritious meals to 1.5 million learners through the School Nutrition Programme, and to 122 000 children in Early Childhood Development centres. This is one of our strongest defences against child poverty.
Bantu bakuthi niyayazi ukuba inkazathi iyagodusa. Umcimbi wokulwa indlala ufuna ilima, phakathi kuka rhulumente, uluntu, oosomashishini nemibutho yesisa.
In partnership with our social partners, we continue to extend food parcels, school uniforms, blankets, and household items to families in need. All these efforts show that working together with social partners, we can lift people out of poverty and restore dignity to every household. Sikhuthaza ukuba wonke umntu onegadi nesitiya alime, sigxothe ikati eziko.
Honourable Speaker, it pains us to see people who have worked for decades in the mines not getting their due benefits from pension funds. Working with partners such as the UIF, Tshiamiso Trust, Minerals Council SA, and Harmony Gold, in the last six years we have managed to deliver to the people of the Eastern Cape pension claims worth R1.2 billion.
We have agreed with the Minister of Finance to attend to the pension disputes of public servants who served under the Ciskei and Transkei governments. Our primary intent as this government is to unlock every cent that is due to our people.
DRIVING INCLUSIVE GROWTH AND JOB CREATION
Honourable Speaker, while our province continues to work tirelessly to stimulate economic growth to push back against poverty and inequality, we must confront the sobering reality reflected in the latest quarterly Labour Force Survey results.
Unemployment increased in our province when we lost 32 000 jobs in the fourth quarter of 2025.
Even though we lost jobs, a few sectors still showed pockets of growth. The trade sector made the biggest positive contribution, adding 23 000 jobs as activity picked up towards year-end. Utilities also grew by 6000 jobs, a notable rise given its small size, and private households added around 1 000 jobs, showing slight recovery in domestic work.
These gains were not enough to offset large losses in agriculture, finance, and other sectors, but they do highlight areas of resilience in an otherwise weak quarter for employment.
Despite these difficult statistics, we remain steadfast in our commitment to reverse this trend. Eastern Cape has immense potential and together, we must unlock it. As government we are creating pathways to jobs for our people. Our focus is on skills transfer, entrepreneurship, integrating digital skills, green economy and artisan training.
As we speak, about 14 696 people of the Eastern Cape are already benefiting from the Labour Activation Programme of the Department of Employment and Labour.
We are pushing to onboard 8 300 more people in the LAP programme in 2026. In addition to this 28 479 young people of the Eastern Cape are participating in the Basic Education Employment Initiative.
Our priority is to ensure that every infrastructure project in the Eastern Cape continue to create jobs and business opportunities for local businesses. In the roads infrastructure projects that we are implementing, over 7 500 people are employed and 3 400 of these are young people of the Eastern Cape. The support provided to MSMEs and Cooperatives by Eastern Cape Development Corporation yielded 2 939 jobs.
Honourable Members, to address youth unemployment we must think outside the box. E-commerce is growing in our province, and it presents opportunities for entrepreneurs and job opportunities for the youth. In addition, more people are now using Sixty60, UberEATS, TakeALot, Mr Delivery, Loot and TEMU to buy goods.
In partnership with digital platforms, organised business and municipalities, we will train, license, equip and onboard young people as last-mile delivery operators.
Customers who want Kota Culture Wrap from Mdantsane or iTshisanyama from eMbuqe must be able to get it delivered conveniently wherever they are.
We are repurposing the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) to empower our people with trade skills such as bricklaying, plumbing, welding and carpentry. In 2025, Public Employment Pogrammes implemented by government departments and municipalities created over 103 000 work opportunities benefiting mostly women and young people.
Honourable Speaker, as government we continue to advance skills development through targeted investments and strategic partnerships to prepare young people for jobs in a modern economy.
Sisebenzisana ne National Skills Fund silungisa ukugqwidiza okuthe kwachaphazela inkqubo yokuphuhlisa izakhono, apho abantwana abaku qeqesho bathe ababhataleka ngethuba kunyaka ophelileyo.
To date 2 949 beneficiaries are participating in the programme and are receiving their stipends. I must hasten to add that 2 000 of these beneficiaries are TVET College students who are doing experiential training, which is a prerequisite for them to graduate.
The skills programme we are rolling out with SETAs and our partners are touching the lives of our people in all parts of the Eastern Cape. An exciting investment that will change the trajectory of skills development has landed in Ntabankulu Local Municipality.
KIA Motors, in partnership with Ingwe TVET College, is establishing a manufacturing and service plant in Ntabankulu within the College precinct. Operations of the plant will entail manufacturing and assembling of some car components and servicing cars amongst other operations. Luphuhliso lweelali ke olu!
The completion of the Aliwal North Engineering Campus of Ikhala TVET College in 2025, through an investment by the National Skills Fund, has significantly expanded access to quality engineering training, particularly for young people in rural communities.
MerSETA partnered with AE Manufacturing in Gqeberha to skill, reskill and upskill more than 1 200 beneficiaries in critical trades such as shielded metal and coded welding. This investment directly supports industrial capacity and job creation in the Eastern Cape.
Through its Technical Excellence Academy, SANRAL has supported 103 engineering graduates, 55 of them are already registered with professional bodies. On the other hand, in partnership with AIDC-EC and MerSETA, we implemented an Artisan Recognition of Prior Learning Programme (ARPL) for motor mechanics and panel beaters.
I am proud to announce that 46 mechanics have passed their assessments and acquired their RED SEAL Certificate. A RED SEAL Certificate signifies trade competence of an international standard and often leads to better jobs.
One of the beneficiaries of this ARPL programme is Samela Dayeni from Mthatha, a Mechanical Engineering graduate from King Hintsa TVET College. Through the ARPL programme, Samela was able to convert her practical experience in motor mechanics into a recognised occupational status earning herself Red Seal certification. Sithi halala qobokazana.
