Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Nelson Mandela Bay extends its deepest condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of the metro traffic official who was killed in Port Elizabeth. The official was gunned downed earlier this morning, 4 February 2020, on the corner of Lungelo Mlandu Street and 10th Avenue in Walmer. I visited the site where the incident took place and details surrounding what happened are still unclear. We wish all affected by this senseless killing … [Read more...] about Condolences from DA after metro traffic official’s tragic killing
Letters to the Editor
Today’s blackouts confirm Eskom’s death spiral
Dear MyPE Eskom's announcement of today's Stage 2 blackouts confirms that it is in a death spiral and that it is time for the ANC government to get out of the electricity generation business and give the power to generate electricity to the people. The ANC government and its utility Eskom, are unable to meet our nation’s energy needs, and there is no plan to fix this. The DA firmly holds that Eskom's constant limping from light into darkness cannot continue. Eskom continues to suffer … [Read more...] about Today’s blackouts confirm Eskom’s death spiral
Makana Council’s decision to appeal High Court ruling opposed
Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance (DA) in the Eastern Cape is shocked by a Makana Municipal Council decision to appeal the Makhanda High Court judgement ordering it to be dissolved and an administrator appointed until a new council is elected. During a council sitting today, 30 January 2020, councillors voted 15 to 9 to appeal the judgment. The seven DA councillors, who all voted against appealing the judgement, vociferously spoke out against yet another frivolous waste of public … [Read more...] about Makana Council’s decision to appeal High Court ruling opposed
Eastern Cape wastes millions of rand on unfinished and abandoned housing projects
Dear MyPE The Eastern Cape Department of Human Settlements has spent almost R622 million on 25 unfinished or abandoned housing projects. These shocking statistics were contained in written answers to parliamentary questions submitted by the DA to the MEC for Human Settlements. Of the 9 413 planned units to be constructed in these 25 projects, only 4 243 were actually built. There are various reasons given for this state of affairs from contracts expiring, problems with beneficiary … [Read more...] about Eastern Cape wastes millions of rand on unfinished and abandoned housing projects
Further evidence of Eskom’s death spiral
Dear MyPE Eskom's warning today of a heightened risk of blackouts this evening again shows that it is in a death spiral and that it is time for the ANC government to get out of the electricity generation business and give the power to generate electricity to the people. We hope, for all South Africans, that today’s warning does not come true and that the power stays on tonight. Frankly, the ANC government and its utility Eskom, are unable to meet our nation’s energy needs, and there is … [Read more...] about Further evidence of Eskom’s death spiral
Section 25 Amendment Bill public participation period extended
Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance (DA) welcomes the extension of the Section 25 Amendment Bill public participation period to 29 February 2020. We have long held the view that the public participation period would have been severely curtailed by gazetting of the Bill in December 2019, coupled with the festive season and the 31 January 2020 deadline. The DA unequivocally opposes the amendment of Section 25, the Property Clause, of the Constitution and we reject land expropriation without … [Read more...] about Section 25 Amendment Bill public participation period extended
SAA allegedly attempting UIF retrenchment bailout by stealth
Dear MyPE It has come to the attention of the Democratic Alliance (DA) that South African Airways (SAA) Business Rescue Practitioners, Les Matuson and Siviwe Dongwana, may intend to have the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) pay out SAA’s retrenchment packages. This comes as a precursor to the long-awaited retrenchments of the bloated SAA staff. The DA will therefore write to Les Matuson and Siviwe Dongwana, to request clarity on their intentions with regard to obtaining UIF funding to pay … [Read more...] about SAA allegedly attempting UIF retrenchment bailout by stealth
Lottery corruption scandal
Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance (DA) has written to the Chairperson of the Trade and Industry Portfolio Committee, Duma Nkosi requesting that an urgent committee meeting is held to get to the bottom of the corruption scandal which has consumed the National Lottery Commission (NLC) and threatens to derail it. This follows further allegations by GroundUp that COO, Philemon Letwaba’s wife Rebottle Malomane scored R4.8 million in grant funding in 2017. Investigations have revealed that … [Read more...] about Lottery corruption scandal
Intervention leads to recommendation for removal of Inxuba Yethemba Mayor
Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance (DA) welcomes a report by the Inxuba Yethemba Local Municipality (IYLM) Ethics Committee advising that the Eastern Cape MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA), Xolile Nqatha, remove the mayor, Cllr Ray Shweni, as a councillor. The recommendation for the removal of Mayor Shweni followed after the DA successfully lodged a complaint with the Public Protector (PP), Advocate Busisiwe Mkhwebane, to investigate the misappropriation of … [Read more...] about Intervention leads to recommendation for removal of Inxuba Yethemba Mayor
Rufane Donkin Primary construction project still incomplete
Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance (DA) will be calling on the Eastern Cape Department of Education to do a full investigation into why construction work at the Rufane Donkin Primary School in Gelvandale, Port Elizabeth is still incomplete and its request for additional classrooms have been ignored. Today I conducted an oversight inspection at the school as part of the DA’s School Readiness Programme. When we arrived at the school at 07:00 parents and learners had locked the gates to … [Read more...] about Rufane Donkin Primary construction project still incomplete
Jonathan Lawack elected
Dear MyPE Following today’s Democratic Alliance (DA) Nelson Mandela Caucus meeting, I am pleased to announce that Councillor Jonathan Lawack has been elected as DA NMB Caucus Leader. Cllr Lawack is a former Speaker of the Nelson Mandela Bay Council and has served the people of NMB as a public representative for more than a decade. He brings a balance of experience and knowledge to this very important leadership position. We look forward to working with Cllr Lawack and the NMB Caucus … [Read more...] about Jonathan Lawack elected
Blatant intimidation by Chris Hani officials
Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance will not allow blatant intimidation to derail our attempts to hold officials to account and ensure that the people of Craddock are not exposed to raw sewage in their drinking water. This follows after a senior official from the Chris Hani District Municipality deliberately, and with malice, locked me inside the Cradock Waste Water Treatment Works, while I was conducting an official oversight on 24 January 2020. This was done in the presence of police … [Read more...] about Blatant intimidation by Chris Hani officials
Charity and welfare organisations suffer while NMB delays payments
https://youtu.be/Ia3stSA0mDM (Listen in Afrikaans) Dear MyPE The 2019 failures of the Nelson Mandela Bay governing coalition have spilled over to 2020. The Financial Assistance to External Organisations is a fund meant to assist NGO’s and other worthy causes in Nelson Mandela Bay. The more than 160 welfare and charitable organizations have been waiting since last year for funds that should have been paid to them already. Delays in the approval of these funds began in September 2019 … [Read more...] about Charity and welfare organisations suffer while NMB delays payments
State-of-the-art Aberdeen police offices unusable
Dear MyPE A multi-million-rand state-of-the-art police building, built in 2016 for South African Police Service admin personnel in Aberdeen, is standing all but empty, because they did not get the basics right. I am determined to fight for a fully resourced police service so that we are able to reduce the climate of fear and give residents of Aberdeen peace of mind. Earlier this week, I conducted an oversight inspection of the SAPS facilities in Aberdeen, accompanied by DA councillors … [Read more...] about State-of-the-art Aberdeen police offices unusable
Calls for full forensic investigation into Jubilee Park Primary construction
Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance will be calling for a full forensic investigation into the construction of new classrooms and school hall at the Jubilee Park Primary School in Uitenhage. Today I, along with shadow MEC for Public Works, Vicky Knoetze, and shadow MEC for transport, Marshall von Buchenroder, conducted oversight at the school as part of the DA’s School Readiness Programme. What we have seen here today is simply unacceptable! This school was earmarked to be upgraded … [Read more...] about Calls for full forensic investigation into Jubilee Park Primary construction
