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On 19 September 2025, the Eastern Cape Socio-Economic Consultative Council (ECSECC) celebrated 30 years at a reflection session at the East London Golf Course an evening that asked an honest question: how do we keep working together to change people’s lives?
Their Story
Born in a fragile time, ECSECC was set up to bring people around one table, government, business, labour, and communities, to shape policy with facts and common ground. Over three decades the council has helped turn research into plans, and plans into programmes, building trust across the province’s social partners.
The Event/Occasion
The anniversary wasn’t about speeches, it was about the people and partnerships that built ECSECC. When founding CEO Mcebisi Jonas took the mic, he looked back on years of working together and asked everyone to keep pushing forward: bring fresh ideas, act with purpose, and hold each other to account.
Acting Premier Mlungisi Mvoko saluted the model ECSECC represents:
“ECSECC was a bold venture a space where opponents could become allies, where policy was shaped not by force but through dialogue. Once again, we stand at a crossroads, and the next chapter of ECSECC must be earned through action, agility, and impact.”
The evening blended moving stories, visual storytelling, and messages of support, and it launched Fetching the Future, a booklet charting lessons and next steps.
Community Reactions
Guests spoke about a forum that “listens first, then acts.” Long-time partners said ECSECC’s value lies in keeping the province’s conversations honest and its goals measurable. Younger attendees praised the practical tone of the night: celebrate the past, yes, but keep the focus on delivery and jobs.
