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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]

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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

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Lack of management places Rooipoort landfill at further risk

 

In November 2016, the Merafong Local Municipality considered a report on a compliance inspection conducted by the Gauteng Provincial Department of Environmental Affairs (GPDEA) at the Rooipoort Landfill facility, outside Carletonville in Merafong.

 
The Department informed the Merafong Council that its landfill site did not comply with the required permit conditions and charged the Acting Municipal Manager, Mr Thibini, with fifty different charges of non-compliance which carry a fine not exceeding R10million or imprisonment.

 

The ANC-run Council at the time approved a R10 million budget to address some of the urgent problems at the landfill.

 

The ANC refused to support the DA in adding a recommendation to the resolution that the Acting Municipal Manager be formally disciplined.

 

In March this year, the Integrated Environmental Management Committee considered yet another report on a compliance audit conducted at the Rooipoort Landfill.

 

The Department again stated categorically that the Rooipoort Landfill site still does not comply with the required permit conditions.

 

According to the report, 50% of the R10 million budgeted to address issues at the site had already been spent.

 

The DA conducted its own inspection and found that there had been no improvement at the site since November 2016.

 

On the 30th March 2017, the Council decided to suspend the services of both the Acting Executive Director of Integrated

 

Environmental Services and the Acting Municipal Manager pending a full investigation.

 

While Merafong has been without a permanent Municipal Manager for some time, these suspensions exacerbate the situation and place the site at further risk.

 

The Rooipoort Landfill site is Merafong’s only waste disposal site. Should this site be closed in terms of the provisions of the Act, Merafong will be in serious trouble.

 

Alternatively, should a fine be imposed, the cash-strapped Merafong would battle to pay.

 

It is about time that the ANC Leadership in Merafong gets its affairs in order and takes steps to avoid closure of this site.

Media Enquiries:

Ina Cilliers MPL and Blackie Zwart
DA Constituency Head: Merafong and Caucus head: Merafong
060 556 4344

[Image Source: http://bit.ly/2o5n5oN]

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Sapebuso Primary learners denied school reports

 

Learners at Sapebuso Primary School in Soweto will not receive their first term progress reports today due to the fact that they were not assessed by teachers who have blamed overcrowding as a hindrance in their ability to perform their duties.

 

The DA has been informed that in some classes, such as grade 5, the teacher to learner ratio is as high as 1:65. It is impossible for quality teaching and learning to take place in classrooms where the number of learners who require the attention of a teacher has to be split among 65.

 

Gauteng MEC for Education, Panyaza Lesufi has failed to prioritise the basics. The Department has not rolled out additional classrooms and schools fast enough to meet the growing demand for education in Gauteng. Rapid migration into the province requires smarter solutions than the ones that have been offered by the MEC.

 

Gauteng Premier, David Makhura has highlighted the need for increased infrastructure expansion to solve many of the challenges faced by the province. The fast-tracking of school infrastructure will not only alleviate the growing numbers of learners in classrooms, but it will also improve the quality of education received by learners.

 

The DA will write to MEC Lesufi insisting that he intervene to ensure that the rights of learners at Sapebuso Primary are not infringed and that they are assessed as soon as possible.

Media Enquiries:

Khume Ramulifho MPL
DA Gauteng Shadow MEC for Education
082 398 7375

Warren Gwilt
DA Economic Cluster Manager
073 601 6144

[Image Source: http://bit.ly/2o5nJCP]

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KFC spending spree actually cost R126 000

 

In a reply to written DA questions, Gauteng Community Safety MEC, Sizakele Nkosi-Malobane revealed that the expenditure incurred from “KFC” take-away food for prisoners at Leeuwkop Prison was in fact R126 000 and not R60 000 as was reported last month to the media.

 
This was clearly a desperate attempt to buy prisoners’ votes with KFC at the Leeuwkop Prison.

 
According to the department’s response, all procurement procedures were followed and the expenditure incurred came from the budget of the Office of the MEC.

 
Why would the department mislead the public and the media in saying it cost just over R60 000, when in fact it had been signed off from the Office Budget for over double the amount?

 
Furthermore, MEC Nkosi-Malobane, tried to justify this expenditure in saying prisoners were out of their usual environment and would’ve missed their “prison food”.

 
Indeed, convicted criminals deserve to have their human rights upheld, however, by transgressing the laws of the country, engagements with criminals certainly do not warrant a dish-out of take-away chicken.

 
The DA will submit further questions to obtain the alleged three service provider quotations and all supply chain procurement documentation. We will continue to haul the MEC over the coals and grill her for her decision in dishing out finger-licking food.

 
Media Enquiries:

Michele Clarke MPL
DA Gauteng Spokesperson on Community Safety
060 558 8299

Yaseen Carelse
DA Social Cluster Manager
076 721 8613

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

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Ekurhuleni’s elderly and disabled left in the cold by uncaring government

Listening Tour

This morning, as part of my listening tour, I queued with hundreds of elderly and unemployed people from Tsakane, Ekurhuleni from 4am whilst they waited to receive their state social grants.
 
Many of the people I met had already joined the queue as early as 1am. Their reasons for waiting in temperatures as low as 4 degrees was due to the fact that deductions are made  to their SASSA cards and they would rather have cash. 
 
Despite many attempts to resolve this, the ANC led government has ignored their plight.
 

No Income

Many of the people I spoke to have no other income in their households except for these grants and most of the people I spoke to cited unemployment as the major issue affecting them, as their children and grandchildren could not find jobs.
 
As mayor, I would make sure Ekurhuleni is open for business to ensure that our young people can find jobs and opportunities. Ekurhuleni has lost 110 000 jobs in the first 90 days of this year alone, and since Mondli Gungubele took office in 2010, nearly 680 000 people have lost their jobs in this city.
 
