Letters

Dear Editor Explosive revelations in Parliament today have blown Minister Patricia de Lille’s excuses to pieces. Former SA Tourism Board members directly accused her of ignoring warnings about CEO Nombulelo Guliwe, interfering in Auditor-General investigations, and deliberately delaying disciplinary action against a CEO implicated in wasting R4.1 million of public money. These revelations confirm what …

Dear Editor The Democratic Alliance (DA) is outraged that public money is being used to track down the whistleblower who exposed alleged looting at the Government Pension Administrative Agency (GPAA). Whistleblowers are heroes. They protect taxpayers and expose corruption. Targeting them sends a chilling message: speak up and you will be punished. South Africa cannot …

Dear Editor The DA has written to the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Police, Ian Cameron MP, to request that an urgent engagement be held to deal with the brewing dispute between the National Police Commissioner, Fannie Masemola, and Acting Police Minister, Prof Firoz Cachalia.South Africans cannot afford a stalemate forming between our top …

Dear Editor The Democratic Alliance (DA) has written to the Minister of Health, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, demanding clarity on how his Department spent the R1.778 billion that was meant to create 1 750 new healthcare positions. Minister Motsoaledi must explain exactly how many doctors, nurses, and specialists were employed with this money, broken down by …

Dear Editor On Friday in Harare President Ramaphosa wrongfully praised Zimbabwe’s land confiscation process in the early 2000s as “essential” and “ambitious.” The DA condemns and rejects this praise by Ramaphosa for a process which left Zimbabwe in tatters, destroying its economy, destroying its foreign relations, and creating famine for its people. Because land was …

Dear Editor The Democratic Alliance (DA) welcomes the update by Minister of Agriculture, John Steenhuisen, on the measures being implemented to combat Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD). We note with particular importance: No new outbreaks have been recorded in the Eastern Cape since September 2024. The Northern Cape and Western Cape remain FMD-free. There are …

Dear Editor Thousands of South Africans are losing their jobs in the steel and automotive industries, while government stands idle. ArcelorMittal South Africa (AMSA) has announced 3 500 retrenchments, despite receiving billions in public money and tariff protection. At the same time, Ford, Goodyear and Mercedes are cutting hundreds more jobs, devastating communities that depend …

Dear Editor The Democratic Alliance (DA) has today written to the Chairperson of the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA), demanding a full, public explanation for the catastrophic R54 billion error made in Eskom’s recent tariff determination [see letter here]. This is not the first such mistake, nor even the first matter taken on …

Dear Editor The DA condemns the coming into effect of the new employment equity reporting regulations today. South African businesses need to be free to grow and create jobs, rather than being forced to implement divisive, race-based quotas on behalf of the Minister of Employment and Labour. We are confident that our court challenge will …

Dear Editor The Democratic Alliance (DA) condemns the brazen theft of ammunition from Bloemspruit Air Force Base and demands an immediate, system-wide security overhaul across all SANDF installations. The DA will today request that the Portfolio Committee Chairperson summon the Minister of Defence, the CSANDF, the SANDF Chief of Logistics and the Chief of the …

Dear Editor On behalf of the Democratic Alliance (DA), I would like to extend our deepest condolences to the United Independent Movement following the passing of its President Mr. Neil de Beer. In Neil de Beer’s passing, South Africa has lost a powerful voice for change. With his uncompromising and often confrontational style, he upset …

Dear Editor Phase II of the Lesotho Highlands Project, which commenced in 2008, is a critical project to plug water supply shortages in Gauteng and surrounding areas. The Project was meant to be delivering water to residents six years ago, in 2019, at a total cost of R8bn. It is now delayed by a decade …

Dear Editor The DA has written to the Acting Minister of Police, Prof Feroz Cachalia, to demand a full explanation of how South Africa’s top law enforcement body, the Hawks, was mobilised to raid the home of South African TikTok content creator, Mr Anton Taylor – reportedly on charges of committing crimes against the state. …

Dear Editor The DA welcomes that Parliament’s House Chairperson has now intervened to override Committee Chairperson Tebogo Letsie. Letsie was trying to stifle accountability and the democratic function of parliament by refusing to call Minister Manamela to account for his new cadre deployment scandal. Now, after National Assembly House Chairperson responsible for Committees and Oversight, …

Dear Editor The Democratic Alliance strongly condemns the recent announcement by the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA) of a R54 billion settlement with Eskom, arising from errors in its tariff determination under MYPD6. The DA has sent a letter to the chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Electricity and Energy requesting an urgent …

Dear Editor The DA is deeply concerned by the revelation by Professor Barney Pityana that the investigation into the award of the lottery licence to Sizekhaya is being held up by investigators not being able to secure meetings with relevant parties. We have written to Prof Pityana, the outgoing Chair of the National Lotteries Commission, …

Dear Editor The Democratic Alliance (DA) has written to the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Small Business Development to demand that the Small Business Ombud selection process be restarted without further delay. The ANC’s attempt to force through its preferred candidate was referred back to the committee on 5 June 2025 after the report …