ANC thugs attack peaceful DA protestor

 

The DA today led a peaceful and lawful march of over 20,000 people through the Johannesburg CBD, uniting people from all sectors in opposition to the reckless Jacob Zuma.

 

The clear message from the thousands at our March for Change was that it is time for the ANC to act against Jacob Zuma.

 

After our peaceful march, a DA supporter was violently attacked by ANC thugs. The DA strongly condemns the violence by ANC thugs who attacked this DA supporter.

 

We have long held that the ANC uses intimidation and bullying tactics towards those who disagree with them, and their tactics of intimidation and war talk, in the run up to today’s March for Change have now had consequences.

 

There is no place for violence in our democratic society. The constitution provides all South Africans with the right to peacefully march and protest.

 

The ANC has once again shown that it disregards the constitution and the rights enshrined therein.

 

It is our hope that those who perpetrated violence this morning will be brought to book. We expect a thorough investigation from the SAPS.

 

The DA will not be deterred by thuggery and the moral bankruptcy of Zuma’s ANC.

 

The #MarchForChange has only just begun.

Media Enquiries:

John Moodey MPL
DA Gauteng Leader
082 960 3743

Yaseen Carelse
DA Gauteng Leader
076 721 8613

DA retains Johannesburg Ward 73 with increased support

 

The DA in Johannesburg has retained Ward 73 in yesterday’s by-election with an increased percentage of the votes.

 

The DA would like to congratulate Eleanor Huggett, the new ward councillor on a successfully run campaign.

 

This victory is a clear indication of the progress made by DA-led government in Johannesburg. Mayor Herman Mashaba’s commitment to provide quality services to all residents in the City is clear example of type of good governance voters have long been asking for.

 

While the ANC continues to lose support, this by-election is a sign of the power shift leading up to the 2019 general elections.

 

The results of the by-election are as follows:

DA: 84.39 % (3 644 votes)
ANC: 11.05 % (477 votes)
EFF: 4.52% (197 votes)
 
Media Enquiries

Khume Ramulifho MPL
DA Johannesburg Regional Chairperson
082 398 7375

Warren Gwilt
DA Economic Cluster Manager
073 601 6144

 

[Image Source: http://bit.ly/2oEm9bR]

Premier David Makhura: You must ensure the safety of Gauteng’s citizens

 

The deployment of 600 ANC MK Veterans from Kwa-Zulu Natal to Gauteng in anticipation of various democratic and peaceful marches scheduled around the province on Friday 7 April is an open incitement to violence – and a clear sign that the ANC has now condoned violence as a means to shield President Jacob Zuma from national scrutiny.

 

As the Premier of Gauteng, David Makhura must put his position in the ANC aside and hold true to his oath of office by ensuring that every single participant in any one of the marches scheduled for Friday in Gauteng is protected.

 

Premier Makhura has the power to avert a crisis by deploying more SAPS members to these marches.

 

As South Africans from all walks of life, and from across the political divide, gather to exercise their democratic right to protest President Jacob Zuma, it is the now imperative for good men to stand up and be counted.

 

Premier Makhura cannot sit idle while thousands of lives are placed in danger by the ANC who would see democracy eroded in defence of the indefensible.

 

Our brothers, sisters, mothers, fathers – young and old will be peacefully standing in solidarity on Friday.

 

Premier Makhura, the people will not be deterred. We will continue our march, and encourage all concerned South Africans to join us.

Media Enquiries:

John Moodey MPL
DA Gauteng Provincial Leader
082 960 3743

Warren Gwilt
DA Economic Cluster Manager
073 601 6144

MEC Creecy must break her silence on Gordhan sacking

 

During her 2017 budget speech, Gauteng Finance MEC, Barbara Creecy made frequent reference to the objectives former Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan was attempting to achieve during his tenure.

 
Specifically, she committed the Gauteng Provincial Government to the fiscal path pursed by Gordhan by saying “The Gauteng Provincial Government understands the imperatives facing National Treasury and continues to endorse Minister Gordhan’s call to manage our finances in a prudent and sustainable way.”

 

Subsequent to Minister Gordhan’s recall from an investment roadshow, the fake intelligence report, the midnight ministerial change and the ratings downgrade, it appears as though MEC Creecy has gone to ground, failing to speak up for fiscal discipline and against state capture.

