Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance (DA) calls on National Minister of Home Affairs, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, to urgently address severe delays at Home Affairs offices across the country where citizens have been met with complete service paralysis due to staff shortages. I have received a number of reports from South Africans using the festive period to obtain official documentation from Home Affairs, only to wait in queues for hours and days on end with no assistance. This complete lack … [Read more...] about Severe Home Affairs delays
Letters to the Editor
Concerned Citizens Could Take Over Municipality
Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance (DA) takes note of yesterday’s judgment of the North West High Court that contemplates the transfer of government power from an inept municipality to an association of concerned residents. In short, if the Kgetlengrivier Local Municipality in the North West fails to supply potable water to the towns of Koster and Swartruggens within 10 weekdays of the order, then the Kgetlengrivier Residents Association is authorised to take control of the municipal water … [Read more...] about Concerned Citizens Could Take Over Municipality
NDZ overrules Ramaphosa on closing times for restaurants and bars
Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance (DA) has found out that once again, Minister Dlamini-Zuma has decided to overrule President Ramaphosa through the latest amended regulations published on the 17th of December 2020. This time, Minster Dlamini-Zuma has unilaterally decided to change the closing time for restaurants, bars, gyms, cinemas, theatres and museums from 10pm to 9pm. On the 14th of December 2020 in his “Address to the Nation”, President Ramaphosa said, “The hours of the curfew … [Read more...] about NDZ overrules Ramaphosa on closing times for restaurants and bars
Exam leak at Government Printing Works not a surprise
Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance (DA) is not surprised by the Minister of Basic Education, Angie Motshekga, confirming that the Physical Sciences Paper 2 leak originated from Government Printing Works (GPW). The GPW provides important services to the South African government, including the printing of smart ID cards, passports and visas. And in this case, the printing of certain National Senior Certificate examination papers. This is therefore a critical entity but unfortunately, the GPW … [Read more...] about Exam leak at Government Printing Works not a surprise
Eskom’s desperate move to access pensions
Dear MyPE Government had been spending more money than it received for more than a decade and instead of approaching the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for funding or pursuing sensible privatisation options that include strategic private sector equity partners it appears hell-bent on pressing ahead with a scheme which potentially opens our pension pot – larger than Germany’s – to risk. Despite Eskom being “in a utility death spiral as well as a debt spiral” according to Olga … [Read more...] about Eskom’s desperate move to access pensions
Government’s vaccine plans must be released publicly
Dear MyPE Since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic in Wuhan, China late 2019, the global medical fraternity has been working at record speed to develop a safe and reliable vaccine in laboratories across the world. The World Health Organisation’s CoVax Programme, of which South Africa is a participating member, has sought to ensure equitable access for all countries, regardless of their financial status. Countless countries are scrambling to acquire the vaccine. Countless countries … [Read more...] about Government’s vaccine plans must be released publicly
No action taken or budget available to address asbestos roofing in Eastern Cape
Dear MyPE The Eastern Cape has at least 5 463 RDP houses that still have asbestos roofing, despite the Department of Human Settlements having had 26 years to remove it, as all these houses were built prior to 1994. Despite the known health risks that the asbestos in these structures pose to our communities, including severe respiratory diseases and cancer, the Department of Human Settlements has failed to put a plan in place to address the issue. Even more concerning is that the risks … [Read more...] about No action taken or budget available to address asbestos roofing in Eastern Cape
Marlon Daniel’s Disillusionment
Dear MyPE It would have been hilarious, if not disillusioning, if the disputed executive mayor of the Nelson Mandela Bay Metro did give Marlon Daniels the Infrastructure and Engineering portfolio according their apparent horse-trading agreement (The Herald 17 December 2020). The ANC, DA, EFF, UDM etc. politicians are the same difference as their salaries, status & benefits come first before service delivery to South Africa & Citizenry. Take for an example my much-needed Woolhope Memorial … [Read more...] about Marlon Daniel’s Disillusionment
Fight launched to reopen EC provincial beaches
Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance (DA) in the Eastern Cape welcomes the decision by the Kouga Municipality to seek urgent relief from the Eastern Cape High Court regarding the closure of the province’s beaches over Covid-19 infection fears, in the hopes of having this irrational decision overturned. The DA in the Eastern Cape is of the firm belief that the national government’s blanket closure of all Eastern Cape beaches has been imposed unjustly, and that it has already had a devastating … [Read more...] about Fight launched to reopen EC provincial beaches
Child Abduction Amber Alert system available in South Africa this holiday season
Dear MyPE More needs to be done to familiarise communities of the Amber Alert project, which was rolled out in South Africa at the beginning of the year as a partnership between the SAPS and Facebook. This child abduction alert system, which was first established in the United States in 1996, sends out messages to the general public to ask for help in finding abducted children. Through the Facebook partnership, SAPS can now publish the details of the missing child to all Facebook users … [Read more...] about Child Abduction Amber Alert system available in South Africa this holiday season
Shun those who celebrate Reconciliation Day while driving wedges between us
Dear MyPE As we spend the 16th of December celebrating our national Day of Reconciliation, I want us to pause for a moment and think about what exactly it is we’re celebrating. Few other countries in the world have culture, history or people as diverse as South Africa’s. We like to speak of this diversity as our strength – we don’t claim to want to blend everything and everyone together into an uniform mixture. Rather, we state that a sense of unity in our incredible diversity is far … [Read more...] about Shun those who celebrate Reconciliation Day while driving wedges between us
Beach ban will decimate fragile EC Tourism industry
Dear MyPE The latest decision to close all Eastern Cape beaches in response to the second wave of Covid-19 infections, announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa last night, will decimate the province’s fragile tourism industry that is already on the brink of collapse. Businesses who were hoping that the December holiday break would bring a much-needed cash injection after the disastrous first round of lockdown measures, are in despair. Cancellations have already begun streaming in, as … [Read more...] about Beach ban will decimate fragile EC Tourism industry
Open letter to President Cyril Ramaphosa from the senior church leadership of Nelson Mandela Bay – MyPR.co.za
Open letter to President Cyril Ramaphosa from the senior church leadership of Nelson Mandela Bay: Dear President Cyril Ramaphosa Urgent request for your direct intervention in Nelson Mandela Bay We write this letter to you as senior church leaders of Nelson Mandela Bay on behalf of our congregants, who represent the majority of the suffering citizens of Nelson Mandela Bay. Mr President, we implore you to urgently intervene in the malaise that has set in and taken root in our … [Read more...] about Open letter to President Cyril Ramaphosa from the senior church leadership of Nelson Mandela Bay – MyPR.co.za
After almost a year of lockdown, what does Ramaphosa have to show for it?
Dear MyPE President Ramaphosa’s announcement this evening has made one thing crystal clear: that after almost a year of lockdown and devastating lockdown regulations, South Africa’s health capacity is still nowhere near as strong and developed as it should be to deal with the Covid-19 pandemic, despite what was promised 9 months ago. Furthermore, the crucial plan to obtain a vaccine for South Africa has yet to be rolled out. South Africa doesn’t need a vaccine acquisition task team, we … [Read more...] about After almost a year of lockdown, what does Ramaphosa have to show for it?
White elephant costs Matatiele local municipality R15.8 million
Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance has been challenging the ANC councillors in the Matatiele Local Municipality for years about the fresh produce market and grain silos that have been constructed, at a cost of R15,8 million, despite there being no commercially viable argument for their establishment. The municipality has also spent over R1,7 million to guard this multi-million-rand white elephant agricultural project that has stood empty since inception. The fresh produce market was … [Read more...] about White elephant costs Matatiele local municipality R15.8 million
