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Hlongwa still in office after more than 100 days

by Jack Bloom MPL – DA Gauteng Shadow Health MEC

It is now more than 100 days since the damning Special Investigating Unit (SIU) report was made public which implicated Brian Hlongwa, the ANC Chief Whip in the Gauteng Legislature, in R1.2 billion of corrupt activities when he was Health MEC from 2006 to 2009.

This has been tracked every day by the DA’s “Hlongwa Monitor” which today recorded that 101 days have passed but Gauteng Premier David Makhura has still not fired Hlongwa from his senior position in the Legislature.

See today’s Hlongwa Monitor here.

It was reported on 28 July 2014 that the allegations against Hlongwa were referred to the ANC’s provincial integrity commission, but nothing happened.

This year, ANC Provincial Secretary Jacob Khawe has said that Hlongwa would appear before the ANC’s Provincial Integrity Commission headed by Trevor Fowler from 11 to 15 August.

Meanwhile, Hlongwa was re-elected as a member of the ANC’s Provincial Executive Committee, together with disgraced former Health MEC Qedani Mahlangu who was also supposed to appear before the Integrity Commission in connection with the Esidimeni tragedy.

The SIU report shows how “state capture” occurred when 3P, a private company, took over management functions within the Gauteng Department of Health and awarded fishy tenders worth more than R1.2 billion, with alleged kickbacks to Hlongwa.

The Department has never recovered from this dark period which precipitated the current public health crisis in Gauteng.

It is a disgrace that the ANC fails to act against Hlongwa, who earns R1.4 million a year as Chief Whip.

How many more days before Hlongwa is fired and appears in court for his misdeeds?

  • The Hlongwa Monitor can be found at #HlongwaMustGo on Twitter and is updated every day on my @JackBloomDA Twitter account.
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DA strongly condemns physical assault of Midvaal Mayor Bongani Baloyi by ANC members

by Solly Msimanga – DA Gauteng Premier Candidate

The Democratic Alliance (DA) is shocked by the violent assault on the Executive Mayor of Midvaal, Bongani Baloyi by ANC members this morning.

Mayor Baloyi has immediately opened a case of assault with intention to cause grievous bodily harm against the ANC thugs.

However, when the Mayor was on his way to open a case at the police station, the key suspect followed him and lied to the police that the Mayor attacked him. Absurdly, the Mayor was also placed under arrest along with the suspect.

The Mayor was physically attacked by ANC members in ward 11, Savannah City during the municipality’s launch of Arbor Day.

The event started peacefully, however when the Mayor was about to go to the podium to address the community, ANC members approached him and tried to take the microphone away from him. They physically pushed the Mayor and hit him with a rock.

This is totally unacceptable, as an attack on the Mayor is the attack on the residents of Midvaal. It is also an attack on democracy.

The failed ANC has become desperate and its members are resorting to thuggery and other subversive behaviour in an attempt to retain power.

Midvaal is one of the best governed municipalities in Gauteng and has received clean audits since DA took over this municipality from the ANC.

We will not allow ANC to disrupt service delivery to the people of Midvaal. The DA is committed to continue delivering quality services, and to be transparent and accountable to Midvaal residents.

 

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Province’s most vulnerable are victims of bureaucratic mess

by Justus De Goede – DA Gauteng Spokesperson for Social Development

 

The Democratic Alliance ( DA) is disappointed to learn that the Gauteng Department of Social Development has unilaterally closed down the province’s eight food banks.

This was revealed by the Department of Social Development to the Members of the Portfolio Committee for Social Development in the Gauteng Legislature.

The department’s explanation for this drastic step amounted to admission of an administrative bungle, resulting from officials not applying Treasury instructions dating back years which led to misclassification of spending on the food banks.

The department further told the committee that “mitigation” measures would be put in place, without providing details.

Clearly, this situation should never have been allowed to happen, had officials and more importantly management of the department been alert.

These outlets were providing food parcels to about 90 000 needy people, including some 12 000 HIV positive individuals.

Beneficiaries of these food parcels who are the most vulnerable members of the society have to suffer due to the department’s negligence.

