Dear MyPE The Minister of Tourism, Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane, needs to decipher the hieroglyphics of the confusing “Alert Advanced Level 3” tourism regulations that she announced last week. The Democratic Alliance (DA) has spent the last week trying to make sense of these regulations without much success. At the media conference that the Minister hosted last week she stated that leisure accommodation will not be permitted. This contradicts the regulations which state that licensed and … [Read more...] about Calls for clarity on Tourism regulations
Letters to the Editor
Pre-pandemic budget adopted despite biggest health care crisis in a century
Dear MyPE The Eastern Cape Provincial Legislature have adopted a pre-pandemic budget, despite being hit by the biggest health care crisis in a century. Even though the Eastern Cape Health Department is collapsing under the pressure of increasing COVID-19 infections, the province has adopted a budget with almost no additional funding for this struggling department. The Democratic Alliance accepts that it is impossible to address all of the inherent, historically fiscal problems within … [Read more...] about Pre-pandemic budget adopted despite biggest health care crisis in a century
Eastern Cape Municipalities hit rock-bottom
Dear MyPE The Auditor General’s Report was especially damning for municipalities in the Eastern Cape – it showcases the deteriorating state of local government in the province – if you ever wondered what rock-bottom looks like – this is it! 83% of municipalities are facing significant cash-flow restraints. 38% of municipalities’ expenses exceed their revenue. 24 municipalities are unable to pay their creditors. Only 1 municipality received a clean audit. 15 municipalities … [Read more...] about Eastern Cape Municipalities hit rock-bottom
NMB ‘interim’ Mayor’s call to intensify lockdown a desperate move to hold on to power
Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance (DA) in the Eastern Cape wishes to state clearly that it does not support the call by Nelson Mandela Bay’s self-styled "interim" Mayor, Tshonono Buyeye, to intensify lockdown regulations in the Metro. “Interim” Mayor Buyeye’s call for a move back to Level 4 lockdown, seems to be more about preventing council from sitting to elect a permanent Executive Mayor in the Metro, than about addressing the Covid-19 pandemic. He is hell-bent on holding on to … [Read more...] about NMB ‘interim’ Mayor’s call to intensify lockdown a desperate move to hold on to power
Coalition of corruption not serious about unemployment in Nelson Mandela Bay
Dear MyPE. The inability of the NeIson Mandela Bay Municipality to spend grant funding meant to alleviate unemployment in a Metro that is beset by poverty, is a clear indication that the current ANC-led coalition of corruption does not have the interests of the people at heart. At a time when people are desperate for work and unemployment is skyrocketing, the municipality has failed to spend money given to them by national government, for the sole purpose of creating jobs. This came to … [Read more...] about Coalition of corruption not serious about unemployment in Nelson Mandela Bay
Government must decriminalise use of tobacco products during lockdown
Dear MyPE In a reply to a Democratic Alliance (DA) oral question in the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) this week, the Minister of Police, Bheki Cele said that to purchase a cigarette during the national lockdown is a crime and that there must be a kind of criminal record. Minister Cele was responding to a question I asked on whether convictions for purchasing cigarettes during the lockdown will lead to a criminal record. The ANC government’s stance on the matter is parochial … [Read more...] about Government must decriminalise use of tobacco products during lockdown
The Bridgette Motsepe-Radebe soapie
Dear MyPE Like a bad episode of Isidingo, the shenanigans surrounding the President’s sister in law, the Minister of State Security, an affair, a coup and a foreign country has South Africans shaking their heads in disbelief. Who but President Cyril Ramaphosa would think he had the right to allegedly send this country’s Minister of State Security to Botswana to try and strong-arm their President into dropping charges of money laundering and the financing of a coup attempt against his … [Read more...] about The Bridgette Motsepe-Radebe soapie
Who will be funding the obscene SAA business rescue plan, Minister Gordhan?
Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance (DA) will write to the Minister of Public Enterprises, Pravin Gordhan, to obtain clarity on the source or sources of funds which is required by the South African Airways (SAA) Business Rescue Plan as proposed by Les Matuson and Siviwe Dongwana, the SAA Business Rescue Practitioners. The Department of Public Enterprises (DPE) has repeatedly implied that funds are available to fund this obscene Business Rescue Plan. A statement issued by the Department … [Read more...] about Who will be funding the obscene SAA business rescue plan, Minister Gordhan?
Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality has been hijacked
Dear MyPE The Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality has been hijacked by dubious individuals whilst the Provincial Government has been sleeping. A letter from National Treasury addressed to Nelson Mandela Bay yesterday revealed that the metro administration has essentially forfeited R800 million in grant funding for the previous financial year and will also not be receiving a cent in grant funding for the new financial year until the city gets its house in order. Amongst the key … [Read more...] about Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality has been hijacked
Municipal financial woes deepen with illegally ‘passed’ budget
Dear MyPE The Dr Beyers Naude Local Municipality (DBNLM) is descending into financial chaos, with residents facing the very real possibility of being overcharged for rates and services, that may then have to be voided by the municipality, as the budget processes have been severely flawed. The municipality is of the opinion that the budget has been passed, but nothing could be further from the truth! Not only will this have dire consequences for the municipality, in terms of legitimate … [Read more...] about Municipal financial woes deepen with illegally ‘passed’ budget
Makana rates increases will batter suffering residents
Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance (DA) is outraged at the uncaring ANC-led Makana Municipality’s decision to increase refuse removal fees by 19% in the 2020/2021 financial year. This is one of the increases contained in Makana’s 2020/2021 municipal budget that was approved at a chaotic virtual council meeting held on Monday, 29 June 2020, in Makhanda. The town of Makhanda is littered with refuse and illegal dumping sites and yet residents are expected to pay more for a service that … [Read more...] about Makana rates increases will batter suffering residents
Supreme Court of Appeal rejects Unisa’s Afrikaans ban
Dear MyPE The Democratic alliance (DA) welcomes the Supreme Court of Appeal’s ruling that the removal of Afrikaans as a medium of instruction at the University of South Africa (Unisa) was unlawful and unconstitutional. This ruling is a victory for mother-tongue education and language diversity at tertiary institutions across the country. The DA has always been a strong proponent of mother-tongue education and we will never waiver from the constitutional principle that every South … [Read more...] about Supreme Court of Appeal rejects Unisa’s Afrikaans ban
Clear timelines required on SASSA’s new database for rejected Special Covid-19 R350 grant
Dear MyPE The Minister of Social Development, Lindiwe Zulu, must give clear timelines on when and how the new review process for the special Covid-19 Social Relief of Distress grant of R350 will come into fruition to avoid the confusion that has muddied the payment of these grants thus far. On Tuesday, South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) indicated that another database for rejected applications will be brought on board to review those applications that didn’t meet the relevant … [Read more...] about Clear timelines required on SASSA’s new database for rejected Special Covid-19 R350 grant
Department of Health fails Fort England Covid-19 response
Dear MyPE The Fort England Psychiatric Hospital, in Makhanda, has a full 40 bed unit to accommodate patients who test positive for Covid-19, but not a single professional nurse to work in it. This was revealed in an oversight visit conducted by myself and my colleague, Shadow Minister of Health Siviwe Gwarube, MP, from the National Assembly. The hospital management has made an impressive effort to rearrange the space available to create a 40 bed unit, with separate wards for males and … [Read more...] about Department of Health fails Fort England Covid-19 response
Calls for reopening of Sport, Arts and Culture Relief Fund applications and transparency on remaining funds
Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance (DA) calls on the Minister of Sports, Arts, and Culture, Nathi Mthethwa, to reopen the application process for the R150 million Sport, Arts and Culture Relief Fund. As on 30 May 2020, the Minister confirmed that around 2 000 athletes and artists had been successful in applying for relief funding and that funds had either already been disbursed or were in the process thereof. If only around 2 000 applicants had been successful, at a cap of R20 000 per … [Read more...] about Calls for reopening of Sport, Arts and Culture Relief Fund applications and transparency on remaining funds
