NELSON Mandela Bay hardly ever experiences deaths of initiates as a result of botched circumcisions, but scores die every summer and winter season in Pondoland. DA provincial health spokesman Pine Pienaar said the tradition had become “diluted” over the years because of a lack of parental involvement as well as monitoring by traditional leaders.  Read [...]

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 [...]

A CRITICAL shortage of immunisations and TB medicines is crippling primary healthcare clinic services in Nelson Mandela Bay and the Cacadu District. DA health spokesperson Pine Pienaar said the party had learned with concern that since facilities became State-funded no payments had been made to the hospital and the medical supplies were running low.  Read [...]

THE Health Department has fired six senior officials after an exposé by the Daily Dispatch two years ago revealed that a R180000 unauthorised private flight of an air ambulance had taken officials to watch a Confederations Cup soccer match in Bloemfontein. The Democratic Alliance’s health spokesperson Pine Pienaar welcomed the action by the department. “We [...]

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 [...]

It has taken the Eastern Cape Department of Health only three months to plunge the well-serviced and functional Dordrecht Hospital in a financial crisis. The Democratic Alliance has learned with concern that since the facility became state-funded, no payments have been made to the hospital. The staff has not been paid and medical supplies are [...]

NELSON Mandela Bay’s newly revamped Livingstone Hospital has come under heavy scrutiny by some of its medical practitioners, who believe the upgrade was a waste of millions of rands. DA provincial health spokesman Pine Pienaar said: “We need to get the basics right first. More personnel are needed to see to patients’ basic needs. “We [...]

227. Mr R S Stevenson to ask the MEC responsible for Provincial Safety, Liaison and Transport: (1) (a) For how long have problems been experienced with the 10111 service in Jeffreys Bay, (b) what is the reason for the breakdown in service and (c) who, on the part of the South African Police Service, is [...]

THE provincial Department of Health is running out of funds just three months into the new financial year – and experts warn that unless drastic measures are taken, public healthcare will be plunged into even deeper crisis. Opposition parties and stakeholders said the national department and Treasury had to take over the department to save [...]

MOST of the doomsayers have fallen silent about South Africa hosting the 2010 World Cup. Apart from enjoying ourselves in the eyes of the world, we have also demonstrated to the world how to do it responsibly, writes Pine Pienaar. I was lucky enough to attend the match between Chile and Switzerland on Monday at [...]