yusuf cassim

Dear MyPE The Department of Education is clearly failing to address infrastructure backlogs and in so doing, is failing to provide learners with conducive places of learning. This was blatantly apparent during an oversight conducted at the Lutateni Senior Secondary school, in the Alfred Nzo municipality, which I visited last week along with constituency leader, Baxolile Nodada, MP. The school, which was established by the community in 1987, has severe infrastructure challenges, there … [Read more...] about Infrastructure backlog failing Eastern Cape Learners

Dear MyPE Grade R learners at the Sonwabile Primary school in Ncera Village, in the Buffalo City Metro, have been denied their right to education for an entire term, because the department failed to repair the roof of their classroom. However, when questioned about this through a parliamentary question, Education MEC, Fundile Gade, denied that this was the case, saying no classes had been missed. Today, 31 October 2019, I, together with constituency chairperson, Sue Bentley and other … [Read more...] about Education MEC misleads parliament about Grade R learners’ plight

Dear MyPE The Eastern Cape was the second worst preforming province in terms of outstanding invoices older than 30 days in the 2018/19 financial year, owing suppliers in excess of R2,1 billion. Statistics recently released by the Auditor General showed that the Eastern Cape had the second highest outstanding invoice total in the country, behind Gauteng which owed suppliers just under R2,6-billion. This is a sad indictment on a province which has the highest expanded unemployment rate in … [Read more...] about Eastern Cape had R2,1 bllion in outstanding invoices in 2018/19

Dear MyPE More and more no-fee schools are being forced to impose fees on parents under the guise of compulsory donations for additional funding, because the Department of Education is failing to provide them with the necessary resources to cater for the learners they must accommodate. This was highlighted on 15 October 2019, when I, along with local councillor Pumelele Magazi, visited Gobinamba High School in Tsomo, following a request from parents in the community. South African … [Read more...] about Education Department fails to meet needs

Dear MyPE This week I tabled a motion in the Eastern Cape Provincial Legislature to address the surge of gender-based violence against women and children, through the adoption of the “No Means No Worldwide” programme in Eastern Cape schools. There is clear evidence that violence in schools in the province, against learners and teachers, is on the increase. There have been at least three fatalities on school premises with a further 79 learners and 49 teachers have been injured due to … [Read more...] about Calls for EC Departments to adopt “No Means No Worldwide” programmes in Eastern Cape Schools

Dear MyPE The Kuyga Primary School in Port Elizabeth has been an ongoing target for criminals, who have burgled the school at least seven times in the last month, stealing, among others, the electrical cables and leaving the school without electricity, which is vital for classes to function. This came to light following an oversight conducted at the school today, where I was accompanied by DA Constituency Leader, Bobby Stevenson, MPL, DA councilors, as well as the SGB … [Read more...] about Crime-ridden Kuyga Primary School burgled seven times in one month

Dear MyPE The UDM/ANC/EFF coalition of corruption government in Nelson Mandela Bay has failed the people of the City by not ensuring that they live in a clean and healthy environment. On Tuesday, 30 July 2019, the DA launched its Kumdaka eBhayi (Nelson Mandela Bay is Dirty) campaign at a site of illegal dumping in Motherwell. I was joined by DA Federal Chairperson, Athol Trollip, and local councillors and residents in launching this very important initiative. (pics attached) Our … [Read more...] about Dirty communities are robbing NMB residents of their dignity and health

Dear MyPE The Eastern Cape Premier, Oscar Mabuyane, has apparently been napping while one of the largest crises to hit the Eastern Cape economy has unfolded. It has now been 17 days since the go-slow strike action commenced at the Port of Ngqura and, to date, there has not been any response from either the MEC of Economic Development, Environmental Affairs and Tourism, Mlungisi Mvoko, or the Premier, to our request for intervention. Meanwhile, the situation at Ngqura is crippling the … [Read more...] about Premier and his government napping

Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance is outraged that for four years the Department of Education has not taken any action to ensure the safety of learners at Strelitzia Primary School in Port Elizabeth’s Northern Areas. This week the school was shut down by the school principal, Clifton Jantjies, and parents, over concerns of the children’s safety, following a shooting earlier the week and the lack of fencing at the school. The DA in the Eastern Cape Legislature has been driving the issue … [Read more...] about Lack of action by Education Department placing learners lives at risk

Dear MyPE Urgent intervention is required to address the impasse at the Port of Ngqura, which is destroying jobs and severely impacting the Eastern Cape economy. Recent revelations have highlighted how illegal industrial action, in the form of a go-slow, have exposed the cracks caused by the continued mismanagement at the port through which trade is being jeopardised. Trucks have had to wait for up to 18 hours before being offloaded, and vessels attempting to collect shipments have been … [Read more...] about Port of Ngqura go slow is destroying economy

DA calls for flu vaccines to be made available at schools after influenza outbreak Dear MyPE The recent outbreak of Influenza A in Nelson Mandela Bay, which led to the temporary shutdown of Grey Junior School this week, has highlighted the need for flu vaccines to be made available at schools. This should serve as a warning, as the spread of infection could be happening at other schools, which is why I am calling on the Department of Education to monitor schools in the province to … [Read more...] about I Wonder what J9 Will Say About This?

Dear MyPE Today, the Eastern Cape Department of Health, through district manager Mrs Geda, stopped me from fulfilling my constitutional obligation as a Member of Parliament by refusing me access to Algoa Park Clinic, as part of my oversight responsibilities. I will be writing to the MEC for Health, Helen Sauls-August, to inform her of the actions of Mrs Geda and request an investigation into her conduct in this regard. During an attempted health oversight inspection at the Algoa Park … [Read more...] about Why is government hiding healthcare collapse in the Eastern Cape?

Dear MyPE Today I conducted an oversight inspection, within my Constituency, of the Veeplaas Clinic in Redhouse Road, Port Elizabeth. The shortage of doctors at the clinic is of great concern. Patients have to wait three months to get an appointment with the doctor and the doctor only avails himself for four hours, once a week - on a Wednesday. Another concern is the time of arrival of the doctor. Today the doctor arrived at 10:45, which means that patients who intended to still attend … [Read more...] about About the neglected health in township areas