Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance (DA) calls on the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) to probe possible police involvement in the murder of Charl Kinnear. This is in light of reports that Kinnear was on the brink of cracking a “guns-to-gangs” syndicate at the police Central Firearms Registry (CFR). If these reports are to be believed, Kinnear would have possibly exposed large scale corruption within the CFR ranks. The DA believes that IPID has an important role to play in … [Read more...] about IPID must investigate possible police involvement in Charl Kinnear murder
Letters to the Editor
SASSA once again in chaos over August R350 grant payments
Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance (DA) calls on the Minister of Social Development, Lindiwe Zulu, to once and for all sort out the chaos that persist at the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA). It is almost unbelievable that SASSA still has not managed to sort out the perpetual mess with the payment of the Special Covid-19 Social Relief of Distressed (SRD) grant of R350. They’ve had six months to work out the kinks. The DA has again been inundated with complaints from SRD … [Read more...] about SASSA once again in chaos over August R350 grant payments
Scholar Transport still not finalized for the 2020 academic year
Dear MyPE Learners have been back at school for almost a month and the Eastern Cape Department of Transport is still in the process of finalizing contracts for scholar transport operators. I am calling on the Eastern Cape MEC of Transport yet again to take immediate steps to rectify the ongoing issues with Scholar Transport or hand the programme over to the Eastern Cape Education Department, which is better suited to identify learners most at need. In a recent response to a follow-up … [Read more...] about Scholar Transport still not finalized for the 2020 academic year
Mindless Renamings
Dear MyPE Although it doesn't sit very well with me that South Africa has too many British Empire names for its landmarks, but it seems that the Geographical Names committee is primarily justifying its Relevance & Salaries (The Herald 24 September 2020) in that Name-changing crusade. Most of all, the propagated "colonial" names would be most-probably replaced by ANC pantheon names; making ANC Imperialism a replacement for British & Afrikaner bumptious bulldozing. In the case of Port … [Read more...] about Mindless Renamings
Ndlambe Council must reject QFS payment proposal
Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance (DA) in the Ndlambe Local Municipality has submitted a motion to council rejecting the proposal to accept reverse osmosis equipment from Quality Filtration Systems (QFS) as repayment for the R20 million paid in advance of an unlawful tender. I submitted the motion on Monday and it notes that the tender was declared unlawful by Judge Zilwa and rendered as if it had never existed. It also identifies the fact that QFS have demanded and the Ndlambe … [Read more...] about Ndlambe Council must reject QFS payment proposal
A country with a heritage as diverse as ours needs a plan that serves all its people
Dear MyPE As our country pauses today to celebrate Heritage Day, we are reminded once more of just how diverse and colourful our nation is. We don’t share a single heritage, nor even a common idea of what heritage means. Today South Africans will be celebrating in a thousand different ways. Some of it will be serious and reflective, and some of it will be light-hearted and fun. And that’s fine. This diversity of approach to Heritage Day reflects the diversity of our country. We truly … [Read more...] about A country with a heritage as diverse as ours needs a plan that serves all its people
Provincial Disaster Management Centre dysfunctional during Covid-19 Pandemic
Dear MyPE The Eastern Cape Provincial Disaster Management Centre (PDMC), established in 2013 to enhance the province’s disaster management efforts, has an inadequate staff component with a vacancy rate of 45%. The PDMC needs an additional R111 million rand in funding to reach full functionality, bringing into question the province’s ability to adequately respond to crises, such as the current Covid-19 pandemic. These revelations were made by Premier Oscar Mabuyane in response to a … [Read more...] about Provincial Disaster Management Centre dysfunctional during Covid-19 Pandemic
Celebrating Heritage Day by assisting fire-ravaged community in Nelson Mandela Bay
Dear MyPE Today, 24 September 2020, the Democratic Alliance (DA) in Nelson Mandela Bay celebrated Heritage Day by reaching out to the community of Mandela Village in KwaZakhele, Port Elizabeth by donating clothes and food after many people were left destitute due to a fire raising their shacks to the ground. I was joined by local Democratic Alliance (DA) public representatives in conducting an oversight inspection at the site where 23 homes were destroyed on 14 September 2020. This left … [Read more...] about Celebrating Heritage Day by assisting fire-ravaged community in Nelson Mandela Bay
