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DA to host 2023 Gauteng East Regional Congress

The DA will host its 2023 Gauteng East Regional Congress this Saturday, 22 July 2023. This congress marks another occasion on which democracy will be celebrated. With almost 300 delegates casting their votes for key party positions, the party seeks to ensure a constitutional right to fair and open elections.

Attendees of the congress include current, DA Gauteng Leader, Solly Msimanga, and other senior political figures in Gauteng. At the Regional Congress, various leadership positions for the DA Gauteng East Region will be contested and a race for key positions within the party will be decided by a democratic vote.

The positions that will be elected on the day are as follows:
• Regional Chairperson;
• Regional Senior Vice Chairperson;
• Regional Secretary;
• Regional Membership Chairperson;
• Regional Training Chairperson;
• Regional Finance Chairperson;
• Regional Delegates to the Provincial Executive Committee;
• Regional Delegates to Federal Council.

Internal elections are a testament to any party’s conviction to their own and the South African constitution. South Africans deserve better, and with the 2024 elections around the corner, effective public representation and a commitment to constitutionalism will be more important than ever.

Members of the media are hereby invited to attend the event of which the details are below:

Date: Saturday, 22 July 2023
Time: 9:00 – 14:00
Venue: Barnyard Theatre, Emperor’s Palace

There will be opportunities for interviews and photographs before, during and after the congress.

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Working Together for the Future of Gauteng: Lessons from Tshwane

The DA in Gauteng is heartened by the successful passage this week of Tshwane’s IDP framework and budget for 2023/2024 under the principled leadership of Executive Mayor Cilliers Brink. The backing by a significant majority is a testament to the power of sincere and mature politics, focused delivery, and an approach that embraces all sectors of our society.

This achievement in Tshwane signals the DA’s commitment to stability, even in the face of many efforts to sabotage government where the DA and our coalition partners have sought to bring an end to ANC-EFF failures and decay. It exemplifies our dedication to the people of Gauteng, strengthening our resolve to foster fiscal stability throughout the province to ensure it truly works for its residents.

In the lead-up to the vote, the engagement with other parties showcased the potency of democratic collaboration. This spirit of robust debate, infused with respect and a common goal, not only led to the positive outcome in Tshwane but also set an example for all of Gauteng. I am optimistic that, given the opportunity of voters a year from today to set the tone for Gauteng’s politics, this attitude will reverberate through the province, ultimately ensuring a healthier South African political landscape.

This vote has invigorated confidence in Tshwane’s fiscal health, demonstrating that prudent budgeting and honest politics can work hand-in-hand to stimulate investment, encourage business confidence, and ignite the economic vitality needed to drive community development across Gauteng.

We are committed to carrying this ethos of constructive politics and inclusive engagement across our province. This spirit is the heartbeat of the DA’s Moonshot Pact. And the example set by the Multi-Party Coalition government in Tshwane shows the promise of this approach where delivery is the aim and hope is shared. This is our pledge to the people of Gauteng.

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ANC-EFF-PA dooms Jhb to further failure and future instability

The DA in Gauteng regrets the decision of the majority of Johannesburg City Councillors to double down on the disaster of installing ANC-EFF puppet mayors incapable of governing the City with competence, public trust, and stability.

The ANC-EFF puppet mayor, Cllr Kabelo Gwamanda of Al Jama-Ah, received an outright majority of votes in the first round of voting, with the DA’s Cllr Mpho Phalatse receiving the second most votes. Cllr Funzi Ngobeni of ASA came last.

This result confirms the destructive intent of the ANC-EFF-PA doomsday coalition to destabilise service delivery in Gauteng and loot and leech whilst residents languish.

Today could have been a turning point for the people of Johannesburg had Cllr Phalatse won and reinvigorated the massive task of getting Johannesburg back on track. But residents of the City, and people across the country, will see in today’s results the crystallisation of the political choice facing all of us: a future of DA-led delivery or a future of ANC-EFF failure.

Only through reliable partnerships, built in good faith and in the public interest, can a bold Moonshot Pact offer what our people so desperately need: hope that change is possible.

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e-Tolls not going anywhere anytime soon, residents may still have to pay their e-Toll debt

The wool has been pulled over the eyes of Gauteng residents yet again regarding e-Tolls.

Bold promises were made last year and earlier this year that our residents will not have to pay for e-Tolls. The gantries will be switched off, and this unwanted system will be a thing of the past.

However, this weekend media reports surfaced indicating that as per the constitution, the South African National Roads Agency (Sanral) cannot write off the e-Toll debt.

This is according to the Inclusive Society Institute (ISI), which said that constitutional law dictates that Sanral does not have the power to excuse non-payment of e-Toll fees once incurred.

The Democratic Alliance (DA) maintains that e-Tolls are an unwanted burden foisted upon our residents without proper consultation.

Earlier this year, we took the e-Toll fight to the National Council of Provinces and our motion without notice on this matter was passed.

