DA condemns utterances By COGTA MEC Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance (DA) strongly condemns the utterances made by COGTA MEC, Xolile Nqatha, at the memorial service of the late Buffalo City Metro Speaker, Alfred Mtsi. The MEC's comments highlight the extent to which the Eastern Cape has become the epicentre of corruption, and how the lack of consequence management is spreading like the virus. In the video circulating on social media MEC Nqatha is clearly heard stating, in no uncertain … [Read more...] about The Eastern Cape has become the epicentre of corruption
Letters to the Editor
More than 1000 bucket toilets found in one community
https://youtu.be/2Wg0-ZIs1yE Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance (DA) will be writing to the self-styled “interim” Mayor of the Nelson Mandela Bay, Cllr Tshonono Buyeye, to request an urgent audit of the number of bucket toilets still in use in the Metro. Today, 16 July 2020, I was joined by DA NMB Spokesperson for Infrastructure and Engineering, Cllr Masixole Zinto, and PE Northern Areas Constituency Chairperson, Cllr Rano Kayser, in conducting an oversight inspection at Vastrap, Port … [Read more...] about More than 1000 bucket toilets found in one community
Tourism Minister admits allegiance to the ANC trumps interests of South Africans
Dear MyPE At a meeting of Parliament’s Tourism Portfolio Committee this week, the Minister of Tourism, Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane, exposed herself by essentially admitting that she puts the interests of the ANC above the interests of South Africans. While discussing the regulations that are currently decimating the tourism sector, the Minister explained that there must be no ambiguity with regards her unequivocal support for Government. The Minister explained that she would always support … [Read more...] about Tourism Minister admits allegiance to the ANC trumps interests of South Africans
EC Health MEC must be fired
Sindiswa Gomba tries to shift blame for 'Scooter Scandal', again Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance (DA) calls for urgent intervention in the Eastern Cape health crisis. The Health MEC, Sindiswa Gomba, should be fired with immediate effect, and her Department should be put under administration. MEC Gomba has once again tried to shift the blame for her own and her Department’s failings, going as far as blaming apartheid for the “Scooter Scandal”. There should be no doubt that apartheid … [Read more...] about EC Health MEC must be fired
National drought relief funding for Eastern Cape woefully inadequate
Dear MyPE National government have made R35 million available for drought relief funding that, while welcomed, is woefully inadequate to meet the needs of farmers who have been severely impacted by the worst drought on record. This is in response to the application submitted in November last year, where the province asked for R643 million in drought assistance from National Treasury, and comes at a time when Provincial Treasury has already projected a decline of 4.4% in agricultural … [Read more...] about National drought relief funding for Eastern Cape woefully inadequate
Grave concerns as Covid-19 sweeps through Nelson Mandela Bay
Dear MyPE The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality is ill equipped to deal with the tragic increases in death rates due to the Covid-19 pandemic, because the uncaring ANC-led coalition of corruption government has failed to put plans in place. As a result, mortuaries are overflowing and cemeteries in the Metro are already at 60% of capacity. Undertakers and other stakeholders have raised concerns with the Metro’s inability to deal with the current crisis, frequently changing policies … [Read more...] about Grave concerns as Covid-19 sweeps through Nelson Mandela Bay
Criminal charges laid against Ndlambe Municipal Manager
Dear MyPE On 13 July 2020, we 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 offence. This case arises from the judgement against Ndlambe Municipality in the Grahamstown High Court last week, which found that the awarding of a tender to Quality Filtration Systems for the installation of a … [Read more...] about Criminal charges laid against Ndlambe Municipal Manager
Gauteng Super Province
Dear MyPE It amazes me that after the most status-conscious province in South Africa, Gauteng, has gained the dubious accolade of being number 1 in Covid-19 infections, the whole country is being subjected to a Blanket Doghouse. However, fascism doesn't require consultation from outsiders anyway, as per ANC / COSATU / SACP Laager's apparent directive. The positive thing about this dictatorship, which was not applied when the Western Cape was the fore-runner in the rate of Corona … [Read more...] about Gauteng Super Province
