Residents Say #NoToWRMetro

Proposed Formation of a West Rand Metro

During the past four days residents of the Mogale City, Merafong, Randfontein and Westonaria municipalities united with the DA in our opposition to the proposed formation of a West Rand Metro.

During this time, the Municipal Demarcation Board (MDB) hosted public participation meetings in the four municipalities, and heard about the virtual collapse of service delivery, financial and administrative mismanagement, and massive levels of municipal debt in three of the four municipalities.

Capacity Building in Local Municipalities

The DA and residents made it clear that the merge would be detrimental to people’s quality of life, as the lack of administrative capacity would continue while levels of service delivery would rapidly decline.

The overwhelming sentiment at the meetings was that national and provincial government should first exhaust all other legislative means to build capacity in each of the four municipalities, before investigating the possibility of a metro.

In support of the public’s overwhelming rejection of the proposed metro and research that illustrates the negative impact it will have, the DA will intensify our efforts to prevent its formation.

Expanded Public Works Programme Workers

Despite the ANC’s blatant abuse of municipal resources to bus in Expanded Public Works Programme workers to fill seats at these public hearings – it is clear that this plan is neither feasible nor amenable – and goes against the wishes of the people.

Sign our petition opposing the proposed West Rand metro here.

 

 

Media enquiries:

Solly Msimanga MPL

DA Gauteng Provincial Chairperson

060 558 8308

DA to make submissions to MDB in Carletonville

Tomorrow, 24 July 2015, DA Gauteng Constituency head for Merafong, Ina Cilliers MPL, DA Merafong Caucus Leader, Cllr Blackie Zwart, fellow DA Merafong councillors and DA activists will attend and make submissions to the Municipal Demarcation Board at its public participation meeting regarding the proposed formation of a metropolitan municipality.

 

Date: 24 July 2015

Time: 10:00

Venue: Merafong Civic Centre, Goud Street, Carletonville

 

There will be opportunities for interviews and photographs. Members of the media are welcome to attend.

 

Media enquiries:

Ina Cilliers MPL

DA Gauteng Constituency Head – Merafong

060 556 4344

 

Cllr Blackie Zwart

DA Merafong Caucus Leader

082 552 4710

NCOP Week Day 2: DA Gauteng to Carry Out Alternative Oversight Visits

Tomorrow, 23 July 2015, DA Gauteng Members of Parliament, DA Members of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature, DA West Rand councillors, activists and volunteers will carry out oversight visits to municipal service delivery crisis points in the Randfontein and Westonaria local municipalities.

These visits are in response to the refusal of the National Council of Provinces to visit sites where municipalities experience severe service delivery capacity shortcomings.

 

Randfontein

Date: 23 July 2015

Time: 08:00

Venue: Droogheuwel water tower, Randgate, Lazaar extension

Contact: Cllr Alwyn van Tonder – 082 593 0313

 

 

Westonaria

Date: 23 July 2015

Time: 08:50

Venue: Donaldson Dam near Mohlakeng followed by a visit to the cattle breeding project nearby.

Contact: Cllr Piet de Jager – 083 627 5105

 

There will be opportunities for interviews and photographs. Members of the media are welcome to attend.

 

Media enquiries:

Jacques Julius MP

DA Gauteng Member of the NCOP

083 420 1309

 

Evert du Plessis

DA Gauteng West Rand Regional Chairperson

082 870 2768

[Image source]

West Rand Metro: Efficient Service Delivery is Key, Not Centralisation

Proposed West Rand Merger

Representatives of the ANC on the West Rand continue to push for the formation of a new Metropolitan Municipality, despite those in higher office within their own structures admitting the municipalities in question are dysfunctional and bankrupt.

During the 2015/16 budget debate for his office, Gauteng Premier David Makhura clearly stated that: ”The merger of municipalities cannot be a panacea to poor management and poor leadership…”.

Furthermore, Section 24 of the Municipal Demarcation Act stipulates that when board re-determines a municipal boundary it must take into account:

  • The provision of democratic and accountable government for local communities;
  • The provision of services to these communities in an equitable and sustainable manner; and
  • The promotion of social and economic development.

