yusuf cassim

Dear MyPE The last round of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) purchasing done by the Eastern Cape Department of Education (ECDoE) made little to no impact for local suppliers, had no lasting economic benefit and did not create any additional jobs in the province. This is substantiated by the publication of the supplier database, which the Democratic Alliance (DA) has been calling for, for months. The lists made it clear why the ECDoE have been reluctant to make the data available, as … [Read more...] about Education Department’s PPE splurge added no value to local suppliers

Dear MyPE The Ugie based ET Thabane Primary School is, quite literally, falling apart at the seams, but its cries for help over the past seven years have fallen on deaf ears, with the Eastern Cape Department of Education simply ignoring their plight. Instead, the Department has spent over R578 million of its infrastructure budget for the current year, purchasing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) at highly inflated prices from connected cadres, paying up to five times the retail price … [Read more...] about Ugie school suffers while Department blows infrastructure budget on overpriced PPE

Dear MyPR Land invaders who have illegally settled on a stretch of wetland in the Bushmans area have placed their own lives at risk, as they have built their homes in an area prone to flooding. Even more disconcerting is that they have allegedly done so with the permission of local government officials. Yesterday I conducted an oversight inspection in the area, accompanied by local DA councillors Jocelyn Guest and Phil Kani, after the matter was brought to our attention During the … [Read more...] about Wetland invaders placing themselves at risk

Dear MyPE The Education Portfolio Committee must call the State Information Technology Agency (SITA) to explain why it has turned to the High Court in a bid to stop a controversial R538 million tablet deal between the provincial education department and the Sizwe Africa IT Group. The evidence is piling up that the contract, awarded to a subsidiary of well-known ANC-ally Iqbal Survé’s Ayo Technology Solutions, is irregular and should be set aside, despite the ANC members of the portfolio … [Read more...] about SITA court action further evidence that Sizwe Africa deal irregular

Dear MyPE Thousands of learners across the Eastern Cape, waiting to be phased back into classes have gone hungry, as the School Nutrition Programme (SNP) in the province has failed to provide them with meals. In a report to the Education Portfolio Committee last week (6 August 2020), the Department of Education revealed that only 3,25% of learners had received meals from the SNP during lockdown. This despite the High Court in Pretoria ordering the Department of Basic Education (DBE) to … [Read more...] about Thousands of Eastern Cape learners go hungry as school nutrition programme fails

Dear MyPE Education Head of Department, Superintendent General Themba Kojana, has broken the law by providing false testimony and information to the Eastern Cape Portfolio Committee of Education, under oath. This is concerning the awarding of the controversial R530 million contract to Sizwe Africa IT Group, which is a subsidiary of well-known ANC ally Iqbal Survé’s Ayo Technology Solutions. This once against illustrates that the Eastern Cape is not only the epicientre of the … [Read more...] about Education HOD perjured himself to avoid accountability

Dear MyPE The ban on interprovincial travel for hunting, as has been gazetted by Minister of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries, Barbara Creecy, continues to have a devastating effect on the hunting industry in the Eastern Cape. Although the minister has withdrawn the regulations banning overnight accommodation, she has not gone far enough, and her inaction is costing the industry millions in lost revenue, and places thousands of jobs on the line. Hunting excursions have decreased … [Read more...] about Inter-provincial travel vital to save hunting industry

Dear MyPE Amended regulations relating to hunting, gazetted by the National Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries this week as part of government’s ongoing Covid-19 pandemic response, will have a devastating impact on the already overburdened industry in the Eastern Cape. These regulations, implemented by an out of touch ANC government, effectively bans any provision of accommodation for hunters and will undoubtedly result in more job losses in the sector! This is one of the … [Read more...] about New regulations further burden, job losses for hunting industry

Dear MyPE The Eastern Cape’s Education Department has revealed that the controversial contract with Sizwe Africa IT Group is worth more than double the R160 million they initially presented, costing the department over R400 million! Not only is the cost more than double, but it has also been revealed that the 55,000 tablets and related products being supplied, would be leased, and that after the 36 month deal expired, these would have to be returned to the company. This is also four … [Read more...] about True cost of DOE Sizwe Africa IT deal surfaces

Dear MyPE The Department of Education’s disciplinary processes are in shambles, with a complete lack of urgency to deal with disciplinary issues, and questionable outcomes when the matters are finally concluded. In response to a parliamentary question, Education MEC, Fundile Gade, confirmed that 61 employees have been suspended with full pay over the past three financial years (2017/18, 2018/19 and 2019/2020). The charges against these employees include two cases of rape, several … [Read more...] about Education department’s disciplinary processes in shambles

Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance is extremely concerned for the safety and well-being of learners in the Eastern Cape after provincial schools were placed under the custodianship of the Department of Health. The Eastern Cape Department of Health is itself in chaos and has proven itself unable to manage its own response to the current Covid-19 crisis. Placing the task of custodianship of schools in their hands places the lives of learners at risk! The department of Education needs to … [Read more...] about Learners not in safe hands under the Department of Health