Vaccine acquisition welcomed with the caution that it requires a comprehensive rollout plan Dear MyPE The DA welcomes the announcement made by the Minister of Health, Dr Zweli Mkhize, during this morning’s urgent meeting of the portfolio committee of health that 1 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine will be acquired during the month of January from the Serum Institute of India. This announcement comes at the back of the portfolio committee of health where the DA pushed hard for … [Read more...] about SA Will Acquire 1 Million Doses of the COVID-19 Vaccine
Letters to the Editor
Riebeek East suffers without water while Makana drags its feet
Dear MyPE The DA is requesting urgent feedback and is keeping tabs on the Makana Local Municipality as a debilitating drought is causing havoc in the Eastern Cape, and residents of Riebeek East have to survive with only four hours of water provision daily. The fact that residents, in the midst of the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic, are being denied their basic human right of access to water, can be squarely laid at the feet of the Makana Local Municipality and the South African … [Read more...] about Riebeek East suffers without water while Makana drags its feet
RIP Themba Kojana
Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance (DA) extends our sincere condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of the Eastern Cape Department of Education Superintendent General, Mr Themba Kojana, following his tragic passing this morning. Mr Kojana made a contribution to education in the province and was always willing to subject himself to the democratic process. He will leave a vacuum at the top at a very critical time for education in the Eastern Cape. He was never obstructive and … [Read more...] about RIP Themba Kojana
Cele playing cops and surfers on the beach while South Africans live in fear of real criminals
Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance (DA) condemns in the strongest terms the announcement made by the Minister of Police, Bheki Cele, that members of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) will today be roped in to assist the South African Police Service (SAPS) with patrolling beaches in the Garden Route. It is well known that South Africa suffers from an extremely high crime rate. Rape, gender-based violence, murder, farm attacks and gang warfare are all but out of control. … [Read more...] about Cele playing cops and surfers on the beach while South Africans live in fear of real criminals
Stella must justify expense to taxpayers for SABC bailout
Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance (DA) will write to the Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies, Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams, to ask her to justify properly government's intention of charging people with mobile devices the cost of a television licence and transferring all the subsequent income to the SABC. This is after the Minister has failed to do so in answer to a written parliamentary question from the DA. The Minister instead chose simply to quote from the Draft White Paper … [Read more...] about Stella must justify expense to taxpayers for SABC bailout
One Third of South Africans Rely on Grants
Dear MyPE An answer to a written parliamentary question from the Democratic Alliance (DA) has revealed that 31% of South Africans rely on grants every month to make ends meet. The Minister of Social Development, Lindiwe Zulu, divulged that more than 18 million people receive some form of grant payment, a massive increase from the mere 7% that received grants in 1996 – when this data was first recorded on a national level. For many households grant payments have replaced salaries as … [Read more...] about One Third of South Africans Rely on Grants
6-Point Action Plan to Urgently Source Covid-19 Vaccine
Dear MyPE The DA is heartened by the news that the Western Cape government is working pro-actively to expedite access to a Covid-19 vaccine in that province. We call on National government to follow our lead and do the same. More than ever before, the time has come for South Africa’s government to put the people first and to urgently secure a bi-lateral deal to expedite the arrival of the vaccine to our shores. Waiting for the second quarter next year is not good enough, and even then, the … [Read more...] about 6-Point Action Plan to Urgently Source Covid-19 Vaccine
RIP Eddie Trent
Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance (DA) is sad to announce the passing of former DA Eastern Cape Provincial Leader, Member of the Provincial Legislature (MPL) and Member of Parliament (MP), Eddie Trent (80), who passed away from natural causes on Thursday, 31 December 2020, at 20:30. A political giant in the history of our province has fallen. Eddie fought for justice for all and non-racialism, and was both a bridge builder and a nation builder. I worked with Eddie since 1983 and he always … [Read more...] about RIP Eddie Trent
