letter

Dear Editor The Democratic Alliance (DA) is fighting for a provincial budget that creates jobs, grows the economy, and puts more money back in the pockets of the people of the Eastern Cape. The National Budget tabled yesterday fails this test, continuing a path of excessive spending, rising debt, and policies that choke economic opportunity instead of driving investment and employment. The DA has made its stance clear; we cannot support the National Budget in its current form, as it fails … [Read more...] about Time for Eastern Cape Finance MEC to step up

Dear Editor The Democratic Alliance (DA) is calling on President Cyril Ramaphosa to intervene in the latest corruption scandal at Amatola Water, where Water and Sanitation Minister Pemmy Majodina is now investigating allegations that implicate her own department. The DA will be submitting a formal request to the Presidency, urging the President to authorise an independent investigation into Amatola Water, one that is free from the interference of those who may have a vested interest in the … [Read more...] about Majodina cannot investigate herself

Dear Editor The Democratic Alliance (DA) has escalated the Nelson Mandela Bay coalition government's inability to address the metro's public lighting crisis, by bringing the matter to the attention of the acting city manager and demanding urgent action. Certain areas of the municipality have been without functional streetlights for a staggering two years. The coalition's failure to maintain and repair streetlights throughout the metro has significantly impacted the ability of criminals to … [Read more...] about NMB’s Public Lighting Crisis

Dear Editor A motion was passed yesterday at a sitting of the DA Eastern Cape Provincial Council, approving a party workstream to address the provincial water crisis which has devastating humanitarian and economic consequences for the people of the Eastern Cape. The Provincial Council, which is the party's highest decision-making body in the province, unanimously voted in favour of establishing a party workstream under the auspices of the DA Shadow MEC for CoGTA, Retief Odendaal … [Read more...] about Team To Address Provincial Water Crisis

Dear Editor Three critical bridges in Elliot remain incomplete, leaving entire communities cut off from economic opportunities and essential services. While deadlines have come and gone, the Eastern Cape Department of Transport’s failure to deliver on infrastructure projects has turned everyday travel into a struggle and robbed families of their livelihoods. For over a year, residents have waited for a new bridge, which was supposed to be completed by end of last month. Today, it remains … [Read more...] about Bridges to nowhere

Dear Editor The Democratic Alliance (DA) has rejected Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality's adjustment budget, that was approved in Council yesterday. Despite the ANC-led coalition government's attempt to present the budget as 'breaking even,' the budget is unfunded. Furthermore, the government is writing off a staggering R16 billion in historical debt, with R2.2 billion of this amount that accumulated within the first six months of the current financial year.* * CORRECTION - Not a R16 … [Read more...] about We reject NMB’s unfunded adjustment budget

Dear Editor The cold-blooded murder of Pamela Mabini has left a family shattered, a community reeling, and a city grieving the loss of a fearless activist. Pamela was not just a human rights advocate; she was a lifeline for many. Through her Maro Foundation, she provided food, shelter, and support to abandoned children. She stood alongside survivors of gender-based violence, lending her voice to the voiceless. She believed in justice, and now, justice must be served for her. Her murder … [Read more...] about Pamela Mabini’s killing demands urgent action

Dear Editor The Democratic Alliance (DA) has requested that the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality renames a well-known road in the Northern Areas of the city in honour of a young police officer who was tragically slain last year. We have written to Nelson Mandela Bay Mayor, Babalwa Lobishe, requesting that Kobus Road be renamed Callan Andrews Drive in honour of this fallen police hero. The DA will also be submitting a motion requesting the name change at the next ordinary Nelson Mandela Bay … [Read more...] about Rename Gqeberha Road In Honour Of Fallen Police Hero

Dear Editor Residents of the eNkanini informal settlement in Makhanda face a daily struggle to access one of their most basic human rights: sufficient water. This entails walking great distances, a tedious and exhausting part of their daily lives. The Makana Municipality, which encompasses Makhanda, has been plagued by a devastating water crisis that has intensified over the years, severely impacting residents. The situation in eNkanini is particularly dire. Residents lack access to … [Read more...] about eNkanini informal settlement scores water tank

Dear Editor The Eastern Cape Provincial Government’s intervention intended to provide technical expertise to the beleaguered Makana Local Municipality, and to find solutions to the prolonged water crisis in Makhanda, has proven to be an utter failure. For the past eight months, Makhanda, which forms part of the Makana Municipality, has suffered prolonged water outages due to the catastrophic failure of the municipality's water infrastructure. The situation has become increasingly dire, … [Read more...] about Failed provincial intervention leaves Makhanda high and dry

Dear Editor The Democratic Alliance (DA) has submitted an urgent motion to the Nelson Mandela Bay Council, calling for an external investigation into alleged mafia-style activity within the municipality's fleet management services department. Specifically, an alleged syndicate is accused of vandalising and stripping municipal refuse trucks. Recently, the Public Health Portfolio Standing Committee agenda showed that several refurbished trucks, slated to return to service, were vandalised … [Read more...] about Motion submitted to investigate alleged criminal syndicate in NMB’s fleet management services department

Dear Editor The Democratic Alliance (DA) welcomes the decision by the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Police to scrutinise crime intelligence resources for the Eastern Cape, following my request to DA MP Ian Cameron, Chair of the National Police Portfolio Committee, to add the matter to his committee’s agenda on an urgent basis. I wrote to MP Cameron following the continued spate of kidnappings in our province and the impact crime syndicates continue to make in driving away investment … [Read more...] about Parliament to Scrutinise Provincial Crime Intelligence Resourcing

Dear Editor The Democratic Alliance (DA) has submitted a plan to the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality to address the crime crisis at the Arlington Waste Disposal Site in Gqeberha, The Arlington Tip has become a hotspot for crime over time, occasionally making it a no-go zone. This was highlighted by the recent murder of a father and son at the site, which has also seen a history of armed robberies. Today, 03 March 2025, I was joined by DA EC Provincial Chairperson, Yusuf Cassim MPL, PE … [Read more...] about Suggested solutions to Arlington Tip crime crisis

Dear Editor The Democratic Alliance (DA) has written to the mayor of the Sarah Baartman District Municipality (SBDM) requesting him to immediately disband the Cacadu Development Agency (CDA) following years of financial mismanagement and a complete lack of successful project implementation. Since its establishment in 2012, the CDA has received over R63 million in taxpayer funding. However, despite this substantial investment, the agency has failed to launch a single successful project, … [Read more...] about Disband The Failed Cacadu Development Agency

Dear Editor The Minister of Forestry, Fisheries, and Environment, Dr Dion George, has significantly increased the protection of marine life by publishing important regulations regarding bunkering (at-sea refuelling of ships). This activity poses serious risks to surrounding marine ecosystems, particularly through acoustic pollution and the propensity for spillage of oil and other chemical pollutants. Bunkering has been implicated as a major threat to the African Penguin in particular, which … [Read more...] about Dr Dion George expands protection for marine life and penguins through bunkering regulations