The Democratic Alliance today announced the selected candidates for the upcoming Ward 10 and Ward 40 by-election candidates saying that the successful candidates will bring a strong blend of youth and experience to the metro caucus. Dacre Haddon has been selected as the candidate for the Ward 40 by-election. Haddon returns from a term in Bhisho where he served with distinction as an MPL and also served two prior terms as the councillor for Ward 6 in the metro caucus. In addition, he held the … [Read more...] about Ward 10 & 40 by-election candidates announced
dacre haddon
Government departments owe R131 Million to municipalities for services
Municipalities in the Eastern Cape were collectively owed a whopping R331 million in outstanding fees for services rendered to government departments at the end of December 2013. It is of concern that rural municipalities with small budgets are placed under unnecessary financial strain due to non-payment by the government. It is inexcusable that service delivery in our already failing municipalities is hampered further by poor administration and inefficient government departments. In reply … [Read more...] about Government departments owe R131 Million to municipalities for services
Re-appointment of Provincial Public Service Commissioner not welcome
The re-appointment of incumbent Provincial Public Service Commissioner Singata Mafanya for another five year term is disappointing. This appointment is another clear case of cadre deployment. Over the years Mr. Mafanya has served in various senior positions within the ANC in the province, including being a councillor in Alice and a member of the ANC Provincial Committee. During the last five years under Mr. Mafanya's watch, public service efficiency in this province has become a … [Read more...] about Re-appointment of Provincial Public Service Commissioner not welcome
MEC spurns Minister’s Determination not to Appoint Inappropriate and Unqualified Municipal Manager
The MEC for Local Government in the Eastern Cape appears to be condoning the appointment of Reverend Noel Pietersen as Municipal Manager in Camdeboo Municipality, despite his lack of necessary qualifications and poor track record in local government. Reverend Pietersen applied for and was successful in obtaining the position of Municipal Manager in Camdeboo Municipality, despite not having the required minimum qualifications for the position. Furthermore, Pietersen has not covered himself … [Read more...] about MEC spurns Minister’s Determination not to Appoint Inappropriate and Unqualified Municipal Manager
Proposed solutions for continued under-spending on housing grant
The Eastern Cape Department of Human Settlements underspent its housing development grant funding by R219 million in the 2012/13 financial year. It was the second consecutive year that the department underspent on this grant. In the 2011/12 financial year the department underspent this grant by R400 million, yet built more houses that year. In 2012/13, the department had constructed 11 250 housing units against a target of 16 726 units, spending 89% of its budget of R2,57 billion. In … [Read more...] about Proposed solutions for continued under-spending on housing grant
Challenge issued to Transport MEC on purchase of R838 000 car
The Democratic Alliance will be challenging the MEC for Transport, Thandiswa Marawu, why she is purchasing a vehicle of R838 000. This purchase will cause an over-expenditure of 77% of the office of the MEC. I will be asking the MEC during my reply speech today on the annual report of her department how this purchase can be justified. The current budget for the MEC office is R7,088 million and after the planned purchase her office would have spent R7,92 million. This overspend will be … [Read more...] about Challenge issued to Transport MEC on purchase of R838 000 car
Concern over lack of action from MEC in Cookhouse violence
The MEC for Local Government and Traditional Affairs, Mlibo Qoboshiyane is doing nothing to intervene in violence-wracked Cookhouse. For several days there has been anarchy in Cookhouse as houses are burned, property destroyed and roads barricaded. This is a political issue caused by supporters of his party the ANC who are angry over the lack of service delivery in the area. By his inaction, the MEC Qoboshiyane is putting the everyday lives of the Cookhouse community at risk. Having … [Read more...] about Concern over lack of action from MEC in Cookhouse violence
Request for Makana Municipality to be placed under administration
