Dear MyPE I am a widow and am 71 years old. I have an adopted African son and I have been a Volunteer for over 20 years within the South African community. On Saturday 27th July I was in St Hughs Church in Newton Park sorting the many donations given by the Parishioners for Babies and Toddlers which were to be blessed at the Service on Sunday 29th July and then given out to the needy in the Port Elizabeth area. This was shortly after a funeral which had taken place that afternoon. Two … [Read more...] about We are not safe even in a Church
Letters to the Editor
Human Rights Commission called to intervene in Alfred Nzo District water crisis
Dear MyPE The uncaring ANC-led Alfred Nzo District Municipality has proven that it feels nothing for the basic human rights and general well-being of the residents of Ndarhala Village near Mount Ayliff in the Eastern Cape. On Monday, 8 July 2019, I conducted an oversight inspection at Ndarhala Village and was shocked to find the community’s only water source is the Umzimvubu River. The residents share this water source with animals and carcasses of dead animals can also regularly be … [Read more...] about Human Rights Commission called to intervene in Alfred Nzo District water crisis
Ongoing delays at port killing jobs, economy
Dear MyPE Despite the illegal strike action at the Ngqura Port Terminal (NPT) having reportedly come to an end, Transnet has indicated that it will take two weeks, at the very least, to get back on schedule. This, while the Eastern Cape economy continues to lose tens of millions of rands every day. The Eastern Cape automotive sector is losing an estimated R42-million a day. The citrus industry, despite a bumper crop, is battling to get their products to market. Worse, the reputational … [Read more...] about Ongoing delays at port killing jobs, economy
Please intervene in Inxuba Yethemba Municipality administration
Dear MyPE The Inxuba Yethemba Local Municipality is on the brink of financial collapse, services have basically ground to a halt and very soon Eskom will cut the power to the municipality. This will have a massive negative impact on the local business sector and can lead to job losses on a large scale. I have therefore written to the Premier of the Eastern Cape, Oscar Mabuyane, and the MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Xolile Nqata, to request an urgent section 154 … [Read more...] about Please intervene in Inxuba Yethemba Municipality administration
Fish Farms – WESSA Right of Reply
Editor: This letter From WESSA Algoa Bay Branch Chairperson, Gary Koekemoer, is in response to comments made by the editor in this article - So, Allow the Cynic in me to comment on Round Umpteen of the Proposed Fish Farm. Dear MyPE Right of reply: Do we live in a polarised city? Does a north-south, rich-poor, black-white polarisation impact the “sustainable development” evaluation of fish farms (as part of the broader Aquaculture Development Zone - ADZ - application being undertaken by … [Read more...] about Fish Farms – WESSA Right of Reply
R6 billion budget cut for SAPS will cost lives
Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance (DA) is deeply concerned that National Police Commissioner, General Khehla Sitole, has received a request from National Treasury that the South African Police Service (SAPS) cut their budget by R6 billion. If true, this would be disastrous for SAPS, which is already grossly under-funded, under-resourced, under-staffed and under-equipped. Any further budget cuts will only worsen these conditions, leaving citizens to pay with their lives. We will write to … [Read more...] about R6 billion budget cut for SAPS will cost lives
R9.6 billion allocated for SMMEs, but no indication of how funds spent will be monitored
Dear MyPE Premier Oscar Mabuyane recently announced that over R9.6 billion of the Provincial Government’s annual budget will be set aside for SMMEs, but there has been no indication of how the spending of these funds will be monitored. The Democratic Alliance believes that small businesses are the driving force of the economy, and that entrepreneurship needs to be encouraged for job creation but is concerned that the lack of sufficient monitoring creates an environment for corruption and … [Read more...] about R9.6 billion allocated for SMMEs, but no indication of how funds spent will be monitored
Enoch Mgijima Local Municipality placed under administration
Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance welcomes the move of the Eastern Cape MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), Xolile Nqatha, to place the Enoch Mgijima Local Municipality under administration in terms of section 139 (1) b of the constitution. On the 18th of March this year, the DA marched to the Komani Town Hall where a memorandum was presented to the then Mayor, Nokuzola Tolashe, requesting that a full forensic audit be launched into the affairs of the … [Read more...] about Enoch Mgijima Local Municipality placed under administration
Government Precinct needs to be part of a revitalised Bhisho
Dear MyPE The concept of a Bhisho Precinct, which is aimed at alleviating the issue of office space for several provincial departments, needs to include an integrated approach to revitalise Bhisho and King Williams Town. Thousands of government employees will be expected to relocate to the Bhisho precinct, yet there is a drastic shortage of schools, clinics, accommodation and other vital services in the area. What thought has been given to these employees' quality of life? Where will … [Read more...] about Government Precinct needs to be part of a revitalised Bhisho
MEC dilly-dallies on 24-hour traffic law enforcement
Dear MyPE Another school holiday has passed and the carnage continues on our Eastern Cape roads, while the same promises are made, but no real action is taken. The DA repeats its call to Transport MEC, Weziwe Tikana, for the immediate implementation of a shift-system for 24-hour traffic law enforcement on Eastern Cape roads. Six months ago, I asked the Transport MEC, Weziwe Tikana, what steps or initiatives her Department had in place with a view of curbing the number of deaths on our … [Read more...] about MEC dilly-dallies on 24-hour traffic law enforcement
Makhanda landfill crisis
Dear MyPE It is clear that Makana Local Municipality has lost all functional control of the landfill site on the outskirts, west of Makhanda. The site is not secure and poorly maintained, and has been the source of harmful smoke and odours as a result of uncontrolled fires. These have only recently been extinguished by rainfall, as the Makana Municipality was unable to resolve it through the use of their own fire services. On Saturday, 13 July 2019, I conducted an oversight … [Read more...] about Makhanda landfill crisis
Premier and his government napping
Dear MyPE The Eastern Cape Premier, Oscar Mabuyane, has apparently been napping while one of the largest crises to hit the Eastern Cape economy has unfolded. It has now been 17 days since the go-slow strike action commenced at the Port of Ngqura and, to date, there has not been any response from either the MEC of Economic Development, Environmental Affairs and Tourism, Mlungisi Mvoko, or the Premier, to our request for intervention. Meanwhile, the situation at Ngqura is crippling the … [Read more...] about Premier and his government napping
Rogue Sunday’s River Valley Municipality goes for a Hat trick in Maladministration
Dear MyPE Less than a month after having violated the Municipal Structures Act by purporting to have passed the municipal budget with far less than a majority of the vote, and violating the Municipal Finance Management Act by irregularly appointing a permanent Chief Financial Officer, the rogue Sunday’s River Valley Municipality (SRVM) has struck again. SRVM seems to be determined to achieve a hat trick in maladministration, as they have proceeded to adopt an organogram without the … [Read more...] about Rogue Sunday’s River Valley Municipality goes for a Hat trick in Maladministration
Lack of action by Education Department placing learners lives at risk
Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance is outraged that for four years the Department of Education has not taken any action to ensure the safety of learners at Strelitzia Primary School in Port Elizabeth’s Northern Areas. This week the school was shut down by the school principal, Clifton Jantjies, and parents, over concerns of the children’s safety, following a shooting earlier the week and the lack of fencing at the school. The DA in the Eastern Cape Legislature has been driving the issue … [Read more...] about Lack of action by Education Department placing learners lives at risk
Subhuman conditions for cancer patient in Livingstone Hospital
Dear MyPE The Eastern Cape Department of Health is failing the people of this province through a wilful disregard in providing the most basic care, and a complete lack of compassion for the sick, the dying and the family of those affected. On the 11th of June, a Port Elizabeth woman waited for five hours in vain for an ambulance to transport her desperately ill brother to Livingstone Hospital. She eventually resorted to paying a private ambulance service to transfer him, and then was … [Read more...] about Subhuman conditions for cancer patient in Livingstone Hospital
