10/19/2021 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 10/19/2021 08:08
Premier Winde and MEC Bredell visit Regional Socio-Economic Programme in Piketberg, Velddrif, Vredenburg and Darling
Today, the Premier of the Western Cape, Alan Winde, and the MEC of Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning, Anton Bredell, visited a range of programmes that fall under the Regional Socio-Economic Programme or RSEP.
Premier Winde said: "The RSEP has, since its inception in 2013, invested over R230 million in poor communities in the Western Cape. Almost half of these funds were co-funded by participating municipalities. The programme focuses specifically on the areas outside the metropolitan area of Cape Town. I want to commend each and every stakeholder from the local municipalities to the Western Cape Government for the collaboration and partnerships which have made these various programmes possible."
MEC Bredell said: "We continue to make huge strides in reducing apartheid spatial inequality through the department's innovative Regional Socio-Economic Programme, a programme aimed at improving the quality of life of residents in poorer and often more rural communities."
The RSEP, which is in its 7th year of implementation, is a transversal and inter-governmental undertaking of the Western Cape Government which aims to implement projects that address and improve spatial planning and create safer public spaces. It further aims to support local economic development initiatives and recreational facilities in communities with greater need.
In inspecting the programmes undertaken by RSEP, Premier Winde and MEC Bredell visited the newly established Active Box or Safety Centre in Piketberg and the pedestrian walkways in Velddrif. In Vredenburg, they visited a new multi-functional gateway development, a splash park and live-work units, as well as a new amphitheatre in Darling.
Within the Bergriver municipality, including Piketberg, Porterville and Velddrif, RSEP has:
Within the Saldanha Bay municipality, including Vredenburg and Saldanha, RSEP has:
Within the Swartland municipality, including Malmesbury and Darling, RSEP has:
MEC Bredell concluded: "We must ensure that we continue in our efforts to promote service delivery and improve the safety of all our residents in rural and outlying areas, as well as the CBD. We are a government committed to ensuring that no person is left behind."
Going forward, the Western Cape Government plans to continue rolling our RSEP in its most vulnerable communities, to further dismantle apartheid spatial planning and provide better services and safer spaces to our communities.
To view the press kit, please visit: RSEP