The ELIDZ, through its Science and Technology Park, is also making great strides in the development of skills in the province. Last year, the ELIDZ’s skills development programme saw the training of 480 beneficiaries in future-facing skills such as Computer-Aided Design, additive manufacturing, digital technologies, intellectual property, Artificial Intelligence and green hydrogen.
We are positioning the Eastern Cape to benefit from the R164 billion Seta Funds drawn from levy disbursements. Through the Eastern Cape Human Resource Development Council, we are aligning skills priorities of the province to ensure success of our applications for funding.
Honourable Members, today we take a decisive step to double our efforts to confront the crisis of young people who are not in employment, education or training by repurposing the Centre for Investment and Marketing in the Eastern Cape as a dedicated and resourced Training and Skills Development Agency. In partnership with municipalities, business and civil society, CIMEC will anchor learnerships, apprenticeships, internships and enterprise support to ensure that training and skills development translate into work experience, income and sustainable livelihoods for our young people.
Somlomo, abantwana abaphuma emagqabini kwizifundo zabo baxhamla kwimali yebhasari, bezinikwa ngurhulumente weli phondo.
In 2025 alone, we awarded bursaries to 579 young people studying towards qualifications in high-demand fields, including engineering, medicine, agriculture, manufacturing, finance, science and information technology. Beyond the numbers are success stories of young Eastern Cape achievers who have turned opportunity into excellence.
Today, we celebrate Ongeziwe Sinyameni from Ingquza Hill Local Municipality, who completed his Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and Sanele Mbotshane from Dr A.B Xuma Local Municipality who successfully completed his Actuarial Science studies.
These young graduates are living proof that when government invests wisely in education and skills development, we do not only change lives of individuals, but we are building a skilled human capital for a thriving Eastern Cape.
Sincediseni ke bantu abatsha ngokuthi niwathathe amathuba aveliswa ngurhulumente noosomashishini.
Our drive for inclusive growth and job creation is also shaped by our support to Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises.
Kumsebenzi oqhubayo kwiphondo lonke wokwakhiwa kweendlela yi-arhente ka rhulumente uSanral, ngoosomashishini abantsudu abayi 2 078 abafumene umsebenzi oxabisa isixa mali esiyi R20.5 billion, xa idityanisiwe. Ngenene siyaqhuba!
With the South African economy still in the hands of a few. Local procurement remains a viable government vehicle to ensure that black-owned businesses benefit from preferential procurement opportunities.
The provincial government has spent R11.3 billion on goods and services in the current financial year. Of this amount R9.6 billion (84.6%) was spend on designated groups. Women-owned businesses benefited R6.6 billion, youth owned businesses got R2.3 billion, businesses owned by persons with disabilities got R379 million and military veteran’s businesses received R258 million. Lo msebenzi ubonakalisa mhlophe ukuzimisela kwalo rhulumente wenqwelo emasondo-sondo ekuxhobiseni amashishini abantu abantsudu.
We continue to scale up programmes that support Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises. In 2025, the Eastern Cape Development Corporation financed 302 MSMEs and 51 cooperatives. We are committing in this house to leverage more resources to support 400 MSMEs and 60 cooperatives this year.
We appreciate the work of the Department of Small Business Development in our province, which has funded 39 co-operative projects in 2025. This has advanced community-based job creation. Co-operatives that benefited include Cingisita Agri- Business Primary Co-op in Amathole, Zamukurhila Farming and Construction Co-op in Chris Hani, and Siyalima Asidlali Cooperative in Alfred Nzo.
In the previous SOPA we spoke about the need to enhance participation of our MSMEs in the auto sector value chain. In 2025, the AIDC-EC approved and financed
a total of 36 MSMEs with state-of-the-art equipment, diagnostic tools and hoists, assisting them to be competitive.
As we speak, Isisa Motor Clinic in Dr AB Xuma Local Municipality received its equipment, and Dent Boutique in King Sabatha Dalindyebo Local Municipality is also fixing cars with the newly installed equipment provided by this caring government.
To address long-standing fragmentation between MSMEs, incubators, funders, academia and government, we welcome the establishment of the Young Businesses in Africa Seed Ecosystem Weaving
Initiative, which is a partnership between ECSECC, Propella Business Incubator, and the Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber.
Through this initiative, the parties are creating a network of support that expands access to mentorship, product development, markets, finance and visibility of regional role players.
Growth Frontiers for a Thriving Eastern Cape Economy
Bantu bephondo, umsebenzi wokukhulisa uqoqosho nokudala amathuba emisebenzi siwenza noosomashishini abatyala imali kweli phondo lethu.
In the first three quarters of 2025, the province, attracted investments valued at R2.5 billion. This is a good performance considering the challenging environment of the global economy.
Through the Eastern Cape Investment Conference, we built a premier public - private platform that is steadily turning our bold vision of a thriving, inclusive provincial economy into reality.
We are now planning to host the 5th Eastern Cape Investment Conference in 2026, with a current pipeline of declarations of about R50 billion across both public and private sectors, aligned with our growth frontiers.
This year, the investment conference will coincide with the 7th Eastern Cape Export Symposium. In this way, the Eastern Cape Investment Conference is not an event, but a strategic instrument of our economic diplomacy to unlock new industries such as the R30 million Mohair Investment expansion in Ntabozuko. I must hasten to add that South Africa will move towards producing more than 65% of the world’s mohair here in our Province, creating sustainable jobs for our people.
Nangona kunjalo, ku 2025, zininzi iingxaki ezenzeka kwicandelo lemveliso yemoto ezichaphazela uqoqosho nemisebenzi yabantu. Sikubonile ukuvalwa kwe Goodyear e-Gqeberha nokulaliswa kwabasebenzi eMercedes Benz KuGompo.
