Letters to the Editor

The following speech was delivered today by the DA Eastern Cape Provincial Leader Andrew Whitfield MP, in Matatiele, during the party’s march against the high cost-of-living in South Africa. He was joined by Chief Whip of the Official Opposition, Siviwe Gwarube MP, DA Shadow Minister of Social Development, Bridget Masango MP, DA EC Shadow MEC for Social Development, Kobus Botha MPL, Alfred Nzo Constituency Leader, Baxolile Nodada MP, and OR Tambo Constituency Leader, Mlindi Nhanha MP: The … [Read more...] about A plan to lift Matatiele and the EC out of poverty

Dear Editor As much as shallow-minded and entitlement-obsessed Africanists would once again label me as a sell-out that is driven by blind jealousy for CODESA Posterboys or Posterladies [meaning ANC Anointees and/or South African White Capital Approved individuals since around 1993] for that matter, I am glad that the South African Airways [SAA] and Takatso then proposed tie-up has been deemed not worthy of further negotiations [The Herald 14 March 2024] and therefore stopped … [Read more...] about SAA & Takatso Saga

Nelson Mandela Bay has been ranked as the most dangerous city in South Africa and 9th in the world. Dear Editor According to a recent report prepared by the Mexican Council for Public Security and Criminal Justice (CPSC) Nelson Mandela Bay has now been ranked as the most dangerous city in South Africa. The CPSC is a Non-Government Organisation which has been publishing its annual ranking of the 50 most dangerous cities in the world for the past ten years. Standing at 78,33 murders per … [Read more...] about Nelson Mandela Bay Ascends to FIRST Position

The following speech was delivered by the DA Eastern Cape Provincial Leader, Andrew Whitfield MP, during the launch of the DA Eastern Cape Manifesto 2024, at the West End Community Hall in Gqeberha, Nelson Mandela Bay: I love my province, this is my home! Die Oos-Kaap is my huis, jou huis, ons huis impuma Koloni likhaya lam, likhaya lakho, likhaya lethu This beautiful home and our family who live within its boundaries are a proud and beautiful people with abundant potential. A … [Read more...] about A rescue plan for the Eastern Cape

Dear Editor The current political instability in the Nelson Mandela Bay (NMB) Council has forced the DA to reach out to seek urgent intervention from national government. In detailed correspondence to the National Minister of CoGTA, Thembi Nkadimeng, the DA has highlighted how the current political instability in the Metro is destroying the administration which has a direct impact on service delivery to residents. NMB residents are the biggest losers in the current political chaos. The … [Read more...] about CoGTA Minister Must Intervene in Chaotic NMB

On Wednesday, 13 March 2024, the DA will launch its Eastern Cape Provincial Election Manifesto in the run-up to the 2024 General Election. The launch will take place at the West End Community Hall in Bethelsdorp, Gqeberha and will be led by DA Federal Leader, John Steenhuisen MP, DA EC Provincial Leader, Andrew Whitfield MP, DA EC Provincial Spokesperson, Cllr Georgina Faldtman, and DA EC Deputy Provincial Chairperson, Horatio Hendricks MPL. The Eastern Cape has been broken due to 30 years … [Read more...] about If You Happen to be in West End on Wednesday

Dear Editor The Democratic Alliance (DA) welcomes the fact that the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality is finally taking the necessary steps to implement ShotSpotter technology in the Metro, specifically in the Helenvale Area. ShotSpotter is an excellent tool for enhancing law enforcement and safety. As soon as shots are fired, the technology informs the Metro Police and South African Police Service instantaneously. The sound is sent directly to police officers, allowing them to respond to … [Read more...] about Shotspotter to Return to Nelson Mandela Bay

Dear Editor The Eastern Cape is one of the most poverty-stricken provinces in South Africa, with the highest unemployment rate in the country. This province is, therefore, the hardest hit by the devastating cost-of-living crisis crippling the country. Today, 6 March 2024, we launched two 2024 election billboards in Mthatha, as it is the eastern part of our province that is suffering the most due to this unemployment and cost-of-living crisis. The messages on these billboards are clear: … [Read more...] about A Brighter Future

Dear Editor An expose by the Citizen has revealed that for the last 3 years, the Department of Correctional Services (DSC) has allegedly been paying for the Acting Eastern Cape Correctional Services Commissioner, Lucky Mthethwa, to stay in luxury hotels in the Eastern Cape. This luxury stay and extravagant lifestyle has been paid for exclusively by the taxpayers of South Africa for yet another ANC cadre. Despite cadre deployment having been rife during the Zuma era, it appears that the … [Read more...] about Corrections boss’ taxpayer-funded 3-year hotel stay

Dear Editor The brutal and senseless shooting of Democratic Alliance (DA) councillor and Member of the Mayoral Committee in the Kouga Municipality, Jaques Alexander, must be condemned in the strongest terms, and those responsible must swiftly be brought to justice. Yesterday, Cllr Alexander was wounded several times when he was shot in front of the Kouga Municipality Main Building in Da Gama Road, Jeffreys Bay and remains in a stable condition in hospital. The DA believes this callous … [Read more...] about Cowardly shooting of Kouga Cllr Jaques Alexander condemned

Dear Editor As the legendary Fyodor Dostoyevsky put it in his Notes From Underground novel: "I'm like no-one and no-one is like me. I am me. They are them" ... therefore, the repetitive, unjustifiably enforced and laager-mentality name changes of Gqeberha and Kariega refer [Trevor Bradfield, Walmer ... The Herald 29 February 2024]. If one can take a drive from the Nanaga Farm Stall towards East London, then one will find lots of Kariega-named landmarks like a river along the way, hence the … [Read more...] about Name Changes Crusade

Dear Editor Today, the Democratic Alliance (DA) launched its 2024 Election Campaign on the streets of Gelvandale in Gqeberha, where we flighted the first of our national election posters and unveiled our clear and urgent election slogan: “Rescue SA, Vote DA”. We chose Nelson Mandela Bay in particular, because this metro exemplifies the problems that follow when our politics over-fragment, enabling unscrupulous one-seat parties to prop up ANC administrations for their own gain, at the … [Read more...] about 2024 Election Campaign to Rescue South Africa

Dear Editor Crumbling infrastructure drowning in sewage and garbage, as well as rampant crime and drug abuse are just some of the issues affecting the lives of residents of the Transnet Railway Flats in Gqeberha – robbing them of their dignity and right to a safe environment. Today, 21 February 2024, I was joined by Ngqura Constituency Leader, Leander Kruger MPL, DA NMB Spokesperson for Human Settlements, Cllr Masixole Zinto, as well as local DA councillors and activists in conducting an … [Read more...] about Disgusting Transnet Railway Flats

Dear Editor More than 200 welfare and charitable organisations providing care to the most-needy residents of Nelson Mandela Bay are finding it difficult to provide assistance because of the municipality’s inability to pay over millions of rands due to them. The municipality’s financial assistance to external organisations is a fund meant to assist NGOs and other worthy causes in the Metro. These organisations have been waiting since last year for the R6 million that should’ve been paid to … [Read more...] about NMB Coalition fails to pay millions to welfare organisations