Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance (DA) is repulsed by the level of selfishness displayed by the National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu) at a time of national crisis. In the midst of this ANC lockdown crisis, Nehawu has conclusively demonstrated to South Africans that they are prepared to doom millions of people in the productive private sector to destitution, just to further add to the ill-gotten gains of incompetent ANC cadres in the public service. This comes … [Read more...] about Disgusted by Nehawu’s plan to capture lockdown crisis relief funds
Letters to the Editor
Minister De Lille scapegoats DPWI officials over Beitbridge Border Fence debacle
Dear MyPE In response to a Parliamentary question by my colleague, Adrian Roos MP, regarding the procurement process that was followed in the R37.2 million Beitbridge Border Post fence, Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure, Patricia De Lille, once again absolves herself from any responsibility. Instead of answering the question directly, the Minister, in her usual fashion, hid behind responses such as the ”Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI) provided [her] with the … [Read more...] about Minister De Lille scapegoats DPWI officials over Beitbridge Border Fence debacle
Minister Motshekga expected to announce the opening of schools in Covid-ready provinces
Dear MyPE The Basic Education Minister, Angie Motshekga, is expected to address the nation tomorrow on the way forward in terms of the academic year. As the economy gradually reopens, schools will inevitably follow as parents return to work. South Africans are understandably anxious about their children returning to school, and they require peace of mind that the Department has a detailed plan in place to ensure that their children will be protected against the Covid-19 virus. The … [Read more...] about Minister Motshekga expected to announce the opening of schools in Covid-ready provinces
Smoke and Mirrors: Sisulu scrambles for cover
The DA is deeply concerned by the gravity of allegations made, and believe it critical that the media understand the alternative side of the story being peddled by #AnitCorruptionSisulu Dear MyPE The Minister of Water and Sanitation and Human Settlement, Lindiwe Sisulu's press conference today was a deliberate attempt by her spin doctors to obscure serious, criminal claims faced by the Minster with specific reference to alleged tender meddling at Amatola and Lepelle Water Boards. The … [Read more...] about Smoke and Mirrors: Sisulu scrambles for cover
The Level 4 madness continues
Minister Zulu now wants to ban cooked food distributed to the hungry Dear MyPE It has come to light that Social Development Minister, Lindiwe Zulu, is considering draft directions on the distribution of food parcels that will see civil society organizations (CSOs) prohibited from distributing cooked food to the hungry. According to the draft directions, CSOs will only be allowed to deliver food parcels– not cooked meals. The document also suggests that these directions will be the … [Read more...] about The Level 4 madness continues
How did SA Express use R1.2 billion in bailouts before liquidation?
Dear MyPE SA Express did not report on key compliance requirements for taxpayer-funded bailouts to the value of R1.2 billion over the last year and the additional R164 million allocated in the medium term. This information was tabled in a report provided to Parliament’s Appropriations Committee this week. As a condition of its bailout, SA Express was required to “report to the Minister of Finance, the Auditor General of South Africa and parliament on the utilization of the R1.2 billion … [Read more...] about How did SA Express use R1.2 billion in bailouts before liquidation?
