Dear MyPE The trust students have in the DA Student Organisation (DASO) was reaffirmed when DASO candidates were elected to the positions of President and Deputy President of the Rhodes University Student Representative Council (SRC). The SRC election concluded on Friday, 16 August 2019, and was hotly contested. After all the ballots were casted and the votes counted, three of DASO’s candidates won positions on the SRC. Katlego Mphahlele was elected as President, Masixole Njengele … [Read more...] about DASO wins Presidency at Rhodes
Letters to the Editor
Prescription of assets is unacceptable, should be rejected by all
Dear MyPE The head of the ANC’s Economic Transformation Committee, Enoch Godongwana, is reported today as confirming that the ANC would impose prescribed assets on private pension savings, before it would consider approaching the International Monetary Fund (IMF). His comments also confirm that prescribed assets will not be limited to the R2-trillion funds held in the PIC, but will apply to all retirement funds, banks, insurance companies and so on. If the ANC was serious about growing the … [Read more...] about Prescription of assets is unacceptable, should be rejected by all
Foxes guarding the hen house
Dear MyPE Senior officials implicated in corruption around the devastating false medico-legal claims lodged against the Department of Health, should not be part of the Premier’s task team to investigate the claims, they should be in jail. Medico-legal claims, in excess of R24-billion, have brought the Department to the brink of collapse, with the Auditor General (AG) raising serious concerns over its financial sustainability. If these officials are included, we will see the great … [Read more...] about Foxes guarding the hen house
EC Budget will see more money spent on travel and subsistence, than on medical supplies
Dear MyPE The Eastern Cape budget, passed in the Provincial Legislature last night, makes provision to spend more money on Subsistence and Travel for employees, than on medical supplies for the entire province. In the 2019/20 financial year, the administration proposes purchasing medical supplies to the tune of R724,844 million. The same administration proposes spending R794,168 million on Subsistence and Travel for the financial year. It is morally wrong that this budget proposes to … [Read more...] about EC Budget will see more money spent on travel and subsistence, than on medical supplies
National Credit Amendment Bill signed into into law at the worst possible time
Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance (DA) is dismayed that President Cyril Ramaphosa has signed into law the deeply flawed and possibly unconstitutional National Credit Amendment Bill, drawn up by the Portfolio Committee on Trade and Industry (PCTI) in the fifth Parliament. The Amendment Bill, will increase the cost of credit for low income earners, weaken the fight against illegal lenders and negatively disrupt the credit market while posing a financial risk to the state, when South African … [Read more...] about National Credit Amendment Bill signed into into law at the worst possible time
Health Committee undertakes to scrutinise constitutionality of NHI
Dear MyPE Following pressure from the Democratic Alliance (DA), Parliament’s Health Committee has undertaken to scrutinise the constitutionality and legality of the problematic and disasterous National Health Insurance (NHI) Bill. The DA and indeed the public have serious concerns about the constitutionality of this Bill and the ramifications it would pose to our already ailing economy. The NHI will disempower provinces and centralise healthcare in national government – effectively … [Read more...] about Health Committee undertakes to scrutinise constitutionality of NHI
Service delivery failing in EC municipalities
Dear MyPE Service delivery in Eastern Cape municipalities is buckling under the weight of financial mismanagement and the lack of support by the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA). Maladministration, irregular and wasteful expenditure, corruption and factionalism are also rampant, and this contributes to the general implosion of service delivery in our municipalities. The plight of Eastern Cape municipalities was highlighted in terms of the 2018/19 … [Read more...] about Service delivery failing in EC municipalities
Rape kit availability crisis worse than initially reported
Dear MyPE The crisis around the availability of Rape Kits in the Eastern Cape is far worse than initially reported, with only 20 police stations of the 197 in the province actually equipped to take DNA evidence in cases of sexual assault. (See: 76% of SA Police Stations have no rape kits in stock for victims) Worse, only five stations across the entire province are equipped with pediatric rape kits. This crisis of the availability of rape kits in the Eastern Cape needs to be dealt with … [Read more...] about Rape kit availability crisis worse than initially reported