The reason for these disruptions is that companies are undergoing profound structural changes globally, driven by electrification, decarbonisation, evolving consumer preferences and tightening trade and carbon-compliance requirements.
We support the efforts of national government to reach a trade deal with the United States of America. We also welcome the announcement by the President in SONA of a 150% tax deduction for New Energy Vehicle investments, effective March 2026. This policy instrument provides certainty that supports local manufacturing base.
Despite global headwinds in the automotive sector, confidence is still being displayed by the auto industry in the Eastern Cape. Our entities EL IDZ and AIDC-EC are collaborating to convert potential investments into meaningful jobs for our people.
Negotiations are at an advanced stage with a Chinese company that has an interest to locate at the East London IDZ. Xa luphumelele olu tyalo mali luzakusidalela amathuba emisebenzi angamawaka asibhozo kweli phondo lethu.
A new Commercial Vehicle investor with an investment value of R430 million, has been approved for the East London IDZ. As we speak, the ELIDZ is building a factory for the investor which will be completed in December 2026. This means more jobs are coming for our people.
At the Coega Special Economic Zone, conditional funding of R1.049 billion has been approved for the Stellantis project. While the project has undergone revisions to its scale and delivery model, it remains active with detailed designs and commercial agreements advancing.
The Coega SEZ also continues to meet its investment numbers and value, having already secured five (5) new projects at the end of the third quarter of 2025. These are in the manufacturing, logistics, and energy sectors, with an investment value of R827 million. This sustained performance reflects growing investor confidence in the province as a competitive investment destination.
We appreciate Isuzu Motors South Africa’s commitment to its Eastern Cape operations and for their continuous investments. In October 2025, we opened a new VSL manufacturing facility worth R750 million in the Nelson Mandela Metro. This Eastern Cape based company supplies Isuzu with production of key components for the DMAX range.
We also welcome Isuzu Motors South Africa’s tooling expansion and supplier development programmes to enhance technical capability across its value chain and reinforce South Africa’s automotive ecosystem.
Last year, BAIC Automobile South Africa launched the new BAIC B30 SUV, a model that is assembled in their Coega plant. We are actively pursuing BAIC to fully manufacture vehicles in that plant to create more jobs and business opportunities in the Eastern Cape.
Another worthy highlight of 2025 is that we successfully hosted both the Naccam Show and the SA Auto Week. The benefit of hosting these two shows is that we positioned the Eastern Cape as a premier investment destination to key auto industry leaders and to the 7 000 attendees who came from different countries of the world.
Fellow citizens, the agricultural sector remains a growth frontier and even though we have not yet realised its full potential. Ubutyebi beli phondo busemhlabeni.
Our goal is to transform the agricultural sector, ensuring real and meaningful participation of black producers in the agricultural value chain.
For the next three years, our province will receive an allocation of R1 billion from National Government for the Comprehensive Agricultural Support Programme. Le mali izakuxhasa amafama ngezixhobo ezifana neeteletele, imbewu yokulima, ukubiywa kwamasimi, kuqiniswe noqeqesho lwamafama.
To realise more value in this growth frontier, we are working in partnership with the Land Bank to commercialize 100 farms, with R212 million invested in 2025. This benefitted 18 grain farms in Alfred Nzo, OR Tambo, Joe Gqabi and Chris Hani and 11 livestock farmers in Chris Hani and Sarah Baartman Districts.
The Citrus valleys of Amathole and Sarah Baartman Districts, continue to play a significant role in the South African citrus industry. The 36 black citrus farms we supported contributed 1 139 jobs into sector jobs. The resilience of this sector was demonstrated on how it bounced from US tarrifs, by exporting the largest consignment of 431.9 million tons of fruit, earning R5.6 billion for our economy. We welcome a private sector investment of R400 million by commercial farmers to establish a Feed Factory and Feedlot in Nxuba Yethemba Local Municipality. This will also assist emerging farmers.
To strengthen bio security in the industry, government is going to establish an export quarantine facility in Dohne in the next 2 years to open an opportunity valued at more than R1 billion. On that note, let me highlight that the livestock industry in the province is also affected by the Foot and Mouth Disease outbreak. Livestock owners must comply with the measures communicated to them by government to protect our agricultural economy and their livestock.
Still on this matter of animal disease control, we are pleased to report positive progress on the establishment of the Veterinary School at the University of Fort Hare which will strengthen scientific research in our province. A Programme and Qualification Mix has been submitted by the University of Fort Hare to the Department of Higher Education, marking a significant step on the work of establishing the Veterinarian School.
Honourable Members, the Eastern Cape is South Africa’s second largest province, with a great agricultural potential, but we are the net importer of food. To change the situation, government approved Procurement of Agricultural Products model, which will localise R2.6 billion in food procurement spend. This will create more predictable demand for local producers and processors. Ukuze lomsebenzi uphumelele, kufuneka abantu balime umhlaba, bafuye imfuyo ngenjongo yokushishina.
We are ensuring adequate primary production of food products in our province, through the revitalisation of irrigation schemes, red hubs and Agri-parks. Work to fix bulk irrigation infrastructure at Ncora, Qamata, Shiloh and Keiskammahoek Irrigation schemes will begin this year. This is made possible by the R871 million investment by the Department of Water Affairs.
We have previously spoken about the potential of cannabis production and the opportunities for our province. We have decisively moved from planning to implementation in the commercialisation of cannabis, while national regulatory reforms, are being finalised.
Private sector-led industrial hemp trials are underway in the Buffalo City Metro and Amathole District. With an investment pipeline of R1 billion, this project is set to generate more than R1.8 billion annually and is projected to create thousands of jobs.
To ensure we do not leave indigenous farmers behind, the Technology Innovation Agency is funding a pilot cannabinoid extraction facility in Mpondoland to empower indigenous knowledge farmers and MSMEs, enabling their integration into the legal cannabis economy.
