Go-Slow at Hospital After CEO Suspended
Brief suspension came after a letter in the name of CEO Mziyanda Tshaka circulated about an acute shortage of doctors at Tambo Regional Hospital
Letter
NSFAS Must Implement These Changes
Dear Editor The DA will hold the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) to account in ensuring that they are ready to assist all Scheme beneficiaries, including missing middle, at the start of the higher education academic year. Past years have seen students’ studies interrupted or derailed, as they suffered hunger, destitution, and unpaid studies …
Premier Calls for Bold & Decisive Sona 2025
Premier Alan Winde calls on President Cyril Ramaphosa to put driving a thriving economy and enabling more jobs first when he delivers his State of the Nation Address this Thursday, 7 February 2025. “Faced with lingering stagnant economic growth, President Ramaphosa must be bold and unambiguous about putting our economy and job creation on an …
Minister Motsoaledi Must Account to Parliament
Dear Editor The DA will use every opportunity in this afternoon’s Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Health to interrogate the Minister of Health, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, on the unemployment crisis facing medical professionals in the country. Not only has it come to light that thousands of doctors and pharmacists are struggling to find employment, including Dr …
Calls for Immediate Withdrawal of South African Troops From DRC
Dear Editor Today’s Joint Portfolio Committee meeting on Defence was a crucial moment for the government to be held accountable for the ongoing crisis in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where our troops are once again caught in the crossfire of a foreign conflict. The meeting saw MPs from the DA push the Minister …
Small Business Ombud a Step in the Right Direction
Dear Editor The DA welcomes the establishment of the Small Business Ombud, a significant step towards a fairer and more supportive environment for small enterprises. A thriving small business sector is crucial for South Africa’s economic growth and job creation, and this initiative will help achieve that goal. The Ombud will serve as an independent …
Tshwane Mayor Dodges Council Question on Salary Overpayments
Dear Editor Today the Executive Mayor of Tshwane, Nasiphi Moya, refused to answer a question tabled in the municipal council on the overpayment of historical salaries paid to senior officials. The rules and orders of Tshwane’s municipal council are clear. If a councillor directs questions to the mayor on notice, those questions must be answered. …
RIP Douw Steyn
Dear Editor The Democratic Alliance (DA) extends its sincerest condolences to the family and loved ones of Douw Steyn following his passing. Douw was a businessman whose remarkable achievements and legacy will leave a lasting impact on South Africa and the world. Douw Steyn’s entrepreneurial spirit, marked by his successful ventures such as the BGL …
Koukamma Water Crisis
Dear Editor Democratic Alliance (DA) representatives in the Koukamma Municipality have developed a comprehensive plan to tackle the persistent and preventable water supply issues that are causing undue hardship for residents, particularly in the Tsitsikamma area. Despite the area’s natural abundance of water resources, including the Tsitsikamma mountains that capture significant water volumes, residents in …
Committee on International Relations Says Unity of Africans a Major Priority
The Portfolio Committee on International Relations and Cooperation says the situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), which has been unfolding for some time, should be of grave concern to all peace-loving people yearning for unity among Africans.
Committee Chairperson, Mr Supra Mahumapelo, said, “As South Africa, Malawi and Uganda, we are in the DRC as part of many historical and current efforts to ensure that Africa in general and the DRC in particular is at peace. Once more, as the Committee on International Relations and Corporation, we send our condolences and deep sorrow to the sons and daughters we lost in the course of the struggle for peace and unity in Africa.”
Mr Mahumapelo said the committee applauds the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) and the South African National Defence Force for continuing to explain that “our presence in the DRC and elsewhere on the continent is not based on our own mission, but the collective mission of both SADC and the UN to stabilise the DRC”.
He further said the committee commends President Cyril Ramaphosa for not being tempted into mudslinging with President Paul Kagame of Rwanda but choosing the correct path of diplomacy at a presidential level.
“We are confident that after the good and productive meeting of the SADC held and presided over by President Emmerson Mnangagwa of Zimbabwe, a better diplomatic approach to resolving the DRC's political, economic and geopolitical conundrum will bear fruit. As the committee, we look forward to engaging with the Minster of DIRCO on progress in the DRC matter,” he said.
The committee has written a letter to the Portfolio Committee on Defence and other relevant committees calling for joint accountability work on the DRC matter and report to the people of South Africa.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Republic of South Africa: The Parliament.
