Dear MyPE The Eastern Cape Department of Education is an outright embarrassment, that seems more interested in allegedly awarding tenders to ANC Cadres, than they are about ensuring the safe return of learners who have lost more than two and half months of school. In a presentation on the weekend, Premier Oscar Mabuyane said that, as of Friday, 3197 of the 5105 schools still had not received any Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) for Learners, which means that these schools would not be … [Read more...] about EC Education Department an embarrassment as thousands of schools fail to reopen
Letters to the Editor
Hospital closures sign of deepening crisis in EC health
Dear MyPE Just when the Department of Health should be stepping up and caring for the sick and vulnerable, they are closing their hospital doors, because they haven’t taken sufficient measures to protect their own staff, who are at the frontline of the fight against the spread of Covid-19. In the past 24 hours they have had to close Livingstone Hospital in Nelson Mandela Bay and shut down three units in Cecilia Makiwane Hospital in East London. This is symptomatic of the deepening … [Read more...] about Hospital closures sign of deepening crisis in EC health
New Mayor must be elected
NMB interim mayor legally cannot pass budget Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Nelson Mandela Bay (NMB) has written to the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA), Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, and the Eastern Cape MEC for CoGTA, Xolile Nqata, and requested them to urgently intervene to ensure that an Executive Mayor is duly elected with all speed in the NMB Municipality. I have also previously written to the Speaker of Council, Cllr Buyelwa Mafaya, to request … [Read more...] about New Mayor must be elected
Cele must go!
Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance (DA) has noted that the ANC and its alliance partners COSATU and the SACP are hosting a media briefing today on their campaign against police brutality. The DA launched its campaign against police brutality at the beginning of the lockdown and has been dealing with hundreds of complaints from across the country. We welcome any campaign which acknowledges the senseless violence exerted on citizens by the police under the leadership of Minister Bheki Cele … [Read more...] about Cele must go!
R2,3 billion backlog in government payments crippling EC business
Dear MyPE A shocking R2,3 billion rand in outstanding payments in excess of 30 days, was owed by Eastern Cape government departments to suppliers for goods and services rendered, as at the end of February this year. There is no place for a job-crushing administration in these times. In a period like this, where businesses are battling to make ends meet and pay their staff, the non-payment for work runs contrary to any commitment to economic recovery. This uncaring approach to paying … [Read more...] about R2,3 billion backlog in government payments crippling EC business
Calls for transparency on Agriculture relief funding
Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance (DA) will write to the chairperson of portfolio committee on agriculture, land reform and rural development, Zwelivelile "Mandla" Mandela, to request a meeting with Minister Thoko Didiza and her Department to seek transparency on the lack of feedback on when the list of beneficiaries of the R1.3 billion Covid-19 Agricultural Disaster Fund will be made available. The Minister announced on 17 May that her Department has processed the applications and that it … [Read more...] about Calls for transparency on Agriculture relief funding
Nelson Mandela Bay has lost over R1-billion in electricity revenue over the past three years
Dear MyPE The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality has lost over R1-billion in revenue from electricity theft and technical losses over the last three years, up to and including February 2020. This was revealed in a response to a parliamentary question by the MEC of COGTA, Xolile Nqatha. The Democratic Alliance is calling on Nelson Mandela Bay to put a plan in place to eradicate illegal connections, and improve maintenance, to prevent further revenue losses. The only way to do this is by … [Read more...] about Nelson Mandela Bay has lost over R1-billion in electricity revenue over the past three years
NSFAS writes off R1.96 billion in historic debt
Dear MyPE The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) is currently in the process of writing off R1.963 billion in historic debt. This was revealed in a response by the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology, Blade Nzimande, to a Democratic Alliance (DA) parliamentary question. The DA calls on Minister Nzimande to give clarity on two things: What criteria have been used to write off this debt? and Who pays for the costs associated with the written-off debt, … [Read more...] about NSFAS writes off R1.96 billion in historic debt