There is exciting growth in Agri-industrial investments in the Eastern Cape. Three more firms will open their doors at the ELIDZ, and they include MaXhosa, with a multimillion- rand investment that has strong beneficiation and job creation potential. Thank you Laduma Ngxokolo for ploughing back into your home province.
Across the Kei, the Wild Coast Industrial Park in Mthatha which will be anchored on agro processing is taking shape. Bulk infrastructure for Phase 1 will be completed at the end of March 2026. Before the end of this year, we plan to break ground for two investors with an investment value of R570 million. This has a potential to create 240 operational jobs.
Honourable Speaker, tourism in the Eastern Cape has recovered unevenly, with growth driven primarily by domestic travel, while international arrivals have continued to improve moderately.
In the last quarter of 2025, the Eastern Cape achieved 2.2million tourists with more than 1.2 million recorded for the month of December alone. Complimenting this is the international tourist traffic that continues steadily now at 350 000 international travellers. The spending of R6 billion in the Eastern Cape in the last quarter of 2025 was the highest in the country and R4bn of that was for the month of December. This shows the strength of our cultural offering.
We are diversifying our tourism products by creating new experiences for tourists. The Boutique Hotel in Umkhambathi Nature Reserve will be opened this year. On the western side of the province an additional investment has been made in Baviaanskloof creating a new hiking trail called the Baviaans Canyon which starts operating this week.
Going forward, three flagship tourism projects for the Eastern Cape have progressed through key development stages. The Lake! Gariep Initiative which we are implementing with the Free State and Northen Cape Provinces has secured funding for pre-feasibility studies.
The Hole-in-the-Wall Resort in Coffee Bay and the Water World Fun Park in Buffalo City Metro have both passed compliance stages for national funding.
We welcome the investment made by Transnet National Ports Authority in 2025 for the revamp of Latimer’s Landing at the Port of East London. It is a significant step towards the long-anticipated waterfront development.
We congratulate Buffalo City Metro for tourism related developments such as the upgrades in Ebuhlanti which ensures that tourists to our cities enjoy their holidays in hospitable environments.
We are positioning the Eastern Cape as the Home of sports and creative tourism, where the passion of our people on the sports field is converting into jobs, pride and global visibility. In our schools, we are strengthening sporting codes such as rugby, cricket, football, and golf so that learners feed directly into professional pathways.
We call on our Metro Municipalities to invest in tourism related infrastructure this year as we prepare to host the Cricket World Cup Matches in 2027. The Springboks will be back in the province in June for a match against the Barbarians. Let us go out to support our boys.
On the cultural stage, the National Arts Festival remains the draw card for hundreds of thousands of visitors. As government we will continue to resource this premier event of the province, not only to support the arts, but to invest in grassroots talent.
The biodiversity economy programmes continue to support job creation through conservation initiatives, wildlife management and the development of tourism facilities, reinforcing the sector’s contribution to inclusive growth. We plan to declare new additional nature reserves in the Wildcoast by increasing Umkhambathi Nature Reserve and declaring a New Nature Reserve in Umsikaba. This will improve ecotourism potential of the Eastern Cape.
Honourable Members, the investment environment is shifting toward strategic, futureoriented assets such as data centres, which increases competition among countries and regions. Digital transformation is not science fiction, it is a practical innovation of improving the quality of life for our people.
In the past few years, the province has laid important foundations for growth in this sector, anchored around SEZ-based digital infrastructure and enterprise development.
At the Coega SEZ, two Tier-3 data centres are operational, providing a platform for data hosting, cloud services and digital infrastructure investment. Digital hubs and data-lake initiatives are being leveraged to improve operational efficiencies and attract new off-takers.
At the ELIDZ, the data centre is emerging as an anchor investment, with strong market interest ahead of full operationalisation. I have no doubt these projects will create jobs for young people such as Leesto Mankayi Faku who told me in a social media post that he is an ICT graduate looking for a job.
There is a new orbit satellite facility that has been completed and is being brought into operation at the EL IDZ, while an 800-seater Business Process Outsourcing project has been approved by the dtic, offering significant employment potential.
Our province is fast becoming one of South Africa’s most exciting locations for call centres that serve customers around the world. In just one year, we reached our best performance ever, with 900 new jobs in a single quarter and 1 271 jobs between January and September 2025. We have tasked the ECDC to attract even more companies to create jobs for the youth.
Our partners in the telecommunications industry are doing amazing things in the Eastern Cape enabling communication in our communities. Over the past five years, Telkom invested R900 million in the Eastern Cape and is planning to invest a further R160 million in 2026 to strengthen digital infrastructure in the province.
This will expand the reach of network coverage to just over 27 000 homes, businesses, enterprises and public sector sites.
In 2025, MTN upgraded more than 250 network sites, and this year plans to invest more to further enhance network resilience, through extending both 4G and 5G coverage. Kuzakuxhamla abantu abahlala kwiindawo eziquka iLibode, iLusikisiki, iTlokweng nase Duncan Village kulomsebenzi.
In 2025, Vodacom invested more than R400 million in network infrastructure to roll out 4G and 5G networks to underserved rural areas of the Eastern Cape.
Ngenxa yolutyalo mali abantu abahlala kooMasipala base Great Kei, Nyandeni, Mhlontlo, Mbizana, Matatiele, Mnquma, Ntabankulu, Ngqushwa naseMzimvubu, bazakwazi ukuqhakamishelana nabanye abantu. Izakuphela apha ephondweni into yokuba abantu banyuke iintaba xa befuna ukufowna.
These investments made by government and telecommunication companies are not just about infrastructure or numbers; they are about dignity, inclusion, security, job creation and unlocking the full potential of our province and people.
