Eastern Cape Provincial Report Card 2020
December 22nd, 2020
There is no doubt that 2020 has been an exceptionally trying year, with extra-ordinary challenges, most notably those brought about by the Coronavirus pandemic. It is said that in the light of adversity true character is revealed. In the Eastern Cape, this adversity has revealed how fragile our government departments have become following years of neglect, mismanagement and outright corruption. The province was labelled the epicentre of corruption, the epicentre …
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Amber Alert system available in South Africa this holiday season
December 16th, 2020 More needs to be done to familiarise communities of the Amber Alert project, which was rolled out in South Africa at the beginning of the year as a partnership between the SAPS and Facebook. This child abduction alert system, which was first established in the United States in 1996, sends out messages to the general public to ask for help in finding abducted children. Through the Facebook partnership, SAPS can …
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Failure to upload Annual Reports highlights digital delinquency in Province
December 9th, 2020 Serious questions need to be asked about the Eastern Cape Government’s commitment to embracing digital transformation and the fourth industrial revolution. This became apparent following an audit of the respective departmental websites, to determine if they had made the latest annual reports (2019/20) available for download, following their tabling in the virtual sitting of the Legislature a week ago. As of this morning, Wednesday 9 December, of the 13 departments, …
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Premier agrees to DA call to research the link between alcohol misuse and gender-based violence.
December 2nd, 2020
The Democratic Alliance welcomes the commitment from Eastern Cape Premier, Oscar Mabuyane, to research the relationship between alcohol use and gender-based violence. His commitment follows after the matter was raised by myself through a member’s statement during plenary in the Eastern Cape Legislature this afternoon [Wednesday, 2 December 2020], where I asked why research is not being done by the province into the relationship between liquor and violent crime, of …
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Allegations of corruption extend to the highest provincial office
November 25th, 2020The stench of corruption allegations continue to haunt the Eastern Cape, reinforcing its image as the epicentre of corruption in South Africa. The latest allegations reach into the highest office in the province following the arrest of Premier Oscar Mabuyane’s special advisor, Zandisile Qupe, on Friday, the 20 November 2020. This week I have asked parliamentary questions in this regard. See questions Premier, you cannot say you did not know! …
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DA mourns the passing of UDM MPL, Mncedisi Filtane
November 22nd, 2020 The Democratic Alliance extends its sincere condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of the United Democratic Movement’s Deputy National Chairperson and Member of the Eastern Cape Provincial Legislature, Mncedisi Filtane. This follows the news of his sudden passing due to Covid-19, after being admitted to Hospital on Friday with low oxygen levels. Filtane was a true gentleman and an outspoken member of the Legislature. He was courteous in his …
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EC remains epicentre of unemployment crisis
November 12th, 2020 The devastating economic fallout of the Coronavirus pandemic and subsequent enforced lockdown continues to be reflected in the latest unemployment figures contained in the Quarterly Labour Force Survey statistics, released today. The Eastern Cape remains the jobs slaughterhouse of the country. It is the epicentre of the virus, the epicentre of corruption and now continues to be the epicentre of unemployment in South Africa. The provincial unemployment figures are the …
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Another farm attack in Addo Kirkwood area
November 3rd, 2020
Another farm attack has occurred in the Addo Kirkwood area, again highlighting the need for urgent intervention by police in this provincial hotspot. How much longer must the warning lights flash before action is taken? The Democratic Alliance (DA) has received information that last night (Monday, 02 November 2020) at about 19:15, a man was attacked on a farm by five or six individuals, who made off with firearms, including …
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Escalating farm attacks in Addo must be addressed
October 17th, 2020 The escalating farm attacks in the Addo policing area needs to be addressed as a matter of urgency. This is a provincial hotspot with 14 of 74 farm attacks in the last year occurring in this area. The red lights have been flashing for some time. Friday’s attack is condemned in the strongest terms. The DA has received information that on Friday, 16 October 2020, at about 20:35, five people …
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Escaped prisoners in Elliot must be brought to book
October 1st, 2020 The South African Police Service must pull out all the stops to rearrest the individuals who managed to escape from the police holding cells in Elliot last night. The Democratic Alliance has reliably learnt that seven detainees, who were allegedly being held on charges ranging from house robbery to attempted murder, managed to escape the holding cells and take a police officer’s firearm in the process. One cannot allow these …
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