The DA demands clarity from the Gauteng Department of Social Development MEC, Nandi Mayathula-Khoza on what is being done to remedy this catastrophic oversight and whether an inquiry is being conducted to determine how her department created this regrettable situation.

The DA will not sit by with its arms folded when the most vulnerable members of the society are in need.

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DA debates the impact of the minimum wage

he following speeches were delivered today in the Gauteng Legislature by DA Gauteng Shadow MEC for Economic Development, Janet Semple MPL and DA Gauteng Spokesperson on Economic Development, Ina Cilliers MPL, during the debate on the impact of the implementation of the minimum wage.

Janet Semple MPL

“Blanket minimum wage will strangle employment”

  • The implementation of R20 as an absolute minimum wage may for some be a welcome relief, but for many – especially the unemployed whom had no say in the matter, it is not the panacea that the ANC has promised.
  • Sadly, one of the knock on affects that the introduction of a flat minimum wage does is to create a race to the bottom. Instead of establishing the minimum wage as a basis from which business can start, it sometimes ends up as a target of employers to achieve to reduce labour costs
  • In a country with both a skill and employment shortage, a blanket minimum wage cannot work. If we are truly committed to lifting our people out of the clutches of unemployment, then we should be more flexible with our work for pay scaling.

The full speech can be accessed here.

 

Ina Cilliers MPL

“Individual worth the key to inclusive job creation”

  • The ANC is under the misconception that the laws of economics stop applying because you choose to ignore them.
  • In its rush to ram a minimum wage through parliament, the ANC has abandoned fact and evidence-based policy-making, pandering instead to populist sentiments and using the economy and the vast, coercive power of the state to manage its internal politics with the unions – at the expense of the people of South Africa.
  • We would implement innovative policy tools to ensure that we expand individual freedom so that job-seekers willing to work at a rate of their choosing are given a legal mechanism to do so.

The full speech can be accessed here.

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No investigation into sex for jobs allegations at Soweto Hospital

by Jack Bloom MPL – DA Gauteng Shadow Health MEC

There has been no investigation into the sex for jobs allegations against a manager at the Bheki Mlangeni Hospital in Jabulani, Soweto as the Gauteng Health Department claims “there was never a formal complaint laid with the institution.”

This is according to a written reply I have received from Acting Health MEC Faith Mazibuko in a written reply to my questions in the Gauteng Legislature.

I am astonished by this as employees at the hospital wrote in March last year to Health MEC Gwen Ramokgopa, Gauteng Premier David Makhura and the Public Service Commission demanding that the implicated sex predator manager be investigated for mismanagement, sexual harassment, intimidation and unfair dismissals.

It was also reported in September last year that an employee admitted to having had sexual relations with the manager from last year after he allegedly threatened to fire her “for buying her job”. She said he would ask her to come to work early or leave late so that he could force himself on her.

Why has this been swept under the carpet?

With regard to jobs for cash allegations at the hospital which were made last year, Mazibuko says: “The matter was handed over to the Hawks. The Hawks took statements from witnesses however a different case was opened with Jabulane SAPS for another group of employees who committed extortion against members of the public.”

This is not good enough. The credible allegations that have been made of sex for jobs and cash need proper investigation and disciplinary action by the hospital management.

I will continue to raise this matter in the Gauteng Legislature as sex pests and corruption should never be tolerated.

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ANC to blame for challenges facing Gauteng companies and employees

by Solly Msimanga – DA Gauteng Premier Candidate

The ANC-led government is to be blamed for its corruption and for failing in its plan to support businesses and attract investors so as to boost the Gauteng economy.

Gauteng’s micro and medium enterprises (SMMEs) are struggling to survive and to sustain their production.

During my Listening Tour to companies in Germiston and Soweto yesterday, l was disheartened to discover that there is uncertainty for both the employers and workers as the country is facing an economic recession.

These companies are being negatively impacted by cheap imports from other countries, and as a result are forced to shut down production, as they cannot compete on an equal footing.

Dita Products which specialises in plastic injection moulding is one of the companies we visited in Devland, Soweto. This company is fully furnished with adequate equipment that is not used due to a lack of job contracts. This company has retrenched workers and has reduced its staff from 75 to 20 employees. Workers also expressed concern over their long term job security if production plants are not going to recover.

