All of the Democratic Alliance, Eastern Cape Legislature Caucus’s press releases
Serious questions need to be asked about what the Department of Rural Development and Agrarian Reform (DRDAR) and its MEC, Nomakhosazana Meth, are hiding with regards to the R74 million provincial drought relief aid made available for the Eastern Cape. Last month the Democratic Alliance launched a Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA) application relating to drought relief efforts in the province, due to the high levels of uncertainty …
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The appalling state of sanitation facilities at schools in the Eastern Cape show how little regard the Department of Education has for the learners under its care. The current implementation rate to address backlogs in eradicating pit latrines means that three generations of learners will never know the dignity of proper sanitation facilities. Rather than taking drastic steps to eradicate the pit latrines at schools, Education MEC Fundile Gade would …
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While the national debate around expropriation without compensation continues, with the deadline for submissions extended to the end of February, government owned land in Nelson Mandela Bay stands vacant. During a recent Public Works portfolio oversight, 132 out of the 878 land parcels belonging to the Provincial Government in Nelson Mandela Bay were found to be vacant, with no concrete concept plans for usage. In Algoa Park 15,2 hectares of …
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The Eastern Cape government has turned its back on the learners of Louis Rex Primary School in Komani, who have to attend class in appalling conditions. The DA will now be raising the school’s plight in parliament and will also engage with the national department of basic education, as no child should have to go to school under such appalling conditions. Today, 12 February 2020, I was accompanied by Désirée …
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The Democratic Alliance (DA) in the Eastern Cape has written to Premier Oscar Mabuyane and have requested that he urgently intervenes in Nelson Mandela Bay to ensure that Johann Mettler is reinstated as City Manager. The ongoing disciplinary case against Mettler is little more than a witch hunt, and the consequences of his ongoing suspension could cost the city billions. (letter attached) National Treasury has seemingly made good on its …
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While the national unemployment rate remains unchanged at 29,1%, and six of the nine provinces recorded decreases in unemployment, the Eastern Cape continues to haemorrhage jobs, with unemployment growing to a staggering 39,5%. The expanded unemployment rate is also up, to 47,7%. Not only is the province the worst preforming in terms of job creation, it has the highest unemployment rates in the country. What this means is that almost …
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The latest festive season death tolls, released by Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula yesterday, are a clear sign that road safety in the Eastern Cape is non-existent. Minister Mbalula announced that, of 1 617 people were killed on South African roads over the past festive season, 242 people lost their lives on Eastern Cape roads, the third highest in the country. This means that, for the third year in a row, …
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The Eastern Cape could lose out on any drought relief funding requested from the National Government, should premier Oscar Mabuyane not extend the provincial disaster declaration by Wednesday next week. I have therefore written to the premier to request that he extend the declaration, as per the Disaster Management Act. Download: Letter I have done so to prevent the ongoing chaos within the Department of Rural Development and Agrarian Reform, …
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A multi-million-rand state-of-the-art police building, built in 2016 for South African Police Service admin personnel in Aberdeen, is standing all but empty, because they did not get the basics right. I am determined to fight for a fully resourced police service so that we are able to reduce the climate of fear and give residents of Aberdeen peace of mind. Earlier this week, I conducted an oversight inspection of the …
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Education is a constitutional right, a basic human right, a strategic priority and the best possible vehicle to empower South Africans and develop our country. Quality education is the key to improved quality of life. It empowers individuals to obtain a fulfilling job, contribute to the economy and utilise their talents to the full. For this reason, at the beginning of the new academic year, our public representatives conducted oversight …
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