As Eastern Cape Premier Oscar Mabuyane prepares to deliver the State of the Province Address (SOPA) on Friday, opposition parties and advocacy groups are voicing skepticism, calling for real action instead of repeated promises.
EFF: “A Grand Performance of Lies”
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) in the province have dismissed the upcoming address as a spectacle of false hope. According to EFF MPL, Nokuthuka Mlokoti, the Eastern Cape continues to struggle with underdevelopment, poor service delivery, and a lack of meaningful progress.
“The SOPA will be a pack of lies, empty promises, and more excuses for corruption. It will be a grand performance by the Premier, pretending that everything is under control while the people of the Eastern Cape continue to suffer under corruption, mismanagement, and failed service delivery.”
Mlokoti criticized past commitments that have not materialized, citing unfulfilled promises of electric vehicle charging stations in Komani, Makanda, and Mthatha, which were supposed to be operational by May last year.
She also condemned the government's claims of economic growth through Special Economic Zones in Coega and East London.
“These zones do nothing for the poor. Jobs remain scarce, wages are low, and communities are still battling hunger and poverty.”
Mlokoti further criticized the government’s failure to include communities in the growing cannabis industry despite promises of job creation, saying people remain locked out of this massive industry.
She also pointed to the deteriorating state of housing and infrastructure.
“The housing crisis is spiraling out of control. Every other day, we hear of incomplete or substandard project handovers without due processes. Houses are vandalized because there are no contractors on-site to complete them. Children are still crossing rivers in trash cans because there are no bridges. These are life-and-death situations, yet the government remains indifferent.”
Mlokoti also painted a grim picture of the healthcare sector.
“The Department of Health is in crisis in the Eastern Cape. There are no medicines, no doctors, no beds. Pregnant women are turned away, and people die in waiting rooms. Instead of addressing this collapse, the Premier will highlight a handful of small victories."
She said the Premier won’t mention the millions lost to legal fees in cases against the Department of Health—money that could be spent on patient care.
Mlokoti concluded by saying “the nonchalant character of our government will be reflected in the SOPA on Friday.”
Equal Education: Schools in Crisis
Meanwhile, the education advocacy group, Equal Education, has also raised concerns, arguing that the government has consistently failed to address the worsening education crisis.
Acting Head of Organising, Ona Matshaya, said “The state of schools in the province is dire, and the SOPA needs more than words. It needs measurable commitments and accountability for the shortcomings of the province.”
She also condemned the closure of more than 500 rural schools since 2013 without proper community consultation.
“Learners in rural communities now have to travel long and treacherous journeys to get to the nearest school. Despite the schools being shut down, there does not seem to be any comprehensive or integrated plan to provide appropriate scholar transport.”
Matshaya stressed that teacher shortages remain one of the biggest hurdles to quality education, with over 17 800 vacancies reported in the 2023/2024 financial year.
UDM: “We Need Deliverables, Not Speeches”
The United Democratic Movement (UDM) echoed the frustration over inadequate service delivery, demanding immediate and decisive action.
Provincial Secretary, Bulelani Bobotyane, highlighted high unemployment, inadequate healthcare, and failing infrastructure as persistent challenges that remain unaddressed.
“Schools remain in poor condition, with learners forced to cross dangerous rivers just to access education.”
He cited Mzomtsha Primary School, built in 1958, which has never been renovated.
“The school is facing serious challenges. The children are still using the bucket system in 2025. Many communities still lack access to clean drinking water.”
Bobotyane called for clear deliverables, timelines, and accountability in SOPA.
He said the failure to resolve these longstanding crises is a gross injustice to the people of the Eastern Cape.
He concluded with a direct appeal to Premier Mabuyane:
“This is a call to action. The people of the Eastern Cape deserve more than political speeches. They deserve leadership that delivers.”
