Black Tuesday protest...DA MPLs and staff at the Bhisho Legislature joined the nation-wide protest today against the Protection of State Information Bill. In front, from the left: Tessa Botha (secretary), Gerrie Willemse (secretary), Bobby Stevenson (Legislature Leader), Veliswa Mvenya (Caucus Chairperson) and Eve Viol (secretary). At the back, from the left: Edmund van Vuuren (MPL), John Cupido (MPL) and Annette Rademeyer (secretary).

Politically this has been an exceptionally good year for the Democratic Alliance.  In the municipal elections the DA’s support rocketed in the Eastern Cape, going from 100 councillors to 178.  We made major breakthroughs in many areas where we never had representation before, particularly in eight more municipalities in the former Transkei.

Internationally, the shadow of the Euro crisis looms with a potential negative impact on our economy.

Nationally, the dark clouds of the Protection of State Information Bill (secrecy bill) hang over our democracy.

Domestically, poor service delivery and underspending on capital infrastructure continues to plague the Eastern Cape, both at provincial and national level.

So why should one be upbeat about the future?

I believe that there is great hope for South Africa because of our leadership depth.  Hope is not something that simply falls out of the sky but is created by inspirational leaders who have a vision of the future.

The DA has a very compelling vision of an open opportunity society for all which is gaining more and more support from more and more South Africans each day.  Just last week we opened a new branch in Dordrecht with 562 new members.  We continue to gain in by-elections across the country.  The DA’s long term goal is to build a new majority by becoming the government of South Africa by 2019.  We are on track to achieve this objective.

I am also inspired by countless deeds of self sacrifice undertaken by thousands of South Africans.  The way people reach out to those less fortunate than themselves creates hope at another level.  One can only commend those voluntary organizations and those people who generously give of their time and money to improve the circumstances of their fellow beings.

There is no doubt that our politics has been irreversibly changed by the Protection of State Information Bill.  Academics, religious leaders, journalists and other leaders of civil society who were previously firmly in the ANC circle, have now adopted a critical stance and see the party’s views on this matter as strongly anti-democratic.

The National Party started to implode when it lost the support of church leaders, academics and leaders of civil society that were previously in their circle of influence.  History is now repeating itself.  The ANC implosion is now irreversible.

As we approach the year-end and have become enthused with holiday fever, let us not forget those people less fortunate than ourselves, who continue to experience high levels of poverty and who are totally reliant on state services.  Where we can afford to stretch out our hand, let us do so gladly and joyfully.

Our team wishes all the readers of Bhisho Brief and their families a joyous holiday season.

In this spirit of World Aids Day, DA provincial MPLs and staff took HIV tests on Wednesday during the sitting of the Eastern Cape Legislature.

The Democratic Alliance urges all members of the community to be aware of the scourge of HIV/Aids and to take control of their own destinies.

According to the Aids Prevalence Survey by the National Department of Health, almost a third (29, 9 %) of people in the Eastern Cape are infected with HIV.

The prevalence rate has remained constant within the age groups of 15-30-year-olds (15-24 years at 26, 7 % and 25-29 years at 37, 3 %).  This shows that HIV education is effective and younger, empowered women are starting to exercise their right to insist on the use of condoms.

But not enough is being done.  It is not unfair to require that everyone knows their status so that they can change their lifestyles and actions accordingly before it is too late.

DA Councillors and activists brightened the lives of children at the Sivenathi Centre for Disabled and HIV/AIDS-children in Hillside Location by spending World Aids Day with them, playing and dancing.

It was a special day for the children, as they don’t usually see so many people around them. They were filled with joy and laughter on their faces. It is a memorable day they will never forget.

World Aids Day must be recognized every year.  It is important for everyone to know their status and get tested.

The DA was privileged to spend World Aids Day at Sivenathi.  These young lives are our future and it is important that none of these children be prejudiced because of the circumstances of their birth.

Every opportunity must be given to these children to develop themselves to their full potential.

The DA Amathole constituency will make sure that we render whatever assistance we can to ensure the centre, together with the DA, can make a worthwhile contribution to the lives of these children.

-          Dacre Haddon, Amathole constituency leader.

Making a difference, a force for change

I am proud to have resolved queries for our voters this year but I will mention those that I think touched my heart most:

There are traffic officers who worked in the former Transkei who were underpaid by the Department of Transport.  They have been sent from pillar to post since 2002 without any solution. When I joined the Transport Portfolio Committee I made this an issue to drive.   Readers will recall the reports in the Daily Dispatch about the fight I had with the Speaker of the legislature about the plight of these people. It is my great pleasure to report that they have finally received their money (thousands) thanks to the efforts of the DA.

Secondly, I was given a query by one of our councillors in Somerset-East whereby a number of learners at farm schools were struggling to get to school because they were excluded from the provincial scholar transport programme.  These under-privileged learners were forced to pay for their transport under very difficult circumstances.  I am proud to report that in January 2012 they will be transported for free through scholar transport programme.

The most important query I resolved this year and which touched me deeply is that of Skhumbuzo Mphithiphithi.  He is a LLB-student who had to drop out of university because he could not afford to pay his outstanding debt. He found work in a shop, having lost all hope to continue his studies.  His dreams turned back into reality when I asked the Premier to pay his debt and to pay for his future fees. He is now back at Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, where he continues his studies.

The DA has embarked on the monitoring of matric marking at the fifteen marking centres in the province, as well as the correct capturing of marks.

We will be particularly attentive to specific risk areas which might discredit the whole process.

The DA visited four marking centres on Monday, 5 December, as part of oversight by the portfolio committee on education. These centres were St John’s College and Trinset College in Mthatha, Queenstown Girl’s High and Cradock High School.

The key risk areas that were scrutinised in-depth were scripts delivered to the centres, security of the scripts, and the integrity of the marking and whether back-up systems are in place, should any unforeseen eventuality occur.