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Dear Editor Today, on International Guide Dog Day, the Democratic Alliance (DA) has introduced a Bill in Parliament to protect the rights of persons with disabilities to access public and private spaces with their guide dogs and assistance animal, and to prevent them being denied access to places because of their accompanying animal. The DA …
Dear Editor The Democratic Alliance extends our deepest condolences to the loved ones and colleagues of three South African Police Service (SAPS) Constables, who died on their way to assist with a police operation in another province. We mourn the loss of these dedicated and committed South Africans who were working for our common safety. …
Dear Editor The Democratic Alliance (DA) will use the upcoming meeting of the Portfolio Committee on Defence on 9 May to question Minister Angie Motshekga on the SANDF’s troubled deployment and disorderly withdrawal from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The withdrawal of South African troops from eastern DRC has been marred by poor planning, …
Dear Editor The Democratic Alliance (DA) welcomes the dramatic increase in internal immigration enforcement operations reported in the fourth quarter of the 2024/25 financial year under the leadership of Home Affairs Minister Dr Leon Schreiber. In response to a parliamentary question submitted by the DA, Home Affairs revealed that immigration enforcement operations surged from 383 …
Dear Editor Today, the Democratic Alliance (DA) in Johannesburg, formally opened criminal cases against several senior City officials. This comes in response to serious allegations of misconduct and financial mismanagement at the Johannesburg Property Company (JPC). The charges are based on the findings of the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) under Proclamation R23 of 2020, which …
Dear Editor The Department of Defence’s 2025/26 Annual Performance Plan (APP) confirms what has long been clear: the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) is in serious decline. It is crippled by outdated policy, weak leadership, and poor financial management. Despite repeated promises, South Africa still has no updated, funded defence policy. The 2015 Defence …
Dear Editor The Democratic Alliance (DA) strongly condemns the appalling abuse of force that allegedly led to the death of inmate, Quinton Fortuin, at the Goodwood Correctional Facility. The DA has formally written to the Chairperson of the Select Committee on Security and Justice to request that this matter be tabled for urgent investigation in …
Dear Editor The DA has launched a constitutional challenge to Section 15A of the Employment Equity Amendment Act, which introduces rigid national race quotas in the workplace. These quotas will destroy jobs, undermine the economy, and violate the constitutional rights of all South Africans. We are taking the Minister of Employment and Labour to court …
Dear Editor The Democratic Alliance (DA) would like to extend our warmest congratulations to Prime Minister-elect, Mark Carney, and the Liberal Party of Canada on their decisive victory in the country’s national election held yesterday. The triumph of the Liberal Party of Canada, following a dramatic swing in the polls, confirms that the rational liberal …
Dear Editor There have been important legal developments on the VAT matter, that required the Democratic Alliance to file a supplementary affidavit with the Western Cape High Court late last night. The supplementary affidavit is necessary because, despite the developments of the past week, the VAT increase will still come into effect on 1 May, …
Dear Editor A DA delegation, led by DA leader, John Steenhuisen, met the negotiating delegation of the ANC today, as part of ongoing discussions relating to the Government of National Unity. The discussions were forthright and constructive, focussing on the way forward on matters ranging from the budget to a strategy for economic growth. Similar …
Dear Editor The Democratic Alliance (DA) successfully secured the inclusion of a recommendation for a review of the Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (BBBEE) legislative framework in two reports adopted this week by the Portfolio Committee on Trade, Industry and Competition. The committee’s strategic and annual performance plan report notes that while the private sector has …
Dear Editor The once-iconic Gompo Sport Field in East London, where many athletes honed their skills, has been neglected and allowed to decay by the Buffalo City Municipality’s uncaring ANC-led government. On Wednesday, 23 April, I conducted an oversight inspection at the Gompo Sport Field, which over many years hosted major sporting tournaments ranging from …
Dear Editor The Democratic Alliance has submitted a Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA) application to the National Treasury to determine which enforcement recommendations of the Mpati Commission into the Public Investment Corporation (PIC) are being implemented. A 2020 Commission of Inquiry led by Justice Lex Mpati exposed significant governance, operational, and ethical failures …
Dear Editor The Democratic Alliance (DA) strongly condemns the continued silence and inaction from the Minister of Police, Senzo Mchunu, regarding the rollout of police body-worn cameras, despite his commitment in November 2024 to begin this critical initiative in April 2025. Given the Minister’s ongoing failure to communicate or act, the DA calls for urgent …
President Cyril Ramaphosa has initiated consultation with the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) and leaders of political parties represented in the National Assembly on the appointment of a Deputy Chief Justice.
