TAKE TWO Bobby Stevenson WITH the 16 days of activism for no violence against women and children campaign behind us, there is a need now, more than ever, to take concrete steps to make this programme to protect our women and children from violence and sexual predators effective for 365 days a year. It is [...]

The Democratic Alliance welcomes and supports the Financial Management of the Eastern Cape Provincial Legislature Bill, which will be debated in the Bhisho Legislature this afternoon (subs: wed, 2 Dec). Due to an amendment proposed by the DA, the separation of powers between the Legislature and the Provincial Executive is protected.

The adjustments budget of R1.930 billion is not going to cover the shortfall in projected provincial over expenditure. This is going to leave a huge hole in the Province’s finances of potentially R2.1 billion. How this hole is going to be filled is the challenge that the MEC, Departments and this Legislature faces. An immediate [...]

As MPL’s, it is our patriotic duty to ensure that we utilise our powers to improve the lives of the people of this Province. It is therefore incumbent upon us to do everything in our power to hold those to account that must deliver. Edward Abbey once said and I quote “The patriot must always [...]

We are still awaiting the 300 new vehicles that were allocated to this Province at the beginning of the new financial year, to arrive. We are already 9 months into the financial year. This is having a very serious impact on police services in this Province. This is particularly so of the Flying Squads in [...]

We are into a completely new ball game when it comes to budget and expenditure in this Province. The years of generous increases in budgets each year are over. In the new financial year, whatever budget increase we will receive, will no doubt, be wiped out by the over expenditure of the Province. This means [...]

The R1, 930 billion Adjustment budget and austerity campaign announced by the Eastern Cape MEC for Finance, Mcebisi Jonas, will not deal effectively with the rampant over-expenditure in this province. It’s a question of too little, too late. This adjustment budget does not take into account the exposure of the province of potential payments of [...]

The DA expects the Eastern Cape MEC for Finance, Mcebisi Jonas, to provide urgent answers about a projected over-expenditure of R3, 1 billion by the Province in the Adjustments Estimates Bill which will be tabled in the Bhisho Legislature tomorrow (subs: Tues, 24 Nov). The main culprit of the projected over-expenditure is the Health Department [...]

The DA calls for an urgent and thorough investigation by the MEC for Local Government and Traditional Affairs, Sicelo Gqobana, into the R55 million purchasing scandal for five farms by the OR Tambo District Municipality – not only at an inflated price, but outside the Eastern Cape. The DA raised questions in August last year [...]

The Eastern Cape Department of Health could once again run short of money and not be able to pay suppliers in the last quarter of the financial year. Other departments will also have to cut back on services, unless money is found in the adjustment budget for them to deal with the historic backlogs in [...]