The DA can reveal that at least five municipalities in the Eastern Cape have failed to pay over at least R42 million in staff pension contributions, citing cash-flow problems, even though the money has been deducted from staff payslips. This is another warning light indicating the collapse of local government in the province. The DA is demanding that Provincial Treasury deploy support to these municipalities immediately and ensure defaulting officials …
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AG report highlights Eastern Cape government’s failures
March 31st, 2021 The Auditor General’s National and Provincial Audit Outcomes for 2019/2020 report, released today, paints a bleak picture of an Eastern Cape Provincial Government that is failing under the ANC’s leadership. Not only did the province have the highest unauthorised spending in the country, at R1,59 billion, but the Department of Health also still faced contingent liabilities of R36,75 billion – the highest of all national and provincial auditees! The AG …
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Eastern Cape SAPS wings clipped as helicopters grounded
March 8th, 2021 The South African Police Service in the Eastern Cape have had their wings clipped, and currently have no air support at all, as their helicopters are grounded, severely hamstringing their crime-fighting abilities. Criminals need to live in fear of the sound of helicopters overhead and searchlights at night. This is what is required to hunt them down if we are going to have an effective criminal justice system. Gang violence, …
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EC jobs crisis overshadows Premier’s SOPA address
February 23rd, 2021 The latest unemployment figures, just released in the Quarterly Labour Force Survey statistics, overshadow Premier Oscar Mabuyane’s State of the Province Address. The provincial unemployment figures remain the worst in the country, shooting up from 45,8% in the 3rd quarter to 47,9% in the 4th quarter, with the expanded unemployment figure also up, now at 52,4%, from 51,2% in the 3rd quarter. The report shows that a further 148,000 people …
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Premier must build on the rock of good governance
February 23rd, 2021 The Democratic Alliance welcomes the announcements made by Premier Oscar Mabuyane relating to infrastructure development, economic growth, and job creation, some of which was a repeat from last year, during his State of the Province Address today. However, unless these initiatives are built on the rock of good governance, they will be swallowed up by the quicksands of corruption, cadre deployment, and maladministration. The premier needs to ensure that there …
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Premier must change trajectory of the Eastern Cape
February 22nd, 2021
Eastern Cape Premier, Oscar Mabuyane, must spell out how his government will change the trajectory of the Eastern Cape; away from a failed state and towards a caring, capable government that works, when he gives his State of the Province Address (SOPA) tomorrow, 23 February. Last year, during his previous SOPA, Premier Mabuyane committed himself to an ethical government. (Page 20) Since then, the Eastern Cape has been drowning under …
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DA Welcomes the dismissal of Health MEC
February 18th, 2021 The Democratic Alliance welcomes the news that Premier Oscar Mabuyane has fired Health MEC Sindiswa Gomba. The dismissal of MEC Gomba is long overdue, as the DA has been calling for Mabuyane to fire her since May last year. Gomba’s performance as the MEC for Health since her appointment has been plagued with failures, weak leadership and serious allegations of corruption. Given the cloud that has been hanging over her, …
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EC Premier Mabuyane must act against Health MEC
February 15th, 2021 All eyes are on Eastern Cape Premier Oscar Mabuyane as the dam wall of corruption allegations continue to break over his administration. No amount of noting developments and looking into the matter is going to change the fact that EC Health MEC Sindiswa Gomba is facing a string of charges including, fraud, corruption, money laundering and contravening the Municipal Management Finance Act. Premier Mabuyane cannot call for people like Ace …
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Drinking in public chaos in BCM must be addressed
February 10th, 2021Decisive action needs to be taken to end the upsurge of drinking in public, especially in recreational areas associated with beaches in the Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality (BCMM). It is not just about the broken bottles, litter and increased trauma cases, but about saving lives as Covid-19 regulations, along with the city’s by-laws, that are being flouted. A capable state would have a multi-pronged approach to address this, that would …
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Eastern Cape unemployment shock on the cards if drastic action not taken
January 27th, 2021 Eastern Cape expanded unemployment figures could soar close to 60% if the current Covid-19 level three lockdown measures are kept in place. Government policies are driving the people of the Eastern Cape into abject poverty, by taking away people’s rights to earn a living. A capable state would actively balance the need to save lives against the need to save livelihoods. Eastern Cape Premier, Oscar Mabuyane, needs to urgently engage …
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