The Eastern Cape government spent R8.5 billion on consultants over the last three years. A parallel civil service is being established whose duplicate costs run into billions that could otherwise go to fixing our schools, hospitals and roads. A total of R2.9 billion was spent in 2009/2010, R3 billion in 2010/11 and R2.7 billion in the 2011/12 financial years. This is according to a reply from Finance MEC Phumulo Masualle to my parliamentary question this week. These latest figures are a … [Read more...] about R8.5 billion on consultants in three years
bobby stevenson
83% of East Cape Budget ‘suspect’
Shock findings from the Auditor-General (AG) today show that the Eastern Cape government had modified audit opinions (qualified and disclaimer) for 83% of the entire provincial budget for the 2011/12 financial year. The monetary value of all the instances where the AG expressed a qualified or disclaimer opinion on provincial finances totals R44 billion of the R53 billion budget in 2011/12. These figures are contained in a presentation by the AG to the Eastern Cape legislature today. The … [Read more...] about 83% of East Cape Budget ‘suspect’
DA Offers Support to Premier
Municipalities and the province do not have sufficient resources to fix our devasted roads. National intervention is critical. DA offers full support to Premier to lobby National for reconstruction funds I have today written to Premier Noxolo Kiviet offering the DA's full support at Provincial and National level to lobby funds for the reconstruction of our devastated roads network. My colleague in the National Assembly, Athol Trollip, will introduce a member's statement later on this week … [Read more...] about DA Offers Support to Premier
Historic SCOPA meeting praised
Yesterday was a historic day in the Provincial Legislature in the Eastern Cape. The standing committee of Public Accounts (SCOPA) sat to deal with the 2011/12 audited financial statements of Departments. Usually SCOPA only deals with these audited reports a year or two years later after the fact. I and other members of the house have been calling for this change for many years. This change will ensure that the recommendations made by SCOPA are relevant and current. If quarterly reports, on … [Read more...] about Historic SCOPA meeting praised
Crime stats murder shocker for Eastern Cape
The fact that the Eastern Cape continues to have the highest murder ratio in the country at 48 murders per 100 000 of the population is a huge shock. Just last night another brutal murder took place in our province where a prominent elderly Kei Mouth resident was killed. Gauteng by comparison has a murder ratio of 26.6 per 100 000. Sadly the number of reported murders in the Eastern Cape has increased by 97 - or 2.8% - over the past year. Our province remains far too violent. The second … [Read more...] about Crime stats murder shocker for Eastern Cape
Premier must deal with provincial officials for non-payment to municipalities
If Premier Noxolo Kiviet is serious about statements made to the media about dealing with non-payment by provincial departments to municipalities, she should deal with the provincial officials responsible rather than suggesting municipalities cut off provision of services to departments if they have not paid. For the Premier’s statement, click here. The Premier is correct in highlighting this critical issue, but she should not use municipal cut-offs as the stick to beat provincial departments … [Read more...] about Premier must deal with provincial officials for non-payment to municipalities
East Cape capital expenditure lowest in the country
The first quarter National Treasury expenditure figures for the Eastern Cape once again highlight the alarming trend of low capital expenditure in the key Departments of Education (7.7%), Health (11.3%) and Human Settlements (17.7%). Under development, inequality and poverty are directly related to the lack of capital expenditure in the social cluster. The only way to stop the rot is for the MEC for Finance and Provincial Expenditure, Phumulo Masualle, to table a quarterly statement on the … [Read more...] about East Cape capital expenditure lowest in the country
Seaview Road crisis must be resolved before loss of life
The ongoing crisis regarding to the flooding of the Seaview Road in the Nelson Mandela Bay Metropole needs to be attended to as a matter of urgency. A functional roads network is the life blood of a city’s economy. When it becomes dysfunctional, it has economic consequences, ultimately impacting on jobs. This week PE-south Constituency Leader, Bobby Stevenson (MPL) and DA Ward 1 councillor, Stanford Slabbert, assessed the problems in Seaview Road, which has been under water for a month and … [Read more...] about Seaview Road crisis must be resolved before loss of life
Speedy Arrests in Jansenville Farm Murder Welcomed
The speedy arrest of the suspects involved in the murder of Jansenville farmer Owen Charles will give rural communities some hope that the forces of law and order can track down those involved in threatening their safety. It is a tragedy that this farmer, a DA stalwart, who displayed a lifelong commitment to changing this country for the better, should be killed in this brutal fashion. Yesterday I visited his wife, Janet Charles, to convey our condolences on behalf of the DA. I have also … [Read more...] about Speedy Arrests in Jansenville Farm Murder Welcomed
Job Creation Requires Sound Administration
From a speech by Bobby Stevenson to the Eastern Cape Provincial Legislature who sat this afternoon to consider the report of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts (Scopa) for the 2010/2011 financial year for provincial departments: When your education system malfunctions, learners future job prospects become more limited. When civil servants trade with the Province at the expense of the Private Sector, you limit opportunities for job creation. When corruption, maladministration and … [Read more...] about Job Creation Requires Sound Administration
Two EC schools to close due to department’s non-payment of rentals
The Eastern Cape Department of Education's on-going financial mismanagement and lack of accountability is impacting on learners' continued ability to access education. The Catholic Church is threatening to close two schools, one being a school for the deaf, in the province due to long standing non-payment of rentals by the department. The funds are needed to maintain the schools, which are falling into disrepair. Only an effective administration can ensure that quality education can be … [Read more...] about Two EC schools to close due to department’s non-payment of rentals
Government not making dent in Eastern Cape unemployment
Government is not succeeding in making a major dent in unemployment in the Eastern Cape according to the latest Quarterly Labour Force Survey as released by Statistics South Africa today. Although the number of jobs in the second quarter compared with the first quarter of 2012 has increased by 19 000, which is some good news, the unemployment rate in the Eastern Cape has increased from 28.3% to 28.6%. This is due to the labour force increasing by 36 000. The expanded definition of … [Read more...] about Government not making dent in Eastern Cape unemployment
Premier’s talk on civil servant insider-trading must become tough action
You are spot-on, Madam Premier but you have been talking tough for almost a year on insider-trading by civil servants and you cannot hide behind the Constitution. Start tightening the screws. Councillors, in terms of the Municipal Finance Management Act, cannot trade with councils. It is the same principal when it comes to civil servants. Firm action is needed as a matter of urgency. Stop dragging your heels. The Auditor-General's report on municipalities found that civil servants in the … [Read more...] about Premier’s talk on civil servant insider-trading must become tough action
Province owes R132 million to municipalities
It is not only businesses but also municipalities that are suffering as a result of slow payments from provincial departments. As at the end of the last financial year, on 31 March 2012, municipalities in the Eastern Cape were owed R132 million by provincial departments. According to a reply to a parliamentary question I asked the MEC for Finance, Phumulo Masualle, states that an amount of R121 million had been outstanding for more than 30 days and R107.2 million for more than 60 … [Read more...] about Province owes R132 million to municipalities
12 731 businesses owed R1, 4 billion by provincial government
Thousands of businesses in the Eastern Cape are squeezed financially by delayed payments from the provincial government. Small businesses are the most effective form of job creation and the province must pull out all stops to ensure their growth and survival. They cannot be the cash cow that is being milked while government delays payments from one financial year to the next to hide financial mismanagement. According to a question for written reply by me to the MEC for Finance, Phumulo … [Read more...] about 12 731 businesses owed R1, 4 billion by provincial government
