Dear MyPE While the best available estimates show that over 3 million people in the private sector have already lost their jobs and that a fifth of private sector employees did not receive a salary in June as a result of the ANC lockdown crisis, the DA can exclusively reveal that at least 84 337 cadres and public servants were paid their full salaries during the lockdown to do nothing. According to National Treasury, the average salary in the public service is R393 000 per annum, or R32 … [Read more...] about ANC paid cadres and state employees R11 billion not to work, while the lockdown destroyed the private economy
Letters to the Editor
Women deserve more than lip service this Women’s Day
Dear MyPE It’s that time of year again where South African women will be inundated with messages of how strong we are. We will be told how we are revered, treasured, beloved. “Wathint' Abafazi, Wathint' Imbokodo / You Strike A Woman, You Strike A Rock” will surely be quoted in many speeches, will adorn social media posts and used as an empty rallying cry. Reality is that being a woman in South Africa is the most frightful thing and the truth is that the only reason women are regarded as … [Read more...] about Women deserve more than lip service this Women’s Day
Legal pressure forces CoGTA MEC to decide against NMB administration
Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance (DA) has been vindicated in its decision to take legal action regarding the threat of administration and the election of a Mayor in Nelson Mandela Bay. The Eastern Cape MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA), MEC Xolile Nqatha, has bowed to legal pressure from the DA and has confirmed that he no longer plans to dissolve the Nelson Mandela Bay Council. Last week Friday the DA submitted an urgent application in the Port Elizabeth … [Read more...] about Legal pressure forces CoGTA MEC to decide against NMB administration
Matter of Public Importance motion to NMB Speaker to debate drought crisis
Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance (DA) today submitted a matter of public importance for debate in Council regarding the Nelson Mandela Municipality's plan to mitigate the drought experienced in the Metro. I have written to the Speaker of the Nelson Mandela Bay Council, Cllr Buyelwa Mafaya, and requested this debate in terms of Rule 28 of Council Rules: Matter of Public Importance. The combined levels of the Metro's main supply dams recently dropped below 17% and Day Zero is now … [Read more...] about Matter of Public Importance motion to NMB Speaker to debate drought crisis
Ten years and R24 million later, still no swimming pool for Butterworth
Dear MyPE Ten years have passed and more than R24 million spent on upgrading the Butterworth Swimming pool that has, to date, still not opened its doors to the public. The swimming pool has become a bottomless money pit, with the costs for the upgrade more than doubling from the initial R10,1 million initially quoted. This is just one more mismanaged project in a province that is drowning in maladministration and corruption. This was revealed in response to a parliamentary question … [Read more...] about Ten years and R24 million later, still no swimming pool for Butterworth
Tackling Covid corruption requires action, not inter-ministerial window dressing
Dear MyPE The inter-ministerial committee set up by President Ramaphosa to probe his own party’s Covid procurement corruption is, like every other inter-ministerial committee trotted out in the past, just window dressing to create the illusion of action. This toothless gathering of ANC cadres has no real capacity to investigate and prosecute those involved. But more importantly, it has no motivation to do so either. Never, in 26 years of ANC government, has the ruling party ever found … [Read more...] about Tackling Covid corruption requires action, not inter-ministerial window dressing
Detailed breakdown on beneficiaries of R150m Sports and Arts Relief Funds need – Numbers don’t add up
Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance (DA) has written to the Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture, Nathi Mthetwa, to gain clarity regarding how his Department has spent the R150 million Sports and Arts Relief Funds. While the DA does support and appreciate that more relief funding will be made available and that the process will be reopened for our artists and athletes that are desperate for support – there is still much confusion regarding the amount of money that has been spent on relief … [Read more...] about Detailed breakdown on beneficiaries of R150m Sports and Arts Relief Funds need – Numbers don’t add up
Hawks investigation into unlawful and irregular Ndlambe tender
Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance (DA) welcomes the investigation by the Hawks into the unlawful and irregular awarding of a tender for the installation of a reverse osmosis plant by the Ndlambe Local Municipality. On 13 July 2020, the DA opened a criminal case against Ndlambe Municipal Manager, Rolly Dumezweni, at the Port Alfred Police Station. The case was opened in terms of s171 of the Municipal Finance Management Act (MFMA), which makes certain acts and omissions a criminal … [Read more...] about Hawks investigation into unlawful and irregular Ndlambe tender
Human Rights Commission to investigate Chris Hani District Municipality’s water and sanitation failures
Dear MyPE The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) has heeded the Democratic Alliance's (DA) call to intervene in the total collapse of water and sanitation services in the Chris Hani District Municipality (CHDM) and will be investigating the Municipality for human rights violations. Last month I submitted a dossier regarding these gross violations to the SAHRC and requested an investigation. The SAHRC has now confirmed that the complaint laid by the DA has been accepted and … [Read more...] about Human Rights Commission to investigate Chris Hani District Municipality’s water and sanitation failures
Education HOD perjured himself to avoid accountability
Dear MyPE Education Head of Department, Superintendent General Themba Kojana, has broken the law by providing false testimony and information to the Eastern Cape Portfolio Committee of Education, under oath. This is concerning the awarding of the controversial R530 million contract to Sizwe Africa IT Group, which is a subsidiary of well-known ANC ally Iqbal Survé’s Ayo Technology Solutions. This once against illustrates that the Eastern Cape is not only the epicientre of the … [Read more...] about Education HOD perjured himself to avoid accountability
Inter-provincial travel vital to save hunting industry
Dear MyPE The ban on interprovincial travel for hunting, as has been gazetted by Minister of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries, Barbara Creecy, continues to have a devastating effect on the hunting industry in the Eastern Cape. Although the minister has withdrawn the regulations banning overnight accommodation, she has not gone far enough, and her inaction is costing the industry millions in lost revenue, and places thousands of jobs on the line. Hunting excursions have decreased … [Read more...] about Inter-provincial travel vital to save hunting industry
Stock theft soars during lockdown in Eastern Cape
Dear MyPE Eastern Cape farmers are being bled dry by brazen stock thieves. While other crimes might have declined during the government's lockdown in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, there has been a massive surge in stock theft across the province. This is dealing a crippling blow to the already struggling agricultural sector. In response to a parliamentary question, MEC Weziwe Tikana Gqothiwe, revealed that, from 27 March until 22 June, 5 636 animals were stolen. This included 4480 … [Read more...] about Stock theft soars during lockdown in Eastern Cape
President Ramaphosa cannot afford to remain quiet regarding Zimbabwean atrocities
Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance (DA) calls for President Cyril Ramaphosa and Southern African Development Community (SADC) leaders to prevent, on a major scale, the erosion of human rights in Zimbabwe and any further decline in reputation and investment risk to the entire region. The DA has deep concerns over recent alleged human rights violations in Zimbabwe. Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa has failed the test for tolerance for the opposition and respect for the rule of … [Read more...] about President Ramaphosa cannot afford to remain quiet regarding Zimbabwean atrocities
Life sentence for murderer of NMB teenager
Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance (DA) welcomes the life sentence handed down to the killer of 17-year-old Zavier Jassen, who was gunned down in 2018 in Nelson Mandela Bay’s Northern Areas. Zavier, a learner at Gelvandale High School, needlessly lost his life in suspected gang-violence and was fatally shot in front of his family home in Helenvale. Today I attended the sentencing of Neville Von Belling, Zavier’s murderer. I can attest that although the wheels of justice turn slowly, they … [Read more...] about Life sentence for murderer of NMB teenager
Urgent answers sought over SANDF medical supply donations to Cuban government
Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance (DA) calls on the Department of Defense and Military Veterans to clarify the South African Defense Force (SANDF) donations of “medical material supplies” to the Cuban government. The ANC government has yet again used millions in public money to seemingly benefit the Cuban government. At the beginning of South Africa’s Covid-19 emergency relief efforts, it came to light that the government would fork out almost half a billion on Cuban doctors to assist in … [Read more...] about Urgent answers sought over SANDF medical supply donations to Cuban government
