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Dear Editor The quarterly crime statistics released by Minister of Police, Bheki Cele, earlier today paint a bloody picture of violence tearing away at our social fabric while our citizens cower in fear in their own homes. The Minister of Police is presiding over an impotent police service which has resulted in 6 289 people …

Editor: The naughty cynic in me is prompted to say; “Because someone needs to teach the other buggers how ro read and comprehend!” Dear Editor The announcement by President Cyril Ramaphosa regarding the three-member panel to investigate the circumstances surrounding the docking of the Lady R in Simon’s Town has raised serious concerns within the …

Dear Editor On Friday, 19 May, I wrote to the Minister of Electricity, Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, inviting him to a joint oversight visit to obtain first hand insight into interventions that are being implemented by DA-led municipalities in the Western Cape to mitigate the worst effects of loadshedding. He has not only failed to acknowledge …

Dear Editor The Democratic Alliance welcomes the decision by President Cyril Ramaphosa to appoint an independent panel of three members to investigate the circumstances surrounding the docking of the Russian vessel, known as Lady R, in Simonstown, Western Cape , in December 2022. However, it is worrying that the investigation will last six weeks with …

Dear Editor The DA is concerned about the lack of recognition being given to the economic contributions made by recreational crayfish (rock lobster) fishers and their involvement in the drafting of relevant rock lobster strategies. Portions of the draft Rock Lobster Strategy were presented to the portfolio of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment this week. …

Dear Editor The DA warmly congratulates Judge Mahube Molemela on her appointment as the President of the Supreme Court of Appeal. We welcome the appointment of only the second woman to be appointed to the position. Judge Molemela has a strong background that qualifies her for this position. She held the position of Judge President …

Dear Editor The detection of cholera in the Vaal River this week and the systematic collapse of water treatment facilities countrywide are symptoms of a looming national crisis. The confirmation of contaminated water samples in the Vaal River, including the presence of cholera and E. coli, is a clear indication of the dire state of …

Dear Editor The DA notes the announcement by President Cyril Ramaphosa that he has, in terms of Section 97 of the constitution, signed a proclamation transferring to the Minister of Electricity, Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, powers and functions in terms of the Electricity Regulation Act. Once again, Ramaphosa has failed to provide decisive leadership on the energy …

Dear Editor In an Africa Day speech yesterday, President Cyril Ramaphosa said, “some countries, including our own, are being threatened with penalties for pursuing an independent foreign policy for adopting a position of non-alignment”. This is a very serious claim by the President which could have further consequences for trade and investment into South Africa. …

Dear Editor Yesterday’s rejection of the Democratic Alliance’s motion in Parliament to establish an ad hoc committee to oversee the projects, activities, and decisions of the newly appointed Minister of Electricity, Kgosientso Ramokgopa, is yet another example of the ANC’s ongoing reluctance to ensure accountability and transparency. The Zondo Commission of Enquiry into State Capture …

Dear Editor It was revealed this week from a reply to a DA parliamentary question that the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies had to spend R743 644 to fix their controversial Digitech website. For those who remember, the Department held a launch event for the embarrassingly poor quality Digitech website. Many users who visited …

Dear Editor On 15 March 2023, the Department of Social Development (DSD) presented its third quarter expenditure report to the parliamentary portfolio committee on social development, which highlighted two shifts of considerable amounts to other departments: R755.303 million transferred to the Department of Defence for the extended deployment as part of the Southern African Development …

Dear Editor Today’s inflation statistics revealed by StatsSA are not merely numbers – they are glaring symptoms of an unrelenting cost of living crisis gnawing at the core of South African households. The official inflation rate, surpassing 6.8% on a year-to-year basis, breaches the stipulated target range of the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) for …

Dear Editor The DA welcomes the buy-in from the Minister of Electricity, Kgosientso Ramokgopa, into our long-held position that the government should not enter into a 20-year contract with Karpowerships. Not only is this not “emergency procurement” but it places an unnecessary burden on the fiscus that South Africa can ill-afford. We hold the firm …

Dear Editor The DA strongly condemns the statement made by the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, Thandi Modise, during the budget debate, where she and fellow ANC members of parliament nonchalantly declared the cargo loaded on the Lady R as confidential. Her crude words, “We put f***l on that ship. Nothing” displays a shocking …

Dear Editor On 19 May 2023, the DA published its notice of intention to introduce the Children’s Amendment Bill, 2023. After months of hard work, the Bill is now a few steps away from being introduced into Parliament. A copy of the gazette notice can be found HERE. There is a glaring void in the …

Dear Editor It has become clear in the last 24 hours that the current cholera outbreak is not exclusively a Tshwane issue, but that we are facing a possible national cholera outbreak. Incidences of cholera have also been reported in the Free State and Limpopo, confirming that the outbreak in Tshwane is not the result …

Dear Editor The DA has submitted a request to the Speaker of the National Assembly, Nosiviwe Mapisa Nqakula, for a debate of national importance on the ever-present threat of a grid collapse and the implications that this will have on the country’s socio-economic order. South Africans need answers on the contingency measures that government has …

Dear Editor The Democratic Alliance (DA) expresses deep concern about the possible grid collapse that could have severe implications for food security and the entire food system in the country. It is disconcerting that stakeholders in the sector must beg Minister Thoko Didiza and the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development for information …