kobus botha

Dear MyPE Premier Oscar Mabuyane must immediately institute a plagiarism audit of all policy documents produced across all departments of his provincial administration, if he hopes to restore the public’s faith in provincial government processes. Our journey into the fourth industrial revolution cannot be based on flawed planning if we are to build a capable state. This follows after the hasty withdrawal of the ICT framework document, titled Provincial Digital Transformation Framework … [Read more...] about We need an immediate plagiarism audit of all provincial departments

Dear MyPE The Eastern Cape Provincial Disaster Management Centre (PDMC), established in 2013 to enhance the province’s disaster management efforts, has an inadequate staff component with a vacancy rate of 45%. The PDMC needs an additional R111 million rand in funding to reach full functionality, bringing into question the province’s ability to adequately respond to crises, such as the current Covid-19 pandemic. These revelations were made by Premier Oscar Mabuyane in response to a … [Read more...] about Provincial Disaster Management Centre dysfunctional during Covid-19 Pandemic

Dear MyPE Serious questions need to be asked about whether Premier Oscar Mabuyane’s Broadband Project is delivering value for money to Eastern Cape departments. In response to a parliamentary question, Premier Mabuyane confirmed that, to date, four sites have been connected to broadband infrastructure. The project has already cost taxpayers in excess of R606 million over the last three financial years, with a further R277 million budgeted for the current 2020/21 financial … [Read more...] about EC Premier’s Broadband Project blows through R606 million

Dear MyPE The handling of disciplinary cases in Eastern Cape government departments is riddled with critical challenges, and the lack of consequences is allowing corruption and maladministration run rampant. This is crippling the public sector’s ability to deliver services to the people of the province. In response to a parliamentary question, Premier Oscar Mabuyane revealed that there are currently 108 active disciplinary cases across departments. It has become clear that the ANC … [Read more...] about Lack of consequences crippling the public sector

Dear MyPE The Eastern Cape Department of Social Development has once again failed to timeously pay Non-Profit Organisations (NPOs) the subsidies they are due. These struggling NPOs – that are responsible for the elderly, children and those with disabilities - have now gone almost four months without receiving any payment from the department. Even though NPOs are expected to start receiving payments mid-July, these organisations have been suffering financially since the beginning of … [Read more...] about NPOs in crisis as DSD fails to pay subsidies on time

Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance Legislature team welcomes Kobus Botha, who was officially sworn in as a DA member of the sixth term of the Eastern Cape Provincial Legislature this afternoon, 5 March 2020. Kobus previously served as a member of the Eastern Cape Provincial Legislature during the fifth term, and returns to the position of MPL, having served as a councillor in Nelson Mandela Bay since the 2019 elections, up until yesterday. As an experienced member of the Provincial … [Read more...] about Kobus Botha sworn in as newest Eastern Cape Legislature member

Dear MyPE Thousands of people across the province are being deprived of their basic human rights to dignity, as social services grind to a halt as a result of the failing ANC government’s inability to ensure a safe working environment for their own staff. Over five hundred staff members, the bulk of which are from the Department of Social Development, have had to seek new premises after being forced to vacate their head office in King Williams Town. This after the Beacon Hill building … [Read more...] about Social Services grind to a halt as DSD frantically seeks new offices

Dear MyPE As the world commemorates the International Day of Persons with Disabilities today (3 December) more needs to be done to assist those with disabilities in the Eastern Cape. There are close to 300 000 people with disabilities in the Eastern Cape according to STATS SA Household Survey. The third highest number in the country. Not only are people with disabilities being excluded from job opportunities across the province, but they are being denied access to day to day services … [Read more...] about More needs to be done to assist people with disabilities

Dear MyPE The Department of Social Development has paid out close on R5,2 million in salaries to 34 suspended officials facing charges of, among others, corruption and financial mismanagement. Eight of these officials, who have already cost the Department close on R1 million, are still sitting at home, drawing salaries, while waiting for their appeals against their dismissals to be finalised. In response to a parliamentary question, Department of Social Development MEC, Dr Pumza … [Read more...] about Millions paid to officials to stay at home while under investigation

Dear MyPE As the world marks Universal Children’s Day (20 November 2018), there are close to one million children under the age of five in the Eastern Cape who will not be able to access fully functional early childhood development centres (ECD’s) because the Department of Social Development is dragging its heels. These children are being deprived of the very foundation that would help lift them out of institutionalised poverty and provide them with the skills to build a better future for … [Read more...] about Child Development not an Eastern Cape Priority

Dear MyPE The failing ANC governed Chris Hani District municipality and Inxuba Yethemba local Municipality have forgotten that they are there to serve the people, all while simply ignoring calls for assistance. This is evident from looming bulk power supply interruptions scheduled for these municipalities from next week, which could be the final nail in the coffin for the many small towns under their control. I will be writing to the Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs MEC, … [Read more...] about Towns being run into the ground

Dear MyPE The case before the Grahamstown High Court where allegations against former Social Development Head of Department, Stanley Khanyile, have emerged, is a clear indication that corruption, inefficiency, nepotism and cronyism within the Department of Social Development requires much more attention from the new MEC Phumza Dyantyi. These revelations come just weeks after the Department revealed irregular expenditure totalling R179,6 million in their 2017/2018 annual report. … [Read more...] about Social Development needs to do more to combat corruption in its midst

Dear MyPE The recently tabled annual report of the Department of Social Development (DSD) has shown that under-expenditure by the Department has nearly tripled when compared to the previous financial year. The report states the Department underspent by R125,562 million in 2017/2018, compared to the R43 million they underspent in 2016/2017. This means that the Department’s under-expenditure has increased by 190% year-on-year. This in a province where the demand for social development … [Read more...] about Under-expenditure at Social Development Dept. skyrockets, while people remain desperate for services

Dear MyPE More than a thousand Non-Profit Organisations (NPOs), which are in many cases dependent on funding from government to provide critical support services to Eastern Cape residents, have still not been paid. These are the organisations that look after women and children who have been abused, assist victims of domestic abuse, help those with substance abuse problems, assist the disabled and the elderly and help with early childhood development. According to Social Development … [Read more...] about Over one thousand NPO’s still unpaid