Dear MyPE Following the announcement by the Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD), Thoko Didiza, that 700 000 hectares of State land will be released for agricultural purposes, the Democratic Alliance (DA) has received distress calls from productive farmers complaining that this announcement was now being used by departmental officials to intimidate them into vacating their farms. On reviewing some of the reported cases, the DA was surprised to see that farms … [Read more...] about Chaotic ‘State land redistribution’ resulting in intimidation of productive farmers
Letters to the Editor
Graaff-Reinet schools suffer due to Education Department’s financial woes
dear MyPE Building operations have once again ceased at Lingcom Primary and Asherville Secondary schools in Graaff-Reinet after the Eastern Cape Department of Basic Education defaulted on payments to service providers. This is a trend that we have seen since the commencement of these projects more than three years ago. These projects should have been completed by now. Instead the projects drag on and have cost the Education Department around R20 million in unforeseen expenditure. … [Read more...] about Graaff-Reinet schools suffer due to Education Department’s financial woes
Political interference deprives Nieu-Bethesda residents of emergency services
Dear MyPE Residents of Nieu-Bethesda are being deprived of life-saving emergency services because political interference has brought the upgrade of the main road between the town and Graff Reinet to a standstill. Although three-quarters of the road has been tarred, the last stretch into the town has been abandoned, and the deteriorating condition of the road has made it difficult for ambulances and police vehicles to traverse. The contractor abandoned the site after ongoing political … [Read more...] about Political interference deprives Nieu-Bethesda residents of emergency services
Let’s Rather Nominate SA’s Healthcare Workers for 2022 Nobel Peace Prize
Dear MyPE In what is a slight to the over a million South African healthcare workers who have battled valiantly against the Covid-19 pandemic under difficult circumstances, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced last night that his Cabinet approved the nomination of the Cuban Medical Brigade for a Nobel Peace Prize for 2021. This is truly bizarre at best and a great insult to South African healthcare workers at worst. No one will ever argue that we cannot express gratitude to international … [Read more...] about Let’s Rather Nominate SA’s Healthcare Workers for 2022 Nobel Peace Prize
Government’s vaccine failure means a third wave is inevitable
Dear MyPE No matter how the president spins it, South Africans have been badly let down by an incapable state that has neither the ability nor the will to protect lives and livelihoods. That the first vaccines only arrived on our shores today is a failure, not an achievement. With no significant vaccine arrivals until May and the bulk of what we can expect this year only arriving towards the end of the year, we find ourselves staring at a third wave come winter and with it another … [Read more...] about Government’s vaccine failure means a third wave is inevitable
Calls for urgent, comprehensive briefing on SA’s dwindling rhino population
Dera MyPE The Democratic Alliance (DA) calls on the South African National Parks (SANParks) to present a comprehensive briefing to Parliament on the state of South Africa’s dwindling rhino population. Last week, in a surprising move SANParks published the latest shocking rhino population numbers in their annual report. This follows officials declining a request by myself and colleague, Annerie Weber MP, during the Portfolio Committee on Environment, Forestry and Fisheries earlier that week … [Read more...] about Calls for urgent, comprehensive briefing on SA’s dwindling rhino population
DA to lay criminal charges after NMB council bribery scandal
Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance (DA) in the Eastern Cape will be laying criminal charges against an individual who allegedly tried to bribe DA councillors in the run-up to a recent Nelson Mandela Bay council meeting. This meeting, which took place last week Thursday, 28 January 2021, was of great importance to the Metro as it sole focus was to elect an Executive Mayor for Nelson Mandela Bay. During this council meeting DA councillor Nqaba Bhanga was re-elected as Mayor after first … [Read more...] about DA to lay criminal charges after NMB council bribery scandal
South Africans called upon to reject the impending electricity tariff increase from Eskom
Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance (DA) rejects the decision taken by the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA) to allow Eskom to recoup over R6 billion from consumers through tariff increases. It is projected that this decision will result in a 10,95% increase in tariffs, an above inflation increase that will increase the economic pain of consumers who have been hard hit by an underperforming economy and job losses due to Covid-19. We now call on South Africans to write … [Read more...] about South Africans called upon to reject the impending electricity tariff increase from Eskom
No dates yet for Covid-19 vaccine in Eastern Cape
Dear MyPE There is still no date set for the rollout of vaccines in the Eastern Cape, even though the first batches are set to arrive in the country on Monday. No clarity was forthcoming from MEC of Health, Sindiswa Gomba, who could not confirm when the province will be receiving their first allocation of vaccines. This is most concerning, considering that our province, as of yesterday, had the highest number of deaths as a result of Covid-19 at 10 379 and an alarming rate of excess … [Read more...] about No dates yet for Covid-19 vaccine in Eastern Cape
Open Letter to Executive Mayor Bhanga
Please address the lack of transparency in SRAC, ignoring emails, not sharing their programmes for the financial year during last IDP session Dear Honourable Mayor Bhanga Congratulations on your appointment! Now business can go ahead in the Municipality serving our people at large! I wish to bring the following to your attention please.: During the last IDP session of SRAC, there was no presentation of their programmes at all to those who attended, not even a document. Lack of … [Read more...] about Open Letter to Executive Mayor Bhanga
Provincial govt must act as municipal Eskom debt soars past R2-billion mark
Dear MyPE The Provincial Government must step in and assist Eastern Cape municipalities, who now owe Eskom more than R2-billion rand in total, as municipalities are forced to dip deeper into their equitable share to pay their debts. Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs MEC, Xolile Nqatha, is bound by the Section 139 (5) of the constitution and has no choice but to impose a recovery plan to ensure that each of these municipalities meets their financial commitments. The … [Read more...] about Provincial govt must act as municipal Eskom debt soars past R2-billion mark
Minister Dlodlo must disband captured State Security Agency
Dear MyPE In the face of complete radio silence from Parliament as the treasonous looting of South Africa via the State Security Agency (SSA) is exposed daily at the Zondo Commission, the Democratic Alliance (DA) has written to Minister Ayanda Dlodlo asking that she drives the total shutdown of the Agency. She must ensure that every single person linked to the Agency is examined under a microscope. These acts of theft, as revealed one-by-one every day this week, we believe have clearly … [Read more...] about Minister Dlodlo must disband captured State Security Agency
Is the NAC Corupt or Inept?
Dear MyPE Earlier this month I was informed by the National Arts Council, that my proposal to run a children's art project at the Red Location Cultural Precinct had been approved. (Special PESP grant for artists). See: https://m.facebook.com/groups/artistdatabase/permalink/2814337252173823/ It is my hope that positive activities at the long closed Red Location Cultural Precinct, can stimulate positive directions towards getting the precinct operational again. The project, under the … [Read more...] about Is the NAC Corupt or Inept?
DA welcomes confirmation of Nqaba Bhanga as NMB Mayor
Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance (DA) in the Eastern Cape welcomes the confirmation of DA EC Provincial Leader, Cllr Nqaba Bhanga, as Executive Mayor of the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality. The confirmation of Cllr Bhanga was never in doubt, as the DA and its coalition partners have a strong coalition based on a shared goal of taking Nelson Mandela Bay forward again. We are committed to delivering services to residents who have suffered for two years under an uncaring ANC … [Read more...] about DA welcomes confirmation of Nqaba Bhanga as NMB Mayor
Zak Yacoob’s Recusal from CSA Board Welcomed
Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance (DA) welcomes the decision by Zak Yacoob to recuse himself from the position of Cricket South Africa’s (CSA) acting Board Chairperson. Yacoob has been replaced by Stavros Nicolaou to head up the interim Board. His recusal follows the release of a recording in which he can be heard verbally attacking a TimesLive journalist. The DA yesterday called for Yacoob to be removed as his behaviour was completely disgraceful and unbecoming of anyone holding such a … [Read more...] about Zak Yacoob’s Recusal from CSA Board Welcomed