Masincedisaneni ke bantu bephondo ngokuthi silwe ukutyhuthulwa kobuxhakaxhaka obenza sikwazi ukuqhakamishelana. When networks stay online, education continues, businesses do trade and families stay safe and in touch.
Somlomo, unxweme lwethu lunobutyebi obungumangaliso. Following the Oceans Economy Symposium held in October last year, we are moving with purpose to truly unlock our coastal wealth.
Bunkering services, which function as petrol stations in the ocean are gaining momentum in the Eastern Cape, contributing to economic activity and job creation.
AMSOL invested more than R300 million in two South African flagged tankers which are operating in Algoa Bay. The two tankers have created jobs, and local businesses are benefitting from AMSOL opportunities.
The arrival of the MT Intrepid’s bunker tanker in Algoa Bay also constitutes a R150 million investment into the Eastern Cape economy. Next month, 7 Youths from Cala, Lusikisiki, Gqeberha, eXhorha, Mthatha and Mdantsane who are supported by African Oceans Careers will go to the Phillippines for Cadet Training and upon their return they will be allocated to their Ships to begin their full-time Careers.
In 2026, government will evaluate market opportunities, investment requirements and infrastructure development needs to capitalise on emerging opportunities in marine, aquaculture and fisheries.
To diversify our markets and reduce exposure to protectionist driven shifts in the global economy, we will continue to build trade, investment and people-to-people relations with partners in the BRICS group of countries, nations of the Global South and the European Union. We are worried about the compounding humanitarian and economic crisis in our sister country of Cuba, and we are calling for an end to economic sanctions, so that Cubans can rebuild their economy.
Somlomo, naMalungu, wonke umsebenzi esiwenzayo wokuphuhlisa iphondo ufuna sakhe izakhiwo eziyintsika yeziseko zokuhluma koqoqosho noluntu. Xa singenazo iindlela, imizila ka loliwe, namazibuko enqanawe, oosomashishini abazokwazi ukusa imveliso yabo kwiimarike. Ukanti xa singenawo umbane namanzi ayikho imveliso enokwenzeka kakuhle. Zonke ezi zinto ndizikhankanyileyo ziziseko eziphambili zokutsala abatyali mali.
Ndivumeleni kengoko ndithi mhle kakhulu umsebenzi esiwenze ne-arhente ka rhulumente uSANRAL phaya kuNdabakazi.
The completion of the R483 million Ndabakazi Intermodal Interchange has changed the face of Mnquma Local Municipality. Beyond transforming the movement of our people and logistics in the area, this infrastructure delivered real socio-economic returns. The project created 272 jobs, of which 240 benefited residents of Ndabakazi, and 49 black-owned MSMEs secured work packages valued at R180 million.
Enye into esivuyise kakhulu kulo msebenzi kukwakhelwa kooMama abathengisayo nabaqhubi beeTaxi indawo esemgangathweni yokuqhuba amashishini wabo. Siphucula ubomi babantu bakuthi.
The Ndabakazi Interchange is just one project of many roads projects that have been completed by this government. The Khowa, formerly known as Elliot to Nqanqarhu, N6 to Dordrecht, Dordrecht to Indwe, Indwe to Nqaqarhu, formerly known as Maclear, N2 Mooiplaas to Qumrha, Maletswai to Lady Grey and Lady Grey to Ekhephini, formerly known as Barkley East, are all completed.
The R58 from Lady Grey to Telle Bridge is in planning phase for construction this year. Working in partnership with the Department of Land Reform and Rural Development we plan to work on the Ibika to Mazeppa Bay via Tafalofefe road and the road to Ncorha Irrigation Scheme.
We are also pleased to announce that construction works have started in other construction sites in the last twelve months. They include the R62 - Boundary with Western Cape to Louterwater valued, R61 - All Saints to Baziya Phase 2 valued at R1.5 billion and N2 - Lingeni to Msikaba South green field package valued at R2.2 billion.
Between now and 2029 the people of our province will see progress in major road works in key routes such as R72 - Port Alfred to KuGompo City, R58 – Ekhephini to Elliot now known as Khowa, R63 - Komga to Qonce, previously King William’s Town, R56 - Khowa to Matatiele, R75 - Kariega to Robert Sobukwe Town, formerly Graaf Reinet and R410 - Komani, formerly known as Queenstown, to Lady Frere.
Sicela kuyekwe ukutshiswa iindlela xa abantu benezikhalazo, yenza umonakalo endleleni lonto.
At this moment, I invite the house to join me in bidding farewell to SANRAL Southern Region's Regional Manager, Mr Mbulelo Peterson, who is going on retirement. Mr Peterson, thank you so much for contributing to the development of our provincial road network. You have left an indelible mark. We wish you a joyful and healthy life in your retirement.
Phase 1 of the Welisizwe Bridges Programme, we completed 18 bridges connecting our people to villages, schools, clinics and towns. These include the Tebe-Tebe pedestrian bridge which is now safe for use by the people of eMaxesibeni to cross uMzimvubu River. We have now commenced with Phase 2 of this programme to build eighteen more bridges in other rural parts of the Eastern Cape.
Abathi akukho phuhliso lwenzekayo apha ephondweni, inokuba bathetha ngenye i-Eastern hayi lena esisebenza kuyo.
Honourable Speaker, in line with our previous commitments in this House, we can report that Transnet’s investment programme in the Eastern Cape remains a central pillar of our logistics and industrialisation agenda. The Ngqura Liquid Bulk Terminal remains on track; however, the associated Port of Ngqura Liquid Berth A100 has been delayed.
The 22-million-ton Ngqura Manganese Export Terminal, which we have consistently affirmed as a non-negotiable for our minerals-energy future, is progressing through a public-sector partnership process.
We welcome the budget-approved for Ukuvuselela high-capacity rail corridor between Silverton and Nelson Mandela Bay, which will enable a dedicated automotive rail spine and unlock billions of rands in GDP and thousands of jobs once fully implemented.
