DA Bhisho – The Democratic Alliance at the Bhisho Legislature

DEFECTIVE OVERSPENDING BUDGET HAS ALL WARNING LIGHTS FLICKERING

July 23rd, 2010

Bobby Stevenson, leader in the Bhisho Legislature and spokesperson on finance.

Now that a successful World Cup is over, we cannot sit back and bask in the glory of its aftermath. We need, once more, to focus on the very real issues of service delivery.

Last month, on the eve of the World Cup, the provincial legislature passed a defective budget with huge implications for health and education opportunities.

The Democratic Alliance took the historic step of voting against the budget. Our opposition, in particular to the budgets for the two big departments of health and education – which constitute 75 percent of the budget or R36 billion out of R48bn – have resulted in us not being able to support the provincial budget this year.

We do not believe the figures for Health and Education have integrity. These departments are going to overspend and not keep within their existing budgets. This was confirmed by the MEC for Health, Phumulo Masualle, who, in reply to my question, informed the house that the budget for Health was not adequate.

The director-general for Health, in an interview with the Daily Dispatch, was also quoted as saying that he needed R2,9bn more.

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TELL US WHAT A SUCCESS THE CUP ANTI-CRIME OPERATION WAS

July 28th, 2010

ALL indications are that crime took a beating in the Nelson Mandela metro during the soccer World Cup, writes Bobby Stevenson.

This can be related to “saturation policing” and the massive deterrent of the special court that operated after hours. Read the full letter in The Herald.

Tags: Bobby Stevenson; crime statistics
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EC EDUCATION INFRASTRUCTURE BUDGET SLASHED AGAIN

July 28th, 2010

Of the R1.3 billion that was allocated for infrastructure to the Department of Education in the Eastern Cape, only R492 million will be available for new projects in the current financial year. This shocking revelation was made during a meeting of the Portfolio Committee on Education in Bhisho this week.

This budget, which had been set aside for the building of new schools, repairs and refurbishments and the eradication of mud structures has been depleted by R808 million. The amount of R808 million will be used to pay for commitments to infrastructure in the last financial year, as well as for accruals resulting from the non-payment of contractors in the 2009/10 financial year.

OR TAMBO MAYOR MISMANAGEMENT CONTINUES

July 26th, 2010

The Democratic Alliance will request the Public Protector and the Auditor General to investigate the alleged abuse of public funds by the Mayor of the OR Tambo District Municipality, Zoleka Capa.

This is the third major incident in which Mayor Capa’s OR Tambo District Municipality has been accused of the blatant mismanagement of public funds. Since 2008 over R55 million has been forked out as result of the purchase of five farms in Kwazulu-Natal which are allegedly in a state of decay. In 2009 R3, 5 million was spent on taking 200 people to Zambia’s Independence Day celebrations. Last week 27 people (eight councillors and 19 officials) were allegedly flown to a meeting in Johannesburg which should have been held locally within the municipality.

LIVES LOST ON DEATH TRAP R56: MEC MUST ACT

July 15th, 2010

The Democratic Alliance has learned with horror that four motorists lost their lives allegedly as result of large potholes in the road.

The incident occurred on the R56 between Matatiele and Cedarville. What makes this all the more shocking is the fact that it is alleged by members of the community that numerous massive potholes on the R56 had been cleared to be filled, but this was never done.

GOOD NEWS ABOUT DROP IN CRIME MUST BE SHARED

July 13th, 2010

All indications are that crime took a beating in the host city Nelson Mandela Metro during the duration of the Soccer World Cup. This can be related to “saturation policing” and the massive deterrent of the special court that operated after hours. In short, criminals knew they were being watched and they also knew they would be nailed and jailed within days of committing an offence.

I have today submitted a question to the MEC for Safety and Liaison, Ghishma Barry, requesting details in crime trends in the host city and other parts of the province over the period of the World Cup.

DA WELCOMES DISMISSAL OF SENIOR HEALTH OFFICIALS

July 8th, 2010

The Democratic Alliance is delighted to learn of the outcome on action taken against senior health officials of the Eastern Cape Department of Health. This was sparked by a Parliamentary Question asked by the DA during July last year after a tip-off.

It was alleged that several officials were offered and made use of free air travel trips by a service provider who renders emergency medical rescue services to the department. The aircraft was used to fly the senior officials to the Confederations Cup in Bloemfontein to watch the match between Spain and the USA during June last year. Apparently, investigations revealed involvement of corrupt activities which extensively led to the dismissals. The Democratic Alliance is delighted to learn that 7 officials were found guilty and 6 were dismissed with the acceptance of one.