kevin mileham

Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance (DA) has today written to the Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy, Gwede Mantashe, demanding that he take immediate steps to address the worsening electricity crisis in our country. With Eskom having announced stage 4 loadshedding, the Minister must prioritize procuring alternative sources of electricity and opening the grid to independent power producers (IPPs). Among the primary causes of Eskom's problems is the fact that not a single generation … [Read more...] about Immediate action needed to resolve electricity crisis

Dear MyPE On Wednesday, the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) vowed to cause more rolling blackouts should Government go ahead with its plans to unbundle Eskom; a contemptible threat to the stability of our nation. The Democratic Alliance (DA) condemns these remarks in the strongest terms. This is a brazen attempt to hold Government, the nation and our battered economy to ransom. It amounts to a threat to our national security. The DA expects that the ANC government should immediately … [Read more...] about NUM’s threats of national sabotage at Eskom

Dear MyPE It is clear that Makana Local Municipality has lost all functional control of the landfill site on the outskirts, west of Makhanda. The site is not secure and poorly maintained, and has been the source of harmful smoke and odours as a result of uncontrolled fires. These have only recently been extinguished by rainfall, as the Makana Municipality was unable to resolve it through the use of their own fire services. On Saturday, 13 July 2019, I conducted an oversight … [Read more...] about Makhanda landfill crisis

Dear MyPE In February this year, Parliament passed the Carbon Tax Bill which will see companies which exceed the threshold of carbon emissions, charged R120 per ton of carbon dioxide emissions, following the polluter pays principle. However, the polluter will not be the only one paying. The passing of this Bill means that on 1 June, petrol and diesel prices will increase by 9c and 10c per liter respectively, to incorporate carbon tax. Once again South Africa’s heavily taxed consumers … [Read more...] about Carbon Tax Bill will lead to further job losses and higher cost of living

Dear MyPE The 54 cent fuel price increase will once again prove that the failing ANC government has no plan to develop and grow our economy – the extent of their policy and plans remains firmly based on increasing the prices of items South Africans are barely able to afford already. This is no new dawn – this is the same old ANC who remains resolute in having South Africans pay for their 25 years of complete failures in government. Although the failing ANC would have the public believe … [Read more...] about South African’s are being taxed into poverty #Wasted25Years

Dear MyPE The people of South Africa are about to be hit with yet another financial blow, with an ANC-sponsored fuel price hike of R1.31, pushing the price of fuel to a budget-sapping R16.13 per litre. This is an 11% increase from R14.48 a litre in 2018. Despite what the failing ANC would like the public to believe - fuel price increases are not only the result of international and global trends, but are also due to the decade of ANC corruption, mismanagement and looting which … [Read more...] about SA cannot afford another 5 years of fuel price hikes

Dear MyPE The lives of community members, especially children, in the Buffalo City Metro are being placed at risk due to the Municipality’s inability to deliver electricity to its residents. Today, 26 March 2019, I was joined by Makashule Gana, DA Team One South Africa Spokesperson for Basic Services, in doing service delivery oversight inspections at housing projects in Velwano and Manyano Locations in Mdantsane, East London. In Manyano Location children have lost their lives due to … [Read more...] about Failure to #KeepTheLightsOn threatens lives in BCM

Dear MyPE The recent deployment of Eastern Cape Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) provincial administrators to Makana and Amahlathi Local Municipalities will not fix the ANC’s internal political issues – issues that are the root cause of service delivery failure. These two municipalities are indicative of the rift that divides the ANC, and as a result, is bringing service delivery to a grinding halt. Amahlathi is hotbed of maladministration, service … [Read more...] about Makana and Amahlati Local Municipalities must be dissolved

Dear MyPE The town of Stutterheim and the Amahlathi Local Municipality can only be saved if the Municipal Council is dissolved with immediate effect. I will, therefore, write to Fikile Xasa, Eastern Cape MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), to dissolve the Council and hold fresh elections as soon as possible. Yesterday, 15 January 2019, a crucial council meeting could not proceed as it was prevented from taking place by the failing ANC. The local ANC … [Read more...] about Calls on MEC Xasa to dissolve council and save Stutterheim

Dear MyPE The inability of the failing ANC to govern and effectively negotiate with striking ANC-aligned SAMWU members in the Buffalo City Metro (BCM) has now led to the workers union threatening full blown violence. Yesterday, 5 December 2018, hundreds of striking SAMWU members gathered in front of City Hall in East London and tried to barge into a BCM Council Meeting. The ongoing strike has brought service delivery to a standstill and criminality is a daily problem. The SAMWU … [Read more...] about SAMWU threatening full blown violence

Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance has noted the ANC-aligned SAMWU’s demand, now supported by IMATU, that Buffalo City Municipality (BCM) pay a R100 000 “apology” to each worker for the delayed implementation of job evaluations. While there was some sympathy for the unions’ earlier legitimate demands, this action smacks of pure opportunism. The actions of SAMWU and its members have crippled the City, and severely impacted on the lives and livelihoods of its residents. This is economic … [Read more...] about SAMWU’s outrageous Buffalo City demands

Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance (DA) has today laid criminal charges against the EFF’s Julius Malema, Floyd Shivambu and the party itself, following allegations that the party, through corrupt means, received R1.8 million from VBS Mutual Bank. Reports indicate that monies syphoned from the bank were allegedly funneled through companies owned by Shivambu’s brother, Brian, and Malema’s cousin, Matsobane Phaleng. Evidence of the EFF’s involvement in the looting is now mounting by the … [Read more...] about Criminal charges laid against EFF leadership over R1.8m ‘received’ from VBS

Dear MyPE The DA welcomes the announcement by the Minister of the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Zweli Mkhize, that the drought that has gripped the country has been declared a national disaster. For the past 2 years the DA has called for the water crisis to be declared a national disaster. However, due to the ANC’s internal issues, these calls fell on deaf ears. Last month the water crisis, affecting the Western Cape, Northern Cape and the Eastern Cape, … [Read more...] about Announcement that Drought has been declared a National Disaster welcomed