Ward News

Doug Kemp Vice opinion interviewSo what actually happened in South Africa when 57 million people had their access to alcohol removed in lockdown? South Africa has a massive “binge” drinking or drug use problem at the best of times. It is so prevalent in the culture that we almost see it as a societal norm and accept it as life in South Africa. However, the answer is not exactly as clear-cut as one could imagine. It is too early to create the “stats” as we are still in lockdown, but the fallout … [Read more...] about South Africans are more addicted than ever after lockdown

On Saturday, 4 July 2020, the founders of the politically-focused, turned activist group, Dear Mr President (DMP), Nj Hourquebie and Janine MacLean, will lead a protest gathering in front of the Union Buildings in Pretoria, starting at midday. The protest is to draw attention to the plight of ordinary South Africans under this illogical, psychologically harmful and, in some cases, even deadly, ban on tobacco sales that has been in place since the country entered lockdown on 27 March. This … [Read more...] about #SmokersProtest to take the fight to the steps of Government

The leader of the National Committee for the Salvation of the People in Mali, Colonel Assimi Goita, expressed his thanks to King Mohammed VI for the active contribution of Morocco in the efforts to resolve the crisis in Mali. Berlin, Germany., September 1, 2020 — 15 km from Bamako, an audience was granted, at the military camp of Kati, to the Moroccan Ambassador in Mali. During this meeting, Colonel Assimi Goita expressed “his deep gratitude” to the King of Morocco for the active contribution of … [Read more...] about Mali: Colonel Assimi Goita Thanks the King for Morocco’s Active Contribution to Resolving the Crisis in Mali

As the Political Party Funding Act comes into effect today, the Electoral Commission says it is all systems go.President Cyril Ramaphosa signed a Proclamation on the Commencement of the Political Party Funding Act, 2018 (Act no. 6 of 2018), which regulates public and private funding of political parties. The Act establishes funds to provide political parties represented in Parliament and legislatures with funding to undertake their work. It also requires that donations be disclosed by parties … [Read more...] about Political Party Funding Act swings into effect from today

Bradley Gilmour, director at Registered Communication.Pretoria, 2 March 2021 – A ground breaking judgement in the Pretoria High Court has accepted the digitally registered delivery of a Section 129 final letter of demand for payment as the basis for granting a default judgement. This follows similar default judgements handed down in the Randburg Magistrate’s Court in 2018, which were the first in South Africa to afford registered digital channels, such as Registered SMS and Registered Email, the … [Read more...] about Pretoria High Court finds registered digital communication basis for default judgement

How about an election system that puts voters (and not politicians) first?From hours-long lines and limited polling locations to confusing and discriminatory registration policies, why is it so hard to vote? US Voting rights expert Amber McReynolds offers a proven alternative: a new process, already happening in parts of the United States, that could bring accountability, transparency and equity to the outdated and sputtering system that democracy currently relies on. A voting line during South … [Read more...] about Voting Can Be Hard – We Can Fix It This Way

The Ministerial Advisory Committee on the Electoral System will hold its first consultative meeting with key stakeholders on 30 March 2021 at Constitutional Hill in Johannesburg.Home Affairs Minister, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, formed the ministerial committee in February this year. This was in response to the 11 June 2020 ruling of the Constitutional Court on the application brought before it by the New National Movement NPC and others The Constitutional Court ruled that the Electoral Act is … [Read more...] about Ministerial committee to meet over electoral system

I recently watched the video below featuring Stephen Fry debating a Motion for debate: “The Catholic Church is a Force for Good in the World.”At the beginning of the debate 678 people were for the motion with 1102 against and 346 undecided. At the end of the debate 268 people were for the motion with 1876 against and 34 undecided. Predictably the Catholic Church (with over One Billion members) came in for some flack over their poor record in terms of child abuse and their poor response to … [Read more...] about What Does Catholicism, Racism, Gqeberha and My Lifelong Friend Have to Do With Stephen Fry?

In life one has to be a realist and move with the changing landscape – to trot out a tired saying; “Survival of the fittest”.At present my fear is that TWO wrongs are NOT going to make ONE right. The first perceived ‘wrong’ is that the citizens of ex-Port Elizabeth feel as though they were blindsided by the name changes. Yes, they have a right to feel so, just as the people who advocated for the name change have a right to feel vindicated/good about it. Yes, the process does appear to be … [Read more...] about The 2 FLAWS in the Name Change to Gqeberha

You will hear many opinions in the lead up to local elections: The Black/Gold/Green will blame apartheid, the Blue will blame the Black/Gold/Green, the Red will blame the White and the multicoloured will blame everyone else.BUT – You will not hear one party with the courage to blame YOU and I. That one pointing finger will have three others pointing back! We need to allow the realisation to sink in that WE let OURSELVES down post 1994 by abdicating our responsibility to fight the GOOD political … [Read more...] about YOU and I Only Have Ourselves to Blame

Why? We have learned that waiting for the government is a waste of time We only manage to make a small contribution as individuals If we act as communities we may just be able to change our part of the world! Multiply that by 60 Wards in the Nelson Mandela Bay Metro and we could make a real difference! Ask your candidate Councillor for a proven record of service in some form of Community Activism and then place your vote based on that. Look for activists that have a long history of serving for … [Read more...] about Next Local Government Elections Choose a Community Activist

The Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs has adopted the Electoral Laws Amendment Bill (B22B-2020) with amendments proposed by the National Council of Provinces (NCOP).The committee received a report on the proposed amendments to the bill on Friday, which had previously been passed by the National Assembly. The amendments proposed by the NCOP included revisions to Section 16 of the Electoral Act 1998 and Section 5 of Act 34 of 2003. One of the most important amendments proposed by the NCOP is the … [Read more...] about Committee adopts Electoral Laws Amendment Bill

The way that I personally feel about the name change from Port Elizabeth to Gqeberha is best encapsulated in the words on the ABOUT page of the newly established MyGqeberha web site:MyGqeberha.com is a publication from the fertile minds that established MyPE.co.za in December 2004. The late Hilton Shorrock and I (Alan Straton) began MyPE as a ‘bit of fun’, a place to allow people to talk freely and a place where we could meaningfully contribute to the wider community. For 15 years we have poured … [Read more...] about About THAT Name Change