Dear MyPE At a time when water is of the utmost importance in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic, the Nelson Mandela Bay and Kouga Municipalities are on the brink of Day Zero. The Democratic Alliance (DA) in the Eastern Cape has, therefore, come up with a plan that government can implement with immediate effect to avoid the Metro running dry. The City’s supply dams are at 22.16% of capacity. The Kouga dam is at 12.29%, followed by the Impofu dam (16.45%), Loerie dam (29.44%), … [Read more...] about Immediate steps must be taken to save NMB and Kouga from Day Zero
Letters to the Editor
NMB Public Health Committee oversight must continue through use of technology
Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Nelson Mandela Bay believes that the work of Council and its Committees’ cannot stop during a time of crisis. In fact it is more vital than ever that the Metro adapt and use technology to allow councillors to continue oversight. Since the announcement of the National Lockdown the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality (NMBM) Executive Committee has provided councillors with piecemeal information regarding the Metro’s response to the Covid-19 … [Read more...] about NMB Public Health Committee oversight must continue through use of technology
IPID must provide daily lockdown updates on police abuse
Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance (DA) calls on IPID to take the nation into their confidence by releasing daily updates on police abuses committed during the lockdown. The DA has received more than 500 complaints and queries on the Party’s dedicated WhatsApp line and email address to report police brutality since its launch at the beginning of the month. This week alone, we have seen disturbing reports of the police’s heavy-handedness: On Tuesday, a police vehicle allegedly ran … [Read more...] about IPID must provide daily lockdown updates on police abuse
Government must ensure that food production takes place
DA calls for farmers to receive essential service permits directly from Department of Agriculture Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance (DA) calls on the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD) to open all agriculture offices across the country to issue permits for small-scale farmers. The Department should directly issue essential service permits to small-scale farmers as the current process by which these permits are issued by municipalities, has proven to be … [Read more...] about Government must ensure that food production takes place
Dlamini-Zuma to the Rescue
Dlamini-Zuma comes to rescue Patel from his legal nightmare on cooked food Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance (DA) notes that the Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister, Nkosasa Dlamini-Zuma has swooped in at the last minute to rescue Trade, Industry and Competition Minister, Ebrahim Patel from a legal challenge which we were set to announce at 2pm today. Dlamini-Zuma has hurriedly amended the lockdown regulations to explicitly ban the sale of cooked foods in an attempt … [Read more...] about Dlamini-Zuma to the Rescue
NMB Speaker must investigate ANC councillors for allegedly contravening lockdown regulations
Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Nelson Mandela Bay will be writing to the Speaker of Council, Cllr Buyelwa Mafaya, to request that she investigate allegations of two ANC councillors contravening lockdown regulations during the Coronavirus pandemic. We have been informed that one councillor held a public meeting, while the other issued an essential services permit to a local taxi-driver, which he is not authorised to do. These actions are illegal in terms of the Covid-19 lockdown … [Read more...] about NMB Speaker must investigate ANC councillors for allegedly contravening lockdown regulations
Eastern Cape Social Development admits food parcels “very insufficient”
Dear MyPE The Eastern Cape Department of Social Development has admitted that the current budget available for food parcels for distribution to families in need due to the current Coronavirus outbreak in the province, is “very insufficient”. In response to a letter I wrote to the MEC for Social Development, Siphokazi Mani-Lusithi, last week, the Department has confirmed that the Provincial SASSA funding allocation for the 2020/2021 financial year, totalling R45,5 million, is enough to … [Read more...] about Eastern Cape Social Development admits food parcels “very insufficient”
SARS should pay out Covid-19 Ters benefit
