Dear Editor Premier Oscar Mabuyane must come clean about the details surrounding his research proposal to obtain a master’s and PhD in Public Administration, as well as his relationship with tainted University of Fort Hare professor, Edwin Ijeoma. Not only are the allegations extremely serious, but they also raise serious questions about the ethical conduct of the Premier and, left unanswered, bring his term of leadership into serious dispute. A Special Investigation Unit report alleges … [Read more...] about Premier Mabuyane: To Degree or not Degree
Letters to the Editor
Microaggressions
Hi Alan Lately I've been contemplating how so many daily microaggressions happen in our society and how these tiny but impactful behaviours probably just serve to erode whatever goodwill and social capital we have left in South Africa. Early this morning, for instance, the ragged looking men who go litter-picking on garbage- removal day in my suburb, were again out and about doing what they do to survive. I was jogging along at 6am, along the bend of the road, and saw two guys sifting through … [Read more...] about Microaggressions
NMB Speaker Must Carry Costs Of Motion Of No Confidence Court Case
Dear Editor The DA in the Eastern Cape welcomes the decision that the Speaker of the Nelson Mandela Bay Council will carry the costs for today’s totally avoidable case in the Gqeberha High Court. This follows after the DA turned to the court to prevent an incompetent motion of no confidence in NMB Mayor Retief Odendaal from being debated at a special council meeting set for 8 May 2023. Despite the fact that the Speaker was informed by the DA’s legal team that the motion of no … [Read more...] about NMB Speaker Must Carry Costs Of Motion Of No Confidence Court Case
On the Elon Musk Saga
Dear Editor Since our sunny South African Citizenry is most-probably the number one nation when it comes to being status-conscious, I can therefore safely say that it is officially our Narodnost [national identity or populism or ethos in Russian] to love ready-mades. The current case study thereof is the mindless claiming of Elon Reeve Musk as some Proudly South African messiah that, through his Tesla electrical company, can be touted as a silver bullet to the decades-long rot that has … [Read more...] about On the Elon Musk Saga
DA committed to NMB coalition despite another frivolous MONC in Mayor Odendaal
Dear Editor The latest motion of no confidence brought against Nelson Mandela Bay Mayor, Retief Odendaal, and the coalition government by the ANC/EFF Doomsday Coalition, is yet another attempt to derail progress and the fight against corruption in the Metro. Mayor Odendaal and his team have been a breath of fresh air in our city over the last eight months. Nelson Mandela Bay has seldom had such a hard-working mayor and a team that is committed to restoring good governance and service … [Read more...] about DA committed to NMB coalition despite another frivolous MONC in Mayor Odendaal
The public service must be staffed by men and women who are professional, skilled, selfless and honest
Dear Fellow South African, When I was elected to the position of President of South Africa, I said that building an efficient, capable and ethical state free from corruption was among my foremost priorities. Only a capable, efficient, ethical and development-oriented state can deliver on the commitment to improve the lives of the people of this country. This means that the public service must be staffed by men and women who are professional, skilled, selfless and honest. They must be … [Read more...] about The public service must be staffed by men and women who are professional, skilled, selfless and honest
Creecy’s court action will delay the awarding of fishing rights once again
Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance (DA) notes the decision by the Minister of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries, Barbary Creecy, to approach the Courts to review and set aside the process for the awarding of small-scale fishing rights in the Western Cape. This decision will again delay the Western Cape’s traditional fishing communities from access to fighting rights. According to the Department, this step was taken by the Minister following complaints regarding the validity of the … [Read more...] about Creecy’s court action will delay the awarding of fishing rights once again
Minister must investigate NAC paying half to more than 600 artists
Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance (DA) will write to the Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture, Nathi Mthethwa, to ask that he urgently institutes an independent investigation into the National Art Council’s (NAC) announcement that it would only pay artists half of the funds for contracted projects. Last year, contracts were reportedly signed with 613 artists, of whom many have started with their projects and who have contracted people to work on said projects. The NAC’s U-turn is a slap … [Read more...] about Minister must investigate NAC paying half to more than 600 artists
Notice given of proposed amendments to Disaster Management Act
EDITOR: On 18 February 2021 I wrote specifically about Section 27 in the Disaster Management Act that appears to allow for the almost indefinite extension process of our lockdowmn month after month. See: Why Does The State of Disaster Continue Almost Indefinitely? Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance (DA) will introduce draft legislation to limit the power of the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs to extend a national state of disaster and to issue lockdown … [Read more...] about Notice given of proposed amendments to Disaster Management Act
Transparency sought over EC names changes that will cost millions, in the middle of a pandemic
Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance (DA) will submit written parliamentary questions to the Department of Sports, Arts and Culture regarding the recent name changes in the Eastern Cape, focusing on the cost of these name changes and the public participation process that was followed prior to the changing names of cities, towns and airports in the province. It is important to interrogate whether the public, especially those residents living in these towns and cities, was given adequate and … [Read more...] about Transparency sought over EC names changes that will cost millions, in the middle of a pandemic
Gqeberha? Absolute BS!
Dear MyPE (or is it now MyGqeberha?) Because ONE guy decides he wants Port Elizabeth's name to change to Gquberha, despite the objections of THOUSANDS of people, we are now no longer Port Elizabeth? Absolute B.S.!!! Is it a political ploy by Nathi to get his name into the limelight? The same individual who stayed in luxury hotels at our expense? He must be held to account for his actions, which go against the will of the people, namely the residents of Port … [Read more...] about Gqeberha? Absolute BS!
Jobs crisis overshadows Premier’s SOPA address
Dear MyPE The latest unemployment figures, just released in the Quarterly Labour Force Survey statistics, overshadow Premier Oscar Mabuyane’s State of the Province Address. The provincial unemployment figures remain the worst in the country, shooting up from 45,8% in the 3rd quarter to 47,9% in the 4th quarter, with the expanded unemployment figure also up, now at 52,4%, from 51,2% in the 3rd quarter. The report shows that a further 148,000 people joined the unemployed in the province … [Read more...] about Jobs crisis overshadows Premier’s SOPA address
Premier must build on the rock of good governance
Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance welcomes the announcements made by Premier Oscar Mabuyane relating to infrastructure development, economic growth, and job creation, some of which was a repeat from last year, during his State of the Province Address today. However, unless these initiatives are built on the rock of good governance, they will be swallowed up by the quicksands of corruption, cadre deployment, and maladministration. The premier needs to ensure that there is a strong … [Read more...] about Premier must build on the rock of good governance
#Matric2021: The real pass rate is 44.1%
Dear MyPE According to the Department of Basic Education and Basic Education Minister, Angie Motshekga, the Matric pass rate for 2020 is 76.2%. While the Democratic Alliance (DA) congratulates every Matric from the class of 2020 who have passed after the incredible difficult year they had and commiserates with those who were not successful this time around, the Minister surely cannot hope to get away with this subterfuge. The fact of the matter is that the real Matric pass rate is … [Read more...] about #Matric2021: The real pass rate is 44.1%
Education Department kills future of EC Matriculants
Dear MyPE The dismal performance of the Eastern Cape matriculants should in no way rest on their shoulders, but rather on those of the Eastern Cape Department of Education (ECDoE), which has consistently placed greed and self-interest above the needs of its learners. This year the Eastern Cape’s results dropped from 76,5% to 68,1%. The Democratic Alliance commends all learners who, despite one of the most difficult academic years on record, have overcome these obstacles and excelled in … [Read more...] about Education Department kills future of EC Matriculants
