Dear MyPE 746 day ago, President Cyril Ramaphosa told the world via an interview in New York, that no farmers were being killed in South Africa. Yet in the year he made that claim, there were 394 attacks and 56 murders. In 2019, there were 419 attacks and 56 murders. And in 2020 there have been some 200 attacks, and over 50 murders to date. In June, the Democratic Alliance (DA) launched an awareness campaign and asked the President not only to retract that statement, but additionally to … [Read more...] about Ramaphosa’s words on farm murders ring hollow, we need to see action
Letters to the Editor
NMB Metro is playing Russian roulette with residents’ money
Dear MyPE Nelson Mandela Bay is on the brink of losing even more funding from National Treasury if they do not pass the special adjustments budget, which can bring total financial ruin on the Metro and lead to a catastrophic collapse of services. National Treasury has already withheld just under R1,6 billion in grant funding (R754 million from the 2019/20 financial year and R839 million from the current 2020/21 financial year). Despite this, the Metro has simply ignored the repeated … [Read more...] about NMB Metro is playing Russian roulette with residents’ money
While millions suffered under brutal lockdown, nearly 60% of government employees went on paid leave
Dear MyPE At precisely the moment that South Africans needed a capable state more desperately than ever to deliver everything from TERS unemployment payments to SASSA grants and emergency procurement of protective equipment, the ANC government decided to send nearly 60% of all public servants on paid leave. This shocking fact was revealed in response to a parliamentary question posed by the Democratic Alliance (DA) to the Minister of Public Service and Administration, Senzo Mchunu. According … [Read more...] about While millions suffered under brutal lockdown, nearly 60% of government employees went on paid leave
Promise of hope for residents of Klipfontein wetlands
Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance (DA) is optimistic that the pressure it has placed on the Ndlambe Local Municipality has paid off, and that the residents of the Klipfontein wetlands in the Bushmans area now appear likely to be moved to new sites. Yesterday, 08 October 2020, the Mayor of the Ndlambe Local Municipality, Khululwa Ncamiso, made a verbal commitment that 70 informal sites will be made available to the wetlands community. The Mayor also stated that she will now confer with … [Read more...] about Promise of hope for residents of Klipfontein wetlands
World Homeless Day reminder for EC government to tackle homelessness
Dear MyPE World Homeless Day [10 October 2020] is a fresh opportunity for the Eastern Cape government to revisit the plight of the homeless and tackle some of the complex issues affecting these marginalised individuals. During the national lockdown, the Eastern Cape Department of Social Development opened nine temporary homeless shelters in five districts in the province. This presented the perfect opportunity to assist individuals with needs such as registering for an identity … [Read more...] about World Homeless Day reminder for EC government to tackle homelessness
Intervention leads to better school facilities for Mount Frere learners
Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance (DA) in the Eastern Cape is extremely pleased that the pressure we placed on the Eastern Cape Department of Education has paid off, and that four prefab classrooms have now finally been delivered to the Lutateni Senior Secondary School near Mount Frere. On Tuesday, 6 October 2020, I conducted my fourth oversight inspection at the school since July 2019 and was taken on a tour of the four classrooms – which hosts learners from gr 8 to gr 11. The school, … [Read more...] about Intervention leads to better school facilities for Mount Frere learners
National government must intervene to save Dr Beyers Naude’s underground water resources
Dear MyPE The ongoing inability of the Dr Beyers Naude Local Municipality to address its sewage crisis can have a catastrophic impact on the underground water table in the area and decimate one of this drought-stricken Municipality’s most important water sources. Yesterday, 7 October 2020, DA Shadow Minister of Water and Sanitation, Leon Basson, MP, DA Eastern Cape Shadow MEC for Rural Development and Agrarian Reform, Retief Odendaal, MPL, and local councillors conducted oversight … [Read more...] about National government must intervene to save Dr Beyers Naude’s underground water resources
Intervention secures much-needed repairs to Stutterheim Wastewater Treatment Works
Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance is extremely pleased that the Wastewater Treatment Works in the Amahlathi Local Municipality has been repaired, and that the electricity grid to the plant has been upgraded, following our calls for intervention. Since December 2019, the wastewater treatment plant had no electricity. In February this year, a generator was installed by the Amatole District Municipality, which was only capable of providing electricity to treat less than half of the raw … [Read more...] about Intervention secures much-needed repairs to Stutterheim Wastewater Treatment Works
Concerns Escalate in Ndlambe Water Crisis
Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance (DA) will request the national and provincial government to urgently intervene to address the water crisis in the Ndlambe Local Municipality - as the municipal administration is clearly incapable and unwilling to save residents from taps running dry. On Tuesday, 6 October 2020, DA Shadow Minister of Water and Sanitation, Leon Basson, MP, and DA Eastern Cape Shadow MEC for Rural Development and Agrarian Reform, Retief Odendaal, MPL, joined local councillors … [Read more...] about Concerns Escalate in Ndlambe Water Crisis
Criminal must be laid charges regarding the water and sanitation failures of the Chris Hani District Municipality
Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance (DA) will request that the Minister of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation, Lindiwe Sisulu, open criminal cases against the Chris Hani District Municipality (CHDM) and relevant municipal officials who are overseeing the total collapse of water and sanitation in the district. Millions of litres of raw sewage is still flowing unabatedly into the Great Fish River due to the CHDM’s incapability to fulfil its water competency. Today, 7 October 2020, I … [Read more...] about Criminal must be laid charges regarding the water and sanitation failures of the Chris Hani District Municipality
Education portfolio committee must discuss interdict implications
Dear MyPE The interdict by Judge Buyiswa Majiki, to immediately stop the implementation of the controversial R538 million contract, between the Sizwe Africa IT Group, MTN and the Department, has serious implications for learners across the province. The Democratic Alliance has repeated raised its concerns regarding this contract, in various Legislature forums, since it was first tabled in the portfolio committee. The DA wants to build an education system in the Eastern Cape that works, … [Read more...] about Education portfolio committee must discuss interdict implications
46% – Take the Log out of your own Eye FIRST NMB!
https://youtu.be/XYrHTC3Wm4w Dear MyPE Today I am in Nelson Mandela Bay to highlight the area’s growing water crisis, the result of uncaring, incompetent government. The metro has a water management issue, not a water shortage issue. Taps have run dry in many areas, due to delays and failures to maintain and upgrade water infrastructure, and due to a failure to manage demand adequately. For example, we have today inspected a leak near Despatch on the main water line between Port … [Read more...] about 46% – Take the Log out of your own Eye FIRST NMB!
CSA agrees to release long-overdue forensic report
Dear MyPE The Cricket South Africa (CSA) board today committed to releasing its long-overdue forensic report into the organization’s administration by Friday. The board made this commitment today during a meeting of Parliament’s Portfolio Committee of Sports, Arts and Culture, where they were expected to share the contents of the forensic report. Following months of dithering the CSA board has finally succumbed to pressure from the Democratic Alliance (DA) and the Committee to make the … [Read more...] about CSA agrees to release long-overdue forensic report
Fresh misconduct allegations against Danny Jordaan
Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance (DA) will write to the Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture, Nathi Mthethwa, to urge him to intervene at the South African Football Association (SAFA) in light of reports of a South African Police Services (SAPS) investigation into SAFA President, Danny Jordaan. The investigation is supposedly linked to criminal charges laid by former SAFA CEO, Dennis Mumble, against Jordaan in May for his alleged involvement in SAFA’s dodgy purchase of the … [Read more...] about Fresh misconduct allegations against Danny Jordaan
EMS centralisation costs lives of new-born twins
Dear MyPE The non-sensical centralisation of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) by the Department of Health can be directly attributed to the heart-breaking loss of two new-born twins in Michausdal, Cradock last week. The 37-year-old mother went into premature labour at home last week Tuesday, 29 September 2020. Her husband immediately called EMS and requested an ambulance to take his wife to Cradock Provincial Hospital, a mere four minutes’ drive away. Instead an ambulance was dispatched … [Read more...] about EMS centralisation costs lives of new-born twins