This will reinforce what we have said before that Transnet’s rail and port investments are catalytic levers in building the Eastern Cape as a gateway to Africa and the world.
Honourable Members, the challenges of loadshedding that confronted our country in the past few years shook our economy. We should strive never to go back to that dark time again. We are continuously strengthening energy infrastructure to power the Eastern Cape economy for industrial stability and growth.
Our province is proving to be prospective in oil and gas. The 3.4 trillion cubic feet of gas discovered by TotalEnergies, Mainstreet and other Joint Venture Partners in 2019 and 2020 confirms the province’s offshore prospectivity.
The amount of gas found already could provide feedstock to the Mossel Bay Gas-to- Liquids refinery thus sustaining its operations for another 30 years or fuel a 3000MW gas to power plant.
We await the Constitutional Court decision on the case of Shell's offshore oil and gas exploration in the Wild Coast.
We are a province that is endowed with more than 200 trillion cubic feet of prospective shale gas in the Karoo. To tap into this natural resource, we are working with the Petroleum Agency South Africa (PASA) and our universities to conduct one of the world’s largest government-funded onshore geophysical survey programmes. This is a R200 million shale gas research phase that positions the Three Cape Provinces as the primary study area and future production hub.
Honourable Speaker, ESKOM is consulting critical stakeholders in Nelson Mandela Metro and Sarah Baartman Municipality on the process of building a Nuclear Power Station at Thyspunt, close to Humansdorp.
This is part of a R300 billion South African Nuclear Energy programme that carries enormous business opportunities for our province. It will also ensure energy security for the Eastern Cape and lower the cost of electricity for our people. I appeal to all the people of the Eastern Cape to throw our weight behind this project. Siyifuna apha ephondweni le Nuclear Power Station.
Our vision is for the Eastern Cape to become a green energy hub for South Africa to ensure that local manufacturers adhere to strict global "green" standards. We are pleased to report that there are 850 megawatts of wind projects worth R18.8 billion currently under construction in our province and 615 megawatts of the wind projects will be completed this year. These include Umoyilanga hybrid project in Kariega, the Impofu wind project in Kouga, Coleskop wind project near Middleburg and Wolf Wind farms in Jansenville. These projects will entrench our province’s role as a leading generator of clean energy for the national grid.
The Hive Green Hydrogen Project to produce green ammonia in also received its environmental authorisation, which is a major milestone towards the realisation of one of the biggest projects in the province, as we all appreciate that hydrogen is the future.
Coega’s 100 Megawatts’ solar plant was approved as one the seven projects by Infrastructure South Africa for project development activities including technical studies. This project will ensure that Coega has the required energy security for its investors.
We can report to the house that the signing and launch of the Coega Liquified Natural Gas Import Terminal will be realised within the first Quarter of 2026. This is a multibillion infrustructure project involving Transnet, the South African National Petroleum Agency and Tamasa Energy.
We are harnessing these resources with innovation that is guided by ecologically sustainable development, so that oil and gas becomes a powerful engine of inclusive economic growth, industrial diversification and job creation for South Africa, with the Eastern Cape leading from the front.
Honourable Members, water is life, but equally it enables economic development. Without water, there can be no manufacturing, no mining and no agricultural production. Government is currently implementing 13 major bulk water supply projects valued at R9.1 billion that are scheduled for completion in the next two years.
In addition, 12 more projects are in planning stages to secure long-term water security for the benefit of our people. We can mention Lady Grey Bulk Water Supply in Joe Gqabi, the Sundwana Dam Water Supply Scheme in Amathole, Mkhemane Dam Regional Bulk Water Supply in Alfred Nzo, KwaNyathi Bulk Water Supply in OR Tambo and Cluster 7 Water Supply Scheme in Caca Dam, in Chris Hani District.
Niyazivela bantu bephondo ukuba uphuhliso olwenziwa ngulo rhulumente lufika kuzo zonke izithili, alukhethi ndawo.
On that note, please join me in wishing Ms Portia Makhanya from the provincial office of the Department of Water and Sanitation a happy retirement. Sisi Portia, your contribution to the development of the Eastern Cape is greatly appreciated, Uwonwabele umhlala phantsi wakho.
Honourable Members, all the infrastructure we are building particularly in the eastern side of the province fits perfectly with the Eastern Seaboard Development, an initiative aimed at making the rural communities of Pondoland to have vibrant economies.
Going forward we are focusing on strengthening investment packaging for this programme in the sectors of energy, tourism, agriculture and ocean economy. We are glad to see that the IDPs of municipalities in Alfred Nzo and OR Tambo Districts are aligned to the Eastern Seaboard Development.
Iinkosi, oosomashishini noluntu, masisebenzisane ukuze olu phuhliso lube yimpumelelo MaMpondo.
As I close this matter of infrastructure development, I must highlight that Eastern Cape has been crowned by the Environmental Assessment Practitioners Association of South Africa as the leading province in processing Environmental Impact Assessments.
Any investor who wants to start a new project in the Eastern Cape can be rest assured of our agility to process EIA applications. One of the projects that has been unlocked by our prudent turnaround on EIA processes is the construction of a new bridge over the Orange River in Maletswai.
Honourable Speaker, based on this comprehensive overview of the provincial economy, we can only come to one conclusion that joblessness in the Eastern Cape is not caused by lack of bold and strategic initiatives. Across the length and breadth of our province, there is overwhelming evidence of massive infrastructure development, roll out of catalytic projects, strategic skills development, investor confidence and economic resilience in defiance of global trade imbalances.
However, these efforts are falling short in creating the scale of decent and sustainable jobs required by the people of our province. We will therefore spend more time this year engaging with the private sector, organized business and labour, youth formations, political parties and other social partners to sharpen our response plans to the unemployment challenge.
