Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor The brutal shooting of three-year-old Emilio Hutchinson at the hands of blood-thirsty gangsters in the safety of his own home in Helenvale is the tragic reminder that nobody is spared from the criminals that are running rampant in Nelson Mandela Bay. Residents of the crime-ridden Northern Areas are trapped in their homes due to the violence perpetrated by gangsters, but now their homes, that should be sanctuaries of safety, have also become crime-scenes. Like so many other … [Read more...] about #JusticeForEmilio

Dear Editor South Africa's youth unemployment crisis is worst in the Eastern Cape and in the crime-ridden Northern Areas of Gqeberha. This distressing reality is driving young people to join the gangs that are murdering our residents and their children. The consequence of government failures is a deepening unemployment crisis where the youth are hardest hit, with 7 out every 10 young persons aged 15 to 24 unable to get jobs. The Eastern Cape’s unemployment rate reached 41.9% in the fourth … [Read more...] about Youth employment opportunity centres aim to find jobs and curb Northern Areas gangsterism

Dear Editor While violent crime is spiralling out of control in the Eastern Cape the DA-led Kouga Municipality’s Community Safety Plan is at the forefront of using technology to keep residents safe. Today I was joined by Tsitsi-Kouga Constituency Leader, Dr Vicky Knoetze MPL, Kouga Mayor, Cllr Hattingh Bornman, and Kouga Deputy Mayor, Cllr Timothy Jantjes, in conducting an oversight inspection at the municipality’s state-of-the-art Incident Command Centre in Humansdorp. Kouga's adopted … [Read more...] about Kouga leads the way in using crime fighting technology

Dear Editor In a shocking display of arrogance and a lack of human compassion, the ANC Premier of the Eastern Cape, Oscar Mabuyane, the Eastern Cape Department of Health, and the Cecilia Makhiwane Hospital in Mdantsane have once again shown vulnerable South Africans just how little the ANC cares about its citizens. Just hours before it was due to agree to an out-of-court settlement of a medico-legal claim for negligence associated with the birth of a young girl at the Cecilia Makhiwane … [Read more...] about EC Premier, DOH and hospital turn their backs on disabled child in Eastern Cape

Dear Editor The DA-led Kouga Municipality is leading the way to ensure that it rescues its critical service delivery infrastructure and local economy from the ravages of the rolling blackouts caused by load-shedding. Under the leadership of DA Mayor Hattingh Bornman the Municipality has made great strides to put in place mechanisms to mitigate the negative impact of Eskom's load-shedding crisis. Kouga is in the process of creating an energy hub to optimise infrastructure and energy … [Read more...] about Kouga leads the way in efforts to end load-shedding

Dear Editor Three quarters through the current financial year and Nelson Mandela Bay (NMB) has only spent 37% of its total capital budget. The latest available statistics on capital expenditure shows only a marginal 8% increase from February 2024. This means that the metro has only one quarter left in order to spend almost two quarters of its budget. The slow spending rate should be a massive concern to all residents as the Metro has already forfeited more than R430 million in grant … [Read more...] about Record low NMB expenditure will see even more money lost

Dear Editor Rolling blackouts due to Eskom’s load-shedding has brought the economy of the Eastern Cape, to its knees and has had a massive impact on the business sector. Today, 9 April 2024, I was joined by DA Federal Chairperson, Dr Ivan Meyer, Winterhoek Constituency Leader, Marshall von Buchenroder MPL, and DA EC Provincial Spokesperson, Cllr Georgina Faldtman, in visiting Kariega - the hub of the Eastern Cape’s automotive industry and one of the province’s main economic drivers. The … [Read more...] about We will save the EC economy by providing energy security

Dear Editor Today, 9 April 2024, the DA was vindicated in its efforts to remove Anele Qaba as CEO of the Mandela Bay Development Agency (MBDA) after the Gqeberha High Court handed down a ruling that set aside Qaba’s unlawful and irregular appointment. This vindication follows after the DA acted as whistle-blower in respect of a manipulated and unlawful appointment process that was little more than a blatant attempt at state capture in Nelson Mandela Bay (NMB). Qaba, who is a close … [Read more...] about Court Sets Aside Unlawful Appointment of MBDA CEO Anele Qaba

Dear Editor In the Makana municipality sewage flows in pothole-ridden streets piled with refuse, while residents suffer job-shedding and daily water and electricity outages. The biggest economic crisis facing residents is the government’s plan to move the Makhanda High Court to Bhisho, which will lead to the loss of nearly 10 000 direct jobs. When a DA government takes over national government after the 29 May General Election we will put an immediate halt to this move. A vote for the … [Read more...] about Dissolve the Makana Council and Keep the High Court in Makhanda

Dear Editor Yet another violent public protest erupted at the Bayland informal settlement in Nelson Mandela Bay (NMB) this morning (5 April) amidst growing tensions about a lack of service delivery within the community. Angry residents blocked off the R75 after NMB Mayor Gary van Niekerk apparently refused to address representatives from the community at City Hall yesterday. The protest action caused massive disruptions to commuters between Kariega and Gqeberha. The Bayland informal … [Read more...] about More violent protests as absent NMB Mayor Van Nierkerk ignores Bayland crisis

This speech was delivered by DA EC Provincial Leader, Andrew Whitfield MP, today at a crime protest outside the New Brighton Police Station in Gqeberha. He was joined by DA EC Provincial Spokesperson, Cllr Georgina Faldtman, Ngqura Constituency Leader, Leander Kruger MPL, and DA Parliamentary Candidate, Ian Cameron: Violent crime is spiralling out of control in Nelson Mandela Bay and the Eastern Cape and President Cyril Ramapahosa is “Accused Number 1” in drawing up the charge sheet for this … [Read more...] about We will remove crime “Accused Number 1” from government and halve violent crime

Dear Editor The Democratic Alliance (DA) will not take the gazetted name change of Kirkwood to Nqweba lying down and will be interacting with our local communities to ensure that as many objections as possible are submitted to the Department of Sports, Arts and Culture. The name change follows the approval by the Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture, Minister Zizi Kodwa, in terms of the South African Geographical Names Council Act in the Government Gazette dated 22 March 2024. The 183 … [Read more...] about Fight Against Name Change of Kirkwood to Nqweba Continues

Dear Editor Please note that notwithstanding the various water outages across NMB currently, there are unfortunately no water trucks available to be deployed. This is as a result of the metro neglecting to pay contractors which have now withdrawn their fleet. I will liaise with the Department of Water and Sanitation to see if they can assist our residents during this latest emergency. Clearly the metro administration can’t get its house in order. Regards Retief Odendaal … [Read more...] about Urgent Notice re Water Tankers