Destroying schools can never be the answer
October 26th, 2018
On Wednesday morning matrics from the Ndaliso Senior Secondary School in Lusikisiki allegedly torched the school’s administration block to express their anger at being forced to write their matric exams over two years. While I can sympathise with the frustrations of the learners, the destruction of institutions of learning can never be the answer. These learners were upset by the policy that requires progressed learners to write their exams over …
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Eastern Cape Health on the verge of collapse
October 26th, 2018
The failing ANC government has brought the Department of Health in the Eastern Cape to the brink of collapse, with the Auditor General (AG) raising serious concerns over its financial sustainability in its recently tabled Annual Report for the 2017/18 financial year. This stems from a staggering contingent liability of R24,326 billion, which constitutes mostly of medico-legal claims (24.193 billion). This contingent liability has risen by a jaw dropping R …
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Illegal occupation of RDP houses in BCM a ticking time bomb
October 25th, 2018
The Eastern Cape Department of Human Settlements needs to come clean and state clearly what investigation, if any, will be conducted into the alleged illegal occupation of 116 houses by residents in Vergenoeg, East London. A parliamentary response from the MEC for Human Settlements, Mlungisi Mvoko, reveals that no formal investigations have taken place to verify whether the correct beneficiaries have occupied the houses. To view the response, please click here: Response …
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Social Development needs to do more to combat corruption in its midst
October 25th, 2018
The case before the Grahamstown High Court where allegations against former Social Development Head of Department, Stanley Khanyile, have emerged, is a clear indication that corruption, inefficiency, nepotism and cronyism within the Department of Social Development requires much more attention from the new MEC Phumza Dyantyi. These revelations come just weeks after the Department revealed irregular expenditure totalling R179,6 million in their 2017/2018 annual report. Khanyile is accused of syphoning …
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Under-expenditure at Social Development Dept. skyrockets, while people remain desperate for services
October 24th, 2018
The recently tabled annual report of the Department of Social Development (DSD) has shown that under-expenditure by the Department has nearly tripled when compared to the previous financial year. The report states the Department underspent by R125,562 million in 2017/2018, compared to the R43 million they underspent in 2016/2017. This means that the Department’s under-expenditure has increased by 190% year-on-year. This in a province where the demand for social development …
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