Dear MyPE An improvement in the number of SAPS members who have valid driver's licences is good news for overall policing in the Eastern Cape. Over the past three years, the number of police officers without driver's licences have dropped from 7 602 to 3 797 according to a reply to a legislature question I asked the MEC for Safety and Liaison, Weziwe Tikana. However, the efforts of high visibility policing in this is province are still hampered by a shortage of vehicles and the 3 797 … [Read more...] about High visibility policing dependent on SAPS members with valid driver’s licences
bobby stevenson
Unemployment rate highest in Eastern Cape
Dear MyPE The DA in the Eastern Cape is concerned with the continued high number of unemployed people in the province. The pain of unemployment is not simply felt in people’s stomachs but also in their hearts when they lose their sense of purpose and dignity. The marginal decrease in the unemployment rate from 29,6% to 29,1% gives little measure of comfort for the 980 000 people that are unemployed. The Eastern Cape, with an expanded rate of unemployment of 42,5%, remains the … [Read more...] about Unemployment rate highest in Eastern Cape
Police killers must face full might of the law
Dear MyPE The DA is shocked and saddened by the killing of another member of the police service in the Eastern Cape. Yesterday a policeman and a paramedic were murdered in New Brighton in Port Elizabeth in what appears to have been a planned shooting. Our hard working policemen and -women are committed to making our society a safer place. Anyone who kills or injures a policeman must face the full wrath of the law and must serve as a deterrent to others. We welcome the arrests of 24 … [Read more...] about Police killers must face full might of the law
If it can be done in Parliament, St Albans should be easy
Dear My PE Jam the gangsters' cellphone signal! The community will be relieved to hear the commitment by the Department of Correctional Services to install cellphone detection equipment in St. Albans prison in Port Elizabeth at some future point. This vague commitment is simply not good enough. What we want is immediate action. If you can jam the signal in parliament to protect the president, you can jam the signal in St. Albans prison to protect the people of Nelson Mandela Bay and … [Read more...] about If it can be done in Parliament, St Albans should be easy
Eight ways to curb Northern Areas gangsterism
Dear MyPE The fight against gangsterism in the Port Elizabeth Northern Areas must be treated as a war. It needs one central champion that will implement a multi-disciplinary approach which involves all stakeholders. When I met with the provincial police management last week, with the legislature portfolio committee on safety and security, I raised this matter and pointed out that there needs to be a single champion that bring all the role-players together. The DA believes that the … [Read more...] about Eight ways to curb Northern Areas gangsterism
Job creation, not job shedding needed in the Eastern Cape
Dear MyPE The job shedding policies of the ANC are wreaking havoc on families in the Eastern Cape along with our two major metros. A job is not simply about work, it’s about dignity and being able to put food on your family’s table. According to the Quarterly Labour Force Survey, released by Statistics South Africa, today, the expanded rate of unemployment in the Eastern Cape is now 43, 2%. This is the highest in the country along with KwaZulu Natal. This is an increase from the last … [Read more...] about Job creation, not job shedding needed in the Eastern Cape
EC pays out massive R504-million in court battles
Dear MyPE The Eastern Cape government paid out a massive R504-million over the last three financial years for court litigation and settlements. R296-million was paid out for litigation and a further R208-million for settlements. This is such a massive waste of public funds and a squandering of lost opportunities for the province. How many additional doctors, nurses, teachers or incubators, ambulances and school desks could have been paid for by these millions that are going to expensive … [Read more...] about EC pays out massive R504-million in court battles
NMBM the unsafest place after dark, says Stats SA report
Dear MyPE Residents of the Eastern Cape are afraid - very afraid - as they live under the daily threat of crime. This emerged in the report Crime Statistics Series Volume II, Public perceptions about crime prevention and the Criminal Justice System, In-depth analysis of the Victims of Crime Survey data published yesterday by Stats SA. A total of 80.2 % of people in the Nelson Mandela Metro feel unsafe when it is dark. This was the highest of all metros according to the report. Living … [Read more...] about NMBM the unsafest place after dark, says Stats SA report
EC should get first share of Dedisa power
Dear MyPE I welcome the fact that the Dedisa power plant, located at the Coega IDZ in the Nelson Mandela Bay Metro, could come online as early as the third quarter of 2015. The DA believes that reliable infrastructure which includes power, water, roads and communication networks are needed for our economy to grow and for jobs to be created. Details about Dedisa emerged in response to my question for oral reply in the legislature last month. The plant has the potential to generate 342 … [Read more...] about EC should get first share of Dedisa power
Postponement of legislature sitting undermines oversight and accountability
Dear MyPE Urgent issues of public importance will not be addressed due to the sudden postponement of tomorrow's sitting of the provincial legislature. Being question day, it was expected that the provincial executive would be giving answers to questions for oral reply to current controversies including the Amathole District Municipality R631 million toilet tender. The random postponement of legislature sittings does nothing but undermine oversight and accountability. Yesterday (Monday, … [Read more...] about Postponement of legislature sitting undermines oversight and accountability
Human Rights means not having to live in fear
Dear MyPE We have made great progress with regard to human rights in South Africa today. We have a new constitution and a new democracy. Under apartheid communities lived in fear because they had no human rights. The Sharpville and Langa massacres are a stark reminder of this. Today communities are living with another kind of fear: that is the fear of the criminal element. People are not free when they have to live in a state of anxiety, insecurity, anger and frustration because of … [Read more...] about Human Rights means not having to live in fear
Fancy yourself as the next Mayor?
Dear MyPE The DA has begun the process of electing a mayoral candidate for Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Municipality. The DA is an open opportunity party and any suitable person is welcome to apply for the position and will go through our selection process. Applications need to be in by Tuesday, 31 March 2015 at 17:00. Applications can be made online at http://apply.da.org.za It is expected that the electoral college will sit in April. We believe that the Nelson Mandela Metropole … [Read more...] about Fancy yourself as the next Mayor?
Fraudulent qualifications need to be exposed
Dear MyPE How many officials in the Eastern Cape have fake qualifications? This is the question that I have posed to the premier, Phumulo Masualle for written reply in the light of the revelations that 640 public officials have fake degrees across the country. Some of these must be from the Eastern Cape. We cannot tolerate civil servant who get jobs and promotions based on fake qualifications. This is out and out fraud and makes a mockery of any form of integrity. It is unfair for … [Read more...] about Fraudulent qualifications need to be exposed
EC budget comment: Poor stewardship and corruption erodes limited resources
Dear MyPE The Eastern Cape budget for 2015/16 was tabled in the Bhisho legislature by Finance and Provincial Expenditure MEC Sakhumzi Somyo this morning. There is nothing to celebrate in this budget. Poor stewardship of the province's finances erodes our limited resources which is compounded by rampant corruption that did not receive a mention. The province is wobbling along a fiscal tightrope, due to the percentage decline in our equitable share, with the budget increasing by 4.6%, which … [Read more...] about EC budget comment: Poor stewardship and corruption erodes limited resources
MEC’s response highlights Keiskamma cuttings highway robbery crisis
Dear MyPE Truck drivers and motorists using the R72 coastal road in the Keiskamma cuttings are the victims of highway robbers. The modern day highway robbery that is taking place in the Keiskamma cuttings on the R72 coastal road must be stamped out. The DA calls for the re-instatement of a temporary police station in the vicinity of these cuttings so the culprits can be nailed and jailed. It is clear from a legislature reply from Safety and Liaison MEC Weziwe Tikana that a massive … [Read more...] about MEC’s response highlights Keiskamma cuttings highway robbery crisis
