DA slams Mabuyane’s SOPA as Eastern Cape job crisis deepens

The Leader of the Official Opposition in the Eastern Cape Legislature, Vicky Knoetze, has sharply criticised Premier Oscar Mabuyane’s 2026 State of the Province Address (SOPA), describing it as a “State of Denial” rather than a reflection of the province’s realities.

In a statement issued on Thursday, Knoetze said the Premier’s address, titled “Siyakha, Siyakhathala, Siyaphambili, Sisonke” (We Build, We Care, We Advance, Together), failed to confront the depth of the unemployment and service delivery crises facing the Eastern Cape.

Unemployment figures in the spotlight

Knoetze said while the Premier acknowledged that 32,000 jobs were lost in the last quarter, he did not mention that 79,000 jobs had reportedly been lost since the previous SOPA.

According to the DA, the province’s unemployment rate has risen to 42.5%, the highest in the country, with the expanded unemployment rate at 51.4%. In rural communities, the party claims that three out of every five people are unable to find work.

Knoetze argued that government cannot address unemployment through temporary Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) opportunities alone, and called instead for policies that create an enabling environment for private-sector investment and sustainable job creation.

Municipal distress and service delivery concerns

The DA further raised concerns about governance and service delivery, stating that 16 municipalities in the province are classified as distressed.

Knoetze said the Premier should have committed to:

• Stabilising struggling municipalities

• Enforcing consequence management where there is governance failure

• Implementing a funded recovery plan to address the R30 billion provincial roads maintenance backlog

• Ensuring conditional grants are fully spent

• Rolling out a comprehensive Water Supply Master Plan

She claimed allocated infrastructure funds have gone unspent while residents in both urban and rural areas continue to face unreliable water supply, electricity disruptions and deteriorating roads.

Crime and policing

The opposition also criticised what it described as selective reporting on crime trends.

While the Premier highlighted slight decreases in certain crime categories, Knoetze argued that residents in the Eastern Cape remain at high risk of violent crime. She called for improved policing resources and stronger law enforcement visibility across communities.

Automotive sector and economic diversification

The DA emphasised the importance of the Eastern Cape’s automotive industry, describing the province as South Africa’s primary automotive manufacturing hub.

Knoetze warned that the transition to New Energy Vehicles (NEVs) could significantly affect jobs, suppliers and export-driven industries in the province. She called for a credible Automotive Sector Recovery Strategy and insisted that the provincial government must have a formal role in shaping and implementing national NEV policy.

The party also urged the provincial government to diversify the economy beyond manufacturing and trade, with stronger focus on tourism and agriculture.

Call for accountability

Knoetze concluded that a State of the Province Address should present measurable commitments and honest assessments of challenges.

“The people of the Eastern Cape deserve honest leadership, functional governance, safe communities, reliable services and real economic opportunities,” she said.