Premier Alan Winde appoints youngest member to provincial cabinet

A new MEC of transport and public works has been announced for the Western Cape, and he is the youngest member of the provincial cabinet.

CAPE TOWN, May 24 (ANA) – A new MEC for transport and public works has been announced for the Western Cape, and he is the youngest member of the provincial cabinet.

In a statement released on Monday, Premier Alan Winde announced the appointment of Daylin Mitchell, 35, from Beaufort West in the Central Karoo District.

Winde said Mitchell currently serves as the deputy chief whip for the Democratic Alliance (DA) in the Western Cape Provincial Parliament and is also the chairperson of the standing committee on transport and public works and on the Conduct Committee for members of parliament.

Winde said he knows Mitchell will be a hard-working representative who will be committed to making the province a better place for all who live there.

“I am confident that he will continue to serve the people of this province with distinction in this important position.

“As the chairperson of the standing committee on transport and public works, he is already familiar with the challenges and opportunities that exist in this portfolio, and I expect him to hit the ground running,” Winde said.

He said it was time that Beaufort West was represented in the local government’s cabinet.

Winde said he wanted the MEC to ensure that voices from residents in smaller towns are always heard as the government works hard to deliver jobs, safety and dignity to all corners of the province.

“A high percentage of our residents are under the age of 40, and so appointing a young representative to the executive was important to me.

“There is enormous talent and energy among our youth, and their voices also need to be heard, especially when important executive decisions are being made,” Winde said.

He said the transport and public works portfolio was critical for creating jobs and delivering safer communities.

Winde said residents need safe, reliable and affordable transport options and the government needs to leverage infrastructure to stimulate growth and create jobs to ensure the Western Cape bounces back from Covid-19.

He asked Mitchell to serve with integrity and humility and to always uphold the Constitution, while never forgetting that “it is the people of this province that we were elected to serve”.

Mitchell said the appointment was an honour and he looked forward to ensuring a safe, reliable and functional integrated passenger commuter transport system for the province.

“It is my goal to ensure that the Department of Transport and Public Works plays an important role in delivering the strategic objectives of this provincial administration, namely, creating a safe province, where residents have jobs and live with dignity,” Mitchell said.

Mitchell replaces former MEC and DA provincial leader Bonginkosi Madikizela, who tendered his resignation last month amid claims that he had lied about his tertiary education qualifications on his CV.

MEC for Community Safety Albert Fritz has been appointed as the acting provincial leader for the DA until the party elects an interim leader later this month.

– African News Agency (ANA); Editing by Yaron Blecher