The DA in the Eastern Cape has requested that the Makana Municipality be placed under administration. Last week's bail-out by Rhodes University to pay R3 million to Makana as "advanced rates" because the municipality couldn't pay staff salaries shows a municipality in dire financial distress. Grahamstown's water crisis, caused largely due to lack of funding to repair or replace ageing infrastructure, was another red light of Makana Municipality's serious financial trouble. I have … [Read more...] about Request for Makana Municipality to be placed under administration
The Eastern Cape is neglecting informal settlements
The provincial Department of Human Settlements does not know how many informal settlements there are in the Eastern Cape. In reply to a question for written reply in the Eastern Cape Legislature, the MEC for Human Settlements, Helen Sauls-August, concedes that her department has had to hire researchers to determine how many informal settlements there are in the province. The reply can be seen here. This is a massive problem. The province needs to keep track of where informal settlements … [Read more...] about The Eastern Cape is neglecting informal settlements
MEC Marawu must come clean on re-awarding scholar transport to corrupt operators
Provincial Transport MEC Thandiswa Marawu needs to come clean with the public as to why her department has extended the scholar transport to operators One Future Development 46 for a third consecutive time. It must also be questioned whether the MEC herself or other officials in the department do not have a possible personal financial or other interest with One Future Development 46. Are financial kick backs and gate keeping by departmental officials allowing One Future Development 46 to … [Read more...] about MEC Marawu must come clean on re-awarding scholar transport to corrupt operators
DA calls for urgent intervention from department of transport to act on road carnage
It is with shock and horror that the Democratic Alliance has learnt of yet another spate of recent accidents that have happened on the Eastern Cape roads. This tragic state of affairs is unacceptable and needs urgent intervention from the Department of Transport to stop this carnage. The Democratic Alliance extends their condolences and good wishes to the victims and families of those that passed away and were injured in this morning’s accident on the N2 outside Grahamstown, as well as the … [Read more...] about DA calls for urgent intervention from department of transport to act on road carnage
Unacceptable increase in bucket toilets in Eastern Cape
There has been an increase in the number of consumers units using the bucket toilet system in the province. In a report released by Statistics South Africa titled "Non-financial census of municipalities for the year ended 30 June 2012" it was reported that Eastern Cape use of bucket system toilets on municipal land had risen from 24 971 units in 2011 to 25 485 units in 2012. This increase is the second highest increase in the country after the Free State province. When one calculates … [Read more...] about Unacceptable increase in bucket toilets in Eastern Cape
MEC must resign following continued regress of EC municipal audits
Local government MEC Mlibo Qoboshiyane must resign following the damning report of continued audit regress of Eastern Cape municipalities released by the Auditor-General today (subs: Tuesday, 13 August). No municipality received a clean audit for the last financial year, there was unauthorised expenditure by 45 municipalities and entities of R2, 23 billion (an increase of R1,66 billion over the previous year), and fruitless and wasteful expenditure of R130 million. This shows an MEC out of … [Read more...] about MEC must resign following continued regress of EC municipal audits
Corrupt scholar transport contract extended
The extension of the provincial scholar transport contract with One Future Development 46 for the next three months is unacceptable. There are serious allegations of gigantic fraud and mismanagement by One Future Development 46 and a forensic investigation is under way in this regard. An alarming concern is why Transport MEC Thandiswa Marawu is taking instructions from formations within the ANC and overruling the decisions of the legislature Portfolio Committee on Transport. Any … [Read more...] about Corrupt scholar transport contract extended
NMBMM seeking R34 051 949.19 in payments from National Government
Rural municipalities in the Eastern Cape are collectively owed R86,507 million in outstanding government service fees. In reply to a parliamentary question I received from the MEC for Local Government and Traditional Affairs, Mlibo Qoboshiyane, the full outstanding amount of fees owed to all Eastern Cape municipalities was R197,356,180 million at the end of March 2013. While it is encouraging to note that R647 million was paid to municipalities from April 2012 to March 2013, the budgets of … [Read more...] about NMBMM seeking R34 051 949.19 in payments from National Government
