All posts relating to Andrew Whitfield, DA MPL in the Eastern Cape Legislature
Municipalities are no longer being assisted by officials from the Department of Co-Operative governance and Traditional Affairs, after millions of rands were diverted from the Municipal Public Participation (MPP) directorate, to pay for the controversial Masipathisane programme. This is according COGTA MEC, Fikile Xasa, who confirmed in a response to a parliamentary question that, despite not having a budget allocated to the programme, the department spent R2,119 million on it …
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Madam Speaker, Hon Premier, Honourable members of the House, Officials and visitors, I greet you all. It is not easy to reflect on the slow but steady collapse of an entire provincial department, particularly when it is responsible for the health of millions of citizens. It is even worse when one has to acknowledge that a fair portion of the blame for this collapse needs to be placed at the …
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Madam Speaker, Honourable Premier, MEC’s, Honourable Members and our esteemed guests in the public gallery. Madam Speaker, I would like to begin by acknowledging the MEC’s responsive action to my motion in this house on the 11th of October calling for more to be done to rescue our rhinos. I must thank the MEC for his leadership in uniting all interested and affected parties behind this worthy cause in a …
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The failing ANC Government has passed the fundamentally flawed Consumer Protection Bill in the Eastern Cape Legislature on Tuesday, even though it is at odds to the national Consumer Protector Act. The Democratic Alliance recognises that the rights of South African consumers must be protected, the recent listeriosis outbreak is just one example of how the lives of ordinary South Africans can be put in danger through the reckless behaviour …
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The Democratic Alliance welcomes the historic ruling in favour of the Amadiba Crisis Committee and the people of the Umgungundlovu area of Xolobeni on the Wild Coast, which declared that the mineral resources minister must obtain consent from the community, as the holder of rights on land, prior to granting any mining rights. This judgement has hopefully brought closure to a community that has been fighting against the exploitation of …
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Tomorrow (21 November 2018) marks World Fisheries Day – a day meant to create awareness for our oceans and their precious resources. The Eastern Cape has the potential to be a leading player in this sector by supporting small scale fishing operations and securing our waters from foreign fishing vessels, but we need to ensure compliance with legislation. While Fisheries is a national competency the Eastern Cape MEC for Department …
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Ongoing violent protests and community unrest in Stutterheim are beginning to drastically affect the economy of the small town, which is fast becoming a no-go zone. Despite having written to Co-operative Governance and Traditional affairs MEC, Fikile Xasa, calling for the town to be placed under administration, there has been no intervention. The failing ANC leadership, including President Cyril Ramaphosa, have opted to rather give the town a wide berth. …
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There is still no sign of the Coega Development Corporation’s (CDC’s) 2017/18 Annual Report, even though it should have been tabled in the Provincial Legislature over a month ago. Failure to table the report is in direct violation of the Public Finance Management Act and appears to be a deliberate attempt to avoid accountability for gross under performance and possible corrupt activities. If Coega has nothing to hide, why are …
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Today, 31 October 2018, chaos again erupted in Stutterheim after angry community members clashed with public order police between Mlungisi township and Stutterheim. All roads to the township were blocked with burning tyres and rubble and arrests were made. These violent protests are ongoing and there seems to be no end in sight. Two weeks ago one person was killed and 18 arrested after young people protested against a lack …
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Following the recent chaos that erupted in Stutterheim the Democratic Alliance in the Eastern Cape is calling for the Amahlathi Local Municipality to be put under administration in terms of Section 139 (1) (b) effective immediately. Less than two weeks ago one person was killed and 18 arrested in violent protests in Stutterheim. Young people protested against a lack of jobs, nepotism and bad service delivery. I visited the town …
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