Crime is also a serious challenge, companies are vandalised, broken into and their goods are stolen which affects their productivity.

The employees are not safe, they are attacked and robbed of their belongings on their way to and from work in the morning and evening.

Transport costs are expensive with the rise in petrol prices; workers have to walk to and from work in an unsafe environment.

There is severe lack of adequate service delivery at the clinics and hospitals, the workers are forced to take a half day or day off from work to send their children to the hospitals due to the long queues.

It is now clear that the failing ANC has run out of plans to get the Gauteng economy back on its feet.

The failing ANC has failed to protect and invest in South African companies.

President Cyril Ramaphosa is paying lip service with his economic stimulus package as part of the ANC’s electioneering process. It will never address the economic challenges that are facing Gauteng.

Gauteng residents and companies are in dire of need of Change that can attract investors and ensure that businesses strive, the DA is the only party that can bring that needed change. We are committed to creating employment opportunities for all South Africans, fight corruption and ensure access to job opportunities for all.

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DA strongly condemns alleged rape of minor at Pretoria restaurant

by Solly Msimanga – DA Gauteng Premier Candidate

The DA strongly condemns the alleged rape and sexual assault of a 6 year-old girl at a Dros restaurant in Silverton, Pretoria over the weekend.

It is alleged that a 21 year-old man allegedly followed the little girl, who was in the playing area, to the toilet inside the restaurant where he raped her.

The accused was caught and the police were called to the scene and immediately arrested the suspect.

The alleged rapist appeared in court yesterday charged with rape, possession of drugs, intimidation and assault with intention to cause grievous bodily harm.

The accused was remanded in custody and the case has been postponed to 2 October for further investigation.

The fact that this incident occurred in a public place is a clear indication that our children are not safe anywhere.

The escalating rate of the sexual abuse and rape of women and children raises serious concerns about their safety which is under siege.

According to the 2017/18 Gauteng crime statistics, rape has increased by 4, 7 %, and sexual offenses increased by 5, 7% compared to last year. The murder of women and children also accounted to 16, 8 % which is 657 murders.

We urge all eatery places to ensure that there are stringent measures in place to ensure children’s safety and that there should be an adult to monitor the children at the play stations.

The DA will picket outside the court when the accused appears on the 2nd October; we demand that the accused must be denied bail and receives a harsh sentence.

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Uncontrolled immigration putting strain on Gauteng resources

by Solly Msimanga – DA Gauteng Premier Candidate

Note to Editors: This is an updated statement released earlier by DA Gauteng Premier Candidate, Solly Msimanga
According to the findings of an investigation by a joint group of the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) and Gauteng Provincial Legislature (GPL) into the impact of migration on service delivery in Gauteng, 47% of international migrants settle in the City of Johannesburg without valid documentation.
This is placing a huge strain on the City’s infrastructure, as well as services such as Education and Healthcare. As a result, our schools are struggling to absorb the increasing number of applicants every year. It is estimated that Gauteng needs 142 new schools to deal with the current demand- a number which does not take into consideration the yearly influx of new learners into the province.
A visit by the joint group to the Charlotte Maxeke Academic Hospital revealed the dire impact that our porous borders is having on our province’s already crippled healthcare sector. The hospital is forced to house undocumented foreign patients that have nowhere to go when they are discharged at a cost of R4 500 a day. Most of these patients are also unable to pay their outstanding bills; in the 2017/18 financial year, the Charlotte Maxeke Academic Hospital had to write off R1 billion due to unsettled debt.
It is clear that South Africa can ill afford not to secure its borders as uncontrolled immigration is violating the rights of the ordinary residents of this province who have to compete for services. This problem has been compounded by the wide-spread corruption within the Department of Home Affairs which has led to a complete immigration system failure.
The ANC government is incapable of ensuring law and order, and rooting out corruption. They only care about enriching themselves and are incapable of managing the real problems which the Gauteng faces.
This is not what we were promised.
We need leadership and change capable of ensuring equal access to opportunities for all South Africans.
The DA will fight corruption, fix the police force to be honest and professional, create fair access to real and long-term jobs, secure our borders and speed up the delivery of basic services.

