bobby stevenson

Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance extends its sincere condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of the United Democratic Movement’s Deputy National Chairperson and Member of the Eastern Cape Provincial Legislature, Mncedisi Filtane. This follows the news of his sudden passing due to Covid-19, after being admitted to Hospital on Friday with low oxygen levels. Filtane was a true gentleman and an outspoken member of the Legislature. He was courteous in his dealings with everyone, … [Read more...] about RIP Mncedisi Filtane

Dear MyPE The devastating economic fallout of the Coronavirus pandemic and subsequent enforced lockdown continues to be reflected in the latest unemployment figures contained in the Quarterly Labour Force Survey statistics, released today. The Eastern Cape remains the jobs slaughterhouse of the country. It is the epicentre of the virus, the epicentre of corruption and now continues to be the epicentre of unemployment in South Africa. The provincial unemployment figures are the worst in … [Read more...] about EC remains epicentre of unemployment crisis

Dear MyPE Another farm attack has occurred in the Addo Kirkwood area, again highlighting the need for urgent intervention by police in this provincial hotspot. How much longer must the warning lights flash before action is taken? The Democratic Alliance (DA) has received information that last night (Monday, 03 November 2020) at about 19:15, a man was attacked on a farm by five or six individuals, who made off with firearms, including a shotgun and revolver. I have been raising my … [Read more...] about Another farm attack in Addo Kirkwood area

Dear MyPE The escalating farm attacks in the Addo policing area needs to be addressed as a matter of urgency. This is a provincial hotspot with 14 of 74 farm attacks in the last year occurring in this area. The red lights have been flashing for some time. Friday’s attack is condemned in the strongest terms. The DA has received information that on Friday, 16 October 2020, at about 20:35, five people residing on the farm were attacked just outside Addo. During the attack we are … [Read more...] about Escalating farm attacks in Addo must be addressed

Dear MyPE The South African Police Service must pull out all the stops to rearrest the individuals who managed to escape from the police holding cells in Elliot last night. The Democratic Alliance has reliably learnt that seven detainees, who were allegedly being held on charges ranging from house robbery to attempted murder, managed to escape the holding cells and take a police officer’s firearm in the process. One cannot allow these dangerous individuals to be on the run in the … [Read more...] about Escaped Elliot prisoners must be brought to book

Dear MyPE The latest Quarterly Labour Force Survey statistics, released today, show the devastating impact that the Covid-19 pandemic has had on the economy of the Eastern Cape. Although the provincial unemployment figure has improved slightly, from 40.5% to 36.9%, these figures have been skewed, as Stats SA excludes those who have given up looking for work from the official unemployment rate. It is the expanded unemployment rate that shows the true devastation that has hit the … [Read more...] about SA’s Job Slaughterhouse

Dear MyPE The Eastern Cape Provincial Anti-Corruption Council has not held one meeting over the last financial year and, to date, has not sat this financial year either. This highlights the sheer lack of political will of the provincial government to tackle corruption. This was revealed by Premier Oscar Mabuyane, in response to a parliamentary question from the Democratic Alliance. The council is meant to coordinate and integrate the anti-corruption work of the public sector departments … [Read more...] about Provincial Anti-Corruption Council fails to meet for over a year

Dear MyPE Despite the overall decline in crime incidents, which can be attributed to the strict lockdown measures that were put in place, there are still areas that bucked the trend the Eastern Cape. This was revealed in the first quarter police crime statistics, which were unpacked by MEC of Safety and Security, Weziwe Tikana-Gxothiwe, today. The DA welcomes the long overdue quarterly release of statistics, as this will play an important role in informing communities of the relevant … [Read more...] about First quarter crime stats still show worrying trends for EC

Dear MyPE The number of farm attacks in the Eastern Cape have risen three-fold over the past four years, highlighting the brutal assault that continues to take place on Eastern Cape farmers. These attacks are a warning flag of the increasing violent crime in rural communities in the Eastern Cape, and once again highlights the urgent need for a Rural Safety Summit that can address the issue. The latest statistics, provided by MEC Weziwe Tikana-Gxothiwe in response to parliamentary … [Read more...] about Dramatic rise in Eastern Cape farm attacks

Dear MyPE The Eastern Cape urgently needs to host a rural safety summit, to develop measures to curb farm murders in the rural areas and address the rampant stock theft taking place, along with the high rate of crime in these communities. It is therefore encouraging that the MEC for Safety and Liaison, MEC Weziwe Tikana-Gxothiwe, has indicated her support for a rural safety summit, as well support for farm murders to be categorized as priority crimes, in response to my questions on this … [Read more...] about Urgent need for Eastern Cape Rural Safety Summit

Dear MyPE Eastern Cape farmers are being bled dry by brazen stock thieves. While other crimes might have declined during the government's lockdown in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, there has been a massive surge in stock theft across the province. This is dealing a crippling blow to the already struggling agricultural sector. In response to a parliamentary question, MEC Weziwe Tikana Gqothiwe, revealed that, from 27 March until 22 June, 5 636 animals were stolen. This included 4480 … [Read more...] about Stock theft soars during lockdown in Eastern Cape

Dear MyPE The crime statistics released yesterday show that the bloody wave of violent crime continues to sweep through the Eastern Cape, bringing little hope to residents who continue to live in fear of the criminal element that stalks our communities. Despite bucking the national trend in murders, with a slight decrease of 2,2% year on year, 3 879 people still lost their lives at the hands of criminals in the province. This is just under 11 people a day, on average, in the Eastern Cape, … [Read more...] about Staggering EC crime figures shows bloody crime wave continues

Dear MyPE Tomorrow, 22 July 2020, Democratic Alliance (DA) members of the provincial legislature (MPLs) will be premiering a video on the DA Eastern Cape Facebook page that deals with corruption in the province. I will be joined by DA EC Shadow MEC of Finance, Retief Odendaal MPL, Shadow MEC of COGTA, Vicky Knoetze MPL, Shadow MEC of Health, Jane Cowley MPL, Shadow MEC for Education, Yusuf Cassim MPL, and Shadow MEC for Transport, Marshal von Buchenroder MPL, to discuss why corruption … [Read more...] about MPLs speak out against rampant corruption in the Eastern Cape

Dear MyPE The ongoing closure of the Helenvale Clinic, which is located a mere 200m away from the Gelvandale police station, needs to be resolved as a matter of urgency! The clinic has been closed for over a year and a half due to the violent crime in the area. This has had a catastrophic knock on effect on the Malabar clinic, that has seen its case load double as Helenvale residents turn to them for help We cannot afford to surrender any ground to gangsterism and the criminal … [Read more...] about Helenvale clinic closure a disgrace, urgent action needed