Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor A scathing letter by the Minister of Finance to Nelson Mandela Mayor Gary van Niekerk has vindicated the DA’s stance that Anele Qaba was irregularly appointed as CEO of the Mandela Bay Development Agency (MBDA). Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana has written to Van Niekerk, informing him of his grave concern regarding the integrity of the municipality’s decision to appoint Qaba - less than four months after Council entered into a settlement agreement with him. National … [Read more...] about Minister of Finance Spanks Mayor Gary

Dear Editor Through personal experience and general observation, yours truly has over time discovered that anger, money, drunkenness and/or power can reveal anyone's true colours, however big (or small) we are all in denial of that bitter truth. In that context, the controversial name-changing of the otherwisely apolitical Port Elizabeth and Uitenhage monikers in contrast to the Africanism-enforcing & clout-seeking names such as Gqeberha and Kariega refer. The name-changing hornets' … [Read more...] about Port Elizabeth & Uitenhage Retention

Dear Editor The Democratic Alliance (DA) is strongly opposed to the recommendation in the Moseneke report, that recommends that the seat of the Eastern Cape High Court be moved from Makhanda to Bhisho. This decision by the committee will cost the Makana Municipality at least 5000 jobs. Countless other people are also dependent on these jobs, and they will also lose their livelihoods. Makhanda cannot afford to lose a single employer. The state of the municipality is incredibly fragile, … [Read more...] about Resistance to the Makhanda High Court relocation

Dear Editor The DA welcomes the arrest of an Eastern Cape police officer linked to the killings of University of Fort Hare (UFH) staff. This is another breakthrough into the murders of UFH fleet manager, Petrus Roets, and Mboneli Vesele, the Vice?Chancellor, Prof Sakhela Buhlungu’s, bodyguard. We acknowledge the swift action taken to arrest the six people so far connected to these murders. The concern is that this police officer most likely used state vehicles to transport the alleged … [Read more...] about SAPS member linked to UFH killings arrested

Dear Editor Construction in Nelson Mandela Bay (NMB) is grinding to a halt as most projects that are dependent on grant funding can’t proceed until the Metro's impasse with National Treasury is resolved. National Treasury started withholding grant funding after the Mandela Bay Development Agency (MBDA) appointed Anele Qaba as CEO. Qaba was previously the Executive Director for EDTA before he was suspended and disciplined for alleged financial misconduct. The Metro entered into a settlement … [Read more...] about National Treasury impasse continues

Dear Editor It is becoming more evident that the Nelson Mandela Bay's Economic Paralysis is mostly caused by the indifference and oppression of the very same people who are controlling its purse strings; meaning corporate citizens and politicians alike. To cut a long story short, since I don't have any financial nor political clout to make it happen, yours truly has been publicly advocating for a Sasol Delight! or BP outlet to be built on the prime spot that connects Algoa Road and Mel … [Read more...] about Sasol & BP for Kariega

Dear Editor The recent impasse between the Mandela Bay Development Agency (MBDA) Board and the Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality (NMBMM) on the appointment of MBDA CEO, Anele Qaba, has caused an irretrievable breakdown of trust between the parties. The Democratic Alliance (DA) has therefore tabled a formal motion to Council to dissolve the existing board immediately and to appoint a new temporary board. The DA has also written to Bay City Manager, Dr Noxolo Nqwazi, to request … [Read more...] about Disband the MBDA Board

Dear Editor The Eastern Cape Department of Health has paid out R67 million in salaries to staff at the Orsmond Tuberculosis Hospital in Kariega, despite this hospital being closed to patients for almost two years. This shocking revelation was made in response to a parliamentary question from the DA, where the Department acknowledged that while the hospital has had no patients for almost two years, forty-five medical employees refused to be allocated to other medical facilities in the … [Read more...] about Kariega Hospital Staff Paid Millions for Two Years After Closure

Dear Editor The Democratic Alliance (DA) notes with concern the decision to cancel all Nelson Mandela Bay standing committee meetings until after a council meeting scheduled for mid-August. The decision to cancel these meeting was announced today by the ANC speaker of council, Cllr Eugene Johnson. The ANC/EFF/NA coalition has seemingly taken this decision out of fear that the new coalition government will not have the necessary majority allocation to standing committees and will ‘lose’ … [Read more...] about Cancellation of NMB Standing Committees will negatively impact service delivery

Dear Editor The DA-governed Kouga Municipality has taken great strides in securing its own water and electricity supply. Today, 10 July 2023, we conducted an oversight inspection in Jeffreys Bay at one of four ground-breaking water purification plants. The plants were constructed at Jeffreys Bay, Humansdorp, Hankey and St Francis Bay at existing water treatment works and remove iron and manganese from borehole water. The process used is fairly new and these plants are the largest in … [Read more...] about Kouga Kan

Dear Editor Today, 6 July 2023, the DA reached out to the acting City Manager to request that widespread electricity outages across the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality be treated as an emergency after violent protests broke out. Large sections of the Northern Areas have been crippled due to the municipality’s struggles to deal with temporary electricity connections. Currently households in wards 13, 31, 32, 34, 35 and 37 are struggling without electricity and frustrated residents have … [Read more...] about Extended power outages crippling NMB

Dear Editor The release of Alison Botha's attackers on parole without notifying her, indicates a deterioration in the criminal justice system and the Department of Correctional Services. The parole decision was made without consulting Alison or considering objections from those who opposed parole. The DA calls for an immediate review of the parole decision and proper consultation with Alison and her family. The DA is appalled that Alison Botha’s attackers were released on parole … [Read more...] about Release of Alison’s Attackers Atrocious

Dear Editor The dysfunctional sewerage network in the Walter Sisulu Local Municipality has failed to such an extent that the lives of the residents of Burgersdorp are endangered daily. Pipes and manholes are overflowing throughout Burgersdorp and surrounds, and a green river of sewage is now flowing down the streets and creating islands of sewage around homes. People are falling ill, and some have been hospitalised, while structural damage is caused to homes. Despite this untenable … [Read more...] about Far From the Rivers of Babylon