annette steyn

Dear MyPE Following the announcement by the Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD), Thoko Didiza, that 700 000 hectares of State land will be released for agricultural purposes, the Democratic Alliance (DA) has received distress calls from productive farmers complaining that this announcement was now being used by departmental officials to intimidate them into vacating their farms. On reviewing some of the reported cases, the DA was surprised to see that farms … [Read more...] about Chaotic ‘State land redistribution’ resulting in intimidation of productive farmers

Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance (DA) welcomes the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) investigation into allegations that members of the South African Police Service (SAPS) are involved in the stock theft syndicate operating in the Senekal-area in the Free State and call on them to expand the investigation to encompasses more rural communities in South Africa. The DA has been reliably informed from our numerous oversight inspections to various rural communities through … [Read more...] about Why must someone die in order for Minister Cele to get to grips with conditions on farms?

Dear MyPE The Auditor-General (AG) of South Africa has turned down the Democratic Alliance’s (DA) request for an investigation into how the R2.5 billion allocated to the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD) in 2016/17 for drought relief was spent. While the AG wrote back to indicate that his office is currently inundated with investigating various cases of Covid-19 corruption and does not currently have capacity to investigate this matter, the DA will … [Read more...] about How was the R2.5 billion drought relief fund spent?

Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance (DA) today launches a provincial Court Watching Briefs Unit in the Eastern Cape as a means to specifically assist victims and families of victims of farm attacks and to put those attackers behind bars. The slaying of Mr Chrisjan van Niekerk, a blind farmer from Alexandria on 25 July, is the first case that the DA will be following in order to ensure that justice is served for this horrific crime. The situation in our rural areas is now at crisis point, … [Read more...] about Provincial Rural Safety Court Watching Briefs Unit Launched

DA welcomes declaration of national drought disaster Dear MyPE Following sustained pressure from the Democratic Alliance (DA) the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA), Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma has finally gazetted and declared a national drought disaster. While the DA is pleased by this long-overdue declaration, it is not, however where government’s work stops. The DA reiterates our call for the following interventions: The provision of a temporary jobs … [Read more...] about Drought Declaration: Finally

Dear MyPE Lives are being endangered and valuable police resources wasted due to ANC Premier Oscar Mabuyane not honouring his promises to certain residents of the Karoo town of Steynsburg. Today, 18 October 2019, a second day of violence broke out between protesters and the Public Order Policing (POP) Unit of the South African Police Service (SAPS) after residents blocked off roads with burning tyres and rocks, and also pelted stones at vehicles. There were also unconfirmed reports … [Read more...] about The Reason for the Steynsburg violence

Dear MyPE Residents of the Hilton community in Aliwal North have been moved to temporary housing in the Joe Ggabi suburb in order to provide new housing for the families. The Democratic Alliance (DA) appreciates and supports the building of houses for poor communities. The DA visited the area recently to look at the living conditions of the residents after we received complaints. Four families have been forced to live in the temporary area for the past three years as they have not … [Read more...] about Aliwal North families still in inferior housing three years after “temporary move”