Dear MyPE The drastic water cuts on extraction from the Kouga Dam that are expected to come into effect from tomorrow, could be a devastating for Gamtoos Valley Farmers. The Democratic Alliance has reliably learnt that the Department of Water and Sanitation has cut the normal water allocation for agricultural use from the Kouga Dam by 80%. The 20% that is left over, which farmers can still extract, will not be sufficient to keep their orchards alive over the coming months. Thousands … [Read more...] about Drastic water cuts could be devastating for Gamtoos Valley Farmers
Letters to the Editor
Mkhize must place Eastern Cape Health under administration or accept responsibility for preventable deaths
Dear MyPE Over the past few weeks, we have seen a systemic collapse of the Eastern Cape health system which has placed thousands of lives in mortal danger. That is why the Democratic Alliance (DA) had written to the Minister of Health, Dr Zweli Mkhize, two weeks ago, making the case for the Eastern Cape Department of Health to be placed under administration according to Section 100 of the Constitution. The pace of intervention in this province is causing more senseless loss of lives. In … [Read more...] about Mkhize must place Eastern Cape Health under administration or accept responsibility for preventable deaths
Farm Murders: When will you speak up, Mister President?
Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance (DA) calls on President Cyril Ramaphosa to tell South Africa what his government will be doing to address the long-ignored and again increasing numbers of farm attacks and farm murders. Or is he going to continue to pretend that they are not happening, as he did in an infamous 2018 interview? Since the DA requested a debate of national importance in the National Assembly last week, there has not been a peep from the side of government indicating that it is … [Read more...] about Farm Murders: When will you speak up, Mister President?
National Treasury vindicates DA’s stance on NMB Mayor and Acting City Manager
Dear MyPE National Treasury has vindicated the Democratic Alliance (DA) stance that a permanent Executive Mayor must be elected in Nelson Mandela Bay in order for the Municipality to adopt a lawful budget and to not lose millions of rands in grant funding. This follows after the Metro’s unlawfully appointed and unqualified Acting City Manager, Mr Mvuleni Mapu, on 29 June 2020 received a letter from National Treasury stating that it considers it necessary to protect public funds by … [Read more...] about National Treasury vindicates DA’s stance on NMB Mayor and Acting City Manager
Chaotic NMB council adopts unlawful budget and appoints unqualified acting City Manager
Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance does not recognise the decisions taken during the deeply flawed and severely compromised Nelson Mandela Bay council meeting yesterday, and will, if necessary, seek legal advice. The ANC-led coalition of corruption and its deeply compromised and inept Speaker, Cllr Buyelwa Mafaya, once again showed the residents of Nelson Mandela Bay that they feel nothing for the rule of law or the Constitution, pushing through a budget under questionable circumstances … [Read more...] about Chaotic NMB council adopts unlawful budget and appoints unqualified acting City Manager
Nxesi must come clean on UIF imbroglio
Dear MyPE The Minister of Employment and Labour, Thulas Nxesi, must come clean on the reasons why the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) has still not opened June applications for the Covid-19 Ters benefit. There is clearly something desperately wrong at the UIF that goes beyond mere “systems glitches”. The Fund’s tardiness in disbursing benefits, which is having a devastating impact on the livelihoods of millions of workers and their families, raises a critical question: Is the UIF … [Read more...] about Nxesi must come clean on UIF imbroglio
South Africans to pay the price for Nersa’s “mistakes”
Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance (DA) calls on the Auditor General of South Africa to audit the National Energy Regulator of South Africa’s (Nersa) pricing and regulatory account determinations on an annual basis. Nersa has reportedly withdrawn oppositions in two court cases against Eskom and conceded to having made mistakes in calculating tariffs for the parastatal, costing Eskom billions in revenue. In a third court case, fault against Nersa has already been determined, and the fourth … [Read more...] about South Africans to pay the price for Nersa’s “mistakes”
Minister Mthethwa must provide support for online theater performances
Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance (DA) notes with concern that the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture seems to once again have released regulations without consulting those in the arts industry. It is time the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Nathi Mthethwa, truly engaged with the industry in ways that will assist, instead of hamper, the reopening the sector and help artist desperate to return to their craft and earn an income, by exploring support funding for artists and theaters … [Read more...] about Minister Mthethwa must provide support for online theater performances
How Much of Your Taxes Go To Public Servant Salaries
Dear MyPE Out of every R1 paid in taxes, 58 cents now goes towards paying the salaries of public servants – and that figure may soon increase to 61 cents. Alongside explosive spending on debt repayments, which now cannibalises 22 cents out of every R1 in tax revenue, this means that almost none of the taxes paid by South Africans are used for productive investments to grow the economy. With salaries and debt devouring 80% of all tax revenue, only 20 cents out of every R1 paid in taxes is now … [Read more...] about How Much of Your Taxes Go To Public Servant Salaries
Uitenhage’s Provincial Hospital severely underfunded
Dear MyPE The Uitenhage Provincial Hospital has been severely underfunded, because the Department of Health has incorrectly allocated funds to it as a district hospital, when it is, in fact, officially gazetted as a regional hospital. This is an unnecessary bureaucratic nightmare in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic. Wards stand empty at Uitenhage Provincial, while other hospitals across the metro have become overcrowded battlegrounds against the disease. The hospital is supposed to … [Read more...] about Uitenhage’s Provincial Hospital severely underfunded
RIP Cllr Lodewyk Gallant
Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance Eastern Cape, in the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality, is deeply saddened by the passing of one of its longstanding and respected colleagues, Councillor Lodewyk Gallant, who passed away yesterday. Lodewyk Gallant was a DA PR Councillor in Nelson Mandela Bay from 2016 and worked specifically in Ward 29. He will be remembered for his tireless fight against violence and unemployment in the Northern Areas of Port Elizabeth and his active participation in all … [Read more...] about RIP Cllr Lodewyk Gallant
Tourism Minister’s blocking of Charter Boats will kill tourism businesses
Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance (DA) on two separate occasions wrote to the Minister of Tourism, Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane, in order for her to address the shutdown of charter boats and the effect it has on the tourism sector, fishermen and jobs - particularly in KwaZulu-Natal. Since the lockdown was announced charter boats have not been permitted to operate, impacting over 50 different charter boats. The Charter Boat Association, for instance, has already committed to 7 key steps in … [Read more...] about Tourism Minister’s blocking of Charter Boats will kill tourism businesses
Government’s failure to provide regulations for restaurants and cinemas will lead to further action
Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance (DA) has written to Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, Small Business Minister Khumbudzo Ntshavheni and Tourism Minister, Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane demanding that the regulations for restaurants and cinemas to operate under "advanced level 3" are published by the close of business on Friday, 26 June 2020. It has now been eight days since President Ramaphosa announced that these sectors, as well as the personal … [Read more...] about Government’s failure to provide regulations for restaurants and cinemas will lead to further action
Minister Kubayi-Ngubane confirms (again) to Parliament that she doesn’t understand tourism
Dear MyPE The comments by the Minister of Tourism, Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane made during a National Assembly plenary session held on 23 June 2020, confirms that she simply has no clue as to how the tourism industry functions. In a reply to oral questions posed to her, the Minister described how the Department of Tourism will be providing a platform for online promotion of products by small and medium tourism enterprises that sell products such as clothing, handcraft and art. Tourists are … [Read more...] about Minister Kubayi-Ngubane confirms (again) to Parliament that she doesn’t understand tourism
VW Field Hospital
Dear MyPE Regarding the converting & naming of the Volkswagen's Neave plant in Port Elizabeth to a Dr. Elizabeth Mamisa Chabula-Nxiweni landmark confirms my former supposition that if you are not anointed by the ANC and/or not approved by South African White Capital then you will be subjected to Arrested Development. I still stand by my belief & observation that one of the CODESA Resolutions of yesteryear was the disregarding, if not outright oppression, of those who are not anointed by … [Read more...] about VW Field Hospital