Research and factual evidence indicates that such mergers have a negative impact on service delivery and people’s quality of life.

The Tshwane Experience

Tshwane’s merger resulted in increased rates hikes, yet it still struggles with a debt burden of over R1 billion – and only received R20 million from national government towards the costs of the merger.

The West Rand will not be exempt from this process.

While some in the ANC claim that those opposed to the merger are missing an “opportunity to be futuristic”, the DA firmly believes that this merger will be severely detrimental for West Rand residents from all walks of life, that service delivery will further decline, and that the quality of life will suffer.

Effectively Administered Municipality

The DA’s objection to this merger proposes a future where the existing municipalities of Randfontein, Mogale City, Merafong and Westonaria are administered efficiently and cleanly by municipalities that are close them and readily available to serve their needs, and where residents are provided with equal opportunity to be the masters of their own future.

Sign our petition opposing the proposed West Rand metro here.

 

Media enquiries:

Solly Msimanga MPL

DA Gauteng Provincial Chairperson

060 558 8308

Conviction Rate in GP Domestic Violence Cases Dismal

Bekkersdal and Randfontein Police Stations

During recent oversight visits to various police precincts across the province, it has become clear that domestic violence is an increasing concern in most of our communities.

Following requests from Bekkersdal and Randfontein residents, I submitted questions to Gauteng Community Safety MEC, Sizakele Nkosi-Malobane, to establish the state of such cases in these areas.

The replies show a high number of cases with very low conviction rates. In Randfontein alone, 511 domestic violence cases were reported in 2014/15 with only 13 successful convictions, while in Bekkersdal, there were no successful convictions despite 155 reported cases in the same year.

Sadly, these two police stations reflect the state of domestic violence across the province with community after community raising their concerns with us.

Successful Conviction

A successful conviction is largely reliant on good police work and many Gauteng residents are not receiving this service from the officers assigned to their safety.

Domestic violence tears apart not only families but the very fabric of our society.

I will be writing to MEC Nkosi-Malobane to discuss ways in which domestic violence policing can be strengthened.

Those who suffer abuse at the hands of those closest to them deserve the closure and safety that a successful conviction brings.

 

Media Enquiries:

Michele Clarke MPL

DA Gauteng Spokesperson: Community Safety
060 558 8309

[Image source]

Tragic Death After Clinic Injection Needs Investigation

Nonhlanhla Nyembezi

The tragic death of 23-year-old Nonhlanhla Nyembezi after receiving an injection at the JD Dumane Clinic in Vosloorus in the East Rand needs to be investigated.

Nyembezi visited the clinic with flu-like symptoms and was given an injection, following which her condition deteriorated when she returned home.

She was rushed back to the clinic by ambulance on Sunday 12 July and later transferred to the New Natalspruit Hospital where she died the next day.

Need For Better Public Health Service

Her body lay in the mortuary for a week because the family insisted that a post-mortem be done, and this was only granted after pressure was applied, including my own efforts on their behalf.

The family suspect that she was given the wrong injection. Another possibility is that she had an allergic reaction which should have been picked up and treated far earlier.

The family has not been treated well in this matter and answers are needed why a young lady has died in these circumstances.

There are far too many complaints of this nature which highlights the general need for better treatment and communication in our public health service.

 

Media enquiries:

Jack Bloom MPL

DA Gauteng Shadow MEC for Health

082 333 4222

[Image source]

High Cost to Train Doctors in Cuba

Medical Training in Cuba

The Gauteng Health Department is spending R70.5 million this year on 80 students to study medicine in Cuba, which is much higher than the cost of training doctors in South Africa.

This is revealed by Gauteng Health MEC Qedani Mahlangu in a written reply to my questions in the Gauteng Legislature.

Costs to Send Students to Cuba

According to Mahlangu, it will take 8 years in total for them to qualify as doctors who can practice in South Africa as they will have to do an extra two years of integration of studies at a local medical university.

The first students who will do the extra two-year course will be in 2019.

So far, only 25 South Africans have trained as doctors in Cuba and qualified to practice in Gauteng.