It is worrying that the financial model for replacing e-Tolls has still not been finalised. This means this province has committed to debt for which it has no idea how to service. Inevitably funds will be taken away from other departments, and service delivery in the province will continue to suffer.

The DA rejects any new taxes or increases in the current taxes or fees to fund e-Toll debt.

We will continue to monitor the implementation of this motion to ensure that our residents are not once again saddled with an unwanted tax.

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e-Tolls no show in Gauteng budget, residents left in limbo

The Gauteng budget for 2023/24 does not highlight how the provincial government will fund its e-Toll debt.

This shows that the Gauteng Provincial Government (GPG) committed to the e-Toll liability without knowing how it will fund its share of the debt.

National Treasury has also indicated to the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) during a budget meeting last night that there was no clarity on how Gauteng intended to fund its liability.

In addition, Treasury stated that using e-Toll gantries remains an option to generate revenue. However, the Gauteng government will have to decide how it wants to fund the e-Toll debt as well as its promise to repay motorists who had paid e-Tolls.

This follows after the Premier boldly announced in his State of the Province Address that e-Tolls have been scrapped.

It is worrying that the Gauteng government has no plan to fund e-Toll debt. It committed to a decision to scrap e-Tolls and take on the debt for the sake of political expediency.

The DA’s position remains clear that e-Tolls must be scrapped but that this must not be funded through a new or increased tax, as this will not lighten the burden on Gauteng residents.

There is sufficient income generated by fuel levies in Gauteng to repay the debt. The DA also proposed that under expenditure by the government be used as a funding source for e-Toll debt.

The DA will continue to fight against e-Tolls and any possible new taxes.

 

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DA demands safer roads for Gauteng residents after tanker explosion at William Nicol off-ramp

The DA in Gauteng is very concerned about another major incident involving the transport of hazardous material through the province.

The transportation of hazardous materials poses a risk to life and property if it is not done within the regulations for transporting hazardous goods.

This stems from a major fire and explosion today near the William Nicol off-ramp when a mini tanker without signage exploded.

The major incident that happened over December in Boksburg is still fresh in our minds as well as subsequent incidents.

The DA demands stricter law enforcement of the regulations for transporting hazardous goods through Gauteng. The regulations require drivers to have the requisite license to transport hazardous goods, permits for the company transporting dangerous goods, signage on the vehicle that transports such goods and safety equipment and systems on the vehicles to ensure that emergencies can be handled.

All law enforcement agencies in Gauteng are responsible for keeping residents and their properties safe from calamitous events caused by the transport of hazardous goods through the province.

The DA will continue in its fight to ensure that Gauteng roads are made safe for all inhabitants of the province.

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DA to assess the poorly maintained R101 Road in Tshwane

Today, Friday, 28 October 2022, the Democratic Alliance (DA), Shadow MEC for Roads and Transport, Fred Nel MPL, the DA Gauteng Spokesperson for Roads and Transport, Evert Du Plessis MPL and DA Ward 96 Tshwane Councillor, Ge Breytenbach, will be conducting an oversight inspection to the R101 road in Tshwane.

The volume of traffic has increased tremendously because it is the main road linking Hammanskraal and the Tshwane CBD. In addition, heavy-duty trucks also use this road to avoid the toll road putting added strain on the road surface.

This road is in terrible condition, and motorists using this road routinely have their tyres damaged. There is also a high number of pedestrians who use this road.

During our oversight inspection, we will also determine if any work has been done to upgrade this road and if new road markings and signs have been erected.

Date: 28 October 2022

Time: 9am

Address: R101, Bonaccord Spar

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#Let’sGetGautengMoving: DA to assess measures put in place to deal with corruption at Xavier Junction DLTC

Tomorrow, Thursday, 13 October 2022, the Democratic Alliance (DA) Gauteng Shadow MEC for Roads and Transport, Fred Nel MPL, the DA Gauteng Spokesperson for Roads and Transport, Evert Du Plessis MPL, will be conducting an oversight inspection at the Xavier Junction Driver’s Licence and Testing Centre (DLTC), Mondeor, Johannesburg.

Earlier this year, two people were arrested at this DLTC for selling driver’s licences. During our oversight inspection, we will be assessing what measures have been put in place to deal with bribery and corruption.

In addition, we will also engage with the management of the DLTC to find out what impact load-shedding has had on their operations and, if they have any backup generators in place as well as how they are dealing with driver’s licence backlog.

Our residents deserve to have DLTCs that are free from corruption and render adequate services. This will ensure that our only drivers who have fulfilled all the requirements of obtaining a licence are issued with a driver’s licence, and it will reduce the number of fatalities on the roads.

The media is invited and there will be an opportunity for interviews and photographs.

Details of the oversight visit are as follows:

Date: 13 October 2022
Time: 10am
Address: 5 Rente St, Ormonde, Johannesburg South, 2091