The Democratic Alliance welcomes the announcement today by SA Rugby that the Eastern Province Kings will participate in next season’s Super 15 franchise. This is very good news for rugby in the Eastern Cape. This will boost tourism in the province when games are played here, which will have a spin-off of much needed job creation. Our young promising rugby players won’t be lost to this province as has happened in the past. The EP Kings have our support and we wish them well in their … [Read more...] about Political Welcome for EP Kings inclusion in Super 15
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Seaview Road – Unsatisfactory Reply from MEC
The reply I received from the MEC for Roads and Public Works regarding the Seaview Road is unsatisfactory. The matter of this road, which is partly under water, is a combined problem for the Department of Roads and Public Works and the Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality (NMBM). Both institutions need to stop dilly-dalllying and passing the buck. They need to come up with an urgent solution to make this road useable again. In the reply to my question the MEC for Roads and Public … [Read more...] about Seaview Road – Unsatisfactory Reply from MEC
Urgent Call for Roads and Transport SIU Investigation to be Finalised
The findings by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) into alleged corruption and fraud in the former Eastern Cape Department of Roads and Transport involving at least R90 million must be finalised and acted upon as a matter of urgency. This province is being bled dry by tenderpreneurship, dishonesty and maladministration. If any of the shocking claims should be true, the culprits must be dealt with speedily and in the harshest possible way. Criminal convictions must be sought to act as … [Read more...] about Urgent Call for Roads and Transport SIU Investigation to be Finalised
Nation Building Through Sport
Dear Editor As South Africans hold their breath for more Olympic gold medals, politicians and analysts should take note of the positive impact sport has on nation building and national pride. Team SA has done us proud in London and we have new national heroes to feel good about. Positive results breed positive feelings across race and creed. In great contrast are utterances by members of the the ANC Youth League, who seem bent on the negative, only to drive our people apart. Let's not get … [Read more...] about Nation Building Through Sport
Legislature requested to discuss textbook shortage and filling of vacant posts
The Democratic Alliance in Bhisho has submitted a request to the Speaker of the Eastern Cape Provincial Legislature in terms of the rules that important issues around education in the province be discussed in the House as a Matter of Public Importance (Rule 126). The next sitting of the legislature will be on Tuesday, 14 August 2012. It is time that Education MEC Mandla Makupula accounts to the elected public representatives of the Eastern Cape as to the current crisis in education. The … [Read more...] about Legislature requested to discuss textbook shortage and filling of vacant posts
Call these numbers to report snow and flood damage to roads
In the aftermath of the heavy rain we have endured during the past few days we expect many road related problems like "fresh" potholes making their appearance. There is a possibility of more flooding of road sections throughout or province and the more dangerous collapsing of road shoulders, which sometimes only appear a few days after heavy rain. For complaints and the reporting of potholes on Eastern Cape Roads the public should phone the Public Works hotline on 0800 864 951. This number … [Read more...] about Call these numbers to report snow and flood damage to roads
Basic services before Africa Cup of Nations
While there seems to be some excitement about the prospect of Port Elizabeth being one of the host cities along with Nelspruit, Rustenburg, Durban and Johannesburg for next year’s Soccer Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon), some sensible reasoning will show that there is no cause for celebration. The Nelson Mandela Metropole is under-funded by at least R228 million for this financial year. While officials are desperately trying to find ways to cut spending, we know that basic service delivery will … [Read more...] about Basic services before Africa Cup of Nations
Small-town community left out in the cold by Department of Health
The multimillion-rand health clinic built in Colchester three years ago is only open for four hours a week and only on a Friday. Unless the poor people and their families of this community time their illnesses perfectly, they are forced to find transport to a hospital or clinic in Port Elizabeth, which is 40km away. It is beyond many people’s means in this extremely poor community to travel this distance, especially if one takes into account that the government has failed to maintain any form of … [Read more...] about Small-town community left out in the cold by Department of Health
Clarity needed on Coega roads maintenance programme
Clarity is needed about the agreement between the Department of Roads and Public Works and the Coega Development Corporation (CDC) for road-maintenance in the province following the launch of a R1,5 billion roads contractor development programme. This programme is run by the Coega Development Agency, a subsidiary of the CDC. I have previously written in the media that up to 50% of the roads maintenance budget is being spent by the department and the CDC on administration of this programme … [Read more...] about Clarity needed on Coega roads maintenance programme
Lack of planning to spend budget for Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture
There is a total lack of proper planning and budgeting in the Department of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture. The abundance of talented people in our province need assistance in the form of infrastructure, exposure, and back-up support. But the government is eating up its Sport, Arts and Culture budget with little going to our people. A total of R202 754 million - or almost a third - of the Department's 2012/13 budget of R705 454 million is for administration. This allows for very little … [Read more...] about Lack of planning to spend budget for Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture
Congratulations to Southern Kings
I would like to congratulate the Southern Kings and welcome the news that our Eastern Cape team will definitely play as a new franchise in the 2013 Super 15 competition. As always, with new opportunities come new responsibilities. Personally I think the biggest responsibility is now on Cheeky Watson to ensure that we don’t go off and spend millions in buying new talent from outside our borders - like the South Sea Islands - to make an impact in this competition. While I agree that the … [Read more...] about Congratulations to Southern Kings
New Mandela Metro DA Regional Management Committee
I believe that the new Regional Management Committee elected last night will pull the Democratic Alliance over the winning line in the 2016 municipal elections, whereby we will be triumphant in the Nelson Mandela Metropole. The 2014 national elections will be a dress rehearsal for the 2016 municipal elections. In the last local election in 2011, the DA came very close to winning the Metro outright. People who have lost hope for an improvement in service delivery in the ANC continue to turn … [Read more...] about New Mandela Metro DA Regional Management Committee
Consider this, Thandiswa Marawu
Good roads are the veins that will ensure that the heart of the Eastern Cape’s economic growth keeps beating. In his recent provincial budget speech the MEC for Finance, Phumulo Masualle, stated that the Eastern Cape had recovered well from a negative economic growth rate of 4,2% in the second quarter in 2009 to a positive 3% in the fourth quarter of 2011. He forecast further growth rates upward of 5% by 2016. The MEC for Roads and Public Works, Thandiswa Marawu, must therefore put steps in … [Read more...] about Consider this, Thandiswa Marawu
Human Rights should not only mean political freedom
It is interesting that in South Africa Human Rights are often perceived as certain fundamental political rights pertaining to racial equality and the right to vote. I cannot blame people for having such a narrow view of human rights if we take into account our recent tainted history of inequality under apartheid. We should not however, forget that human rights encompass civil and political rights as well as economic, social and cultural rights. If any independent observer analyses the way the … [Read more...] about Human Rights should not only mean political freedom
Amatola Sun – Another example of poor maintenance of local government assets
Government needs to take strong action to ensure that its assets are properly maintained. This requires strong leadership. Stop wasting money on things that are not necessary to have. Start prioritising the real needs of the people. We need to work smarter. Let's take the former Amatola Sun Hotel. Just over five years ago we as a government purchased the building that used to house the Amatola Sun Hotel. I have no idea why we did it, but I do know we paid R10-million for it. Today it's a … [Read more...] about Amatola Sun – Another example of poor maintenance of local government assets