If UIF is not up to the task Dear MyPE If the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) is unable to cope with processing and paying out a high volume of Covid-19 Ters benefit applications, then this function should be handed over to the South African Revenue Service (SARS). In the ordinary course of events, SARS collects UIF money paid over by employers and transfers it to the UIF. SARS has the expertise and sytems to pay over the Covid-19 Ters benefit to employers swiftly. In any event, the … [Read more...] about SARS should pay out Covid-19 Ters benefit
Urgent budget amendments could free up R1-billion to help fight Coronavirus
Dear MyPE Urgent amendments to the Eastern Cape budget allocations could be made that would free up R1-billion in funds, which could be given to the Department of Health to assist in the fight against the Coronavirus in the province. I have written to the Finance MEC, Mlungisi Mvoko, and to the Chairperson: Finance and Provincial Treasury Committee, Vumile Lwana, requesting an urgent committee meeting to discuss the budget adjustments proposed by the Democratic Alliance. The final … [Read more...] about Urgent budget amendments could free up R1-billion to help fight Coronavirus
NMB State of Disaster allowed to lapse as Day Zero approaches
Dear MyPE The ANC-led administration of Nelson Mandela Bay have allowed the local State of Disaster declaration in relation to the drought to lapse as Day Zero approaches, and the combined dam levels servicing the Metro drop to 23% of capacity. The local State of Disaster was only declared in November 2019, and the Disaster Management Act stipulates that such a declaration lapses after three months, after which the municipality must extend the declaration on a month to month basis. This … [Read more...] about NMB State of Disaster allowed to lapse as Day Zero approaches
How the Smart Lockdown will work
DA proposes Smart Lockdown as a sustainable approach to save lives Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance’s Policy Unit has been working tirelessly with healthcare and financial experts, policy specialists, and our Shadow Cabinet to devise a sustainable and flexible Smart Lockdown to supplement government’s coronavirus response effort, while protecting the South African economy and the livelihoods which depend on it. We will be submitting our Smart Lockdown working paper to President Cyril … [Read more...] about How the Smart Lockdown will work
NMB Metro must act to ensure integrity of Covid-19 JOC
Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Nelson Mandela Bay has written to the Acting Mayor, Cllr Thsonono Buyeye, and requested that he issues a directive to protect the physical integrity of the City’s Coronavirus Joint Operations Centre (JOC). The City has correctly in terms of gazetted Disaster Management Act regulations established a Disaster Management Advisory Forum: COVID-19. This forum is the Metro’s central coordinating body for responding to this National Disaster. In the … [Read more...] about NMB Metro must act to ensure integrity of Covid-19 JOC
SASSA’s Nelson Mandela Bay food parcel relief woefully inadequate
Dear MyPE The announcement by the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) that only R45-million will be made available to the Eastern Cape to provide food parcels to the most needy in our society while the Coronavirus is sweeping through the country, will have a devastating impact on Nelson Mandela Bay. The Democratic Alliance (DA) in NMB met with a SASSA official last night, who confirmed that the R45-million would be divided into R5.9 million per district in the province, which … [Read more...] about SASSA’s Nelson Mandela Bay food parcel relief woefully inadequate
Calls for rape apologist to be removed as Minister
DA calls for rape apologist, Bheki Cele, to be removed as Police Minister Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance (DA) calls on President Cyril Ramaphosa to remove Bheki Cele as Minister of Police following his outrageous, and cavalier remarks about a police officer who allegedly raped his wife. In addition to this, we call on the Minister to publicly apologise to the nation. Minister Cele accused the media of negative reporting on police behaviour during the lockdown, following the Independent … [Read more...] about Calls for rape apologist to be removed as Minister
Health Portfolio Committee to meet tomorrow
Virtual Meeting a First Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance welcomes the announcement that the Health Portfolio Committee of the Eastern Cape Legislature will be meeting virtually tomorrow for the first time. This follows after I wrote to the Speaker of the Legislature, Helen Sauls-August, last week, to point out that the rules of the House make provision for meetings to take place via other platforms, and request that the portfolio meetings continue during lockdown using video conferencing … [Read more...] about Health Portfolio Committee to meet tomorrow