 

If the Gauteng Government and the Gauteng ANC are truly committed to good governance and sound economic policy, then MEC Creecy should publicly affirm this commitment in light of recent events.

 

The ratings downgrade, plummeting currency and inflationary risks threaten the living standards of the people of Gauteng, especially the poor.

 

This dark hour in our country is not the time to stay silent, and MEC Creecy owes the people of Gauteng a strong response to the pain President Jacob Zuma has inflicted on the country over the last week. This is not the time for political survival in the ANC for the sake of a salary or position.

 

The DA calls on MEC Creecy to speak out against the dismissal of Gordhan and Zuma’s economic mismanagement as a matter of urgency, and join civil society in calling for the removal of Zuma as president of our country. History will judge her for the path she chooses.

Media Enquiries:

Ashor Sarupen MPL
DA Gauteng Spokesperson on Finance
060 558 8303

DA Economic Cluster Manager
073 601 6144

Why are there still private wards at Joburg Hospital?

 

The private Folateng wards at the Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Hospital (CMJH) are still open despite pledges that they would be closed three years ago.

 
I discovered this yesterday when I visited the Folateng section at the hospital.

 

These wards were opened at the hospital in May 2002 and there are currently 137 beds for most specialist services.

 

Folateng beds were also opened at the Pretoria West, Sebokeng and Helen Joseph Hospitals, but they were closed in 2014 after National Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi insisted that all beds in public hospitals be used for public patients only.

 

The Folateng wards were supposed to make money from private patients that would subsidize public patients, but they lost large amounts of money because of poor administration.

 

Two years ago, former Health MEC Qedani Mahlangu disclosed in a written reply to my questions in the Gauteng Legislature that R138 million in patient fees was owed to Folateng, mostly from private medical aids.

 

In reply to why it had taken so long to close all the wards she said that “notice had to be given for the termination of private contracts” and that “the units were integrated into the main hospital.”

 

The Folateng fiasco was an expensive mistake – my estimate is that they lost more than R500 million in total since inception, including the cost of expensive building alterations.

 

I will be asking questions in the Legislature about the justification for the continued operation of this unit.

 

I am disturbed that the Folateng wards still operate at CMJH as I don’t believe they make a real profit and the upgraded facilities should rather be used for public patients.

 

All public resources should be used effectively to provide quality care for public patients, not running a loss-making unit for private patients who can afford private hospitals.

Media Enquiries

Jack Bloom MPL
DA Gauteng Shadow Health Spokesperson
082 333 4223

The Gauteng ANC is a “house divided”

 

The proud endorsement of President Zuma in last night’s address by ANC Ekurhuleni Mayor, Mzwandile Masina, to the ANCYL in Germiston can only be a clear indication that the cracks are beginning to show in the Gauteng ANC.

 
Over the weekend, ANC Legislature Chief-Whip, Brian Hlongwa publicly rallied against Zuma at the memorial service held for the late Ahmed Kathrada.

 
With the outright endorsement of President Jacob Zuma by Mayor Masina, will the Gauteng ANC capitulate to the man who has wreaked havoc on the nation and plunged millions of South African lives into despair?

 
Or will they have the moral conscience to stand up to the President in a vote of no confidence in the National Assembly? A failure to do so will show that the Gauteng ANC is a house divided against itself, which ultimately will fall.

Media Enquiries

John Moodey MPL
DA Gauteng Provincial Leader
082 960 3743

Warren Gwilt
DA Economic Cluster Manager
073 601 6144

Emfuleni Mayor’s alleged bogus financial statements on Shakespeare Inn

 

Former Sedibeng District Municipality Mayor, now Mayor of Emfuleni, Simon Mofokeng, submitted alleged bogus financial statements on services rendered by the Shakespeare Inn in Vanderbijlpark to the provincial Legislature in a question posed by the DA.

 

While Mofokeng was mayor of Sedibeng, alleged suspicious transactions amounting to just over R2million took place at Shakespeare Inn.

 

No information was provided on what exactly the transactions, ranging from R15 000 – R30 000 per month, were spent on.

 

It is alarming that these transactions were not picked up during the municipal audit into Sedibeng.

 

The DA will submit these transactions to the Auditor-General in order to assist with the investigation into Simon Mofokeng’s alleged money laundering scheme.

 

Sedibeng and Emfuleni are no longer financially viable municipalities due to the looting of the municipal coffers by public officials.