Mkhize seeks to mislead the nation of the disastrous effects of NHI Bill
Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance (DA) has taken note of the Minister of Health, Dr Zweli Mkhize’s statement seeking to downplay the disastrous effects that the newly introduced NHI Bill. This Bill will have a catastrophic effect on our health services and the economy, however the Minister seeks to downplay this. It is clear the Minister is playing politics with this Bill and the intention is not to solve the deep inequalities in the health system. We agree with the Minister that we need … [Read more...] about Mkhize seeks to mislead the nation of the disastrous effects of NHI Bill
EC officials live it up, while the province burns
Dear MyPE While officials live it up raking in huge sums in overtime and travel, the people are taking to the streets to protest against the lack of service delivery. Three officials, each claiming more than R1 million per annum in overtime, and another claiming more than R50 000 for Substance and Travel per month, are just some of the examples of the shocking rate at which money is being wasted by the Eastern Cape Provincial government. The provincial government has to get its … [Read more...] about EC officials live it up, while the province burns
Escalating crime in Missionvale due to lack of police resources
Dear MyPE Murder has increased by 160% in the Algoa Park policing sector, yet the South African Police Service (SAPS) in the area is still cripplingly understaffed and under-resourced. This is according to the latest available crime statistics. Today I was joined by DA Federal Chairperson, Athol Trollip, DA Women’s Network Eastern Cape Provincial Chairperson, Georgina Faldtman, and local residents in taking part in a crime march in Missionvale. We also handed over a petition and memorandum … [Read more...] about Escalating crime in Missionvale due to lack of police resources
Muslim community wished a blessed and happy Eid al-Adha
Dear MyPE The Demoratic Alliance (DA) would like to wish all people of the Muslim faith a happy and safe Eid al-Adha. We hope that this holy day will be joyous and filled with blessings for our Muslim brothers and sisters. Eid al-Adha, is also known as the “Festival of Sacrifice”, and marks the end of Hajj for the millions of people who travel long distances to Mecca every year and pray in solidarity with the world for peace and prosperity The holy day of Eid al-Adha is also a time … [Read more...] about Muslim community wished a blessed and happy Eid al-Adha
Untreated sewage threat to water safety in Burgersdorp
Dear MyPE An actively running sewage spill is putting the health and water safety of the residents of Burgersdorp and the Eastern Cape at risk. Recently I came across this sewage spill during an oversight inspection conducted at Mzamomhle in Burgersdorp. The spill is located close to the Ethembeni Senior Secondary School and learners and all local residents are therefore exposed to a massive health risk. The untreated sewage is flowing directly into the Stormberg River. This … [Read more...] about Untreated sewage threat to water safety in Burgersdorp
76% of SA Police Stations have no rape kits in stock for victims
Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance (DA) can reveal that 76% of police stations in South Africa do not have adult rape kits in stock. A further, 69% of stations do not have child rape kits in stock. Without these kits, evidence in reported rape cases cannot be collected, and, without evidence, the ability to successfully prosecute rapists diminishes drastically. It is wholly unacceptable and a damning indictment on the South African Police Service (SAPS) that only a handful of police … [Read more...] about 76% of SA Police Stations have no rape kits in stock for victims
NHI Bill just an additional tax burden for South Africans
Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance (DA) notes the National Health Insurance (NHI) Bill which was tabled in Parliament. As anticipated, the Bill has not changed much since the first problematic version was tabled during the 5th Parliament. The Bill, as it stands will not in anyway, be able to achieve universal health coverage. The DA is convinced that instead of being a vehicle to provide quality healthcare for all, this Bill will nationalise healthcare, create another State Owned … [Read more...] about NHI Bill just an additional tax burden for South Africans
