Criminal Gauteng SAPS members continue to serve

There are 271 South African Police Service members in Gauteng who continue to perform active duty despite having been convicted of committing criminal offences.

Of these, 248 have been convicted of committing serious crimes.

This was revealed by the MEC for Community Safety, Sizakele Nkosi-Malobane, in a written response to a question I posed to her regarding this matter.

Gauteng Premier, David Makhura, in his State of the Province Address indicated that he would take a tough stance on crime and rebuilding confidence in the SAPS.

It is hard to imagine how this will be achieved when there are convicted criminals within the ranks of the SAPS.

Closer scrutiny and background checks should be done to ensure that the good guys in blue are not tarnished by nefarious characters.

The DA will demand that MEC Nkosi-Malobane takes steps to have these individuals relieved of their duties.

Media enquiries:
Michele Clarke MPL
DA Gauteng Spokesperson on Community Safety
060 558 8309

700 000 Human settlement backlog contradicts Premiers megacity promise

During the 2015 SOPA debate,  Human Settlements MEC,  Jacob Mamabolo failed to explain why the 700 000 housing backlog has not yet been dealt with.

 

As it stands the current the Human Settlements Department’s capacity is 30 000 houses a year.

 

At this rate the department will take 23 years to deal with the current backlog.

 

The MEC’s inability to respond to the when the backlog will be dealt with is startling –  given Premier David Makhura’s promise of building five new megacities.

 

Such cities are usually characterised by growing infrastructure which equates to increased communities. Failure to address the human settlements backlog will see a domino effect of failed development of the Gauteng City Region.

 

The repeated failures by the Human settlements department to achieve its own grand goals will not go unnoticed. Gone are the days where the electorate will be hoodwinked by the ANC’s empty promises and it will face the voters’ wrath at the 2016 polls.

 

Media Enquiries:

Mervyn Cirota MPL

DA Gauteng Spokesperson on Human Settlements

060 558 8312

 

Clayville Ext 45 residents none the wiser about improved infrastructure

Gersbach-Graham1Gauteng MEC for Housing and Traditional Affairs, Jacob Mamabolo, has pronounced noble intentions to improve the living conditions of residents of Clayville Ext 45, Ekurhuleni, but has failed to provide detailed plans as to how this is to be done.

 

In a written reply, the MEC stated that 3 384 stands in Clayville Ext 45 were to be developed providing for 200 single residential RDP units, 1 704 High Density Walk-up units, 380 rental units and 1 100 GAP / FLISP units (for persons not qualifying for RDP or bonded units).

 

Beneficiaries of these plans include residents of the nearby Madelakufa 1 & 2 Informal Settlements, Freedom Square and applicants on the Tembisa housing waiting list.

 

Whilst the reply stated that schools, parks, medical facilities, roads and transport facilities were being planned – no detail of these facilities was provided.

 

The nearby Mpumelelo Primary School, designed for 1 800 learners, has an enrolment in excess of 2 300 yet is still housed in temporary facilities.

 

Gauteng Premier, David Makhura, mentioned in his State of the Province Address that Clayville Ext 45 is one of the areas included in the delivery of more than 100,000 housing units in the next 5 years.

 

However, there are still no details as to what is planned.

 

My colleague, DA Gauteng Shadow MEC for Education, Khume Ramulifho MPL, and I will address a public meeting on Wednesday, 4 March, 2015 at the Olifantsfontein Community Centre at 19h00 to provide feedback to the community on the DA’s education campaign.

 

Educational needs are critical to sustainable human settlements.

 

The DA will continue to ensure that the needs of the residents are addressed effectively and are not lost in the mists of cheap talk.

 

Media enquiries:
Graham Gersbach MPL
DA Spokesperson on Roads
060 556 4346

 

Blockages at licencing centres should be easily removed

Following the problems experienced at licensing centres across Gauteng, Centurion in particular, the DA conducted a follow up visit to the facility.

 

Although a general improvement in efficiency and staff attitudes seems to have taken place, the biggest single disruption in the licencing procedure was experienced at the eye-test station.

 

The majority of testing machines were unmanned leading to long delays and frustration.

 

This is a simple organisational problem, not beyond the capacity of management to fix.

 

The breakdown of these facilities has negative impact on the economy as applicants often have to leave work leading to down time.

 

It is not uncommon for employers to have to give their staff up to three days off to visit the licencing centres.

 

Unpaid leave is often the norm.

 

What should be a quick routine operation turns into a frustrating and time-consuming exercise.

 

This applies equally to school learners and students who lose out on precious class and study time.

 

Inefficiency in the licencing system impacts negatively on both municipal and provincial revenues, as a large percentage of fees obtained in the licencing and testing process reverts to municipal coffers with the rest going to the Province.

 

Delays in the process inevitably slow down the revenue flow.

 

There should be an environment of trust and confidence between officials and the public, who ultimately pay their salaries.

 

The situation in a number of licencing centres unnecessarily erodes this relationship, making the corrective steps which should be taken all the more urgent.

 

Media enquiries:

Justus de Goede MPL

DA Gauteng Spokesperson on Transport

060 558 8305