Minister Patel should be fired
Patel gazettes 'Alice in wonderland' clothing list Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance (DA) is stunned by the bizarre and extraordinary clothing list that has been gazetted by Trade, Industry and Competition Minister, Ebrahim Patel which seems to have been plucked from Alice in Wonderland. These new clothing regulations are frankly mad and seem more at place during the 1980's under the Soviet Union than they do in a democracy like South Africa. There is simply no justification for the … [Read more...] about Minister Patel should be fired
Government should follow the correct processes in spite of Covid-19 pandemic
Dear MyPE The DA in the Eastern Cape condemns the R160 million contract that has allegedly been awarded to the Sizwe Africa IT Group by the Eastern Cape Department of Education (ECDoE). It is alleged this happened without a competitive bidding process taking place. The Sizwe IT Africa Group is owned by known ANC acolyte Iqbal Survé. Mr Survé has long been embroiled in having workers’ pension money pumped into his failing business ventures by the Government Employees Pension Fund … [Read more...] about Government should follow the correct processes in spite of Covid-19 pandemic
Condolences to the family and friends of Dr Clarence Mini
Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance (DA) has learnt with great sadness of the passing of the chairperson of the Council for Medical Schemes (CMS), Dr Clarence Mini, due to Covid-19 complications. Dr Mini’s passing is a loss to the South African health industry. His role as chairperson of CMS was critical in the crafting of the country’s Universal Health Care path. During all my interactions with Dr Mini in Parliament he demonstrated compassion, kindness and a deep understanding of South … [Read more...] about Condolences to the family and friends of Dr Clarence Mini
Reopen professional non-contact sports codes under strict hygiene and health measures
Dear MyPE The financial insecurity resultant from the Covid-19 lockdown has had a major impact on athletes across South Africa and the Democratic Alliance (DA), therefore, calls on the Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture, Nathi Mthethwa, to reopen professional non-contact sports codes under strict hygiene and social distancing measures. Our calls come in light of the Minister’s refusal to reopen the application period for athletes and artists to access the Department’s Arts and Sports … [Read more...] about Reopen professional non-contact sports codes under strict hygiene and health measures
Address the nation, President Ramaphosa. It’s been 19 days.
Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance (DA) calls on President Ramaphosa to come out of hiding and address the nation on the escalating Lockdown Crisis. It has now been 19 days since the President last spoke to South Africans about the government’s nationwide lockdown in response to Covid-19. Since his announcement of a move to Level 4 of the lockdown, he has been missing in action and has left it to a handful of ministers to communicate the questionable decisions of the National Command … [Read more...] about Address the nation, President Ramaphosa. It’s been 19 days.
SAA still not paying employee taxes over to SARS
Dear MyPE It has come to the attention of the Democratic Alliance (DA) that South African Airways (SAA) is still not tax-compliant, despite this being a condition of tens of billions of Rands taxpayer bailouts to the ailing state-owned company. This was revealed in a report tabled to Parliament’s Appropriations Committee on the 11th of May 2020. Last year, in an attempt to begin to institute financial controls over SAA, National Treasury imposed the following condition onto SAA in return … [Read more...] about SAA still not paying employee taxes over to SARS
NMB must cease extracting water from Kouga Dam
https://youtu.be/F_EDeW-VL10 The Q&A session video from the DA Day Zero Press Conference is above. Dear MyPE The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality must immediately cease all extraction of water from the Kouga Dam if the residents of the Kouga Municipality and the farmers of the Gamtoos River Valley are to survive. It has been calculated that the Kouga Dam will be at 5,6% of capacity by the end of June. Furthermore, 3,1% of this total is dead capacity, as it cannot be extracted from the … [Read more...] about NMB must cease extracting water from Kouga Dam
Relief proposal to mitigate impact of lockdown crisis on NMB economy
https://youtu.be/Y57Tey4-unw The Democratic Alliance presented a press conference today on measures to protect the Nelson Mandela Bay Economy during the COVID-19 Pandemic Lockdown. The video above is of the Q&A Session after the presentation. Dear MyPE The economic despair residents and businesses find themselves in is a direct consequence of the way the Covid-19 pandemic national lockdown crisis has been impacting the Nelson Mandela Bay. While there is radio silence from the ANC-led … [Read more...] about Relief proposal to mitigate impact of lockdown crisis on NMB economy
Department has wrong approach to Tourism
Dear MyPE The results of a survey conducted for the Tourism Business Council of South Africa (TBCSA) in collaboration with the Tourism Department and the International Finance Corporation released this week shows that the tourism sector has been severely negatively affected by Covid-19 and the measures taken to reduce the spread of it. Of the respondents that participated in this survey, 99% of them have been affected by the pandemic. The survey found that due to the lockdown the supply … [Read more...] about Department has wrong approach to Tourism
