Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance (DA) has received 16 364 signatures for a petition we launched in December 2020 to oppose the government’s plans to extend license fees to streaming services such as Netflix, Showmax, and others. We will now submit these objections to the Acting Director-General of the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies, Nomvuyiso Batyi, on behalf of the thousands of South Africans ahead of the Monday, 15 February deadline. The DA stands with the … [Read more...] about Petition receives thousands of objections against Netflix, Showmax licence fee proposal
Zakhele Mbhele
Sign petition rejecting license fees for Netflix, Showmax
Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance (DA) has launched a petition to oppose the government’s plans to extend license fees to streaming services such as Netflix, Showmax, and others. In the Draft White Paper on Audio and Audio-visual Content Services Policy Framework: A New Vision for South Africa 2020, the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies proposes broadening the definition of a “broadcasting service” to include online broadcasting services. This means that South … [Read more...] about Sign petition rejecting license fees for Netflix, Showmax
#ClicksMustFall – Removal of TRESemme products from shelves could harm SMME livelihoods
Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance (DA) has taken note of the decision by Clicks and Checkers to pull TRESemme products from their shelves following the offensive and problematic advert which appeared on the Clicks website that played into historical negative stereotypes about African hair. The DA believes that both TRESemme’s parent company, Unilever, and Clicks should be rightly held accountable for their insensitivity as it relates to this deeply problematic advert. It is unfortunate, … [Read more...] about #ClicksMustFall – Removal of TRESemme products from shelves could harm SMME livelihoods
High Court ruling on BBBEE criteria to be appealed
Dear MyPE After a review of the High Court judgment in our case against the application of BBBEE criteria for Covid-19 relief funding, the Democratic Alliance (DA) has decided to file an appeal to continue our fight against the wholesale entrenchment of racial criteria in government policy and administration. While we are pleased that the court upheld our argument that the government had acted unlawfully by failing to provide clarity on how relief criteria would be applied, the larger … [Read more...] about High Court ruling on BBBEE criteria to be appealed
Minister Mboweni’s rejection of race-based criteria for relief aid welcomed
Dear MyPE Minister of Finance, Tito Mboweni, today shared an anecdote with Parliament’s Standing Committee on Finance illustrating the strangling hold of Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (BBBEE) on the economy during the Covid-19 lockdown period. He told of a conversation with the owner of the Magoebaskloof Hotel where 95% of the staff are black South Africans. The hotel's white owner told the him that he is excluded from the Government’s relief aid, thereby excluding his staff from … [Read more...] about Minister Mboweni’s rejection of race-based criteria for relief aid welcomed
COVID-19 Debt Relief Fund and Business Resilience Facility
DA seeks clarity on SMME debt relief and resilience measures Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance (DA) welcomes the establishment of a Debt Relief Fund and Business Resilience Facility in relation to the Covid-19 pandemic, but we require clarity on important aspects. We will be writing to Minister Khumbudzo Ntshavheni to request clarification and elaboration from her office on what the Department of Small Business Development (DSBD) means that “…the applicant must demonstrate direct link of … [Read more...] about COVID-19 Debt Relief Fund and Business Resilience Facility
R9.1 million to protect one VIP vs R1 500 per South African
Dear MyPE The release of the annual crime statistics for 2017/18 today is a devasting reminder of how the ANC government is losing the battle to keep South Africans safe. Given that the ANC spends an average of R9.1-million to protect one VIP but only R1 500 per South African resident, reveals that their skewed priorities are crippling the fight against the unacceptably high levels of crime in the county. It means that the ANC government is more interested in executive elite protection … [Read more...] about R9.1 million to protect one VIP vs R1 500 per South African
Engcobo attack shows that crime is out of control
Dear MyPE Today’s visit to the Engcobo SAPS with the DA Leader in the Eastern Cape Provincial Legislature, Bobby Stevenson, highlighted the fact our communities are not safe. When a police station, which should stand as a bright light against the dark act of crime, is subjected to the horror of theft and murder, then this brings us to question our own safety as ordinary citizens and the ability of the SAPS to fight crime. Following this heinous attack on our women and men in blue, … [Read more...] about Engcobo attack shows that crime is out of control
Over 8 000 police vehicles out of service
Dear MyPE The DA will submit follow-up questions after a reply to a Parliamentary Question by the DA’s Vusumzi Magwebu MP has revealed that over 8000 police vehicles are currently in repair shops. More than 2 000 vehicles in Gauteng and over 1 500 vehicles in the Eastern Cape are currently out of service and some police stations have only four vehicles to serve eight sectors. According to another NCOP reply, there are 48 247 police vehicles nationally. This means that a shocking 16.6% … [Read more...] about Over 8 000 police vehicles out of service
Crime statistics: Murders on the increase
Dear MyPE Crime statistics released today show that, nationally, there have been 116 more murders between the first half of 2015/16 and 2016/17. There have also been an alarming 14 113 more drug-related crimes, 1 053 more car jackings and 691 more stock theft cases. The DA will call for Police Minister, Nathi Nhleko, to come to Parliament to account for these increases, to table a plan of action to deal with violent crime and murders in particular, which the portfolio committee can … [Read more...] about Crime statistics: Murders on the increase
PE’s under-staffed SAPS Garages: More administrators than mechanics
Dear MyPE During the Police portfolio committee's oversight visit to the Humewood SAPS Garage in Port Elizabeth yesterday, it was revealed that the facility has twice as many administrators pushing papers than actual mechanics on the workshop floor carrying out its core business. The figures given by facility management showed that the garage has 18 personnel doing administrative work (six of whom are just administrative supervisors), while there are only 9 mechanics who actually repair … [Read more...] about PE’s under-staffed SAPS Garages: More administrators than mechanics
