Dear MyPE The Department of Education is clearly failing to address infrastructure backlogs and in so doing, is failing to provide learners with conducive places of learning. This was blatantly apparent during an oversight conducted at the Lutateni Senior Secondary school, in the Alfred Nzo municipality, which I visited last week along with constituency leader, Baxolile Nodada, MP. The school, which was established by the community in 1987, has severe infrastructure challenges, there … [Read more...] about Infrastructure backlog failing Eastern Cape Learners
Letters to the Editor
Unashamedly proudly South African
Dear MyPE "I am unashamedly proudly South African - no more so than when home grown hero Siya Kolisi lifted the William Webb Ellis trophy aloft on Saturday and the entire nation erupted in euphoria! A sensational victory for our boys in green and gold, but an even greater victory for the entire nation of South Africa. I pray that we as South Africans can unite and leverage off this great sporting triumph: to unite, renew and transform our beloved country." #strongertogether #Headhunters … [Read more...] about Unashamedly proudly South African
EC’s R1 Billion per annum on wages – Question: WHAT is the return?
Editor: This is an open challenge to the Provincial Entities named in the letter below to submit figures showing their SURPLUS that justifies the enormous salaries handed out to their employees. Dear MyPE For over two years the provincial government has been promising the rationalisation of its public entities. Reports have been compiled, but there is no action. Its all bark but no bite. Given the state of the national fiscus, it is time for action, otherwise salaries for the bloated … [Read more...] about EC’s R1 Billion per annum on wages – Question: WHAT is the return?
Viewing Party in Zwide
Hi Alan Thank you very much for the initiative. I was with Siya yesterday and he was fully aware of it you can be sure. I think he first heard from friends in Zwide. Best wishes Andy Colquhoun GM: Communications, SARU Related: RWC Final - an open challenge | See you in Zwide and thanks for accepting the challenge. … [Read more...] about Viewing Party in Zwide
Education MEC misleads parliament about Grade R learners’ plight
Dear MyPE Grade R learners at the Sonwabile Primary school in Ncera Village, in the Buffalo City Metro, have been denied their right to education for an entire term, because the department failed to repair the roof of their classroom. However, when questioned about this through a parliamentary question, Education MEC, Fundile Gade, denied that this was the case, saying no classes had been missed. Today, 31 October 2019, I, together with constituency chairperson, Sue Bentley and other … [Read more...] about Education MEC misleads parliament about Grade R learners’ plight
Mayor Bobani now protected by 8 member security team
Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Nelson Mandela Bay has recently learned that six additional security officials have been frivolously added to Executive Mayor, Cllr Mongameli Bobani’s security detail. Mayor Bobani previously only had two Close Protection Officers assigned to him and has been granted two more officials from the Department of Safety and Security. Furthermore, a Traffic Department vehicle with two officers and a Metro Police vehicle with two officers will also … [Read more...] about Mayor Bobani now protected by 8 member security team
NUM’s threats of national sabotage at Eskom
Dear MyPE On Wednesday, the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) vowed to cause more rolling blackouts should Government go ahead with its plans to unbundle Eskom; a contemptible threat to the stability of our nation. The Democratic Alliance (DA) condemns these remarks in the strongest terms. This is a brazen attempt to hold Government, the nation and our battered economy to ransom. It amounts to a threat to our national security. The DA expects that the ANC government should immediately … [Read more...] about NUM’s threats of national sabotage at Eskom
Calls for “Sex-ed” briefing
Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance (DA) has taken note of the ongoing debate surrounding the Comprehensive Sexual Education (CSE) curriculum. In light of the controversies, the DA wrote to the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Basic Education on Tuesday to request an urgent meeting with all relevant stakeholders in order to give the Department of Basic Education (DBE) an opportunity to give a full briefing on what the CSE curriculum will entail. We have reached out to the DBE who … [Read more...] about Calls for “Sex-ed” briefing
No more Porsche’s for Politicians!
Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance (DA) is pleased to note that, as a direct result of our ceaseless decade-long fight to cut wasteful expenditure on maintaining the luxury lifestyles of Cabinet members, the first-ever cuts to ministerial perks have taken place. Yesterday finance minister Tito Mboweni made some tentative first improvements to the Ministerial Handbook, which we welcome as a necessary cost saver - although it is still not quite enough. The DA has been fighting since the … [Read more...] about No more Porsche’s for Politicians!
Mboweni allows a debt blowout
Dear MyPE Finance Minister Tito Mboweni today revealed the true horror of our nation’s precarious financial situation. We acknowledge his honesty that things are worse than imagined. We also welcome his tough talk on cutting the public wage bill and on the mismanagement of state-owned entities (SOEs). But the Minister’s number one priority in this speech was to present a credible plan to control national debt and rein in the deficit. The fact is that he did not do this. For all the tough … [Read more...] about Mboweni allows a debt blowout
NMB Speaker given 24 hours to reschedule special council meeting
Dear MyPE Today, 30 October 2019, the Democratic Alliance (DA) gave the Speaker of the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipal Council, Cllr Buyelwa Mafaya, 24 hours to reschedule a special council meeting that was postponed on the 17th of October. On the agenda was a motion of no confidence in NMB Executive Mayor, Mongameli Bobani, who has proven to be the most destructive force in the history of this City. The DA’s legal representatives have written to the Speaker and informed her that she has … [Read more...] about NMB Speaker given 24 hours to reschedule special council meeting
Mounting municipal debt threatens to collapse water services
Dear MyPE Municipalities across South Africa owe more than R14.9 billion to Water Boards. The scale of this crisis was revealed during a joint sitting of the Portfolio Committees for the Departments of Water and Sanitation (DWS) and Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) on Tuesday. Despite an Inter-Ministerial Task Team (IMTT) having been appointed in 2017 to stem mounting liabilities, municipal debt has increased by R1.7 billion between March 2018 and September 2018 with … [Read more...] about Mounting municipal debt threatens to collapse water services
Only growth can turn escalating Job Crisis around
Dear MyPE The announcement by Statistics South Africa (StatsSA) that the unemployment rate has reached a record-breaking 29,1% shows that all of the lip service paid to reform by the Ramaphosa government does not count for much in the real world - only action and real reform counts. So long as this government delays meaningful reform, our economic and unemployment crisis will only escalate. Economic growth, and only growth, can turn around this escalating crisis. Minister Mboweni faces … [Read more...] about Only growth can turn escalating Job Crisis around
SA taken to the brink over Copyright Amendment Bill
Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance (DA) notes the announcement by the United States Government to begin a review of South Africa’s Generalised System of Preferences (GSP) eligibility due to the unwillingness of President Cyril Ramaphosa to send back to Parliament the fatally flawed Copyright Amendment Bill. On 12 June 2019, I wrote to the President requesting that he send the Copyright Amendment Bill back to the Portfolio Committee on Trade and Industry for amendments and further … [Read more...] about SA taken to the brink over Copyright Amendment Bill
NSFAS fails to account for the R30 billion meant for poor students
Dear MyPE Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Higher Education, Science & Technology is expected to adopt a draft Budget Review and Recommendation report by all entities in the Ministry including the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS), despite failing to table its annual report for the 2018/19 financial year. NSFAS is one of the entities that has failed to produce audited annual reports to the Auditor-General (A-G) or Parliament by the required legal deadline. This means … [Read more...] about NSFAS fails to account for the R30 billion meant for poor students
