marshall von buchenroder

Dear MyPE A legislature response received from the MEC for Transport, Weziwe Tikana, reveals that the department owes contractors over R36 million. The Democratic Alliance calls on the MEC to ensure that the payment of contractors assigned to the Department of Transport in the Eastern Cape is prioritized urgently. According to the response, Head Office owes contractors the largest amount with 179 invoices equalling over R19 million, followed by in-house construction at R10 million. The … [Read more...] about EC Transport Department owes contractors over R36 million

Dear MyPE The so-called amnesty carrot offered to traffic offenders in the Eastern Cape may leave them with a bitter taste after it emerged that officials of the Department of Transport are not aware of the deal. Phone calls by my office revealed that officials at the traffic offices in East London, Port Elizabeth, Graaff-Reinet and Humansdorp were unaware of the MEC’s announcement. Instead of increasing provincial revenue from fines, this may end up increasing the public’s mistrust in … [Read more...] about Traffic fines amnesty carrot not so sweet

Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance calls on the MEC for Transport, Weziwe Tikana, to urgently provide temporary office structures for Grahamstown’s traffic officers. The Grahamstown Traffic Department office burned down on 30 September 2017 and traffic officers have been operating from a small storeroom, Department of Roads and Public Works offices as well as from the Department of Environmental Affairs office situated near the ramshackled traffic office. A parliamentary response from the … [Read more...] about Total Change needed for Grahamstown traffic officers

Dear MyPE With the approaching festive season, traffic safety will once again be in the spotlight. Unfortunately, road accidents will make this a time of great sadness instead of a celebration for many families. The Law Enforcement section of the Eastern Cape Department has a staff of only 556 people. Of this 32 people are senior management and 534 are law enforcement officers. The only way to limit the carnage on our roads is to stop motorists from taking chances driving unroadworthy … [Read more...] about Traffic Law Enforcement Lacking Ahead of Festive Season

Crash caught on video. Still Images via Yazeed Dear MyPE Monday’s horror crash in Port Elizabeth which claimed the life of a scholar transport driver and left 18 children injured has highlighted the fact that the provincial Department of Transport has failed to arm legislation to stop pupils from being transported in bakkies. Penalties must be gazetted as a matter of urgency so that traffic officials have an enforcement mechanism. It is every parent’s greatest fear that their child will … [Read more...] about Horror Harrower Road scholar bakkie crash highlights need to link transport regulations to fines

Dear MyPE The Eastern Cape has yet to apply for its portion of additional funding from the National Treasury to cover the shortfall in the 2017-18 scholar transport budget, which totals R639 943 941 for all provinces. According to a reply to a question by the DA in the National Assembly to the Minister of Basic Education, Angie Motshekga, the Eastern Cape is one of six provinces that failed to apply for additional funding. For the reply, click here . In a presentation on 23 May 2017 … [Read more...] about 29 314 scholar transport beneficiaries out in the cold

Dear MyPE More officers are leaving the South African Police Service (SAPS) in the Eastern Cape every year than the number appointed. The DA believes that a well-governed province would ensure the safety of its residents and implement the necessary measures to do so. The first step is a well-manged police service that is active and visible in all our communities. According to a reply to a legislature question I asked Safety and Liaison MEC Weziwe Tikana recently, 569 officers left the … [Read more...] about Negative Churn in EC SAPS Personnel

Dear MyPE The Eastern Cape lost out on potential revenue of R93.3-million from traffic fines and warrants in the last two financial years. According to a reply to a legislature question I asked Transport MEC Weziwe Tikana, the back office in East London, where all traffic fines and district warrants are processed, is operating on an ad hoc basis with no permanent staff members. The DA believes that, in our current economic climate, it is important to ensure that any prospective revenue … [Read more...] about EC loses out on R93.3 Million in potential revenue

Dear MyPE The Algoa Bus Company issued a notice on Monday afternoon that it will be joining a national transport strike following the breakdown of a 12% across-the-board salary increase on Monday, 10 April. While the DA respects the rights of workers to strike, the economy of the Eastern Cape cannot be sacrificed. Our provincial economy is in an extremely fragile state, with a growth rate projected at 0,7% prior to the downgrading of South Africa to junk status. The wheels of the … [Read more...] about Transport unions must ensure safety of commuters

Dear MyPE With eight weeks to go until the annual December shutdown, it is crucial that the current overtime strike by provincial traffic officers is resolved.  The strike has spread to three of the six district municipalities in the province (Buffalo City, Sarah Baartman and OR Tambo), meaning there is no or limited law enforcement on the roads in these areas at night. This province recorded the highest number of road fatalities in the country during the last festive season, an increase … [Read more...] about Provincial traffic officer overtime strike spreads further

Dear MyPE Eastern Cape Transport MEC Weziwe Tikana will have to do some honest introspection about the performance of her department if she wants to bring any significance to this year's theme for Transport Month, “Together we move South Africa Forward.” The DA has a vision of a well-run province where good governance and transparency will take the Eastern Cape forward. For this to happen, we need to ensure government officials sign performance agreements and that their performance is … [Read more...] about Transport Month: MEC must move EC forward

Dear MyPE Post offices in the Nelson Mandela Bay Metro (NMBM) yesterday took delivery of 14 000 sheets of the specialised paper used for the printing of vehicle licence disks, thanks to the intervention by the DA. I reported two weeks ago that a country-wide shortage of specialised paper at licencing centres had spread to the Eastern Cape, particularly NMBM.  This meant "face-value" licence disks could not be printed. I have been given the assurance that, apart from yesterday's delivery … [Read more...] about Intervention secures delivery of specialised paper for vehicle licence disks in EC

Dear MyPE For the safety of all road users in the Eastern Cape, the Department of Transport must resolve the overtime strike by provincial traffic officers over their pay once and for all.  This province recorded the highest number of road fatalities in the country during the last festive season, an increase of 22 %, from 227 in 2014/15 to 278 in 2015/16. High visibility and tough law enforcement, 24-hours a day, is vital to curb the high road death toll in the Eastern Cape.  Bad practices … [Read more...] about Overtime strike by provincial traffic officers must be resolved once and for all