Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance (DA) in the Eastern Cape has written to Premier Oscar Mabuyane and have requested that he urgently intervenes in Nelson Mandela Bay to ensure that Johann Mettler is reinstated as City Manager. The ongoing disciplinary case against Mettler is little more than a witch hunt, and the consequences of his ongoing suspension could cost the city billions. National Treasury has seemingly made good on its threat to recall in excess of R3-billion in funds made … [Read more...] about Johann Mettler must be reinstated as NMB City Manager
Letters to the Editor
When Cousins Murder Cousins
Dear MyPE People almost-always call me bitter and/or vindictive when pointing out a phenomenon I call Family-By-Default, like in the murder case of Bongani Hina (The Herald 11 February 2020). Any family member who has evil thoughts about a next-of-kin can't ever be held close to the bosom as in the fashionable fallacy by The Godfather author, Mario Puzo, who who foolishly wrote; "Keep your friends close , but your enemies closer." Rgards Luyanda Marlon Kama Kwa-Dwesi, Port … [Read more...] about When Cousins Murder Cousins
Fight on to save crumbling Louis Rex Primary
Dear MyPE The Eastern Cape government has turned its back on the learners of Louis Rex Primary School in Komani, who have to attend class in appalling conditions. The DA will now be raising the school’s plight in parliament and will also engage with the national department of basic education, as no child should have to go to school under such appalling conditions. Today, 12 February 2020, I was accompanied by Désirée van der Walt, MP, the DA Shadow Deputy Minister of Basic Education, … [Read more...] about Fight on to save crumbling Louis Rex Primary
Intervention speeds up meeting of NMB Budget Performance Monitoring Forum
Dear MyPE Due to urgent intervention by the Democratic Alliance (DA), a critical meeting of the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality’s Budget Performance Monitoring Forum will no longer be postponed for almost a month. The Forum, which consists of public representatives and members of the administration, was supposed to meet on Monday, but this was initially postponed until 9 March. The role of the Forum is to call each department to appear in front of it and be accountable for not spending … [Read more...] about Intervention speeds up meeting of NMB Budget Performance Monitoring Forum
#SONA2020: This is what we want to hear in the State of the Nation Address
Dear MyPE While past SONA speeches have proposed good plans to take South Africa forward, OUTA trusts that this week President Ramaphosa will deliver a plan that is realistic and provides clarity on implementation. If there ever was a time that South Africa needed a SONA speech that was compelling and committed to meaningful action that will lift our country out of its current downward trajectory, it is now. Over the past decade, impressive statements and promises have been made in SONA … [Read more...] about #SONA2020: This is what we want to hear in the State of the Nation Address
Jobs bloodbath: President needs to announce action plan in SONA
Dera MyPE The results of the Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS) for the 4th quarter of 2019, released today, show that South Africa remains knee-deep in a jobs bloodbath, with an official unemployment rate of 29.1%. The QLFS revealed that between Quarter 3 and Quarter 4 of 2019, the number of discouraged work-seekers increased by 62 000 and those who were not active in the labour market for other reasons other than discouragement increased by 45 000 resulting in a net increase of 107 000 … [Read more...] about Jobs bloodbath: President needs to announce action plan in SONA
Eastern Cape Jobs Bloodbath Continues
Dear MyPE While the national unemployment rate remains unchanged at 29,1%, and six of the nine provinces recorded decreases in unemployment, the Eastern Cape continues to haemorrhage jobs, with unemployment growing to a staggering 39,5%. The expanded unemployment rate is also up, to 47,7%. Not only is the province the worst preforming in terms of job creation, it has the highest unemployment rates in the country. What this means is that almost one out of every two people in the province … [Read more...] about Eastern Cape Jobs Bloodbath Continues
IPID still without a permanent Head
