Western Cape Premier Alan Winde today hailed Hessequa Municipality as a national benchmark for stable governance and rapid infrastructure delivery during a high-profile oversight visit to the Southern Cape, where he inspected major housing, business, and renewable energy projects.
The visit came just weeks after Hessequa was named one of South Africa’s top-performing municipalities at the inaugural South African Property Owners Association (SAPOA) Municipal Performance Awards, an accolade Winde described as proof of “strong leadership and having the right people in the right positions.”
Speaking to Executive Mayor Grant Riddles and the municipal council, he declared, “Stability and innovation are not just buzzwords—they are the foundation of sustainable growth. Strong leadership and management are the key ingredients to stable, inclusive progress.”
Winde received detailed briefings on several flagship projects, including the Melkhoutfontein West affordable housing development, where 23 homes were handed over to beneficiaries in June 2025, and the Kwanokutula business hub—funded by the Western Cape Department of Economic Development and Tourism—to support emerging entrepreneurs.
He also inspected the new five-a-side soccer pitch within the Kwanokutula Corridor Precinct, designed to provide safe recreational spaces for youth. The Premier then toured the Riversdale Solar Plant site, a 10 MW solar photovoltaic facility with a 10 MW-hour battery energy storage system (BESS), capable of generating 15 million kilowatt-hours annually.
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Having led the sod-turning ceremony in January 2025, Winde expressed satisfaction with construction pace, stating, “At this rate, the plant may be completed ahead of schedule, making Riversdale a beacon of renewable energy in the region. Sustainable, reliable, and affordable energy is a non-negotiable if we are to grow the economy.” He urged all municipalities to accelerate investment in alternative energy solutions, adding, “Now more than ever, we must keep enabling municipalities to explore and invest in green infrastructure.”
The Premier also celebrated local economic momentum with the opening of two new businesses: a Shoprite supermarket in Riversdale employing over 60 residents and a refurbished FreshStop convenience store along the N2 in Heidelberg, where contractors were applying final touches during his visit. “Investors are increasingly seeking out opportunities in our province,” Winde told employees.
“Where there is investment, there is growth and jobs.” He linked the region’s progress to the upcoming inaugural Western Cape Investment Summit, scheduled for 5–7 November 2025, emphasizing that strong investor confidence not only upgrades basic services but creates dignified employment.
“When we accelerate growth and jobs, we instill dignity across the Western Cape,” he said. The municipality is also investing over R18 million in upgrading the Riversdale sewerage works, a project well underway to support long-term urban sustainability.