 

Furthermore, the DA has also requested Cooperative Governance MEC, Paul Mashatile, to launch a departmental investigation into the matter.

 

Residents of Sedibeng and Emfuleni have had enough of corruption and the alleged looting of public money. It is high time that all dodgy officials and elected representatives are held to account.

Media Enquiries:

Kingsol Chabalala MPL
DA Gauteng Constituency Head – Emfuleni North
060 558 8299

Yaseen Carelse
Social Cluster Manager
076 721 8613

[Image Source: http://bit.ly/2ocSDci]

Provincial Executive must act against corruption in Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport

 

At a meeting of the Gauteng Provincial Executive Council last week, strong concerns were registered about corruption in the Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport and its entity, G-fleet.

 
It has been common knowledge amongst Transport Portfolio Committee members, and the public at large, that corruption is the order of the day at numerous testing centres across the province. Evidence of this has been forwarded to the Gauteng Roads and Transport MEC, Ismail Vadi on a continuous basis – with many empty promises made of action to be taken against individuals who brazenly solicit bribes.

 

The Gauteng Legislature’s Transport Portfolio Committee has been pushing for an investigation into the running of G-fleet which has been dysfunctional for years. This is in conjunction with the evidence of corruption which has now been presented to the Provincial Executive Council.

 

The concerns expressed about corruption and mismanagement within the Department of Roads and Transport have been on the table for many years without any action being taken. The Provincial Executive Council’s concerns may just be the wake-up call the DA and other parties have been urging for.

 

MEC Vadi can no longer escape his responsibility to take action against those who are abusing the system for their own gain. The ball is now squarely in his court.

Media Enquiries:

Justus de Goede MPL
DA Gauteng Spokesperson on Social Development
060 558 8305

Warren Gwilt
DA Economic Cluster Manager
073 601 6144

Electronic patient files on track for Gauteng hospitals

 

Six Gauteng public hospitals have already had their patient files scanned and the remaining 32 hospitals are due to be scanned by 2018/19.

 
This is according to Gauteng Health MEC Gwen Ramokgopa in a written reply to my questions in the Gauteng Legislature.

 

Ramokgopa says that phase two of the project is now underway over a 12 week period, which will be followed by a phase three and a phase four.

 

The digitization of records for the following ten hospitals will be as follows:
Phase two – Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg, Chris Hani Baragwanath, Steve Biko and Sebokeng
Phase three – South Rand, Helen Joseph and Edenvale
Phase four – Tambo Memorial, Leratong and Kalafong

 

The total cost for the digitization is projected to cost about R79 million.

 

I am pleased that the scanning process for electronic files appears to be on track as paper files often go missing and are a major cause of long patient queues.

 

The department has a history of broken promises in this matter, including the health “smart card” announced with great fanfare by former Premier Mbhazima Shilowa in February 2007 that failed because of corrupt contracts.

 

Gauteng hospitals need an integrated health information system that includes electronic patient files as well as accurate costing and efficiency measures.

 

This would improve the patient experience in hospitals and assist in spending the health budget optimally.

Media Enquiries

Jack Bloom MPL
DA Gauteng Shadow MEC
082 333 4222

On which side of history will the Gauteng ANC find itself?

President Jacob Zuma’s latest cabinet reshuffle has emphasised the urgency for all South Africans, across the political divide, to unite to safeguard the future of our country.

 
The common objective for all of us as responsible citizens and defenders of our Constitution is the fight against the kleptocracy of one man who wishes to deny so many, to safeguard his ill-gotten gains.

 

The DA has tabled a motion of no confidence in President Jacob Zuma in the National Assembly to rid South Africa of a man hell-bent on abusing the institutions of government to enrich his masters, the Gupta family. Every single public representative will have an opportunity to vote, guided by his or her conscious to liberate the country from economic sabotage.

 

Now that the ANC in Gauteng has come out against President Jacob Zuma, will the Gauteng ANC provincial leadership of Hope Papo, Paul Mashatile, and Premier David Makhura instruct the Gauteng ANC MP’s in Parliament to vote against the President in the fight to save our constitutional democracy? Or is the party in the province simply grandstanding?

 

Now is the time to stand up and be counted. History will judge harshly those who stood idle while democracy was eroded.

Media Enquiries:

John Moodey MPL
DA Gauteng Provincial Leader
082 960 3743

Warren Gwilt
DA Economic Cluster Manager
073 601 6144