Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor Regarding the CAR magazine's October 2024 Volkswagen Polo People Pleaser [P³] coverag, my gripes with the supposedly upgraded versions of the Polo Vivo are not easy to overlook. First and foremost, the manually-operated rear windows are the dead give-away together with the 'single-piece folding backrest', but also the needed & enticing digital fascia / instrumentation cluster in lieu of the retained analogue one which is way past long overdue; taking into account that the … [Read more...] about Volkswagen P³

Dear Editor The Democratic Alliance (DA) welcomes the decision to approve a debate on “The impact of escalating violent crime, Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF) cases in our communities” during the first day of Taking Legislature to the People, which starts tomorrow in Nelson Mandela Bay. This follows a request by the DA and reaffirms our commitment to confronting the scourge of crime that continues to grip our communities. Violent crime and GBVF are devastating lives across the … [Read more...] about Debate On Violent Crime, Gender-Based Violence And Femicide In Nelson Mandela Bay

Dear Editor The Democratic Alliance (DA) in the Eastern Cape welcomes Fezeka Mbiko as our newest Member of the National Assembly, after she was sworn in yesterday. Fezeka will fill the vacancy left by Renaldo Gouws and has been appointed as the DA's Phesheya Kwenciba Constituency Leader - an area which includes towns such as Butterworth, Elliotdale, Willovale, Dutywa, Qumrha, Chintsa and Key Mouth. Born and raised in Dutywa - and currently based in Gwadana, Dutywa in the Mbhashe Local … [Read more...] about Fezeka Mbiko Replaces Renaldo Gouws

Dear Editor Following an oversight visit to the Sarah Baartman Centre of Remembrance in Hankey, Eastern Cape, the DA is appalled by the state of the centre. Despite ten years of construction, three different contractors and R247.3 million, the centre remains nowhere near completion. The manner in which this project has been executed displays a complete disregard for the people of Hankey and the legacies of Khoe, San, and Coloured people that it seeks to honour. In the case of Hankey, the … [Read more...] about The Forgotten Sarah Baartman Centre of Remembrance

Dear Editor Port Alfred Hospital is grappling with a severe staff shortage as vacant, funded posts remain unfilled due to governmental cost-cutting measures in the Eastern Cape. The pressure on the remaining staff is unsustainable, and medical equipment urgently requires repair and maintenance. Critical life-saving items, known as Non-Negotiable Vitals (NNV’s), which are mandatory and can save lives such as Automated Electronic Defibrillators, must be supplied immediately to meet the … [Read more...] about Port Alfred Hospital severely short-staffed

Dear Editor The DA’s persistent efforts to combat escalating crime in Nelson Mandela Bay are yielding results, with NMB Mayor Gary van Niekerk acknowledging several motions we submitted to the Safety and Security Portfolio Committee over the past 12 months. In today’s council meeting, Mayor Van Niekerk recognised our motions and reiterated that they will be implemented by 25 December 2024 - indeed, a potential Christmas miracle if this deadline is met in a metro described in a global … [Read more...] about Mayor Will be Held Accountable for Christmas Promise

Dear Editor The recent allegations of sexual abuse against a senior official within the provincial Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI) expose a deep failure within our government institutions to protect employees from abuse. These accusations, now widely circulated on social media, highlight a culture of indifference to victims of sexual harassment and abuse within the provincial government departments. Premier Oscar Mabuyane's suspension of the Head of Department (HOD) … [Read more...] about Protect whistleblowers in the fight against sexual harassment

Dear Editor The Democratic Alliance (DA) is deeply concerned by the scholar transport accident that occurred on Friday morning, involving a bakkie transporting schoolchildren from farms to Humansdorp. This incident underscores the urgent need for intervention in the scholar transport programme within the Eastern Cape. It has been confirmed that 14 learners were involved in the accident, 10 from Humansdorp Secondary School and four from Lungiso High School. These children were being … [Read more...] about Urgent call for action on the safety of scholar transport in the Eastern Cape