Maape will deliver his SOPA at the Legislature Chamber in North West on Friday. Speaking to OFM News, DA member of the Provincial Legislature Freddy Sonakile said that they are hoping that Maape will highlight plans to fix the deteriorated roads, a strategy to increase safety and security for residents, measures to support agriculture and tourism sectors which were hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic, and address the chaotic health service. Sonakile expressed his disappointment with the statement made by Maape on load-shedding in the State of the Nation debate last week and called on him to assist residents and small businesses.

“As I said, the Western Cape and Gauteng have already spoken about their plans on how they are going to assist residents and businesses to deal with load-shedding. So we are quite concerned that our premier, when he was addressing the Sona debate two weeks ago, actually said businesses and residents must start buying themselves generators. We hope by tomorrow he would have taken heed from the drama and noise that he has caused in the country after his statement,” he said.

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Meanwhile, the EFF's Provincial Secretary, Papiki Babuile, called on Maape to apologise to residents for lying about the state of roads in the province at the SONA debate two weeks ago. He, however, added that he is expecting him to outline service delivery plans in the province. Babuile detailed that they are dealing with water challenges and a lack of job opportunities, among others. Babuile also lashed out at Maape for suggesting that businesses and residents should buy generators to deal with the issues of the energy crisis.

OFM News