September 8th, 2010
The latest strike and pay demands are going to put huge strain on the national fiscus that is already operating under severe constraints as a result of falling tax revenues. It is therefore unlikely that there a going to be large bail-outs for provinces and municipalities.
The financial crisis that the province finds itself in also appears to be cascading down to the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Municipality. The Eastern Cape provincial Departments of Education and Health are projected to overspend by R3 billion in the current financial year.
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Tags: Bobby Stevenson; Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Municipality; cash flow crisis; MEC for Finance
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September 8th, 2010
Almost half of babies born in the OR Tambo region of the Eastern Cape die during birth. These tragic facts are contained in the latest report on Child Mortality and Infection Control in the Eastern Cape Department of Health and the Nelson Mandela Academic Hospital in Mthatha. The Department made presented their case to the Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Health. Apart from the 430 deaths per 1000 in the OR Tambo region, the Eastern Cape’s average overall death rate was 38 deaths per 1000 live births. Compared with the national figure of 18 deaths per 1000 live births, these statistics are shocking, sad and simply unacceptable.
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September 7th, 2010
A total of 3 800 members of the SAPS in the Eastern Cape are experiencing delays in receiving payment for extra duties performed during the Soccer World Cup. It is anticipated that the matter will be finalised on 10 September 2010.
This was revealed in response to a question for written reply to me by the MEC for Safety, Liaison and Transport, Ghishma Barry.
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Tags: Bobby Stevenson; SAPS; overtime; Soccer World Cup
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September 3rd, 2010
Weekend driving on Eastern Cape roads is a free for all as provincial traffic cops refuse to work any longer due to non-payment of overtime.
This news was conveyed to a Legislature Transport Portfolio oversight meeting at the Provincial Traffic offices in Port Elizabeth yesterday (subs: Thurs, 2 Sept).
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Tags: Dacre Haddon; provincial traffic officials; overtime; Department of Transport
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August 26th, 2010
The Democratic Alliance welcomes the decision of the Eastern Cape Legislature that an ex-gratia payment totalling R881 440 to returning members of the provincial House of Traditional Leaders not be approved. We also support the recommendation that the money which was set aside for this payment be re-directed to other priorities of the Department of Local Government and Traditional Affairs.
The practices and customs of traditional leadership play a huge role and must be encouraged, because of their contribution to building the fabric of this country.
However, there is no legal or legislative basis to pay current members ex gratia “gratuities”. The intention of cabinet to want to pay non-returning members this sum was to cover future living costs. To still want to pay members who in fact returned for another term in the House of Traditional Leaders is unacceptable. All the members who were intended to be paid returned for a new legislative term, bar one who is deceased.
It is disturbing that this amount was not provided for in the department’s budget.
Due to the ever challenging financial constraints experienced by the Department of Local Government and Traditional Affairs this R881 million must be used for more urgent service delivery needs to the population of this province.
For further information, please contact Dacre Haddon, MPL on 0796943788
Tags: Dacre Haddon; House of Traditional Leaders; ex-gratia payment; legislature
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August 26th, 2010
The Auditor-General report on Eastern Cape fleet management procurement shows gross irregularities in the tender deal. An investigation was requested by a joint resolution of all parties in the Eastern Cape Provincial Legislature.
As a result of persistent probing by the Democratic Alliance at a preliminary joint portfolio committee meeting of Transport and Finance with the Auditor-General, it was revealed that the outcome of the awarding of the tender would have been different if the correct scoring procedure had been followed.
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Tags: Dacre Haddon; fleet management tender; auditor-general
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August 26th, 2010
R3 billion is the budgetary shortfall that is projected for Health and Education in the current financial year “if nothing is done”. This was the response of the MEC for Finance, Mcibisi Jonas, to a follow-up question of mine during the oral questioning time in the Eastern Cape Provincial Legislature yesterday (subs: wed: 25 Aug).
The follow-up question related to “whether any expenditure patterns emerged in any department which are a cause for concern –if so, what are the relevant details”.
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Tags: Bobby Stevenson; budget shortfall; oral question; R3 billion
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August 24th, 2010
Editors: The Social Assistance Amendment Bill will be debated in the Eastern Cape Legislature this afternoon (Tues: 24 Aug)
While the Democratic Alliance welcomes proposed new changes in the Social Assistance Amendment Bill to expedite welfare in the Eastern Cape, we are concerned that lack of capacity in the department will scupper the new plans.
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Tags: Dacre Haddon; Social Assistance Amendment Bill; capacity
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August 24th, 2010
It is understandable that members of the SAPS in the Eastern Cape are fed-up that they haven’t received their payments for extra duties performed during the Soccer World Cup. It’s now six weeks since the World Cup and the delay in payment is creating a sour note over what was a very successful event. Frustrated civil servants are unhappy civil servants.
I have today tabled a parliamentary question to find out what the reasons for the delay are, when they will be paid and how many members are involved. We need to find out what the blockage is and who is responsible so they can be held to account.
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Tags: Bobby Stevenson; Soccer World Cup SAPS; pay; delay
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August 12th, 2010
Speed freaks and reckless drivers are getting away with breaking the rules of the road because the Department of Transport does not have the capacity to collect on the traffic fines it issues.
For the province to have collected less than fifty percent of all issued fines during the last three years shows a problem by the authorities to pursue traffic fine offenders. This non-performance sends a message to road users that fining and follow up is not a deterrent to motorists.
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Tags: Dacre Haddon; traffic fines; revenue
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