vicky knoetze

Dear MyPE The R 11.7 million Boschberg ‘Mountain of Dreams’ tourism hub in Somerset East could now be described as a ‘Mountain of Nightmares’ as this tourism hub, developed to grow the local economy, lies in ruins. Identified as a key development project for the Blue Crane Development Agency, which has since been disbanded, the Boschberg Tourism Hub was completed in 2015, but is now nothing more than an abandoned pile of ruins. A capable state would have done a feasibility assessment … [Read more...] about Boschberg ‘Mountain of Dreams’ now ‘Mountain of Nightmares’

Dear MyPE The Provincial Government must step in and assist Eastern Cape municipalities, who now owe Eskom more than R2-billion rand in total, as municipalities are forced to dip deeper into their equitable share to pay their debts. Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs MEC, Xolile Nqatha, is bound by the Section 139 (5) of the constitution and has no choice but to impose a recovery plan to ensure that each of these municipalities meets their financial commitments. The … [Read more...] about Provincial govt must act as municipal Eskom debt soars past R2-billion mark

Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance in the Eastern Cape welcomes the decision of the Eastern Cape Provincial Government’s Executive Council to finally implement Section 139 (5)(a) of the Constitution, to address the challenges in the Amathole District Municipality (ADM). This step is long overdue, as the warning lights have been flashing for quite some time. The recovery plan put in place must ensure the municipality is able to meet its obligations to provide basic services and its … [Read more...] about Provincial intervention in Amathole DM long overdue

Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance welcomes the announcement of the appointment of a multi-disciplinary task team for the Amathole District Municipality, whose task will be to strengthen and implement a sustainable financial recovery plan for the Municipality. This is exactly what the DA proposed to the MEC of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Xolile Nqatha, in a letter dealing with this issue, last week. While this is a positive first step, it must be remembered that ADM … [Read more...] about ADM task team appointment good first step, but more needs to be done

Dear MyPE Critical public engagements over the changing of ward boundaries in the Eastern Cape, known as delimitation, have not taken place, which means the submissions made by the Municipal Demarcation Board (MDB) are fatally flawed and bring the entire process into question. While the Covid-19 pandemic has had a devastating impact on the ability of institutions such as the MDB to carry out the usual face to face public participation processes, alternative forms of public engagement are … [Read more...] about Process of establishing new EC ward boundaries fatally flawed

Dear MyPE Residents in the Dr Beyers Naude Local Municipality are furious and feel that they have been thrown to the wolves, as they are yet again being punished for the failures of their uncaring municipality. Effective from today Willowmore, Steytlerville and Jansenville are currently without electricity, with Eskom cutting the power for eight and a half hours a day, because the Municipality has failed to honour the last repayment plan agreed to. If the matter is not resolved, by … [Read more...] about Urgent intervention needed in Dr Beyers Naude following bulk electricity disruptions

Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance (DA) in the Eastern Cape has scooped up two environmental awards in the prestigious Eco-Logic Awards hosted by Enviropaedia yesterday. The DA EC won Gold in the Eco-Innovation category and Silver in the Eco-Build category for the innovative plastic road, also known as the eco-friendly road which was built as a pilot project in Jeffrey’s Bay in the DA-run Kouga Municipality. The event aims to identify individuals, organisations and communities that … [Read more...] about History made as DA scoops up two environmental awards

Dear MyPE The OR Tambo District Municipality is failing to provide the most basic services to its people, and highlights how the ANC instilled culture of lack of accountability is collapsing government services across the province. The primary objective of this district municipality should be to implement water and sanitation services projects, address backlogs and improve the life of its citizens. Instead it is robbing the people of their basic human rights and dignity. The Democratic … [Read more...] about COGTA MEC must take decisive steps against OR Tambo District Municipality

Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance in the Eastern Cape has secured a place in the finals in two categories of the 2020 Eco-Logic Awards for its innovative Plastic Roads project in Jeffreys Bay, in the DA-run Kouga Municipality. The project has been shortlisted in the Innovation and Eco-Build award categories of the annual event, widely recognised as South Africa’s most glamorous green eco-calendar event, hosted by Enviropaedia. The Eco-Logic Awards, which has 13 categories in total, … [Read more...] about Innovative Plastic Roads project nominated in 2020 Eco-Logic Awards

Dear MyPE The true horror story of the collapse of local government in the Eastern Cape has been brought home by the latest Municipal Financial Sustainability Index (MFSI) report by Ratings Afrika. The report shows that the Amahlati municipality is one of the worst performing municipalities in the country. This report follows the Auditor Generals report last month, which showed that 13 Eastern Cape municipalities reports have worsened compared to the previous year. Local municipalities … [Read more...] about Eastern Cape’s Collapsing Local Governments

DA condemns utterances By COGTA MEC Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance (DA) strongly condemns the utterances made by COGTA MEC, Xolile Nqatha, at the memorial service of the late Buffalo City Metro Speaker, Alfred Mtsi. The MEC's comments highlight the extent to which the Eastern Cape has become the epicentre of corruption, and how the lack of consequence management is spreading like the virus. In the video circulating on social media MEC Nqatha is clearly heard stating, in no uncertain … [Read more...] about The Eastern Cape has become the epicentre of corruption

Dear MyPE The Special Investigation Unit must be tasked with investigating the controversial and unlawful tender awarded to Quality Filtration Systems (QFS) for the Port Alfred Desalination Plant. The Grahamstown High Court has set aside the tender, saying that the conduct on the part of the Ndlambe Local Municipality was beset with problems and irregularities and ran afoul of proper procurement procedure requirements. I have now written to Eastern Cape Premier, Oscar Mabuyane, to … [Read more...] about SIU must investigate Ndlambe Municipality’s unlawful drought mitigation tender