SIYAPHAMBILI: BUILDING A CAPABLE, ETHICAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL STATE
Honourable Members, when President Nelson Mandela signed the South African Constitution into law in 1996, there was no electricity, no clean drinking water, no free housing and no proper sanitation in many villages and townships of the Eastern Cape.
However, in 2026, this reality sounds like a fairytale. Out of 1.8 million households in the Eastern Cape, 1.7 million households have access to electricity, 1.5 million households have access to tapped water, and 1.7 million households have access to sanitation.
Our province continues to benefit from the household electrification programme by Eskom. Kunyaka mali esikuwo, urhulumente utyale iR757 million kwinkqubo yokufakela umbane. Iindawo ezixhamleyo ziquka iAlexandria kuMaspala iNdlambe, amanxiwa ase Mabhengutheni kuMasipala iWinnie Madikizela Mandela, amanxiwa ase Mzimvubu eMaxesibeni, amanxiwa akwa Maqoma kwakunye namanxiwa eseMakhanda phantsi koMasipala iMakana.
Through Eskom, government plans to invest a further R440 million for the electrification of households in the province in 2026. This will connect 7 059 households to the grid. To address the outcry of “weak electricity” in some parts of the province, Eskom is upgrading networks in several areas in the province such as Ncora-Qamata and Komani-Carthcart 22 Kilovolt Network projects.
Honourable Speaker, the right to housing is a human right in our constitution.
Government is working in partnership with the private sector to ensure that our people enjoy this right.
We welcome the planned Coega Ridge Development, a R60 billion mega project that will provide about 38 000 housing units, supported by a full mix of social, commercial, institutional, and industrial facilities in Nelson Mandela Metro. We encourage all our municipalities to partner with the private sector and release land for urban development initiatives because our people want to be closer to job opportunities.
This caring government continues to make tangible progress in expanding acess to adequate shelter and restoring dignity to our people. In 2025, government delivered 4 198 housing units and 5 808 serviced sites. Our rural housing programme remains a lifeline for the elderly, persons with disabilities and disaster affected families, with 3 184 rural housing units completed last year for their benefit.
Our solemn task now is to accelerate change with discipline and integrity to reach the communities we have not yet reached with basic services. To do that we are improving
governance so that every rand does what it is allocated for, to change people’s lives.
Fellow citizens for the first time in our democratic dispensation all Eastern Cape government departments achieved unqualified audit outcomes, with huge improvements in Education and Health. In addition, we have six government departments and six public entities achieving clean audit outcomes. Without a doubt, this is a sign of a province that is striving to be prosperous.
There is a gradual improvement of audit outcomes at the municipal level with 21 municipalities out of 38 in a healthy state of good governance, with 8 municipalities achieving clean audit outcomes.
I invite the house to join me in congratulating Senqu Local Municipality, Mnquma Local Municipality, Joe Gqabi District Municipality, Ntabankulu Local Municipality, Great Kei Local Municipality, Sarah Baartman District Municipality and Kouga Local Municipality.
This is indeed a solid foundation for improved service delivery in our communities. We continue to support municipalities to deliver basic services to communities. Teams from provincial and national government are supporting these municipalities to fix these service delivery challenges, particularly maintenance of roads, public amenities, electricity and water systems.
The provincial government is a dependable partner of development for municipalities. Thus, we are continuing to implement the Small-Town Revitalisation Programme to improve municipal infrustructure. We are making an application to the Budget Facility for Infrastructure to secure more funding for the Small-Town Revitilisation programme.
In the past 9 years, the provincial government has invested R1.3 billion in the Small- Town Revitalisation programme to upgrade infrastructure in towns such as Alice, Libode and Port St Johns. Over the 2025 Medium Term Expenditure Framework we are investing R419 to develop infrastructure in a new cohort of towns. As we speak, contractors are on site doing roads and electrification projects in towns such as Makana, Mqanduli, Cumakala, Qoboqobo, and Hamburg to make them attractive to investors, but also to make the towns serve our people better. Phaya kumakhasi onxibelelwano, uPatrick Patuxolo uthi ubulela ukulungiswa kweendlela eMbashe.
The results of this work can be seen in the surge of retail sector investments in the Eastern Cape. We welcome the R350 million investment in the Mbashe Shopping Mall in Dutywa. In that mall 500 people have now found jobs and are able to participate in
the economy.
Down the road from here, in Zwelitsha, a R200 million investment that has given rise to the Eyabantu Shopping Mall created 200 permanent jobs for local people. We are expecting more shopping malls to open in areas such as Ngqamakhwe, Ngcobo, Gcuwa and Ngqushwa to create more jobs for our people.
On that note Honourable Speaker, let me highlight that our municipal areas areexperiencing the most pressing challenges of our time, which is natural disasters of floods, droughts, and fires.
In June 2025, our province was affected by a disaster incident which was classified as a national disaster, affecting our people in OR Tambo, Amathole and Alfred Nzo districts and causing unparalleled to infrustructure.
Due to the magnitude of the June 2025 disasters, we sadly recorded 103 fatalities with one boy from the Dabane family remaining missing. Iintliziyo zethu zinaloomkhaya aphulukana namalungu osapho.
In the aftermath of any disaster, rebuilding takes time and requires patience. Government has thus far completed 829 of the required 1 230 Temporary Residential Units in municipalities whilst the remaining 401 will be completed at the end of March this year.
To date the National Disaster Management Centre has approved R390 million to expedite the rebuilding phase to fix roads, health facilities and schools that were affected by the disaster. Government is supporting municipalities to ensure compliance with the conditions of the grant. Sibambisene.
Honourable Members, Traditional leaders are the pillar of our people and a great. partner of this government. We have looked at the tools of trade and had a gone a long way in improving conditions over time. In this instance over the medium term, the province will provide seed funding in resources for pension benefits for the traditional leaders whilst at the same time we are pushing national government for this concurrent function to be resourced appropriately. The MEC of Finance will announce the details
in the budget speech.