Premier must place MEC on special leave & finalise investigations
Dear MyPE Premier Oscar Mabuyane must place the Transport MEC, Weziwe Tikana-Gxotiwe on precautionary special leave, and provide clarity regarding the investigation of the Department of Transport by Provincial Treasury. More than a month has passed since the announcement of the investigation by the Premier, on 1 May, with no further details on whether the investigations have begun, if timeframes have been set, or if there have been any preliminary findings. Yesterday’s dismissal of the … [Read more...] about Premier must place MEC on special leave & finalise investigations
Keeping registered ECDs closed is counterproductive
Dear MyPE Privately owned registered Early Childhood Development centers (ECDs) remain closed under level 3 lockdown, while Minister for Social Development, Lindiwe Zulu in partnership with the Nelson Mandela Foundation launched a campaign: Vangasali-Every Child Counts Campaign, on 2 June 2020. The campaign is expected to target unregistered ECD centres in three phases namely: find and count (phase 1), categorise (phase 2) and intervention (phase 3), with the view of assisting them to meet … [Read more...] about Keeping registered ECDs closed is counterproductive
Makana Municipality delaying the inevitable at ratepayers’ expense
Dear MyPE Yesterday, 2 June 2020, the Makana Municipal Council held their first virtual council meeting. A resolution was passed granting the Municipal Manager, Mr Moppo Mene, the authority to appeal against the recent high court order to dissolve the Makana Council. The resolution was opposed by all 7 DA councillors and the 2 EFF councillors. All 14 ANC councillors present voted for the resolution. The resolution reads: a) That the Council gives a mandate to the Municipal Manager … [Read more...] about Makana Municipality delaying the inevitable at ratepayers’ expense
Tourism plan will save 1.2 Million livelihoods
Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance (DA) today unpacked our plan to save the tourism industry and ensure the livelihoods of some 1.2 million people are not destroyed in the economic fallout of the Covid-19 lockdown. This follows a revelation by the Minister of Tourism, Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane, that the sector will only reignite by December this year. By that time most of the tourism, travel and hospitality industries will be decimated. Unfortunately, the Department of Tourism’s answer to … [Read more...] about Tourism plan will save 1.2 Million livelihoods
Premier must ensure the return of Sibusiso Qongqo’s remains from Cuba
Dear MyPE Premier Oscar Mabuyane must ensure that the remains of Sibusiso Qongqo, a medical student who passed away while studying on a government bursary in Cuba, are returned home so that his family can bury him. The Premier also needs to have a frank discussion with his MEC of Health, Sindiswa Gomba, as her handling of this matter is lacking in the extreme. It is devoid of any compassion or care for the family that have lost a beloved son. Qongqo, 30, died in Havana, Cuba on April … [Read more...] about Premier must ensure the return of Sibusiso Qongqo’s remains from Cuba
Economic recovery plan and budget proposals to save NMB after lockdown crisis
Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance (DA) has formulated an extensive economic recovery plan and proposals for the 2020/2021 municipal budget to avoid the possible total economic collapse of Nelson Mandela Bay brought on by the Covid-19 lockdown crisis. The NMB municipality will have to assist in ensuring that the negative economic effect is kept to as low a degree possible. Our economic recovery plan identifies the following key areas of intervention in responding to the crisis, and the … [Read more...] about Economic recovery plan and budget proposals to save NMB after lockdown crisis
It Seems Like the Counting Challenge Runs in the Family Minister Dlamini-Zuma
https://youtu.be/nqNa6992ih4 Our friend Jacob starts spreading the counting virus... DA to lodge Ethics complaint against Minister Dlamini-Zuma over misleading cigarette-ban claims Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance (DA) will lodge a complaint with the Joint Committee on Ethics and Members’ Interests against Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) Minister, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, regarding the fact that she misled the public to justify the ban on tobacco product sales … [Read more...] about It Seems Like the Counting Challenge Runs in the Family Minister Dlamini-Zuma
