Dear MyPR Land invaders who have illegally settled on a stretch of wetland in the Bushmans area have placed their own lives at risk, as they have built their homes in an area prone to flooding. Even more disconcerting is that they have allegedly done so with the permission of local government officials. Yesterday I conducted an oversight inspection in the area, accompanied by local DA councillors Jocelyn Guest and Phil Kani, after the matter was brought to our attention During the … [Read more...] about Wetland invaders placing themselves at risk
Letters to the Editor
Walter Sisulu Municipality can’t even keep its own lights on
Dear MyPE The Walter Sisulu Municipal offices in James Calata (Jamestown) have had their electricity cut, leaving the community without a functional municipal office. Eskom cut the electricity to the offices on 21 August 2020 due to non-payment of their electricity bill. Three weeks later and the electricity has not been reconnected, one assumes because the bill has still not been paid and that Eskom is tired of the poor payment record of the Walter Sisulu municipality. Residents of … [Read more...] about Walter Sisulu Municipality can’t even keep its own lights on
Government must lift the curfew, open borders and resume a normal school week
Dear MyPE The DA calls on President Ramaphosa to end the curfew, open all sectors of the economy, and allow for international travel and a normal school week. Lockdown restrictions must be ended entirely and immediately, with the exception of mass gatherings in confined spaces. This severe and prolonged lockdown has plunged our economy, the lifeline of our society, into unprecedented crisis. We simply cannot afford the luxury of blanket restrictions on economic activity. Rather, government … [Read more...] about Government must lift the curfew, open borders and resume a normal school week
COGTA MEC must take decisive steps against OR Tambo District Municipality
Dear MyPE The OR Tambo District Municipality is failing to provide the most basic services to its people, and highlights how the ANC instilled culture of lack of accountability is collapsing government services across the province. The primary objective of this district municipality should be to implement water and sanitation services projects, address backlogs and improve the life of its citizens. Instead it is robbing the people of their basic human rights and dignity. The Democratic … [Read more...] about COGTA MEC must take decisive steps against OR Tambo District Municipality
EC NPOs go unpaid while DSD staff strike for six months
Dear MyPE More than 60% of Non-Profit Organisations in the Eastern Cape did not receive a single cent of their 2020/2021 subsidy payments from the Department of Social Development (DSD). In a very delayed response to a parliamentary question from the DA, Social Development MEC, Siphokazi Mani-Lusithi has now confirmed that of the 2661 department-funded NPOs in the province, by July, 1611 NPOs had still not received any subsidy payments for the new financial year. The MEC has blamed the … [Read more...] about EC NPOs go unpaid while DSD staff strike for six months
Better services needed to support the victims of Gender Based Violence
Dear MyPE There is a dire need for better support services for the victims of Gender Based Violence (GBV) at police stations across the country. Today I was accompanied by EC DAWN Chairperson, Georgina Faldtman DA BCM Coastal Constituency Leader, Chantel King, MP, and other DA representatives while doing an oversight inspection at the Buffalo Flats Police Station. During the oversight it came to light that they station only has one officer appointed to offer support to GBV victims, and … [Read more...] about Better services needed to support the victims of Gender Based Violence
New moms forced to sleep on floor in Frere Hospital
Dear MyPE Young mothers at Frere Hospital in Buffalo City Metro, most of whom have just had Caesarean sections and whose babies are in the Intensive Care unit, have been relegated to a small room in the hospital, and are forced to sleep on mattresses on the floor. Far worse, however, is that they have reportedly received no care for their Caesarean wounds, they are completely unable to practice any form of social distancing, and they are not allowed to leave the room. This inhumane … [Read more...] about New moms forced to sleep on floor in Frere Hospital
Urgent investigation into procurement of temporary structures needed
Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance is calling for an urgent investigation into the procurement of temporary structures by the Department of Human Settlements in the Eastern Cape. These temporary structures were procured through deviation and without a competitive bidding process This was revealed in a response to a parliamentary question from the DA to MEC of Human Settlements, Nonkqubela Pieters. In the response MEC Pieters said 15 suppliers had been appointed through deviation, without … [Read more...] about Urgent investigation into procurement of temporary structures needed
Extended lockdown a last attempt by ANC to loot dwindling State coffers
Dear MyPE The extension of the National State of Disaster to 15 October 2020 by the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, is just a another attempt by an autocratic regime to cling onto its dictorial powers and loot what’s left of relief funding. This extension has nothing to do with saving lives and has everything to do with the ANC’s unfettered urge to empty South Africa’s dwindling State coffers. Recently, President Cyril Ramaphosa was … [Read more...] about Extended lockdown a last attempt by ANC to loot dwindling State coffers
Zimbabwe Fact Finding Mission
Dear MyPE It seems to me, however cynical I might sound, that Ace Magashule & Crew's fact finding and/or mediation mission to Zimbabwe is more than meets the eye. It seems that the ANC is primarily there to share notes with the ruling ZANU-PF on the Longevity of Liberation Movements that are way past their Sell-By dates. Regards Luyanda Marlon Kama Kwa-Dwesi, Port Elizabeth. … [Read more...] about Zimbabwe Fact Finding Mission
Calls for an independent task team to oversee administrative intervention of Cricket South Africa
Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance (DA) calls on the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) to appoint an independent task team to oversee the administrative intervention at Cricket South Africa (CSA) in light of their unprecedented move to place CSA under administration. SASCOC has reportedly decided to intervene in the affairs of CSA following instances of maladministration and malpractice. While any action to get CSA back on track is laudable, the DA is … [Read more...] about Calls for an independent task team to oversee administrative intervention of Cricket South Africa
Dark days loom for Dr Beyers Naude
Dear MyPE Three towns in Dr Beyers Naude Local Municipality are, once again, facing the threat of hours and hours of electricity supply interruptions by Eskom because the Municipality has failed to honour the last repayment plan agreed to. Residents in Steytlerville, Jansenville and Willowmore are horrified at the prospect of 6.5 hours without electricity a day for the first week, escalating to 14 hours a day from the second week, if there is no resolution. These power cuts will have a … [Read more...] about Dark days loom for Dr Beyers Naude
First quarter crime stats still show worrying trends for EC
Dear MyPE Despite the overall decline in crime incidents, which can be attributed to the strict lockdown measures that were put in place, there are still areas that bucked the trend the Eastern Cape. This was revealed in the first quarter police crime statistics, which were unpacked by MEC of Safety and Security, Weziwe Tikana-Gxothiwe, today. The DA welcomes the long overdue quarterly release of statistics, as this will play an important role in informing communities of the relevant … [Read more...] about First quarter crime stats still show worrying trends for EC
Dear President Ramaphosa: Fire Public Service Commission Director-General or face legal action
Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance (DA) has been informed that the disciplinary hearing of the Director-General of the Public Service Commission (PSC), Dr Dovhani Mamphiswana, will conclude today. This comes after an investigation conducted by advocate Smanga Sethene from the Office of the State Attorney recommended as far back as February that action be taken against Mamphiswana for illegally hiring his mistress as the head of professional ethics at the PSC. Seven months later, President … [Read more...] about Dear President Ramaphosa: Fire Public Service Commission Director-General or face legal action
Council minutes confirm that new BCM budget is illegal
Dear MyPE The recently imposed rates and tariff increases in Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality are technically illegal, as the 2020/2021 budget was illegally adopted by the ANC-led council in June. This illegal decision places the municipality at significant risk of litigation which could bring a halt to service delivery at a significant cost to the already overburdened ratepayers. The illegality of the budget has been confirmed by the minutes of the 29 June 2020 meeting, which … [Read more...] about Council minutes confirm that new BCM budget is illegal