Let me inform the house that working with traditional leaders, in 2025 we once again rolled-out capacitation programmes with Iingcibi namakhankatha, which focused on the management of initiates, and the promotion of health standards.
Despite these efforts, our province recorded 35 casualties from the customary male initiation practise.
We welcome the intervention from national government to reinforce our efforts in dealing with the endemic of customary male initiation casualties in the province. Silu luntu masiyigadeni into yokuba eli siko lingenziwa into yokwenza imali.
There is a saying: "A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots.” As part of remembering our painful history of frontier wars, on the 12th of May we will be commemorating the life of King Hintsa, a martyr of the Xhosa people.
Fe llow citizens the Bill of Rights affirms the right of all individuals to be free from allforms of violence from either public or private sources. Therefore, the safety of our communities remains central to our programme of building a capable, caring, and developmental state.
The latest crime statistics for the Eastern Cape show encouraging progress in several high-impact categories. Murder has decreased by 21.5%, attempted murder declined by 16.2% and aggravated robbery also decreased by 20%, signalling that our intensified crime-fighting interventions are beginning to have an impact, particularly in major hotspots such as Mthatha, KuGompo City, New Brighton, Kwazakhele, Lusikisiki, Ngcobo and Gatyana.
The South African Police Service intervened decisively in these areas, and they must continue to clean our communities. For instance, the businesses which were forced to close by the extortionists in Mthatha have since reopened and our people are back in their jobs.
We welcome the decision of the President to deploy the army in our province, following our plea. The army will strengthen the fight against gangs, drugs and extortions. Wewould like to see soldiers deployed in the eastern side to combat stock theft and
protect catalytic infrustructure projects.
We remain deeply concerned about the 4.8% rise in sexual offences, which continues to excessively affect women and children across the province.
These numbers reaffirm that much more must be done to confront gender-based violence and substance abuse-related crimes which place our communities at risk.
Government has established designated courts in Gcuwa, Bityi, Dimbaza, KuGompo City and Gqeberha to speed up sexual offense cases.
As we move forward, this administration will intensify support to policing efforts, expand community safety partnerships, and strengthen prevention programmes, because no society can prosper while its people live in fear.
Let me close the issues of building safe communities by informing the house that through SANRAL, government has invested R405 million to establish the Freeway Management System, with high-tech cameras installed in strategic routes and manned 24/7 by law enforcement agencies. Andizokuzichaza ukuba zindawoni. Kodwa mandithi niyabonwa, sinijongile.
We encourage municipalities to also roll out cameras in all towns to help in the fight against crime.
Honourable Speaker, democracy is strengthened by the active participation of the electorate in elections. Later this year, South Africa will hold the local government elections to elect representatives to municipal councils. We therefore call on all eligible voters to register to vote and to come out in large numbers on voting day to ensure that their voices are heard.
Equally, leading up the elections we call on all political parties to conduct themselves in accordance with the rules and to respect the rights of every individual to support a political party or independent candidate of their choice. The choices of the people of the Eastern Cape must be respected by all after the elections, which is what democracy means.
Honourable Members, many families lost loved ones in 2025 and in the first two months of 2026.
La makhaya aquka elika Bishop John Bolana, uMama uDeborha Komose kwakunye noMnumzana Billy Nell owayenguMphathiswa wezimali kweli phondo lethu. Sithi kuwo onke amakhaya azibone ephantsi kwelifu elimnyama akulahlwa mbeleko ngakufelwa. Thuthuzelekani!
SISONKE: A SOCIAL COMPACT TO ACCELERATE CHANGE
Somlomo, Malungu ale ndlu, nabantu base Eastern Cape, akukho phondo ndilithanda ukogqitha eli lethu. We must all understand that the Eastern Cape has a unique history to other South African provinces.
The Eastern Cape is the only province in South Africa wherein 9 wars of resistance were fought by our ancestors against the colonisers in a space of 100 years. The Eastern Cape is also the only province in South Africa which had two former homelands of Ciskei and Transkei imposed by apartheid to divide us.
As government we cannot do the work of building a prosperous and thriving Eastern Cape alone. National government must treat the Eastern Cape as a unique project to address the infrustructure backlogs of this province, which were caused by the deliberate exclusion of the Eastern Cape by colonial and apartheid regimes.
To the Private Sector we say the doors of the Eastern Cape are open. Invest in the Eastern Cape, we guarantee you, we will grow together. To our municipalities, we say the era of dysfunction is over. We are sending in technical teams to help you. In return we expect good stable governance, accountability and better services to communities.
Masisebenze sonke.
To the People of the Eastern Cape, let us be patriotic about our province. The Eastern Cape has that thing, that aura which makes us unique. We have recently witnessed this unique aura through the remarkable achievement of young Lisolihle Nyingwa, who has
been crowned Miss Teen Global Beauty South Africa.
Her accomplishment is not only a personal triumph but a victory for the entire Eastern Cape. She stands as a shining example of the brilliance, confidence, and potential that our province nurtures.
Bantu basePhondweni, we ask for your partnership. Protect our infrastructure. Report the vandalism. Report corruption. When a school is burnt, it is our children who suffer.
When a cable is stolen, it is our lights that go out. When we do illegal water connections, we interrupt water supply. Let us be the guardians of our own progress.
The road ahead is steep. The climb is hard. But the view from the top will be worth it.
We are building a prosperous and a thriving Eastern Cape. A province where a child born in a rural village has the same opportunity as a child born in the city as we see now in Education. We are building an Eastern Cape that will feed South Africa, that will
continue power South Africa, and that manufactures for the world.
This is our Eastern Cape, let us make it work. Siyakha, siyakhathala, siyaphambili, sisonke.
Mazenethole!
