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Community Business Directory, Event Listings, News and Views from Gqeberha, Nelson Mandela Bay

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DA wins first round in court battle against NMBM

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Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance (DA) has, as previously reported, brought an application in the High Court to set aside the election of the Ward committees of the Nelson Mandela Bay Metro (NMBM) due to the irregular and unjust method with which the process was undertaken. Today the High Court has vindicated the DA in dismissing an application by the NMBM to have all individual members of the ward committees joined to the application of reviewing the ward committee elections. This step … [Read more...] about DA wins first round in court battle against NMBM

Sparks apologises for Port Elizabeth blabs

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Veteran journalist Allister Sparks apologised twice on Tuesday - first for causing offence with his mention of Hendrik Verwoerd, and secondly for only citing white leaders in a tribute to "smart politicians". Sparks apologised for "giving offence to some people" when he described the architect of apartheid as a smart politician. His comments about Verwoerd caused a stir at the Democratic Alliance's elective conference in Port Elizabeth at the weekend, where Sparks paid tribute to outgoing … [Read more...] about Sparks apologises for Port Elizabeth blabs

Guidance from Tony Leon

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Port Elizabeth - Former DA leader Tony Leon on Sunday provided a few guiding words for the soon-to-be announced new leader of the party. "He must adopt strategies and tactics to grow this movement further. He must honour the past, but he must not live in the past," Leon said at the party's federal congress in Port Elizabeth. "He must hoist aloft [late former president] Nelson Mandela's banner of a non-racial South Africa. Your next leader must speak to the possibility of our futures. Not … [Read more...] about Guidance from Tony Leon

New DA leader to be announced

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Port Elizabeth - The voting process is now closed at the 2015 DA Federal Congress in Port Elizabeth where the new party leadership is being elected. Doors opened at 06:30 sharp on Sunday and the voting closed at 8:30. The votes are currently being counted by the party's staff. At least 1 370 delegates were expected to have voted for their candidate of choice for the highly contested positions. The federal leadership position is being contested by parliamentary leader Mmusi Maimane, … [Read more...] about New DA leader to be announced

DA seeks to force public broadcaster to cover PE federal congress

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The Democratic Alliance on Friday filed papers in the South Gauteng High Court against the SABC over its coverage of the party’s federal congress in Port Elizabeth this weekend. “The DA alleged that the SABC withdrawal of its live coverage on public television is both contrary to the public interest and contrary to the SABC’s own editorial policy,” the party said in a statement. The party’s spokesperson, Phumzile van Damme, told News24 that the SABC and the DA agreed that the congress’s … [Read more...] about DA seeks to force public broadcaster to cover PE federal congress

One leader will emerge from the votes of 1 425 delegates

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The election of the country's main opposition leader lies in the hands of 1 425 delegates, who have been carefully selected to attend the Democratic Alliance's federal congress in Nelson Mandela Bay this weekend. Most of the delegates - 424 -will be coming from the DA-run province of the Western Cape, according to congress convenor Greg Krumbock. The second largest province is Gauteng with 373 delegates, followed by KwaZulu-Natal with 138, Eastern Cape 161, Northern Cape 88, Mpumalanga and … [Read more...] about One leader will emerge from the votes of 1 425 delegates

The race for chairperson

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The stalwart, the activist and the negotiator - these are the three candidates who will be vying for the position of Democratic Alliance federal chairperson at the party's elective congress this weekend in Port Elizabeth. The position of federal chairperson has been characterised by many as more of a ceremonial job, chairing congress and meetings. However Athol Trollip, Makashule Gana and Masizole Mnqasela are each looking to add more to the job if elected. News24 spoke to all three … [Read more...] about The race for chairperson

Email accuses leaders of ‘Choosing women in the party to be their playthings’

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The Democratic Alliance's top three leaders on Saturday described an anonymous email detailing alleged sexual misconduct between the party's senior male leaders and their female colleagues as "false and destructive". "We condemn this email and its anonymous author in the strongest terms," DA parliamentary leader Mmusi Maimane's campaign manager Geordin Hill-Lewis said in a statement. "This is negative, false and destructive and it does nothing but harm the interests of the party that we … [Read more...] about Email accuses leaders of ‘Choosing women in the party to be their playthings’

Friday Rant – 12 Rules for the local ANC to stay in power post 2016

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With the number of votes coming from the Nelson Mandela Bay Metropole for the African National Congress and the Democratic Alliance being almost equal in the 2014 elections the ratepayers expect the following to happen in the lead up to the 2016 Municipal Election: No more parties thrown at the drop of a hat The appointment of permanent, suitably qualified, non political appointee municipal directors The finalising of the Kabuso and Pikoli Reports No more corruption A rates and … [Read more...] about Friday Rant – 12 Rules for the local ANC to stay in power post 2016

Athol Trollip is DA Premier candidate for Eastern Cape

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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

Retief Odendaal to lead DA caucus

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The DA in Nelson Mandela Bay has announce the election of Cllr Retief Odendaal as the party's new caucus leader. Cllr Odendaal (31 years old) is a practicing attorney and the DA's ward councillor for Ward 6. He has been a DA activist for more than 10 years and a dedicated ward councillor since 2009. He is passionate about local government and has become an expert in local government legislation over the past few years. Spokesperson Andrew Whitfield said that Odendaal is a young DA … [Read more...] about Retief Odendaal to lead DA caucus

Big Blue and Mighty Yellow speak on broadband

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In this 2014 election year we have seen the Big Blue and he Mighty Yellow come out swinging for the votes of online citizens. Admittedly we represent a minuscule number of votes and, frankly, whatever we say online never really makes it into the trenches of political warfare - those areas where people struggle to put daily food on the table! As a consequence we are a pretty easy lot to please as far as politicians go - tell us that our broadband connections will become faster and cheaper … [Read more...] about Big Blue and Mighty Yellow speak on broadband

Contrary to what some say the EC DA does not support fracking

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Fracking continues to be a volatile and emotionally charged issue, particularly in the Eastern Cape where vast tracts of the Karoo have been earmarked for shale gas exploration. And much like key services such as health, education and housing, fracking looks set to be another critical issue that will be politicised in the run-up to the elections this year. As yet another political carrot being dangled in front of the economically disenfranchised rural electorate, the promise of energy and … [Read more...] about Contrary to what some say the EC DA does not support fracking

Stanford Slabbert stripped of party membership over racist email

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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