Black Educational Snobs
Dear MyPE Our esteemed king of Black Educational Snob (BES), Thabo Mvuyelwa Mbeki, of the African Renaissance & The Native Intelligence vanity projects must be proud of his apparent specimen (excuse the pun) as in Drs. Zweli Mkhize & Bandile Masuku and Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng (Sunday Times' Hogarth column 12 July 2020). These three gentlemen make me repeat that Black Educational Snobs (BES) and Verkrampte Witmense (VW) aka White Supremacists belong to the same WhatsApp group => … [Read more...] about Black Educational Snobs
SA needs a Marshall Plan for building treatment and prevention capacity, not ineffective gimmicks and outright lies
Dear MyPE Tonight we saw a president so determined to avoid taking responsibility, that he now seeks to blame the very citizens he has failed to protect. [Full speech here] Government’s reintroduction of an alcohol ban and a night-time curfew is simply to distract from the real issue: the utter failure to build treatment and testing capacity. These ineffective gimmicks are an attempt to obscure the truth of our situation: that national government has completely and utterly wasted South … [Read more...] about SA needs a Marshall Plan for building treatment and prevention capacity, not ineffective gimmicks and outright lies
Coalition of corruption feels nothing for NMB’s poverty stricken residents
Dear MyPE The ANC-led coalition of corruption has yet again shown that it feels nothing for the suffering poor residents of the Nelson Mandela Bay, by slashing its budget for Assistance to the Poor Programme (ATTP). Whilst other municipalities have been setting aside additional funding to assist the poor amidst the Covid-19 pandemic, Nelson Mandela Bay sees it fit to reduce spending on the poor. The amount budgeted for ATTP in the Metro’s 2020/2021 budget is now only half of what the … [Read more...] about Coalition of corruption feels nothing for NMB’s poverty stricken residents
SIU must investigate Ndlambe Municipality’s unlawful drought mitigation tender
Dear MyPE The Special Investigation Unit must be tasked with investigating the controversial and unlawful tender awarded to Quality Filtration Systems (QFS) for the Port Alfred Desalination Plant. The Grahamstown High Court has set aside the tender, saying that the conduct on the part of the Ndlambe Local Municipality was beset with problems and irregularities and ran afoul of proper procurement procedure requirements. I have now written to Eastern Cape Premier, Oscar Mabuyane, to … [Read more...] about SIU must investigate Ndlambe Municipality’s unlawful drought mitigation tender
Ndlamde Municipality’s unlawful R111 million drought mitigation tender award
Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance (DA) has taken note of the damning judgement against the Ndlambe Local Municipality issued by Judge P. Zilwa in the Grahamstown High Court this week. The ruling, which related to the award of a tender for a 5 megalitre reverse osmosis plant costing in excess of R111 million to supplement the water supply in drought-stricken Port Alfred, is particularly harsh on the actions of Ndlambe Municipal Manager, Roly Dumezweni. The judgement sets aside the award … [Read more...] about Ndlamde Municipality’s unlawful R111 million drought mitigation tender award
A Tale of Two Systems
How public private partnerships could lift EC out of the clutches of Covid-19 Dear MyPE The private sector can build a fully equipped field hospital with 1450 beds in just seven weeks. The public health department has yet to lay a single brick in order to build much needed district field hospitals despite planning them for three months. This is a spectacular failure on the part of the state and highlights the need for public private partnerships. It is quite clear that the private … [Read more...] about A Tale of Two Systems
Understatement of the day
Eastern Cape Scooters are not suitable ambulances Dear MyPE In a reply to a parliamentary question posed by the Democratic Alliance (DA) on the suitability of the ‘Scooter Ambulances’ as a form of patient transport, the Minister of Health, Dr Zweli Mkhize, has confirmed that these scooters do not meet the basic Emergency Medical Services (EMS) regulations. The reply goes on further to state that these R10 million glorified wheelbarrows which have been procured with public money will … [Read more...] about Understatement of the day
