It is fantastic to be here in Mitchells Plain today!

It is an honour to be delivering my State of the Province Address in front of this community, and it is a special honour to be delivering it in this venue.

The Rocklands Civic Centre is no stranger to historic events. It was here that the United Democratic Front rose up against the evils of Apartheid. It was here that people of all walks united behind the idea of a democratic South Africa in which everyone would be free.

Over the years, thousands of people have entered through those doors-for community programs, important discussions, for weddings and celebrations. There is no better place than this place, a Provincial heritage site, for us to host this historic SOPA - the first SOPA outside of the Provincial Parliament, right here in one of our communities.

So, let’s get down to the business of this house, which is for me to reflect on what we have delivered to date, and to lay out our delivery priorities for the future, to our audience here today, and across the province.

When I delivered my first SOPA in July last year, we vowed to “Get to Work”. Over the past seven months, we have certainly done just that. Since being elected, I have visited dozens of communities, I have met with thousands of citizens, and we have received tens of thousands of mails, texts and calls telling us what you want and need.

We have heard you. You don’t want smart cities and bullet trains. You want working cities and normal trains that get you to where you need to be, safely and on time. You want a government that focuses on getting the basics right, and actually delivers.

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