DA demands dissolution of Makana Municipal Council
Dear MyPE On Monday 21 September 2020 the Democratic Alliance (DA) in the Makana Municipality submitted a motion in terms of s34 of the Municipal Structures Act, calling on the council to dissolve itself. The Makana Municipality’s failure to implement various court orders as well as the Financial Recovery Plan prepared for it, a lack of action on the Kabuso Report and the failure to conduct any forensic audit on the municipality’s finances or operations have led to resentment among Makana … [Read more...] about DA demands dissolution of Makana Municipal Council
The Pothole Province
DA calls for action against residents who destroy our road network Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance (DA) condemns the destruction of property in the strongest term. The Eastern Cape is well known as the “pothole province”. A contributing factor is the actions of residents on the N6 between Stutterheim and East London, who are destroying the road network to show their frustration. The DA is calling on all Law Enforcement Agencies to act swiftly to bring these perpetrators to book. … [Read more...] about The Pothole Province
DA takes a firm stance against incitement of xenophobic violence on social media following @Lerato_Pillay exposé
Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance (DA) is considering legislative options to specifically and explicitly make online disinformation campaigns designed to foment hatred and incite violence, a crime. This follows the revelation today that Sifiso Jeffrey Gwala, a former soldier, is the person behind the “anonymous” Twitter account previously known as @uLerato_pillay, which has been accused of inciting xenophobic tensions in South Africa. The Constitutional Court recently gave Parliament 18 … [Read more...] about DA takes a firm stance against incitement of xenophobic violence on social media following @Lerato_Pillay exposé
Darkness is killing the residents of Nelson Mandela Bay
Dear MyPE The inability of Nelson Mandela Bay’s ANC-led Coalition of Corruption government to keep streetlights burning in some of the Metro’s most crime-ridden communities has seen residents living in fear of the sun going down and the awaiting darkness. Last night, 22 September 2020, I conducted oversight inspections in Helenvale, Missionvale, Salt Lake and Extension 32 in Bethelsdorp and found these areas in total darkness. (see pics here, here and here) The lack of street lighting … [Read more...] about Darkness is killing the residents of Nelson Mandela Bay
Education Department’s PPE splurge added no value to local suppliers
Dear MyPE The last round of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) purchasing done by the Eastern Cape Department of Education (ECDoE) made little to no impact for local suppliers, had no lasting economic benefit and did not create any additional jobs in the province. This is substantiated by the publication of the supplier database, which the Democratic Alliance (DA) has been calling for, for months. The lists made it clear why the ECDoE have been reluctant to make the data available, as … [Read more...] about Education Department’s PPE splurge added no value to local suppliers
Emergency Service numbers still going unanswered
Dear MyPE Call centres for Emergency Medical Services (EMS) across the Eastern Cape Province are still almost impossible to reach, either on the 10177 number for landline users, or the 112 number for cell phone users. Hospital personnel and private individuals from the Nelson Mandela Metro, as well as the Sarah Baartman, Joe Gqabi and Chris Hani districts, have repeatedly complained that they battle to get any assistance on these numbers. In a recent parliamentary question to the MEC … [Read more...] about Emergency Service numbers still going unanswered
Department of Water Affairs EC emergency interventions highlight seriousness of ongoing drought
Dear MyPE The Department of Water Affairs (DWA) has this afternoon announced that R50 million will be spent on a once-off drought related intervention in Eastern Cape municipalities. The majority of this funding will be spent on the acquisition of static water tanks, that will be donated to municipalities. The department will, however, also assist with the carting of water to water scarce communities over a two month period. Whilst the DA welcomes any additional funding and support … [Read more...] about Department of Water Affairs EC emergency interventions highlight seriousness of ongoing drought
