Dear MyPE Funeral undertakers in the Buffalo City Metro are struggling due to the repeated closure of Home Affairs offices for deep cleaning and decontamination as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. In recent weeks there have been instances of the offices in East London, Mdantsane and King William's Town being closed down simultaneously, and local undertakers have had to travel to Komani (Queenstown) to obtain death certificates. When the doors of the East London Home Affairs office are … [Read more...] about Bodies piling up in BCM as Home Affairs fails to issue death certificates
Letters to the Editor
Libraries remain closed while NMB coalition of corruption drags its feet
Dear MyPE It has been more than a month since national government announced the reopening of libraries, but still it seems that the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality has no concrete plan in place to expedite the opening of these valuable resources. Schools reopened this week and learners will be in desperate need of research material and study areas that can be provided by the Metro's libraries. Many residents are also heavily reliant on libraries as a source of information and … [Read more...] about Libraries remain closed while NMB coalition of corruption drags its feet
Hello Darkness my Old Friend
Eskom once again plunges SA into darkness Dear MyPE South Africa has once again been plunged into darkness this morning when stage 2 load shedding was implemented countrywide due to the delay to return five generation units to service and a further two units went offline. Eskom has issued warnings of a "severely constrained" power system and has urged "the people of South Africa to reduce electricity consumption in order to help us power the country through the evening peak." This … [Read more...] about Hello Darkness my Old Friend
What is Minister Mantashe doing to secure SA’s electricity supply?
Dear MyPE With South Africa having returned to stage 2 load shedding this morning, and some 11 000 MW of Eskom generation capacity out of operation, the question has to be asked: What is the Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy, Gwede Mantashe, doing to secure South Africa’s electricity supply? The answer, sadly, is precious little. In December 2019, when load shedding peaked at stage 6, the President and Minister Mantashe committed to an Emergency Power Procurement programme to add 2 … [Read more...] about What is Minister Mantashe doing to secure SA’s electricity supply?
Eastern Cape farmers continue to suffer under drought stranglehold
Dear MyPE The Eastern Cape is still suffering from one of the worst droughts in human memory while the provincial government is doing nothing to assist farmers in their time of need. I recently conducted oversight inspections of the drought conditions in these areas, and have compiled a detailed report which has been handed over to the Eastern Cape Standing Committee on Rural Development and Agrarian Reform. Farmers, especially in the south-western parts of the Eastern Cape, which … [Read more...] about Eastern Cape farmers continue to suffer under drought stranglehold
Time to end hard lockdown
Dear MyPE The DA calls on President Ramaphosa to end the hard lockdown now, including the irrational bans on tobacco and alcohol. The tourism industry, schools, and borders need to be fully opened, the curfew lifted, and the state of disaster ended. It is high time for Ramaphosa to grow a spine, stand up to his party and start putting South Africa first. South Africa’s daily Covid-19 infection rate is declining, taking pressure off our public health system. At the same time, our … [Read more...] about Time to end hard lockdown
ILS? What ILS?
Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance (DA) calls for the South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) management to be immediately suspended and investigated for severe negligence. This comes after we have learned that the precision runway approach aid equipment that assists with the landing of aeroplanes has been turned off at various South African airports since 10 August 2020. This severely dangerous state of affairs is due to the failure of the SACAA to take action when the equipment … [Read more...] about ILS? What ILS?
Why Stomping Stella must be fired
Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance (DA) has in its possession a copy of the letter written by lawyers on behalf of the South African Post Office (SAPO) Chairperson, Ms Tshikane Makhubele, to Communications and Digital Technologies Minister, Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams, questioning the legality of her decisions to remove the SAPO Chairperson and her attempts to overturn decisions taken by the SAPO Board. The letter, referring to myriad legislation, says Minister Ndabeni-Abrahams is constrained … [Read more...] about Why Stomping Stella must be fired
A Cheaper Electricity Bill
Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance (DA) has taken note of comments by André De Ruyter, the Eskom CEO, that he is hoping to revise and accelerate the initial timetable for unbundling and splitting the beleaguered power utility. We trust that unlike his predecessors, De Ruyter will keep this energy and momentum and follow through in creating a more stable and independent Eskom. It is for this reason that the DA will send him a physical copy of our Private Members’ Bill (PMB), the Independent … [Read more...] about A Cheaper Electricity Bill
Reins Remain in Steady Hands
Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance (DA) in the Eastern Cape and its members have shown faith in its current leadership by nominating unopposed Nelson Mandela Bay Councillor, Nqaba Bhanga, as Provincial Leader and Andrew Whitfield, MP, as Provincial Chairperson. This announcement follows an open and democratic nomination process. The decision by our members to re-elect the incumbent Provincial Leader and Provincial Chairperson is not only an endorsement of their leadership, but also a … [Read more...] about Reins Remain in Steady Hands
Ndlambe Municipality panders to unions by approving wage increases
Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance (DA) is appalled at the decision by the Ndlambe Municipal Council to approve a staff wage increase without considering the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the municipal budget and while corruption and maladministration are rife in the Municipality. The DA strongly opposed this decision that was taken at a council meeting on 4 August 2020 to approve the payment of 6,25% wage increments, as agreed upon in 2018 between Labour Unions and SALGA after a … [Read more...] about Ndlambe Municipality panders to unions by approving wage increases
When will July Ters applications open?
Dear MyPE The Minister of Employment and Labour, Thulas Nxesi, must indicate when July applications for the Unemployment Insurance Fund’s (UIF) Covid-19 Ters benefit will open. He owes it to the anxious and desperate workers of South Africa, who aren’t sure when their next pay cheque will arrive. The Ters scheme is due to come to an end on 15 August, and July applications still aren’t open. Applications for May opened late, at midnight on 26 May. Applications for June opened late, on … [Read more...] about When will July Ters applications open?
Excess deaths in Eastern Cape must be accounted for
Dear MyPE People are dying in much higher numbers in the Eastern Cape during the Covid-19 period. Excess deaths recorded in the province between June and July paint a dismal picture of potentially under reported Covid-19 fatalities, with almost four times as many excess deaths than the official Covid-19 total. Excess deaths are defined as deaths which occur in excess of what would normally be expected, based on historical figures. If these deaths prove to be Covid-19 related, it could … [Read more...] about Excess deaths in Eastern Cape must be accounted for
Alcohol Abuse Database Needed
Dear MyPE Yours truly is once again advocating for a national database wherein the names of individuals, who fight and often get admitted into hospitals upon getting unruly drunk, could be registered. This would ensure Jail Time, Alcohol Suspension and/or Counselling for repeating offenders; as in the driver's licence demerit system. The whole alcohol beverage business, which helps many families, cannot be held at ransom by a few lunatics that shouldn't be consuming alcohol in the … [Read more...] about Alcohol Abuse Database Needed
Government must act now against gender-based violence
Dear MyPE Today we commemorate Women’s Day, but as the scourge of violence against women and children escalates in the Eastern Cape, and across the country, it is very difficult to celebrate this day that so many brave women fought for. Women and children are being kidnapped, raped and killed on a daily basis and gender-based violence (GBV) has long ago reached crisis proportions – with the Eastern Cape being a particular hotspot for these heinous crimes. The recently released crime … [Read more...] about Government must act now against gender-based violence
