DA victorious in court application against NMB Speaker and Municipality Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance (DA) welcomes the judgment handed down in the Port Elizabeth High Court today where the judge ruled in favour of our urgent application to compel the Speaker of the Nelson Mandela Bay Council, Cllr Buyelwa Mafaya, to call a council meeting to elect an Executive Mayor. Judge Irma Schoeman ordered that the Speaker be directed to convene a council meeting within seven days of the … [Read more...] about Council Compelled to Meet and Elect Executive Mayor
Letters to the Editor
How government is destroying business in the Eastern Cape
R1.5 Billion in Outstanding Payments Dear MyPE Instead of helping businesses weather the COVID-19 pandemic and the economic fallout of the subsequent lockdown, the Eastern Cape government appears dead set in driving the final nail into the coffin, by withholding billions of rands owed to their service suppliers. This came to light during a briefing from the Eastern Cape Provincial Treasury to the Finance Portfolio Committee on the state of the provincial fiscus yesterday, ahead of the … [Read more...] about How government is destroying business in the Eastern Cape
Charges will be laid if Ndlambe reverse osmosis millions are not repaid
Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance (DA) will not hesitate to lay criminal charges after it came to light that Quality Filtration Systems (QFS) is unwilling to repay the R20 million it received in advance after being awarded the tender to provide a reverse osmosis plant for the Ndlambe Local Municipality. The DA has seen reliable correspondence by QFS director Musawenkosi Ndlovu, stating that “QFS has determined the equipment manufactured for the Kowie project is valued higher than the … [Read more...] about Charges will be laid if Ndlambe reverse osmosis millions are not repaid
100 000 Case Backlog at Forensics Labs
DNA delayed is justice denied for thousands of GBV victims Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance (DA) can reveal that the catastrophic backlog in processing DNA case exhibits at the National Forensic Science Laboratories (NFSL) is nearing 100 000 cases, denying thousands of victims of Gender-Based Violence (GBV), and other crimes, recourse to justice. The third quarter performance report presented to Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Police earlier this year by the South African Police … [Read more...] about 100 000 Case Backlog at Forensics Labs
Arrest of NMB Acting City Manager Mapu on corruption charges welcomed
Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance (DA) in the Eastern Cape welcomes the arrest of the Acting City Manager of the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality, Mvuleni Mapu, on charges of fraud and corruption in the early morning hours of today. According to the Hawks the charges against Mapu are based on actions within the Municipality’s department of human settlements, where he previously worked as the housing delivery director. The Hawks have further stated that Mapu allegedly received a bribe of … [Read more...] about Arrest of NMB Acting City Manager Mapu on corruption charges welcomed
Calls on Minister Motshekga to urgently address the nation on the readiness of schools
Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance (DA) calls on the Minister of Basic Education, Angie Motshekga to address the nation on the state of readiness of schools as the majority of the remaining Grades are set to return back to school on Monday, 24 August 2020. The reopening of schools is an unnerving time for South Africa’s parents, many of whom are scared about schools’ ability to ensure the health and safety of their children. The Minister will make a presentation on school readiness in … [Read more...] about Calls on Minister Motshekga to urgently address the nation on the readiness of schools
Shocking state of Finnis Street Sports Grounds must be addressed immediately
Dear MyPE Once one of the crown jewels of sport in Nelson Mandela Bay’s Northern Areas, the Finnis Street Sports Grounds are now little more than a health and safety hazard. A decade ago millions of rands were spent on upgrading this facility in the run-up to the 2010 football World Cup. Under the stewardship of the ANC-led coalition of corruption government, the Finnis Street Sports Grounds, its facilities and boundary walls are in a state of total disrepair. Buildings - which … [Read more...] about Shocking state of Finnis Street Sports Grounds must be addressed immediately
Where is the R20 million paid for unlawful desalinisation plant?
