bobby stevenson

Dear MyPE The latest Eastern Cape crime statistics highlight what a brutal and violent society we are living in, where we are haunted by the fear of the criminal element and our general feeling of the lack of safety. We are losing our moral values and basic humanity. There is no longer respect for human life, with people engaging in senseless and brutal crimes. Criminals clearly no longer fear being caught. We need to rebuild the pillars of society, and this means a new form of … [Read more...] about Eastern Cape crime stats show police are losing the war in a brutal, violent society

Dear MyPE The crisis around the availability of Rape Kits in the Eastern Cape is far worse than initially reported, with only 20 police stations of the 197 in the province actually equipped to take DNA evidence in cases of sexual assault. (See: 76% of SA Police Stations have no rape kits in stock for victims) Worse, only five stations across the entire province are equipped with pediatric rape kits. This crisis of the availability of rape kits in the Eastern Cape needs to be dealt with … [Read more...] about Rape kit availability crisis worse than initially reported

Dear MyPE The latest, alarming statistics on farm attacks in the Eastern Cape show that our rural communities are continually under siege and the brutal assault on the farming community continues to rise. In the 2016/17 financial there were 26 farm attacks. Over the last three years there have been 113 attacks. There has been an 84% increase between 2016/17 compared to 2018/19 In response to a parliamentary question, MEC for Safety, Weziwe Tikana, said that farm attacks in the province … [Read more...] about Brutal assaults on EC farming communities continue to rise

Dear MyPE The fact that R2,3 billion in current claims against the police in the Eastern Cape are pending is a shocking indictment of the state of policing in the province. In response to a parliamentary question, MEC for Safety and Liaison, Weziwe Tikana, said that claims paid out by the Eastern Cape SAPS in the 2018/19 financial year was in excess of R45-million. This is up by R6-million from the claims paid in 2017/18 financial year, and nearly R11-million more than what was paid out … [Read more...] about R2,3 billion in claims against police in the Eastern Cape

Dear MyPE Today I tabled a motion in the Provincial Legislature dealing with the preparedness of the province for the Fourth Industrial Revolution that is sweeping through the world. The province needs to be fully prepared for the massive change that is already impacting on how we learn, how we communicate, how we work and how we govern. The period referred to as the Fourth Industrial Revolution entails the converging of digital, physical and biological technologies. This period is … [Read more...] about Adapt or die ahead of the Fourth Industrial Revolution

Dear MyPE The message of Freedom Day rings hollow whilst residents of Nelson Mandela Bay, and especially Walmer Township. are still living in fear of criminals. On Freedom Day, 27 January 2019, we marched to demand that the Fountain Avenue Satellite Police Station in Walmer Township, Port Elizabeth be reopened immediately. We were joined by residents and DA activists in marching to this satellite station. We will also shortly deliver a memorandum to the South African Police … [Read more...] about Violence robs Walmer residents of freedom

Dear MyPE MEC Oscar Mabuyane’s maiden budget speech, introduced in the Eastern Cape Provincial Legislature today, did not highlight any bold changes needed to arrest the high unemployment trajectory of the Eastern Cape, which has resulted in 1,5-million people leaving this province since 2006. This outward migration, together with the mismanagement of our economy, which only grew 0,8% last year, has resulted in the equitable share allocation of the Eastern Cape shrinking by R19,8-billion … [Read more...] about Bold changes needed to turn Eastern Cape around

Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance expects the MEC for Finance, Oscar Mabuyane, to introduce a provincial budget for the 2019/20 financial year, in the region of between R82 and R83 billion, on Tuesday, 5 March, in the Eastern Cape Provincial Legislature. MEC Mabuyane must clearly outline how a shift is going to take place; from consumption expenditure to investment in infrastructure and economic growth. This is a key task, given that unemployment is sitting at 46% in the Eastern … [Read more...] about Big shift needed away from Consumption Expenditure

Dear MyPE A total of 132 Eastern Cape civil servants are unlawfully engaged with business dealings with the province and national government. How do they think that they can get away with this? This is simply an extension of state capture! This is according to a response to a question for written reply from MEC for Finance and Provincial Expenditure, Oscar Mabuyane, who reported that 120 civil servants were doing business with the province, while a further 12 were doing business with … [Read more...] about 132 civil servants double dipping

Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance would like to welcome Fezeka Mbiko as our newest member of the Eastern Cape Provincial Legislature, after she was sworn in at the beginning of today’s house proceedings. Fezeka will take the place of Celeste Barker, who has been medically boarded. Born and raised in rural Dutywa, in Gwadana, and currently based in Butterworth, Fizeka, 60, has a passion for serving the people of the Eastern Cape. She spent 33 years working for the Eastern Cape … [Read more...] about New MPL Fezeka Mbiko sworn in

Dear MyPE It is clear that the failing ANC has no solution to the combat the rising unemployment in the Eastern Cape, which is stealing the bread off the tables of the people. This after the Quarterly Labour Force Survey, released by Stats SA today, showed that unemployment in the province continued to rise, with the fourth quarter up by 0.5%, from 35.6% to 36.1%. The Eastern Cape also has the highest expanded unemployment rate at 46.8%, growing from 1,129 million people in the fourth … [Read more...] about Where is the plan to combat unemployment?

Dear MyPE The holding cells at the Kirkwood police station have been standing unused since May last year, according to information that was brought to my attention, diverting much needed police resources away from the communities they are meant to serve. Vehicles now have to be dispatched to the Addo holding cells, over 40km away, to transport suspects. This was confirmed after I conducted an unannounced oversight inspection at the Kirkwood police station recently, accompanied by … [Read more...] about Kirkwood police station holding cells out of action

Dear MyPE I recently met with a number of farmers in the Addo area who are once again having their orchards plundered by what is suspected to be a highly sophisticated criminal syndicate. The farmers informed me, Sundays River Caucus Leader councillor Karen Smith, and DA councillor Laticia Erasmus, that the scale of this plundering is running into millions of rands. The farmers are frustrated with the ability of the local Addo police to deal with this matter and have requested that … [Read more...] about Orchard theft continues to plague Addo farmers

Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance is saddened by the death of former Councillor Elizabeth Trent. Elizabeth Trent was a Democratic Alliance stalwart who served as a Councillor from 1995 to 2011 and led the DA caucus in the Nelson Mandela Bay Metro for a number of years. Elizabeth grew up in a political family with her grandfather being a member of parliament, her father a member of parliament, as well as a former mayor of Port Elizabeth. During her work as a Councillor, she was fearless … [Read more...] about RIP Elizabeth Trent