I would also ensure that our elderly and vulnerable were protected. I would use the provisions of the intergovernmental relations framework act to directly raise this issue with SASSA, as well as direct the social development department of the metro to ensure people are warm and can at least have a place to sit if they are forced to queue for grants due to inefficiency at national government.
 

Challenge

Ekurhuleni MMC for Social Development, Makhosazana Mabaso, must join the queue in Tsakane at 4am to experience the hardships that residents go through when receiving their grants. I challenge the MMC to upgrade these facilities to make conditions bearable for all who use the facility.
 
Media Enquiries:
 
Warren Gwilt
073 601 6144
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Proud Moment For DA: Councillor Invited To Mandela Washington Fellowship

Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders

The Democratic Alliance is proud to announce that one of their youngest councillors Luyolo Mphithi has received a Mandela Washington Fellowship.

The Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders is the flagship program of President Obama’s Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI).

He will spend six weeks at Syracuse University in New York where he will receive academic training at the university, before attending a summit to be hosted by Obama in Washington.

Luyolo Mphithi

Mphithi is a Mandela Rhodes Scholar who joined the DA at the age of 18 and has served in various structures including DASO, DA Youth and the DA.

Currently he serves as a PR Councillor in the City of Johannesburg, representing Ward 41 in Meadowlands where he is also standing as a candidate.

The DA is committed to building a prestigious network of young African leaders who are at the forefront of change and innovation.

The DA remains committed to change that takes South Africa forward, and we believe in continuing to arm our leaders with skills to ensure they can benefit the broader South African society.

 

Media Enquiries:

John Moodey

DA Gauteng Provincial Leader

082 960 3743

[Image source]

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Joburg human rights abuses: HRC agrees to investigate

Democratic Alliance statement by

Herman Mashaba

DA Mayoral Candidate for Johannesburg

 

Joburg human rights abuses: HRC agrees to investigate

The DA is delighted at the Human Rights Commission’s decision to investigate the City of Johannesburg for rights abuses across the city.

This follows the DA’s complaint lodged in late March regarding living conditions in, among others, Zandspruit, KwaMaiMai, and hostels in Alexandra.

The complaint was sought to hold Mayor Parks Tau and his administration, who have for too long ignored the plight of Joburg’s poorest and most vulnerable, to account.

In the upcoming local government election people hold the power to vote for change, and have the choice to vote in a DA-led city government.

A DA government in Johannesburg will deliver functioning sewerage infrastructure, running water and electricity, and spend more public money on providing services to our poorest communities.

The DA will bring change to Johannesburg just as we have done where we already govern.

Change is coming to Johannesburg, because where the DA governs, life is better.

 

Media enquiries:

Willie Venter

Director: Communications and research

060 963 8260

photo credit:  http://www.sahrc.org.za/

 

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DA welcomes JMPD deployment to protect refuse collectors

The DA welcomes the City of Johannesburg’s decision to heed the DA call made last week, to have Metro Police officers protect auxiliary refuse collectors while the protracted Pikitup strike drags on.

This is a vindication of the DA’s assertion that the City of Joburg was not doing enough to work around the Pikitup strike, or to protect private refuse collectors.

The city’s response to the Pikitup strike has been woefully inadequate. Striking workers have been left to rampage unchecked while Mayor Parks Tau has been torn between his allegiances to the City, the Pikitup entity and the unions on strike.

In alliance with COSATU unions, the ANC is weak and ineffectual at solving strike action.

Recognising rubbish collection as an essential service, a DA-led city government would not allow strike action to affect residents for this ridiculously protracted time.

Enormous amounts of rotten rubbish strewn in our communities are leaving all people unsafe and in unhealthy environments.

Our poorest communities are especially at risk, as rubbish now lies where children play, where old people walk and live and is piling up at the front doors of homes.

In contrast, in the City of Cape Town where the DA governs, a large part of rubbish collection is managed by the City under its direct control, along with a number of private contractors, under close supervision of the city.

This creates an environment of competitive pricing and service delivery, as well as effective contingency planning in the event of industrial action.

It is this form of administration Johannesburg’s people can look forward to when they vote for change in the coming local government elections, and vote the DA into government.

The DA will bring change to Johannesburg, change that brings effective and quality service delivery to all.

Media enquiries:

Willie Venter

Director: Communications and research

060 963 8260

 

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DA Gauteng condemns disruptions and vandalism at Braamfischerville Primary school

Lack of Response

The DA condemns the latest disruption and vandalism at Braamfischerville Primary School today where one classroom has been set alight and other facilities damaged. While the community has genuine concerns, the approach must not deny learners the opportunity to learn.

Community members are fed up with the lack of responsiveness from the Gauteng Education Department to build a brick and mortar school, so that all learners have proper schools in Braamfischerville. Some people decided to take this matter in their own hands.

It is unfortunate that violence and vandalism are continually seen as the best methods to get the Provincial Governments attention.

Neglected Communities

The DA believes that the School Governing Body must be empowered to represent the parents in engaging with the department. Destroying school facilities is irresponsible and unacceptable.

The Department of Education has set aside R2.5 billion for school infrastructure. There are currently five schools under construction in Braamfischerville. Earlier this month, the DA conducted site inspections to ascertain whether the projects will be ready for the 2016 academic year.

While it’s important to build new settlements, part of the plan must be to build school infrastructure and health facilities for community members. Unfortunately, this is not the case in Braamfischerville where residents were allocated to the area without the facilities it needs to empower the residents in the community.

The DA will engage with the disgruntled community members to take up their fight with the Gauteng Provincial Government. To ascertain whether there are plans to build a brick and mortar school and the time frame to do so.

Media enquiries:

Khume Ramulifho MPL

DA Gauteng Shadow MEC for Education

082 398 7375

[Image Source]