The number of students sent to Cuba for medical training in previous years has been higher, but at a lower average cost per student:

  • 2012 – 105 students at a cost of R25.6 million;
  • 2013 – 115 students at a cost of R33 million; and
  • 2014 – 138 students at a cost of R37.2 million.

Integration

The University of Cape Town estimated in 2012 that it cost R1.3 million to train a South African doctor in 6 years.

In previous years, it has cost about R1.6 million to train a doctor in Cuba, excluding the cost of extra training in South Africa.

The figure spent this year is much higher, at about R875 000 per student, which over six years would amount to more than R5 million.

Whatever the true cost, it is substantially higher than in local medical schools.

This is why the Western Cape Health Department has declined to participate in sending students to study in Cuba.

The Gauteng Health Department should review the doctor training programme in Cuba as the money is better spent in increasing the local capacity to train doctors.

Local training is also shorter and geared to local conditions.

Our priority is surely to train more doctors locally rather than paying another country an exorbitant amount for a course taught in a foreign language that still requires an extra two years local training.

 

Media enquiries:

Jack Bloom MPL

DA Gauteng Shadow MEC for Health

082 333 4222

[Image source]

DA to Make Submissions to MDB in Westonaria

This morning, 22 July 2015, DA Westonaria Chief Whip, Cllr Piet de Jager, fellow DA Westonaria councillors and DA activists will attend and make submissions to the Municipal Demarcation Board at its public participation meeting regarding the proposed formation of a metropolitan municipality.

 

Date: 22 July 2015

Time: 10:00

Venue: Banquet Hall, Westonaria

 

There will be opportunities for interviews and photographs. Members of the media are welcome to attend.

 

Media enquiries:

Cllr Piet de Jager

083 627 5105

 

Evert du Plessis

DA Gauteng West Rand Regional Chairperson

082 870 2768

NCOP week: DA Gauteng to carry out alternative oversight visits

This morning, 22 July 2015, DA Gauteng Members of Parliament, DA Members of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature, DA West Rand councillors, activists and volunteers will carry out oversight visits to municipal service delivery crisis points in the Merafong and Mogale City local municipalities.

These visits are in response to the refusal of the National Council of Provinces to visit sites where municipalities experience severe service delivery capacity shortcomings.

 

Mogale City

Date: 22 July 2015

Time: 08:00

Venue: Katlego cultural facility, Kromdraai

Contact: Dennis Pretorius – 083 679 8541

 

 

Merafong

Date: 22 July 2015

Time: 08:30

Venue: Sinkhole along the R500 near the 007 Restaurant, Carletonville. Followed by a visit to the Khutsong water reservoir.

Contact: Ina Cilliers MPL – 060 556 4344

 

There will be opportunities for interviews and photographs. Members of the media are welcome to attend.

 

Media enquiries:

Jacques Julius MP

DA Gauteng Member of the NCOP

083 420 1309

Broken Mammography Machine at Joburg Hospital

Broken Mammography Machine

Breast scans for female patients at the Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Hospital can no longer be done as the mammography machine has been broken for more than two weeks.

More than 30 patients every week are now being sent for breast scans at the Helen Joseph and Chris Hani Baragwanath hospitals, which are battling to cope with the extra numbers.

No Response From Hospital CEO

I visited the hospital yesterday after receiving complaints, but staff were reluctant to speak without permission from hospital CEO Gladys Bogoshi. She was in a meeting when I went to her office, so I emailed questions to her which have so far remained unanswered.

I have established from other sources that the mammography machine in Block 3 of the hospital was damaged by a leaking roof, and needs to be replaced.

There is a proposal that a new machine be placed in Block 5, but it seems that it will not be purchased for some time.

Inconvenienced Patients

Meanwhile, patients who need to be tested for breast cancer are inconvenienced by extra travel and delays will build up the longer the Charlotte Maxeke machine is out of action.

How can it happen that yet another vital machine breaks down at this flagship hospital?

I warned last year about the leaking ceilings which were damaging equipment. Lifts are also broken and many toilets are a disgrace.

This hospital needs a major overhaul of facilities and equipment.

(Photographs available on request)

 

Media enquiries:

Jack Bloom MPL

DA Gauteng Shadow MEC for Health

082 333 4222

[Image source]