marshall von buchenroder

Dear MyPE Residents of Nieu-Bethesda are being deprived of life-saving emergency services because political interference has brought the upgrade of the main road between the town and Graff Reinet to a standstill. Although three-quarters of the road has been tarred, the last stretch into the town has been abandoned, and the deteriorating condition of the road has made it difficult for ambulances and police vehicles to traverse. The contractor abandoned the site after ongoing political … [Read more...] about Political interference deprives Nieu-Bethesda residents of emergency services

Dear MyPE It has been more than eight months since Premier Oscar Mabuyane requested the Provincial Treasury to investigate several allegations against Transport MEC Weziwe Tikana-Gxothiwe. The Premier cannot continue to drag his feet on this matter. There must be zero tolerance for corruption and maladministration if we are to build a capable state! What are you hiding, Mr Premier? In response to a parliamentary question posed in November last year, Premier Mabuyane confirmed that a … [Read more...] about Premier must release report on Transport MEC

Dear MyPE The main provincial road between Motherwell and Colchester, the R334, is in dire need of repair, with certain areas so badly degraded that the road poses a serious risk to those travelling on it. In response to a parliamentary question from the Democratic Alliance (DA), the MEC for Transport, Weziwe Tikana-Gxothiwe, in November 2019, stated that routine maintenance was continuously being done to this road, but based on its condition, this maintenance has been woefully … [Read more...] about R334 Still in a treacherous condition

Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance is deeply saddened by the unnecessary loss of life following a multiple vehicle pileup on the N10 between Golden Valley and Cookhouse earlier today. At least three trucks are said to have been involved in the collision. The road is notorious for the number of motor vehicle accidents that occur, and more needs to be done to ensure the safety of road users. Road infrastructure also needs to be upgraded to accommodate the ever-increasing number of trucks … [Read more...] about More needs to be done for road safety as multiple truck pileup claims lives

Dear MyPE Transport MEC, Weziwe Tikana Gxothiwe should hang her head in shame, as the 24-hour traffic law enforcement that she has been promising for years, and which was supposed to come into effect at the beginning of October, has failed to launch. Twenty-four-hour traffic law enforcement is desperately needed in the Eastern Cape if there is to be any hope of returning law and order to our roads and saving lives needlessly lost. MEC Tikana Gxothiwe, in response to a parliamentary … [Read more...] about 24-Hour traffic law enforcement fails to launch

Dear MyPE As we enter Transport Month, it is clear that drastic action needs to be taken to address the ongoing carnage on the Eastern Cape roads, which is once again spiralling out of control as lockdown measures are eased. The DA therefore welcomes Transport MEC, Weziwe Tikana Gxothiwe’s announcement that her department will be rolling out 24-hour Traffic Law Enforcement on nine routes across the province, starting today. In a parliamentary response, MEC Tikana Gxothiwe said 252 … [Read more...] about 24-hour Traffic Law Enforcement must hit the ground running

Dear MyPE Learners have been back at school for almost a month and the Eastern Cape Department of Transport is still in the process of finalizing contracts for scholar transport operators. I am calling on the Eastern Cape MEC of Transport yet again to take immediate steps to rectify the ongoing issues with Scholar Transport or hand the programme over to the Eastern Cape Education Department, which is better suited to identify learners most at need. In a recent response to a follow-up … [Read more...] about Scholar Transport still not finalized for the 2020 academic year

DA calls for action against residents who destroy our road network Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance (DA) condemns the destruction of property in the strongest term. The Eastern Cape is well known as the “pothole province”. A contributing factor is the actions of residents on the N6 between Stutterheim and East London, who are destroying the road network to show their frustration. The DA is calling on all Law Enforcement Agencies to act swiftly to bring these perpetrators to book. … [Read more...] about The Pothole Province

Dear MyPE Premier Oscar Mabuyane cannot delay any longer. He must act now and remove Transport MEC Weziwe Tikana-Gxothiwe from office. Two damning front page news reports this morning have revealed further evidence of how MEC Tikana-Gxothiwe has allegedly abused her power as a member of the provincial executive. The first instance, relating to a recording of the MEC, she openly admits that she was instrumental in the appointment of unqualified individuals to her Department. These same … [Read more...] about Premier Mabuyane must act as more evidence mounts against MEC Tikana-Gxothiwe

Dear MyPE Premier Oscar Mabuyane must place the Transport MEC, Weziwe Tikana-Gxotiwe on precautionary special leave, and provide clarity regarding the investigation of the Department of Transport by Provincial Treasury. More than a month has passed since the announcement of the investigation by the Premier, on 1 May, with no further details on whether the investigations have begun, if timeframes have been set, or if there have been any preliminary findings. Yesterday’s dismissal of the … [Read more...] about Premier must place MEC on special leave & finalise investigations

DA saddened and outraged by horror EC bus accident Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance is both extremely saddened but also outraged by the news of a horror bus accident that has claimed at least 21 lives in Centane today, 2 March 2020. The bus, which was apparently travelling along a gravel road from Chebe to Butterworth, was reportedly transporting 79 people, most of whom were pensioners who were going to town to collect their social grants. Instead, the bus left the gravel road … [Read more...] about Horror Bus Accident Claims 22 Lives

Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance believes in the right of children to quality education, so that they can be uplifted and empowered for a better tomorrow. By failing to provide scholar transport to these learners, the Department of Transport is depriving these children of their rights. This crisis in scholar transport demands a new approach with new solutions. In order for our learners’ rights to be realised, the scholar transport programme must be returned to the Department of … [Read more...] about Move scholar transport back to Education Department

Editor: Let's help our 'safe driving challenged' and accident prone government employees to drive like human beings - feel free to censure anyone that you see abusing a state vehicle. Ask yourself - would you allow someone to take cash out of your pocket and tear it up in front of you? If the answer is "No" then have at our state employees abusing our tax contributions..... Dear MyPE The Eastern Cape Provincial Government has spent in excess of R91-million on accident-damaged state-owned … [Read more...] about Province spends R91 million on accident-damaged state vehicles

Dear MyPE The Eastern Cape must clamp down on unroadworthy vehicles that are making use of the province’s roads, as these vehicles place the lives of their occupants and those of other road users at risk. This Sunday, 17 November 2019, as we remember the lives lost in road accidents as part of the World Remembrance Day for road traffic victims, the Democratic Alliance is calling on the MEC for Transport, Weziwe Tikana-Gxothiwe, to take action against these unroadworthy vehicles. These … [Read more...] about Eastern Cape must clamp down on unroadworthy vehicles to curb road deaths in province