letter

Dear Editor The Democratic Alliance (DA) is calling for urgent intervention from the Department of Rural Development and Agrarian Reform (DRDAR) to assist farmers in the Alexandria area to identify alternative produce and revenue streams. This comes as Chicory SA, the largest employer in Alexandria for over 130 years, faces imminent closure at the end of the month, putting over a thousand jobs at risk. The Alexandria region, once a thriving hub of chicory production that contributed … [Read more...] about Economic Disaster Looms For Alexandria

Dear Editor One Voice – a local group of established member-based tourism bodies, including DMB, FEDHASA, SATSA , PEMBBA, SAACI, SACIA, SATAVITO, the Historical Society PE, TGAMB invites you to our Peaceful White Flag Demonstration. The group will be handing over a memorandum regarding the ongoing safety incidents that are driving our tourism visitors away from Nelson Mandela Bay. Social media posts and videos are damaging our reputation and this can be seen in both our sluggish recovery … [Read more...] about White Flag Protest Heads for Hobie Beach

Dear Editor The DA would like to congratulate the students of Nelson Mandela University (NMU) for standing together to rescue their institution and usher in an era of stability and good governance by voting for the DA Student Organisation (DASO) and their president-elect, Lathitha Mbuzwana, securing a landslide victory in the NMU Student Representative Council (SRC) election. The SRC election took place on Monday and Tuesday of this week, with DASO securing 79% of the SRC seats. They won … [Read more...] about Landslide Victory in Nelson Mandela University SRC Elections

Dear Editor The Democratic Alliance (DA) has called for an urgent debate later this month regarding the escalating violence across the province during the next available Eastern Cape Legislature plenary sitting. This follows the horrific news of the massacre in Lusikisiki, where 18 lives were lost in a senseless act of violence over the weekend. The rising levels of violence are instilling fear in our communities and leaving families devastated, as entire households are wiped out by … [Read more...] about Call For Urgent Debate On Escalating Violence In The Eastern Cape

Dear Editor As we mark the last day of Tourism Month, it is essential to reflect on the opportunities this vibrant sector brings to the Eastern Cape. The Democratic Alliance (DA) believes that tourism is not just about celebrating our province’s rich cultural heritage, stunning landscapes, and unique wildlife, but about realising its potential to drive economic growth and create much-needed jobs. The Eastern Cape, with the third highest tourism revenue in the country, is at a critical … [Read more...] about Eastern Cape Must Prioritise Tourism Infrastructure, Safety To Unlock Economic Potential

Dear Editor Just like any typical Parastatal Parasitism & Paralysis [3P] case study, which seems to confirm the stereotype that state owned companies are primarily enrichment and protection channels wherein ANC anointees are parachuted in, Transnet should really have a private partner [or two] in order to promote transparency and accountability, before going to the national treasury for a bail out, or even dream about not having a big brother looking over its shoulders for steadying the … [Read more...] about Parastatal Parasitism & Paralysis

Dear Editor Gwede Mantashe should put the livelihoods of the residents of Nelson Mandela Bay ahead of a request by the Liquid Fuels Wholesalers Association to exempt the region from the anticipated national fuel price drop. The infrastructure in Port Elizabeth harbour that is used to offload fuel has been damaged and is not operational. That means fuel must be offloaded in East London harbour until Port Elizabeth is fixed, a process that will take more than a year. The fuel wholesalers … [Read more...] about Minister Urged to Block Unfair Fuel Costs for Struggling NMB Residents

Dear Editor The DA-governed Kouga Municipality has once again demonstrated its status as the Eastern Cape’s leading municipality for service delivery and good governance by re-opening the upgraded Gill Marcus Water Treatment Works in Humansdorp. The water treatment works that was re-opened on Friday was upgraded at a cost of nearly R5 million to incorporate borehole water treatment capabilities, which are essential due to the increasing demand for clean drinking water. [see pictures here … [Read more...] about Kouga Increases Water Security With Upgraded Treatment Works

Dear Editor It is amazing that a formerly New Zealand supporting turncoat, currently residing in Cape Town whilst also never been born in Port Elizabeth and as per usual of the post 1994 neo-Africanists; a clout, fame and/or relevance seeker that is doing a showing of hand for the renaming of Cape Road to some Siya Kolisi Boulevard or so [The Herald 27 September 2024]. Maybe, he is schmoozing for our shallow-minded politicians to arrange a meet-up with the said Springbok captain in … [Read more...] about Siya Kolisi vs Cape Road

Dear Editor The R75 between Gqeberha and Kariega has become Nelson Mandela Bay’s most dangerous road, claiming numerous lives over the years due to its unsafe conditions. This critical route, heavily used by tens of thousands of commuters daily, demands urgent attention, as it is unacceptable for motorists to continue facing such deadly circumstances. In the past, I have written several letters to the CEO of SANRAL, Mr. Reginald Demana, highlighting the issues that have turned the R75 into … [Read more...] about SANRAL Offered Assistance To Save Lives On Deadly R75

Editor: Troubling allegations in light of major construction about to take place at Coega. Dear Editor The Democratic Alliance (DA) remains deeply concerned about the growing influence of extortion mafias across the Eastern Cape, particularly in key areas such as Buffalo City, OR Tambo, and Nelson Mandela Bay. The ongoing disruptions to vital infrastructure projects have reached a crisis point, with construction mafias exploiting public infrastructure delivery, threatening contractors, … [Read more...] about Extortion Mafias Crippling Eastern Cape Infrastructure

Dear Editor The horrifically flawed undercount in South Africa’s Census 2022, compiled by StatsSA, will have dire consequences for Nelson Mandela Bay’s already cash strapped ratepayers, as the municipality is set to lose an estimated R1 billion in grant funding over the next three years. This disastrous undercount will lead to Nelson Mandela Bay receiving a 20-30% reduction in equitable share and other grant funding from National Treasury. Both municipalities and provinces receive … [Read more...] about What the 2022 Census Disaster Means for NMB Residents

Dear Editor The DA has learnt from a reliable source that people have tragically lost their lives due to the Eastern Cape Department of Health’s failure to settle their bills with Telkom. The DA calls on the Department to be transparent by informing the public whether this is indeed the case and urgently announcing their plan to address the Telkom issue as well as the escalating crisis of budgetary shortfalls in the province, to prevent further loss of life. On 1 September 2024, the Telkom … [Read more...] about Allegations Of Deaths Due To Unpaid Telkom Bills