DA lays criminal charges against ANC’s Andile Lungisa Dear MyPE Today, 20 February 2020, I was joined by DA Councillors Morne Steyn and Gustav Rautenbach, in laying criminal charges against NMB Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) for Infrastructure and Engineering, ANC Cllr Andile Lungisa, for contravening the Municipal Finance Management Act (MFMA) after allegedly getting involved in municipal tender processes. A recent letter sent by MMC Lungisa, to local companies, shows him … [Read more...] about Councillors are not supposed to be involved in anything related to tenders
Letters to the Editor
Ambulance Torching Despicable
Criminals who destroyed ambulance must be brought to justice Dear MyPE The despicable act of deliberately torching a new ambulance during protest action in Booysen Park, Port Elizabeth, last night is a criminal act and the perpetrators must be found and brought to justice. In a time when our provincial Health Department is trying to deal with severe budget constraints and crippling staff shortages, medical facilities and ambulances, this act of arson by a disgruntled community is … [Read more...] about Ambulance Torching Despicable
National government must intervene in Chris Hani District water crisis
Dear MyPE In a first for the Eastern Cape, the Democratic Alliance (DA) has called on national government to establish a Water Services Committee to take over the management of water supply from the Chris Hani District Municipality (CHDM). I have written to the Minister of Human Settlement, Water and Sanitation, Lindiwe Sisulu, and called on her to establish this Water Services Committee in terms of Section 51 of the Water Services Act. The CHDM provides water and sanitation services to … [Read more...] about National government must intervene in Chris Hani District water crisis
EEA Disaster
Employment equity amendments a recipe for economic disaster Dear MyPE The Employment Equity (EE) Amendment Bill, which Cabinet has now sent to Parliament for processing, is another attempt by the ANC to strangle the life out of South Africa’s barely breathing economy in the name of “demographic representivity”. The Democratic Alliance (DA) will oppose it tooth and nail. The draft bill serves to codify racial bean-counting. If enacted, the amendments will hamper economic growth and destroy … [Read more...] about EEA Disaster
Alice Residents High and Not Dry
Two weeks have passed and no help for residents of storm ravaged Alice Dear MyPE It has been two weeks since heavy storms ravaged the town of Alice, with major flooding and strong winds that led to major property damage and claimed the life of a young mother. On a recent oversight inspection, I found that there has still been no assistance from government for the families who have had their homes destroyed. Although a team was despatched by the Amatole District Municipality, which is … [Read more...] about Alice Residents High and Not Dry
MMC Lungisa must be investigated for interfering in NMB tenders
Dear MyPE While service delivery in the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality has ground to a halt and the City is on the brink of financial ruin, the ANC-led coalition of corruption is no longer even trying to hide its flouting of the Municipal Finance Management Act (MFMA) and the councillors code of conduct as contained in Schedule 1 of the Municipal Systems Act. A recent letter, sent by the Member of the Mayoral Committee(MMC) for Infrastructure and Engineering, Cllr Andile Lungisa, to … [Read more...] about MMC Lungisa must be investigated for interfering in NMB tenders
Goodyear Retrenchments
Dear MyPE "When pointing at the moon, the fool looks at the finger." - Chinese proverb. Yours truly has first hand experience of how the government and private companies' anointees shoot down ideas despite being possibly beneficial in the long run. Goodyear's mooted retrenchment drive reminds me of one staunch client of my younger brothers and neighbourhood friends' car wash, that used to work for the company, and who lamented at the way ideas were rudely and bumptiously shot down long … [Read more...] about Goodyear Retrenchments
What is the MEC hiding?
Dear MyPE Serious questions need to be asked about what the Department of Rural Development and Agrarian Reform (DRDAR) and its MEC, Nomakhosazana Meth, are hiding with regards to the R74 million provincial drought relief aid made available for the Eastern Cape. Last month the Democratic Alliance launched a Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA) application relating to drought relief efforts in the province, due to the high levels of uncertainty over the distribution of critical … [Read more...] about What is the MEC hiding?
Ban on Livestock Auctions Lifted
Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance (DA) welcomes the announcement by Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development, Thoko Didiza, that the ban on livestock auctions that was declared in December has now been lifted. However, government’s response to the foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) outbreak had been lacking from the start and requires much more than just the banning or unbanning of livestock auctions. Whilst conducting our “Real SONA” tour, DA leader John Steenhuisen … [Read more...] about Ban on Livestock Auctions Lifted
Please act now President Ramaphosa
Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance (DA) welcomes President Cyril Ramaphosa’s announcement that municipalities will now be allowed to purchase power from Independent Power Producers (IPPs) after the Democratic Alliance (DA) had been calling for this for many years. However, we believe that President Ramaphosa’s announcements will mean nothing unless set timelines are urgently announced that will tell us when to expect delivery on promises. It will not be the first time that we have heard … [Read more...] about Please act now President Ramaphosa
36 More Years of Pit Latrines
Dear MyPe The appalling state of sanitation facilities at schools in the Eastern Cape show how little regard the Department of Education has for the learners under its care. The current implementation rate to address backlogs in eradicating pit latrines means that three generations of learners will never know the dignity of proper sanitation facilities. Rather than taking drastic steps to eradicate the pit latrines at schools, Education MEC Fundile Gade would rather accuse parents of … [Read more...] about 36 More Years of Pit Latrines
SAA Labour court ruling on NUM and SACCA application welcomed
Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance (DA) welcomes the Labour Court ruling which rejects the application made by the National Union of Metalworkers (NUM) and the South African Cabin Crew Association (SACCA), to stop the South African Airways (SAA) Business Rescue Practitioners, Les Matuson and Siviwe Dongwana, from retrenching staff. There is general consensus that SAA is overstaffed by at least 30% and with passengers abandoning SAA in droves, the overstaffing is probably much, much higher. … [Read more...] about SAA Labour court ruling on NUM and SACCA application welcomed
Mantashe is spanner in the works of President’s energy promises
Dear MyPE While the Democratic Alliance (DA) welcomes President Cyril Ramaphosa’s announcements in his State of the Nation (SONA) address last night regarding the energy sector, it is worrying that Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe does not seem to be on board. Shortly after Ramaphosa announced during SONA that Independent Power Producers will be able to sell electricity to financially viable municipalities, Mantashe contradicted him in media interviews afterward by … [Read more...] about Mantashe is spanner in the works of President’s energy promises
Government land lies vacant in Nelson Mandela Bay
Dear MyPE While the national debate around expropriation without compensation continues, with the deadline for submissions extended to the end of February, government owned land in Nelson Mandela Bay stands vacant. During a recent Public Works portfolio oversight, 132 out of the 878 land parcels belonging to the Provincial Government in Nelson Mandela Bay were found to be vacant, with no concrete concept plans for usage. In Algoa Park 15,2 hectares of land stands unutilised, … [Read more...] about Government land lies vacant in Nelson Mandela Bay
EFF disruption of SONA denying the nation critical answers
Dear MyPE Tonight’s antics of the EFF to disrupt the State of the Nation Address, on a series of spurious points, shows the childishness and immaturity of the party. At a time in our nation when urgent solutions are needed to pressing crises in our country, the EFF has chosen to prevent the president confronting these. The DA has expectations for clear and definitive answers from the President tonight, and should he be prevented from addressing the nation we move further backward as a … [Read more...] about EFF disruption of SONA denying the nation critical answers