Dear MyPE This week marks exactly one year since the Independent Police Investigation Directorate (IPID) has been without a permanent Head. Police Minister, Bheki Cele, appointed Victor Senna as the Acting Head of IPID on 10 February 2019 and promised in July last year that a permanent Head would be appointed by September 2019. The Minister was clearly just blowing hot air, as it has now been 7 months since his promise and IPID is still stuck with an Acting Head. The Democratic … [Read more...] about IPID still without a permanent Head
Time to Push ‘RESET’… Again
Dear MyPE Today 30 years ago, South Africa’s “reset” button was pressed and a new era ushered in as the nation’s icon, Nelson Mandela, walked out of the Victor Verster Prison after having spent 27 years of his life behind bars as a result of the apartheid government’s unjust laws. We honour Madiba for his bravery, commitment and love for humanity. We remember his courageous fight for a fair, just and prosperous society and his brave stance against an evil system that tore our nation … [Read more...] about Time to Push ‘RESET’… Again
Moratorium requested on the mass blocking of indigent deceased estate municipal accounts
Dear MyPE It has come to the DA’s attention that Nelson Mandela Bay Metro’s Budget and Treasury Department has started to block the electricity accounts of thousands of deceased estates in the Metro. The decision was taken as a result of some 16 000 deceased estate accounts being disqualified from the ATTP (Assistance-to-the-Poor) programme in December 2019. When there is an immovable property (a home) in a deceased estate, the onus is on the heirs of that estate to ensure that they … [Read more...] about Moratorium requested on the mass blocking of indigent deceased estate municipal accounts
Calls on national government to intervene in Makana Municipality
Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance (DA) has today written to Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA), requesting that she immediately dissolve the Makana municipal council, as ordered by the Grahamstown High Court. Please find the letter and judgement attached. The DA’s position is that, in terms of s139(7) of the Constitution of South Africa, the national executive is obligated to act, when the provincial executive does not do … [Read more...] about Calls on national government to intervene in Makana Municipality
Urgent intervention needed to save NMB from Day Zero
Dear MyPE Due to the lack of political will and proper communication from the ANC-led Nelson Mandela Bay Municipal government, residents are not fully aware that the water crisis in the Metro is spiraling out of control. Day Zero has arrived in many areas of the Metro and daily water outages take place due to the low levels of supply dams. The average level of the dams supplying the metro, is now at 28.9%. The Impofu Dam (16.7%) is the main supplier of water to the Metro. It has now … [Read more...] about Urgent intervention needed to save NMB from Day Zero
Billions of rands in medico-legal claims continue to cripple EC Health
Dear MyPE The Department of Health in the Eastern Cape faced a contingent liability of R29 billion at the beginning of this financial year. The overwhelming majority of this liability is made up of medico-legal claims against the department. This is a massive and very worrying 21% increase from last year when contingent liability was R24 billion. Of great concern is the fact that the total budget for Health in the province for this year is only R25 billion, which is R4 billion less than … [Read more...] about Billions of rands in medico-legal claims continue to cripple EC Health
CODESA and ‘Bruinman’
Dear MyPE Regarding the remark by Bruinman in The Herald of 3 February 2020 about Codesa, I firmly believe that one of the resolutions thereof was the disregarding, if not outright oppression, of those who are not Anointed by the ANC and/or not Approved by South African White Capital. For a simple example, one only has to take a cursory look at the same people who jump from plum job-to-plum job with the "critical skills" propaganda as a gerrymandering strategy to "beneficiate" the usual … [Read more...] about CODESA and ‘Bruinman’
Government’s proposed new electricity generation SOE a mad idea
Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance (DA) unequivocally rejects statements attributed to the Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy, Gwede Mantashe, that the ANC Government is looking to set up an alternative electricity generation entity. This is utter madness. Instead of making the South African electricity supply sector more competitive, Government is seeking to extend its monopoly over electricity generation. South Africa doesn’t need another state-controlled entity for electricity … [Read more...] about Government’s proposed new electricity generation SOE a mad idea
