GBV: DA calls for more resources and strengthening of unit 

The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Gauteng is deeply concerned about the escalating number of gender-based violence cases during the lockdown period.

According to the Minister of Police, Bheki Cele over 2 300 complaints have been registered since the beginning of the lockdown between the 27 to 31 March and from these cases, 148 suspects have been charged.

The number of gender-based violence cases that have been registered between January and 31 March 2020 now stands at 15 924.

The DA, therefore, calls on both the Gauteng MEC for Community Safety, Faith Mazibuko and the Gauteng SAPS Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General, Elias Mawela to strengthen and provide adequate resources and personnel to the Family Violence Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit (FCS) at our police stations to ensure that police officers have the capacity to respond to such complaints.

Minister Cele indicated that once all reports have been consolidated, the figures will be measured against the number of complaints received through the Gender-Based Violence Command Centre in 2019, where the figure stands at 87,920.

These stats are worrying and clearly indicate that the safety of women and children is under threat particularly during this lockdown period.

We demand a breakdown per province on where these incidents have been reported to ensure that there are immediate interventions by different stakeholders involved in fighting the scourge of gender-based violence.

The DA will make a follow-up on the gender-based violence cases reported during the lockdown to ascertain the number of arrests, the progress in terms of investigations and the number of convictions to ensure that the victims get the justice they deserve.

We also encourage more victims to speak out on issues of gender-based violence as this social ill has a negative impact on the well-being of all our people.

Gauteng e-Government department a law unto themselves, spends R104m on outsourcing cyber security contract

The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Gauteng is not surprised to learn that the Department of e-Government has now spent over R104 million on outsourcing its cyber security contract.

Last year, the DA raised concerns that SITA is delaying the implementation of the department’s ICT infrastructure.

This meant that the department had to appoint an outside service provider to provide cyber security.

This delay in the implementation of the ICT infrastructure has led to the department’s irregular expenditure over the last five financial years.

During a Standing Committee on Public Accounts meeting last year, the MEC for Finance and e-Government, Nomuntu Nkomo-Ralehoko revealed that the department had asked SITA to procure a Security Operation Centre on 15 December 2017 and had paid R28.4 million for this procurement.

A tender was then published on 19 April 2019, but SITA missed the deadline of June, September and October 2019 for providing this service to the Gauteng Provincial Government.

The department then tried to procure the services on its own but was unsuccessful as the Gauteng Provincial Treasury (GPT) advised that this will be in contravention of the SITA Act. Despite various strong warnings from Provincial Treasury, the  e-Government department kept on extending the GSOC Services contract on a month to month basis, failing also to make use of the open tender system for the appointment of a contractor.

However, when questioned in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature during a sitting last year, the MEC claimed that it was SITA that had appointed the external company to provide cyber security and not the province.

The DA will request  the MEC to call for an forensic investigation into the unlawful extension of the cyber security contract and that those officials found guilty face the full might of the law. Their actions could have easily exposed the whole security environment of the province to hackers/scammers that could potentially cost us millions of rands.
The DA will continue to put pressure on the MEC to ensure that a proper cyber security system is put in place as the department cannot continue with a month to month contract as it is currently doing.

Deadline extended for the submission of proposals for funding of Gauteng sports, arts and culture projects

The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Gauteng welcomes the extension of the deadline for the submission of the proposals for the funding of sport, art and culture projects in the province.

This follows the declaration of the 21-day national lockdown by President Ramaphosa to curb the spread of the coronavirus outbreak.

The initial deadline for the submission of these proposals was 31 March, however the Gauteng Department of Sports, Arts, Culture and Recreation has extended the deadline to 29 May 2020.

The DA supports the extension of the deadline as this will give different sporting clubs, arts and culture projects particularly in the townships, an opportunity to submit their proposals.

Township sporting clubs and various arts and culture projects are facing serious challenges posed by the lack of sporting facilities, equipment and gear for different sporting codes.

The DA believes that this funding should be given to projects that will unearth and nurture local talent across different sporting codes as well as assist in grassroots development.

The DA will monitor how this funding will be allocated to ensure that projects that benefit residents are prioritised, and that the money is spent on fulfilling the core mandate of this department.

DA calls on Tshwane Administrator to work with NGOs to ensure the safety of the homeless during the lockdown period

The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Gauteng is calling on the new Tshwane Administrator to accept assistance offered by the local NGOs to ensure the safety of Tshwane’s homeless people during the national lockdown period.

We have been reliably informed that the City of Tshwane has refused assistance from the local NGOs to assist the homeless.

These NGOs who have offered to assist the City are rendering social services to the homeless community in Tshwane.

The City has accused these NGOs of sabotage and of interfering with their work which is not the case.

The City alone will not able to render adequate services to the homeless hence there is a need for a strong partnership with NGOs.

It is unacceptable for the City to refuse assistance from NGOs while it does not have enough capacity and resources to render much needed services to the homeless.

NGOs are playing a crucial role in the lives of the homeless people by ensuring that they are fed, clothed and provided with proper shelters.

Furthermore, it is alleged that these NGOs have submitted proposals to the City of Tshwane to assist with alternative venues and catering for the homeless, but these proposals were rejected and the contracts were issued to questionable suppliers to render such services.

The City is currently taking all homeless people to Caledonian Stadium which is now overcrowded with more than 2000 people. There is not enough food and tents to ensure that social distancing can be maintained.

The law enforcement agencies are also forcefully removing homeless people from various parts of the City which goes against the directive issued by MEC Lesufi last week.

The DA calls on the Gauteng Acting MEC for Social Development, Panyaza Lesufi to intervene and ensure that there is a smooth partnership between the City of Tshwane and the NGOs. We remain committed to supporting both government and NGOs’ efforts in curbing the spread of this deadly Covid-19 virus.

DA calls on Gauteng MEC for Finance to table new budget after the lockdown

The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Gauteng is calling on the MEC for Finance, Nomuntu Nkomo-Ralehoko to table a new budget for the 2020/2021 financial year after the 21-day lockdown.

While the lockdown is needed to help curb the spread of Covid-19 and flatten the curve, this is having a negative impact on the Gauteng economy.

This is further compounded by the fact that Gauteng has a high rate of in-migration as well as a high unemployment rate which is putting additional pressure on the province’s financial resources.

By tabling a new budget this will allow the Gauteng Provincial Government (GPG) to redirect funds to programmes within the various departments that will help to stimulate economic growth and create jobs particularly for our youth, women and people with disabilities.

Furthermore, the DA is once again calling on the MEC for Finance and Premier David Makhura to look at consolidating, and where needed, do away with entities that are not contributing to the fiscus but instead are draining it with projects that to date have shown no success in terms of job creation and increasing revenue for the provincial government.

The country finds itself it in a precarious position and cost and internal controls are critical, whilst maintenance rather than new infrastructure projects should be considered.

Now is the time for Premier Makhura and MEC Nkomo-Ralehko to show bold leadership that will allow the right conditions to exist for our economy to recover from the impact of Covid-19.

I will be tabling further questions in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature to ascertain what contingency plans are place to sustain the current budget priorities for the new financial year which begins today; how this will be managed over the medium term and if the GPG will be lobbying the private sector for support to help grow the local economy.