Section 174(3) of the Constitution provides that the President as Head of the National Executive, after consulting the Judicial Service Commission and the leaders of parties represented in the National Assembly, appoints the Chief Justice and the Deputy Chief Justice.
The position of Deputy Chief Justice has been vacant since 1 September 2024 when the then Deputy Chief Justice Mandisa Maya rose to the position of Chief Justice.
President Ramaphosa has in a written submission to Chief Justice Maya, who chairs the Judicial Service Commission, inviting the Commission for its views on the suitability of four candidates who are being considered for appointment by the President.
They are:
(i) Mr Justice Dunstan Mlambo;
(ii) Madam Justice Mahube Molemela;
(iii) Mr Justice Cagney John Musi; and
(iv) Mr Justice Lazarus Pule Tlaletsi
President Ramaphosa underscores in his letter to the Chief Justice that the Deputy Chief Justice plays a crucial role in the leadership of the Judiciary and in upholding the principles of justice, constitutional democracy and the rule of law.
The President has advised Chief Justice Maya that, as directed by the Constitution, he has also initiated consultation on this appointment with the leaders of parties in the National Assembly.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of The Presidency of the Republic of South Africa.
Dear Editor The DA can confirm reports that lawyers acting for the Minister of Finance have approached our lawyers proposing an out-of-court settlement, in the matter the DA brought to interdict the VAT increase scheduled for May 1. The DA is awaiting a formal written settlement offer before responding to the Minister’s request. We will …
Dear Editor The DA has submitted our objections to the Health Minister, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi’s proposed regulations for National Health Insurance (NHI) Board appointments and encourage South Africans to make submissions before 6 June 2025 to regcomments@health.gov.za. The DA objects to the draft regulations as we continue to believe that the NHI’s poor design will …
Dear Editor The DA has written to the municipal manager, urging permission to convene their own public participation meetings, given the Buffalo City Municipality’s apparent disregard for the public’s constitutional right to engage in developing the 2025/26 draft Integrated Development Plan (IDP) and budget. The Offices of the Municipal Manager and the Speaker of Council …
Dear Editor The latest disinformation campaign launched by Alan Beesley and ActionSA regarding the national budget is a weak attempt at deflecting the fact that Mr Beesley remains a midwife of tax increases when he helped the ANC ram through the fiscal framework. ActionSA’s claim that the DA was “complicit” in the proposed 2 percentage …
Dear Editor The remarks below were delivered this morning by the DA Spokesperson on Finance, Dr Mark Burke MP, in front of the High Court in Cape Town where the DA’s urgent court application to interdict the pending VAT increase will be heard. A recording of this morning’s event can be watched here: https://www.youtube.com/live/7QFDB9dnT2c Some …
Dear Editor The Democratic Alliance offers condolences to Catholics across the globe, on the passing of the Holy Father, Pope Francis. Our thoughts and prayers are with all Catholics who feel this loss. Pope Francis will be remembered for his progressive leadership of the Church, and his compassion for those in need. As Head of …
Dear Editor The DA will request that Health Minister, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi urgently appears before the parliamentary portfolio committee on health to account regarding government’s efforts to find alternative funding sources to replace the lost PEPFAR funding with. Spotlight and GroundUp revealed not only the dire financial straits facing the South African Medical Research Council …
Dear Editor The Democratic Alliance (DA) is calling for urgent intervention following the Magistrates’ Commission’s appearance before the Select Committee on Security and Justice. The continued delay in disciplinary action against magistrates accused of misconduct is unacceptable. The Commission has failed to act with the necessary urgency to protect the integrity of the South African …