When you keep a 2010 World Cup letter of gratitude for 10 Years…
Whilst doing a clean out at home I can across this letter from the then Executive Director of the NMB Directorate FIFA World Cup 2010 South Africa, dated August 2011 and reading as follows: Dear Alan Gratitude for contribution to the success of the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa in Nelson Mandela Bay It hardly seems like a year has passed since the World Cup, but already so much has happened, it fells like it happened 10 years ago. Thankfully we still have the legacies that stand … [Read more...] about When you keep a 2010 World Cup letter of gratitude for 10 Years…
The Most Challenging Year in the History of Ubuntu
Looking Back on 2020, What Will We Remember? Dear MyPE In January, we greeted smiling parents and watched students who had been with us since birth proudly march into the Ubuntu School. A promising start to 2020, but in March, everything changed. This has been the most challenging year in the history of our organization. We launched an Emergency COVID-19 Response to protect the most vulnerable. We endured extreme hardships and came together to mourn. But the story we choose to … [Read more...] about The Most Challenging Year in the History of Ubuntu
Clear communication on fishing regulations to local authorities imperative to help local tourism
Dear MyPE The DA welcomes the announcement that recreational fishing remains permitted on all beaches, rivers and dams, including those in hotspot areas, subject to the national curfew and all health protocols being observed. Local tourism is likely to further flounder as holiday-makers are prohibited from beach-going for the remainder of the festive season. By making provision for fisherfolk with valid permits to access beaches, a draw-card in attracting holiday-makers, this may go some … [Read more...] about Clear communication on fishing regulations to local authorities imperative to help local tourism
Parliament must reconvene before New Year’s Eve in order to debate Covid vaccination plan
Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance (DA) has today written to the Speaker of the National Assembly, Thandi Modise MP, to request that she reconvenes Parliament urgently to conduct a debate of urgent national importance on South Africa's Covid-19 vaccination-plan before or on 31 December 2020. After the “Annus Horibilis” that we have just gone through, we need to start 2021 with a clear, no misinterpreted plan. Misinforming parliament is a crime. South Africans were initially told that … [Read more...] about Parliament must reconvene before New Year’s Eve in order to debate Covid vaccination plan
Convicted prisoners should not be given preferential treatment when rolling out Covid vaccine
Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance (DA) notes with alarm that it is proposed that amongst the first groups of people to receive vaccinations for Covid 19 will be convicted prisoners. We trust that this proposal will not be accepted or implemented. It is acknowledged that prisons may be prime sites of the spread of the pandemic, on account of confinement and overcrowding. As such, custodial officials must be classified as front-line workers and qualify for vaccination, as and when this … [Read more...] about Convicted prisoners should not be given preferential treatment when rolling out Covid vaccine
30 Years of Giveaway Competitions
Dear MyPE Year 2021 marks my 30 years of participating in give-away competitions , which I learnt and took over from my late father Mzwandile Michael Kama in the year of his passing away in 1991. Although I am forever grateful for the awesome prizes won during these 30 years like my now sold Hyundai i10 I won through a Dischem / Cadbury / Mondelez promotion in 2016 worth R145000, a Coca-Cola / Preston Liquors' trip worth R80000 to watch the 2014 Malaysian Formula 1 Grand Prix in Sepang, … [Read more...] about 30 Years of Giveaway Competitions
Eastern Cape Provincial Report Card 2020 – when 34.61% is STILL a Pass!
Dear MyPE There is no doubt that 2020 has been an exceptionally trying year, with extra-ordinary challenges, most notably those brought about by the Coronavirus pandemic. It is said that in the light of adversity true character is revealed. In the Eastern Cape, this adversity has revealed how fragile our government departments have become following years of neglect, mismanagement and outright corruption. The province was labelled the epicentre of corruption, the epicentre of unemployment … [Read more...] about Eastern Cape Provincial Report Card 2020 – when 34.61% is STILL a Pass!