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Uncontrolled immigration putting strain on Gauteng resources

 

According to the findings of an investigation by a joint group of the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) and Gauteng Provincial Legislature (GPL) into the impact of migration on service delivery in Gauteng, 47% of international migrants settle in the City of Johannesburg without valid documentation.

This is placing a huge strain on the City’s infrastructure, as well as services such as Education and Healthcare. As a result, our schools are struggling to absorb the increasing number of applicants every year. It is estimated that Gauteng needs 142 new schools to deal with the current demand- a number which does not take into consideration the yearly influx of new learners into the province.

A visit by the joint group to the Charlotte Maxeke Academic Hospital revealed the dire impact that our porous borders is having on our province’s already crippled healthcare sector. The hospital is forced to house undocumented foreign patients that have nowhere to go when they are discharged at a cost of R4 500 a day. Most of these patients are also unable to pay their outstanding bills; in the 2017/18 financial year, the Charlotte Maxeke Academic Hospital had to write off R1 billion due to unsettled debt.

It is clear that South Africa can ill afford not to secure its borders as uncontrolled immigration is violating the rights of the ordinary residents of this province who have to compete for services. This problem has been compounded by the wide-spread corruption within the Department of Home Affairs which has led to a complete immigration system failure.

The ANC government is incapable of ensuring law and order, and rooting out corruption. They only care about enriching themselves and are incapable of managing the real problems which the Gauteng faces.

This is not what we were promised.

We need leadership and change capable of ensuring equal access to opportunities for all South Africans.

The DA will fight corruption, fix the police force to be honest and professional, create fair access to real and long-term jobs, secure our borders and speed up the delivery of basic services.

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No end to crisis at Thelle Mogoerane hospital as another psychiatric patient dies

by Jack Bloom MPL – DA Gauteng Shadow Health MEC

The crisis at the Thelle Mogoerane Hospital continues as the death of another psychiatric patient is covered up and the source of the antibiotic-resistant Klebsiella that has killed 6 babies has still not been found.
According to unions at the hospital, a psychiatric patient committed suicide at the psychiatric ward on Friday 14 September this year.
Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi and Gauteng Health MEC Gwen Ramokgopa held a press conference at the hospital on Sunday 16 September on the Klebsiella crisis, but did not disclose the death of this psychiatric patient.
This is the third death of a psychiatric patient in less than a year – a patient hanged himself in October 2017 and another patient died after jumping out a window in June this year.
There is one psychiatric ward at the hospital that can accommodate 10 males and 10 females, but this is grossly inadequate as 163 psychiatric patients had to be placed in ordinary wards from March 2017 to July this year, according to a written reply by Ramokgopa to my questions in the Gauteng Legislature.
There is no camera monitor in the psychiatric ward which could have prevented the latest suicide in which the patient hanged himself using hospital pajamas turned into a rope.
There are currently 43 psychiatric patients at the hospital with only four nurses on duty and no full-time psychiatrist.
Meanwhile, the neonatal ward where babies died is still open despite the announcement by Minister Motsoaledi that it would be closed and babies would be moved to the Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital until it was thoroughly cleaned up.
This is another blow to Motsoaledi’s shredded credibility as he always intervenes too late, as happened in the Esidimeni tragedy where 144 psychiatric patients died, and in the KZN cancer disaster where more than 500 cancer patients died.
I have always suspected that management at this hospital is thoroughly rotten as I have repeatedly been refused access to do oversight, and staff concerns about safety, understaffing and infection hazards have been brushed aside for a long time.
The Hospital CEO Dr Nomonde Mqhayi-Mbambo has been put on special leave with full pay, but she should have been fired long ago.
I have been told that she has boasted that she is untouchable because she is the niece of Eastern Cape Premier Phumulo Masualle.
If this is confirmed, it would explain why she has been protected for so long by MEC Ramokgopa who should share the blame for the deaths of the babies and psychiatric patients.
Premier David Makhura should fire Ramokgopa for her failure to prevent the Thelle Mogoerane hospital horror and for the fire at her head office where she ignored safety warnings and three firefighters died.
It is unconscionable that lives are lost because the ANC protects its comrades and cronies.