Premier
- (i) How much has been spent on First Thursday sessions from the inception to date and (ii) how much has been spent on each session and (b)(i) what are the details of the issues that have been raised through these platforms, (ii) how many of the issues have been successfully addressed and resolved and (iii)(aa) how many remain unresolved and (bb) what are the reasons why they remain unresolved?
- The cost of each event varies as a result of accomodation, transport, and other expenses. First Thursday events are often structured around existing engagements for the Premier and Cabinet, and thus do not incur additional expenses when held further afield. In general, First Thursday sessions are also conducted at venues which are owned by the Western Cape Government or a local municipality, and thus do not incur additional cost in this respect.
In total, in-person First Thursday events have cost approximately R946 000 cumulatively from 2019 to present. Across the 27 in-person events held thus far, this equates to R35 037 per event on average. This figure will likely decline over time as once-off start-up costs are offset by further events.
- Residents attend First Thursday sessions to address a wide range of issues. Some of the most common issues raised include:
- Business proposals;
- Funding requests;
- Requests for personal assistance;
- Service delivery complaints;
- Service offerings;
- Housing list queries;
- Facilities improvement requests; and
- Regulatory challenges.
A significant number of queries raised by residents attending First Thursday sittings fall outside the scope of provincial or local government, or constitute simple requests for information. Others are referred to relevant Western Cape or local government departments at the time of the query. In such a case, these queries are tracked by the relevant department.
Additionally, some queries do not have clear criteria for what might be considered “resolved” and it is thus challenging to provide an exact and comprehensive answer in this regard. Of the 163 matters attended to by the Office fo the Premier from 1 September 2024 to present, 92.6% have been responded to. It should be noted that there are several matters which were raised during the most recent First Thursday session in Atlantis in September 2025. These are on track to be addressed by the next First Thursday session, in line with the Office of the Premier’s standard procedures.
