The lack of jobs is a major concern for the Kouga municipality. Having a well-run municipality is key to creating the right climate for job creation. Under the ANC leadership the Kouga municipality has gone backwards. A DA governed Kouga will eradicate corruption, cut red tape and will roll out the red carpet for investors. We will replace despair with hope and return Kouga to its former glory when it was run by the Democratic Alliance. The voters of Kouga are looking for change and the DA … [Read more...] about Unemployment issue must be tackled in Kouga
athol trollip
Athol Trollip is DA Premier candidate for Eastern Cape
The Democratic Alliance's Premier candidate in the Eastern Cape has been announced as Athol Trollip. Making the announcement, Edmund van Vuuren said;" He has his roots firmly in the Eastern Cape. He is a fluent Xhosa speaker and son of the soil. Athol Trollip is passionate about the plight of the rural poor, being a farmer for many years. His track record as a public representative - over 15 years as a Member of Parliament, Member of the Provincial Legislature and District Councillor - … [Read more...] about Athol Trollip is DA Premier candidate for Eastern Cape
Premier’s Sopa only one side of the coin
It was very clear that the Premier adopted the same metaphorical speech strategy of Jacob Zuma of telling a good story. The speech's plausibility is brought into question by the fact that the Premier spoke only about one side of the coin. This was confirmed when she appealed to Eastern Cape citizens not to protest their dissatisfaction around poor service delivery by burning down existing service structures. This speaks volumes about he fact that citizens are not as enthusiastic about the … [Read more...] about Premier’s Sopa only one side of the coin
What Premier Kiviet needs to focus on at Sopa
The Eastern Cape remains a labour reservoir for other provinces whose economies are growing at rates that create opportunities and jobs such as the Western Cape and Gauteng. The Premier must outline what the ANC will do to encourage and promote economic growth in the province that will reverse this drain of important human resources. This accelerated migration of Eastern Cape human capital not only robs the province of these people's skills and entrepreneurship, but dislocates the social … [Read more...] about What Premier Kiviet needs to focus on at Sopa
Impressive by-election results
The Democratic Alliance achieved considerable growth in the by-elections held in Mbhashe yesterday. We showed significant growth particularly in ward 5 where we polled 530 votes, the results for two voting districts in the wards are still outstanding. The DA contested 5 wards in Mbhashe after 12 ANC councillors were expelled for “misconduct”. Voters here have expressed their outrage with corrupt government officials, poor political leadership and slow service delivery; they want a government … [Read more...] about Impressive by-election results
Strong DA growth in Eastern Cape by-elections
Yesterday the Democratic Alliance swept to victory in Ward 5 in the Kouga Municipality where it retained the seat notwithstanding the fact that the ANC put forward the Kouga mayor, Booi Koerat, as the candidate. We showed stunning growth in Ward 9 of the same municipality where we grew from 33% of the vote to 44% of the vote in the face of desperate intimidation by the ANC. In Ward 2 in Mnquma the result was particularly exciting, where we grew from 8,7% of the vote to 21%. This growth shows … [Read more...] about Strong DA growth in Eastern Cape by-elections
Stanford Slabbert on his dismissal
Former DA Councillor in Ward 1, Stanford Slabbert issued the following statement today, 26 November 2013: It is with great sadness that I learnt yesterday that the Federal Council of the Democratic Alliance had dismissed my appeal. The Federal Council's decision was forwarded to my attorneys after close of business on Friday afternoon, and I was first made aware of my fate when I saw it on MyPE at 8:29am (DA expels Stanford Slabbert) and subsequently heard it on the 8:30am Monday morning … [Read more...] about Stanford Slabbert on his dismissal
DA expels Stanford Slabbert
The Democratic Alliance, under the hand of Athol Trollip issued the following statement; "The membership of Stanford Slabbert has been terminated. This is the harshest sanction for a DA public representative. This sends an unambiguous message to everyone in the DA, especially public representatives, that racism in any and all its guises is rejected and will not be tolerated under any circumstances in the DA. "Mr. Slabbert was charged for bringing the party into disrepute and offending his … [Read more...] about DA expels Stanford Slabbert
Registration weekend fundamental to protecting democratic rights
Registration weekend is a fundamentally important event that ensures every eligible citizens' constitutional right to vote. As with any human right, the right to vote also comes with certain responsibilities. The constitution provides for every South African citizen who is eighteen years of age or older to vote. In order to give effect to this right, qualifying citizens are expected to register themselves with the IEC with the purpose of having their name recorded on the national voters' … [Read more...] about Registration weekend fundamental to protecting democratic rights
Deepest sympathy after loss of Premier Kiviet’s partner
It is with shock and disbelief that I learned of the passing on Monday, 21 October of the life partner of Eastern Cape Premier Noxolo Kiviet. Premier Kiviet and her partner, Nikuxolo Siqingqi shared a very close relationship. I want to convey my and my party's deepest and most sincere condolences at the loss of her life partner and father of her children. We pray that she will be sustained at this time of grief and mourning by the love of God and of her family, as well as the endearing … [Read more...] about Deepest sympathy after loss of Premier Kiviet’s partner
The Brigadier and the Foot Soldiers
I have lived in Ward 1 - Summerstrand for 35 years. Naturally, during this period I have seen many changes in how the suburb has been treated and governed by the local government. In the old days, when it was "Whites Only", we had voluntary City Councillors (with no pay) serving us. But post 1994, things changed for the better and the demands on councillors became much more onerous. As a consequence, the City Council became politicised and Summerstrand has experienced both ANC and DA … [Read more...] about The Brigadier and the Foot Soldiers
Stanford Slabbert stripped of party membership over racist email
The DA has concluded a comprehensive disciplinary process whereby charges were laid against DA Ward 1 Councillor Stanford Slabbert for the circulation of an offensive and racist email. This gave rise to a disciplinary hearing attended by Cllr Slabbert and the legal representative defending him, with the DA providing a prosecution and a disciplinary hearing panel. The recommendation by the Provincial Disciplinary Council was that Cllr Slabbert's party membership be terminated after he was … [Read more...] about Stanford Slabbert stripped of party membership over racist email
You shouldn’t have to explain
I got a few people hot under the collar last week when I challenged the thinking behind the DA's public welcoming of King Dalindyebo to the ranks of the party members. See: Dear Athol, Stanford and Buyelekhaya. This past weekend my sentiments were echoed by Redi Tlhabi in a piece titled: "DA scores own goal by taking on scandalous king" and then by Zapiro with his incisive cartoon asking if the move was opportunism. Writing on her Facebook page Helen Zille said; "After all, we reckoned, … [Read more...] about You shouldn’t have to explain
King Dalindyebo leaves his home
Today I met with AbaThembu King Buyelekhaya Dalindyebo at Bumbane in the Eastern Cape. I met with the King to discuss the principles and Constitution of the DA given his interest in joining the party. King Dalindyebo said he believed that the DA's brand of clean government and delivery was needed in the Eastern Cape. We discussed a number of matters including the proposed Traditional Courts Bill to which the DA has a number of objections relating to its constitutionality. King … [Read more...] about King Dalindyebo leaves his home
Only R3 million available to plug hole requiring hundreds of millions
A DA budget analysis has found that just R3 million has been allocated for disaster management for the 2013/14 financial year by the Eastern Cape Rural Development and Agrarian Reform Department as farmers across the province struggle with storm and flood damage running into hundreds of millions of rands. The Department's "Disaster Risk Management" programme has the crucial objective of "providing early warning reports of disasters and relief schemes for affected farmers". Flood damage in … [Read more...] about Only R3 million available to plug hole requiring hundreds of millions