Mantashe Underwhelms Again
Dear Editor Minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources, Gwede Mantashe’s, opening statement at the 2025 Investing in African Mining Indaba – was an opportunity to attract local and international investment in South Africa’s mining sector. Instead his reckless utterances were a national embarrassment, further damaging South Africa’s investment credibility. The minister squandered this moment, serving …
Let’s Clarify Misconceptions and Reaffirm Commitment to Fostering Strong SA-US Relations
Dear Editor The Democratic Alliance (DA) notes with deep concern President Donald Trump’s threat to cut critical aid funding in response to the Expropriation Act. While the Act does need to be amended to meet the sequencing requirements as highlighted by Public Works and Infrastructure Minister, Dean Macpherson, there are also opportunities to deal with …
Calls for Cut in Military Presence at SONA
Dear Editor The Democratic Alliance (DA) has written to the Speaker of Parliament, Thoko Didiza, urging the immediate scaling-down of military parade arrangements for the upcoming State of the Nation Address (SONA) on 6 February 2025. Specifically, we have called for the cancellation of the planned fly-over by the South African Air Force, given the …
Landfill Site Meant to Serve Mthatha Villagers Left to Vandals
R32-million was spent and the site was supposed to give the community a considerable rental income
D-Day for Public Comment on Plans for Old Woodstock Hospital Site
Reclaim the City activists picket outside Civic Centre
Load-Shedding Soft Threat Becomes Devastating Reality, Ahead of SONA
Dear Editor Eskom has confirmed, devastatingly, that Stage 3 load-shedding will be implemented from 5pm today – less than a week before the President’s State of the Nation Address. This also comes just a day after NERSA announced a cumulative electricity tariff increase of 16.7%, forcing South Africans to pay even more for a service …
ActionSA and ANC-EFF Marriage Pact Sealed With Ekurhuleni Finance Chair Deal
Dear Editor In ActionSA (ASA) the ANC-EFF coalition in the City of Ekurhuleni (CoE) have found a pliable partner who will leave the safe door wide open, so that those who wish to abuse public funds can do so with ease. Residents in Ekurhuleni deserve a government that will look after them, spending money on …
Eskom’s Warning of Stage 4 Load-Shedding Is a Wake-up Call for Urgent Reform
Dear Editor “This latest warning from Eskom proves that the time for half-measures is over. Tariff increases and quick fixes will not solve South Africa’s electricity crisis. Only bold, structural reform will.” The return of load-shedding this weekend will be a devastating blow to the people of South Africa. Businesses will suffer losses, households will …
Major Strides in Securing South Africa’s Borders Under BMA Reforms
Dear Editor The Democratic Alliance (DA) congratulates Dr. Leon Schreiber, Minister of Home Affairs, for his tremendous leadership and the outstanding achievements made by the Border Management Authority (BMA) in the 2024/2025 festive season. Under his stewardship, we have seen real and tangible improvements in the management of South Africa’s ports of entry, with groundbreaking …
Request for Urgent Debate on SANDF DRC Crisis Granted
Dear Editor Yesterday evening, the Speaker of the National Assembly, Thoko Didiza, granted the Democratic Alliance’s (DA) request for a Debate of National Importance on the unfolding crisis involving the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The past week has been nothing short of unprecedented in our democracy. …
NERSA’s Shocking Electricity Tariff Increases
Dear Editor “The DA will continue to stand up for South Africans, and we will not rest until Eskom is held accountable for its failures. We will continue to explore all avenues to oppose this decision…” The Democratic Alliance (DA) firmly rejects the National Energy Regulator of South Africa’s (NERSA) approval of electricity tariff increases, …
Growth Amidst a Year of Decline
Ford South Africa recorded encouraging growth in both its domestic sales and its export volumes in 2024, despite both segments declining year-on-year. Having launched a raft of exciting new models over the past two years, Ford reinforced its commitment to delivering an even more compelling and competitive range of vehicles and services for its customers …
Corrupt Defence Officials Implicated in Siu COVID-19 Probe
Dear Editor The Special Investigating Unit’s (SIU) decision to cancel an irregular R200m contract by the Department of Defence to purchase unapproved COVID-19 medicine from Cuba is overdue. Those implicated must now be swiftly brought to book in yet another corruption scandal within the Department of Defence. The DA has written to the Ministers of …
Praise for Buffalo City
Dear Editor The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Buffalo City welcomes the fact that the Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality (BCMM) leadership has sprung into action to address the failings of the municipal Electricity Department following the launch of our petition and 9-point strategy on Tuesday, 28 January 2025 – a strategy that aims to relieve residents …