Official Opening and State of the Province Address 2025

Statement by Speaker Daylin Mitchell:

“I am pleased to announce that the Official Opening of the second session of the Seventh Parliament of the Western Cape, and the Premier’s State of the Province Address (SOPA), will take place on Wednesday, 26 February 2025, at the NG Church Hall, Church Street, Beaufort West in the Central Karoo. The debate on the SOPA will take place in the same venue on the morning of Thursday, 27 February, followed by the Premier’s reply to the debate.

“I welcome taking the SOPA to Beaufort West and the citizens of the Central Karoo. This will be the fifth time that we take this important event to the citizens to ensure that we reach as many citizens of the province as possible. Over the past several years we have taken this significant event to Mitchells Plain in the Cape Metro, Genadendal in the Overberg, Velddrif in the West Coast and, last year, Paarl in the Cape Winelands.

“In keeping with our commitment to make the SOPA as accessible to as many residents of the province as possible, I have written to the mayors of the municipalities in the Western Cape requesting them to make venues available for members of the public to view the livestreams of the proceedings on both days. I will communicate further details regarding the exact arrangements in due course.

“The Provincial Parliament is looking forward to hosting this important event and the critical debates that will reflect the concerns of our citizens, including the economy, safety, health, education and social services,” says Speaker Daylin Mitchell.