The OR Tambo District Municipality Mayor has an appointed political advisor at a salary package of R1 158 474 in an ungraded position. According to the reply to a written parliamentary question by me to the MEC for Local Government, Mlibo Qoboshiyane, this whopping amount is R635 343.00 more than the remuneration of the Mayor. The political advisor in the Nelson Mandela Metro enjoys a salary package of approximately R800 000 per annum. How is it possible that a Metro political advisor … [Read more...] about OR Tambo District Municipality has R1 million political advisor
democratic alliance
Five days before school, books still being returned to PE warehouse
Schools continue to return incorrect orders of workbooks for learners to the Education Department warehouse in the Port Elizabeth district. A Democratic Alliance (DA) inspection of the warehouse today discovered hundreds of boxes returning to the premises due to the Education Department's ordering of books in the wrong languages for learner's in the district. We also witnessed workbooks meant for the 1st and 2nd quarter being returned by schools, meaning many children have gone the entire … [Read more...] about Five days before school, books still being returned to PE warehouse
Eastern Cape workbooks: blame game does not help learners
While the Eastern Cape Provincial Education Department and the National Department of Basic Education play the blame game, the education of thousands of learners in the Eastern Cape are at risk. The Eastern Cape Provincial Department of Education was placed under administration in March 2011. After the Democratic Alliance (DA) exposed thousands of workbooks being returned to government warehouses as a result of ordering mistakes both the provincial and national administrations have attempted … [Read more...] about Eastern Cape workbooks: blame game does not help learners
ANC Hiding East Cape Health Failures
The shenanigans around the 'rebel' doctors who spoke out against the administrative inadequacies within the Eastern Cape Department of Health continues. As an embarrassed department grapples to get to grips with the 'rebel' doctors revelations the DoH continues with their one celled thinking and great ability to p*ss all and sundry off. This letter from John Cupido refers: On Friday afternoon, 6 July 2012, I received a phone call from one of the Port Elizabeth based DA Councillors that was … [Read more...] about ANC Hiding East Cape Health Failures
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
Ward 9 News for June 2012
To see how hard working Ward Councillors go about their jobs, see Ward 9 councillor, Heinrich Muller’s newsletter below. Scroll down to see the contact Details for Ward 9. Kragga Kamma Tip Site Please take note that the Metro intends closing the Kragga Kamma tip site from the middle of July 2012. They are currently cleaning the tip site and the notice boards have already been put up outside the gate. We have received the following information from the Metro w.r.t. the … [Read more...] about Ward 9 News for June 2012
Why does EC DoH feel the need to bully our doctors and nurses?
On Monday 25 June 2012 doctors of the Port Elizabeth Hospital Complex held a press conference regardless of threats of disciplinary action by the EC DoH, to voice their grave concerns over their working conditions and excessive critical medical vacancies (East Cape Doctors draw the line in the sand with Health Department). To date, the MEC and Department have shown no interest in resolving the serious concerns raised by the doctors, but have instead tried their best to bully them into … [Read more...] about Why does EC DoH feel the need to bully our doctors and nurses?
June News from Ward 6
To see how hard working Ward Councillors go about their jobs, see Ward 6 councillor, Retief Odendaal’s newsletter below. Scroll down to see the contact Details for Ward 6. Die Nelson Mandela Metro Raad is tans besig om die 2012/2013 begroting te finaliseer en het 'n reeks openbare vergaderings gereël om insae van die publiek daarop te verkry. Dit wil voorkom asof inwoners hul hierdie jaar ongelukkig weereens vir hemelhoë tariefverhogings moet staal synde daar gemiddelde tariefverhogings … [Read more...] about June News from Ward 6
Basic services before Africa Cup of Nations
While there seems to be some excitement about the prospect of Port Elizabeth being one of the host cities along with Nelspruit, Rustenburg, Durban and Johannesburg for next year’s Soccer Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon), some sensible reasoning will show that there is no cause for celebration. The Nelson Mandela Metropole is under-funded by at least R228 million for this financial year. While officials are desperately trying to find ways to cut spending, we know that basic service delivery will … [Read more...] about Basic services before Africa Cup of Nations
Small-town community left out in the cold by Department of Health
The multimillion-rand health clinic built in Colchester three years ago is only open for four hours a week and only on a Friday. Unless the poor people and their families of this community time their illnesses perfectly, they are forced to find transport to a hospital or clinic in Port Elizabeth, which is 40km away. It is beyond many people’s means in this extremely poor community to travel this distance, especially if one takes into account that the government has failed to maintain any form of … [Read more...] about Small-town community left out in the cold by Department of Health
Officials in state vehicles rake up R423 000 in traffic fines
Officials driving state vehicles on behalf of Eastern Cape provincial departments ran up traffic fines totalling R423 000 during the last financial year. In a written response to a parliamentary question I asked Transport MEC Thandiswa Marawu the following information was revealed that staff from the Health Department amassed 52% of the fines, totalling R223 400. The other big offenders were the Departments of Education, whose officials collected fines worth R31 850, Transport R31 388 and … [Read more...] about Officials in state vehicles rake up R423 000 in traffic fines
R2.2 million For Port Elizabeth Youth Day Celebrations
The R2.2 budget approved by the Premier for the national Youth Day celebrations hosted by the provincial arm of the National Youth Development Agency, at the Wolfson Stadium in KwaZekhele and to be addressed by President Jacob Zuma are exorbitant. This is a huge amount to spend on a single event. This expenditure needs to be monitored extremely carefully because after the NYDA splurged millions on the World Youth Festival, we do not have much confidence in their ability to ensure that this … [Read more...] about R2.2 million For Port Elizabeth Youth Day Celebrations
New Date for Payment of Temporary Teacher Salaries
Will the Eastern Cape Department of Education make good on a written undertaking to pay temporary teachers appointed in January 2012 on Friday 15 June 2012?. This date is contained in a reply to a written question sent to the MEC for Education, Mandla Makupula by Edmund van Vuuren. The poor track record of the department leaves one in doubt whether these teachers will in fact receive the money that is due to them. Edmund van Vuuren writes; "I was previously assured by the department that … [Read more...] about New Date for Payment of Temporary Teacher Salaries
Clarity needed on Coega roads maintenance programme
Clarity is needed about the agreement between the Department of Roads and Public Works and the Coega Development Corporation (CDC) for road-maintenance in the province following the launch of a R1,5 billion roads contractor development programme. This programme is run by the Coega Development Agency, a subsidiary of the CDC. I have previously written in the media that up to 50% of the roads maintenance budget is being spent by the department and the CDC on administration of this programme … [Read more...] about Clarity needed on Coega roads maintenance programme
Ward 9 News – IDP and Old Age Grants
To see how hard working Ward Councillors go about their jobs, see Ward 9 councillor, Heinrich Muller’s newsletter below. Scroll down to see the contact Details for Ward 9. Invitation to IDP, Budget and Annual Report Public Participation Programme The following e-mail from the Metro refers: ".... the Municipality will be conducting a series of public meetings to present its IDP, Budget and Annual Report to the residents of Nelson Mandela Bay. These meetings will give all communities an … [Read more...] about Ward 9 News – IDP and Old Age Grants