Dear MyPE More than a month after the Grahamstown High Court set aside the controversial and unlawful tender awarded to Quality Filtration Systems (QFS) for the Port Alfred Desalination Plant, and instructed QFS to repay the R20 million already illegally paid out, there is still no money in the municipality’s coffers. I will fight hard to roll back the frontiers of corruption in the Eastern Cape and ensure that residents can live a life of value. The tender was set aside due to the … [Read more...] about Where is the R20 million paid for unlawful desalinisation plant?
Hewu Hospital Hell
Dear MyPE Massive clinical and administrative staff shortages, access to water for only three hours a day and an emotionally exhausted frontline team – these are just a few of the many challenges facing the staff at Hewu Hospital in Whittlesea, near Queenstown. On a recent oversight visit to the hospital, I was shocked to discover how desperate staff shortages have impacted on the functionality of the hospital. Medical and surgical wards have had to be amalgamated, and these still only … [Read more...] about Hewu Hospital Hell
Kugandrie Govender Appointed as Cricket South Africa’s Acting CEO
Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance (DA) welcomes the appointment of Kugandrie Govender as Acting Chief Executive officer (CEO) of Cricket South Africa (CSA). Her appointment follows the resignation of Jacques Faul, who resigned from the post on recently. We wish her well, especially in light of the difficult period that the CSA management is going through. The DA cautions the Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture, Nathi Mthethwa to stop interfering in sports administrations, and that the … [Read more...] about Kugandrie Govender Appointed as Cricket South Africa’s Acting CEO
NMB residents hit with harsh water restrictions and tariffs, Municipality still quiet about water crisis plan
Dear MyPE The most recent water restrictions and punitive water tariff increases published by the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality, clearly highlights that the Metro has no comprehensive plan to mitigate the current water crisis in the City. The Municipality and the ANC-led coalition of corruption are hypocrites. The Metro must first remove the beam from its own eye and fix the water leaks and water-infrastructure before punishing residents for its failure to manage the City's … [Read more...] about NMB residents hit with harsh water restrictions and tariffs, Municipality still quiet about water crisis plan
Millions wasted on rectification of houses already built
Dear MyPE The Eastern Cape Department of Human Settlements is spending millions on fixing sub-standard houses built by contractors that clearly should not be doing business with the State. In his state of the province address at the beginning of the year, Premier Oscar Mabuyane made it clear that the Department should not be paying contractors to fix newly built houses. This message does not seem to have been received by the Human Settlements Department. In response to a … [Read more...] about Millions wasted on rectification of houses already built
ANC whitewashes Sizwe Africa IT deal in portfolio committee
Dear MyPE The ANC has whitewashed the awarding of a controversial R530 million contract to Sizwe Africa IT Group, which is a subsidiary of well-known ANC ally Iqbal Survé’s Ayo Technology Solutions. The ANC Education portfolio members have resolved to go ahead with the contract during the latest portfolio committee meeting, despite the vehement objections from opposition parties. It was clear from the outset of the meeting that the ANC members had been instructed to push through the … [Read more...] about ANC whitewashes Sizwe Africa IT deal in portfolio committee
Minister commits to no internet censorship in final FPB regulations and extends deadline for public comments
Dear MyPE The Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies, Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams has today committed to ensuring that the final version of so-called “internet censorship” regulations will not infringe on the constitutional right to freedom of expression. This was in response to a question posed by the Democratic Alliance (DA) to her this morning in a meeting of the Portfolio Committee on Communications and Digital Technologies as to whether Government would go ahead with the … [Read more...] about Minister commits to no internet censorship in final FPB regulations and extends deadline for public comments
Government support of EC economy now critical
Dear MyPE The tabling of the Eastern Cape Adjustments Appropriation Bill later this month is a unique opportunity for the ruling ANC to batten down the hatches and ensure that we survive the worst economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. It presents a unique opportunity to ensure that government plays the enabling roll that local business so desperately needs to survive. The economy of the Eastern Cape will not be spared the devastating impact that the COVID-19 lockdown has had on world … [Read more...] about Government support of EC economy now critical
