Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance (DA) welcomes the quick about-turn announced today by Public Service and Administration Minister Senzo Mchunu on designating the Public Service Commission (PSC) as a “non-essential” institution. Following an announcement from the DA this morning that we were preparing to challenge the constitutionality of the government’s irrational decision to designate South Africa’s premier public service anti-corruption watchdog as “non-essential,” Mchunu a few … [Read more...] about Government forced to reopen anti-corruption watchdog
Letters to the Editor
Minister Cele must take responsibility for 32% increase in police abuses
Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance (DA) will table a motion of public importance for Parliament to debate the urgent need to demilitarise the police in South Africa. The White Paper on Policing and the National Development Plan (NDP) are clear on the need to demilitarise the South African Police Service (SAPS) but the Minister of Police, Bheki Cele, continues to ignore this urgent need. Minister Cele must take full responsibility for the escalation in police abuses during the lockdown … [Read more...] about Minister Cele must take responsibility for 32% increase in police abuses
World Trade Organisation report on e-commerce should jolt Patel into action
Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance (DA) takes note of a report issued by the World Trade Organisation (WTO) into e-commerce and the huge advantages that it holds for trade and retail during the Covid-19 pandemic. This report should be the electric shock to Trade, Industry and Competition Minister, Ebrahim Patel to finally jolt him into action to gazette the unfettered trade of e-commerce in South Africa. The report makes some interesting findings and comments including: "The … [Read more...] about World Trade Organisation report on e-commerce should jolt Patel into action
DSRAC must assist athletes and artists secure relief funding during lockdown
Dear MyPE The Eastern Cape Department of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture must urgently intervene and assist the many sportsmen and women, as well as artists and entertainers in the province, who qualify for relief funding. This follows the announcement by Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture, Nathi Mthethwa, has set up a relief fund, with R150 million allocated, to assist those affected by the lockdown. The sporting and cultural sector has been severely affected by this pandemic, … [Read more...] about DSRAC must assist athletes and artists secure relief funding during lockdown
On government designation of anti-corruption oversight as ‘non-essential’
Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance (DA) is outraged to learn that President Cyril Ramaphosa does not regard anti-corruption work and constitutionally-mandated oversight over the public service as an essential service. During a meeting of the portfolio committee on public service and administration yesterday afternoon, the Director-General of the Public Service Commission (PSC) revealed that Ramaphosa’s National Command Council (NCC) has classified all aspects of the PSC’s work, including … [Read more...] about On government designation of anti-corruption oversight as ‘non-essential’
Happy 175th Anniversary The Herald
Dear MyPE Happy 175th Anniversary to The Herald and the current staff that is fortunate enough to celebrate this milestone. I'm always inundated with WhatsApp messages, Calls, Facebook inboxes etc. of people who seem to think that I have esoteric information about the newspaper and its staff. It is particularly the most recent former editor Nwabisa Makunga (some even asking if we are cousins because of our square jaws, spectacles and/or the small gaps in our upper front teeth) whom they … [Read more...] about Happy 175th Anniversary The Herald
Sports, Arts and Culture relief applications not re-opened
Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance (DA) strongly opposes the decision by the Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture, Nathi Mthethwa, to not re-open the application process for artists and athletes to access relief funding to alleviate the calamitous impact of the Covid-19 lockdown on their livelihood. Instead of re-opening the application period to allow for a fair and equal opportunity for all artists to apply for relief, a decision was made to rather reassess applications which were … [Read more...] about Sports, Arts and Culture relief applications not re-opened
De Lille must play open cards on her seeming mismanagement of quarantine sites
Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance (DA) calls on Public Works and Infrastructure Minister, Patricia De Lille, to play open cards on her Department’s seeming mismanagement of quarantine accommodation for South Africans who are returning home. The Department of Public Work and Infrastructure (DPWI) has forked out more than R28 million on private-owned establishments to accommodate citizens who have to be quarantined. When Members of the Public Works Portfolio Committee asked the Minister … [Read more...] about De Lille must play open cards on her seeming mismanagement of quarantine sites
IMF petitioned to stop racially discriminatory use of Corona relief funds
Dear MyPE I have today sent a written petition to the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Ms Kristalina Georgieva, opposing in the strongest terms the use by the South African government of Corona disaster relief funds in a racially discriminatory way. As the majority of these relief funds come from a loan obtained from the IMF, I implore this international body to censure the South African government and instruct it to stop using IMF monies in a way that … [Read more...] about IMF petitioned to stop racially discriminatory use of Corona relief funds
Calls for urgent relief funding for Early Childhood Development sector
Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance (DA) calls on the Minister of Social Development, Lindiwe Zulu, to urgently consider relief funding for the Early Childhood Development (ECD) sector during this Covid-19 lockdown. Minister Zulu has to date not given any indication if and when the Department of Social Development will extend relief funding to the sector that has been hit hard by the Covid-19 lockdown. Due to the current lockdown regulations, ECD centres have had to close their doors. … [Read more...] about Calls for urgent relief funding for Early Childhood Development sector
PAIA application submitted for daily Eastern Cape coronavirus statistics
Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance has submitted a Public Access to Information Act (PAIA) Application to the Eastern Cape Department of Health, requesting daily statistics relating to the spread of Covid-19 be provided. On Monday the DA highlighted the lack of transparency and lack of reliable screening, testing, track and trace and other data being made available. Communication of statistics is irregular and inconsistent, which hampers planning an effective response. The DA in the … [Read more...] about PAIA application submitted for daily Eastern Cape coronavirus statistics
Legislature meetings unconstitutional if not accessible to the public
Dear MyPE Eastern Cape Provincial Legislature meetings could be deemed unconstitutional and the decisions taken therein overturned if they are not opened to the public. I have written to the Speaker, Helen Sauls August, in relation to her press release of 5 May, where she highlighted the fact that the Legislature is conducting its business through virtual meetings and is accessible to the media and civil society organisations. The Democratic Alliance is not satisfied that this goes far … [Read more...] about Legislature meetings unconstitutional if not accessible to the public
Inxuba Yethemba sewage crisis could increase risk of Covid-19 infections
Dear MyPE The total collapse of water and sanitation services under the stewardship of the inept Chris Hani District Municipality (CHDM) could have exponentially increased the chances of Coronavirus infections in Cradock and Middleburg. On Tuesday, 5 May 2020, I conducted oversight inspections at various waste water treatment plants and pump stations in the IYLM and found many to be non-operational or dysfunctional. The waste water treatment works in Cradock and Middleburg are still … [Read more...] about Inxuba Yethemba sewage crisis could increase risk of Covid-19 infections
Calls on Road Accident Fund to open offices to assist crash victims
Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance (DA) is calling on the Minister of Transport, Fikile Mbalula, to issue a directive for Road Accident Fund (RAF) employees to return to work, in accordance to Covid-19 protocols, to allow for the uninterrupted processing of claims and the continued payment of beneficiaries. Road accident victims applying or waiting for payment have found it impossible to get in touch with the fund. This is because the RAF closed its doors at the beginning of the Covid-19 … [Read more...] about Calls on Road Accident Fund to open offices to assist crash victims
About SAA’s Demise
Dear MyPE The bombastic title given to the ANC Anointed & SOUTH AFRICAN WHITE CAPITAL Approved individuals, namely the South African Airways' Business Rescue Practitioners is nothing more than a glossing over another Parastatal Parasitism & Paralysis (3P) case study. Instead of privatising SAA, the ANC's Black Educational Snobs (BES) and Verkrampte Witmense (VW) aka White Supremacists, which have prejudice based on deluded sense of superiority as a common denominator, decided to … [Read more...] about About SAA’s Demise
