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Author:
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Alan McLoughlin MP, DA Member on Standing Committee on the Auditor-General
Alf Lees MP, DA Spokesperson on the Standing Committee on Public Accounts
Alf Lees MP, DA Spokesperson on the Standing Committee on Public Accounts
Allen Grootboom MP, DA Shadow Deputy Minister of Arts and Culture
Anchen Dreyer MP DA Shadow Minister of Public Works
Anchen Dreyer MP, DA Parliamentary Caucus Chairperson & DA Member on Ethics Committee
Anchen Dreyer MP, DA Shadow Minister of Public Works
Andrew Gibbon Spokesperson on Human Settlements - Nelson Mandela Bay Metro
Andrew Louw MPL DA Leader in the Northern Cape
Andrew Whitfield (MP), Frontier Constituency Leader
Andrew Whitfield MP, DA Member on Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Tourism
Andrew Whitfield MP, Frontier Constituency Leader
Andricus van der Westhuizen MP, DA Shadow Deputy Minister of Public Service and Administration
Annelie Lotriet MP DA Shadow Minister of Higher Education and Training
Annelie Lotriet MP, DA Shadow Minister of Science and Technology
Annette Lovemore MP DA Shadow Minister of Basic Education
Annette Lovemore MP DA Shadow Minister of Basic Education
Annette Lovemore MP, Constituency Leader: Karoo
Annette Lovemore MP, DA Shadow Minister of Basic Education
Annette Lovemore, MP Constituency Leader, Winterberg (Uitenhage, Despatch, Motherwell)
Annette Steyn MP DA Shadow Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
Annette Steyn MP, DA Shadow Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
Annette Steyn MP, Shadow Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
Archibold Figlan MP, DA Shadow Deputy Minister of Home Affairs
Athol Trollip (MPL) Eastern Cape Provincial Leader
Athol Trollip (MPL) Leader in the Provincial Legislature
Athol Trollip (MPL) Provincial Leader
Athol Trollip (MPL), Eastern Cape Provincial Leader
Athol Trollip (MPL), Leader of DA in the Eastern Cape Provincial Legislature
Athol Trollip (MPL), Leader of the Official Opposition in the Eastern Cape Provincial Legislature
Athol Trollip (MPL), Leader of the Official Opposition in the Provincial Legislature
Athol Trollip (MPL), Leader of the Official Opposition in the Provincial Legislature
Athol Trollip (MPL), Leader of the official opposition in the Eastern Cape Provincial Legislature.
Athol Trollip (MPL), Leader the official opoosition in the Eastern Cape Provincial Legislature
Athol Trollip (MPL), DA Leader in the Eastern Cape
Athol Trollip (MPL), DA Leader in the Eastern Cape
Athol Trollip (MPL), Eastern Cape Provincial Leader
Athol Trollip (MPL), Leader in the Eastern Cape Provincial Legislature
Athol Trollip (MPL), Leader of DA in the Eastern Cape Provincial Legislature
Athol Trollip (MPL), Mayoral Candidate for Nelson Mandela Bay
Athol Trollip MPL, Mayoral candidate for Nelson Mandela Bay
Athol Trollip MPL, Mayoral candidate for Nelson Mandela Bay
Athol Trollip, DA Mayoral Candidate for Nelson Mandela Bay
Athol Trollip, DA Mayoral Candidate: Nelson Mandela Bay
Bill Eloff MP DA Shadow Deputy Minister of International Relations and Co-operation
Bobby Stevenson (MPL) Chief Whip in the Provincial Legislature
Bobby Stevenson (MPL) Chief Whip: DA Eastern Cape Provincial Legislature
Bobby Stevenson (MPL) PE SouthWest Constituency Leader
Bobby Stevenson (MPL) Shadow MEC for Finance
Bobby Stevenson (MPL) Spokesperson for Safety and Security
Bobby Stevenson (MPL) Spokesperson on Safety and Security
Bobby Stevenson (MPL), Chief Whip of the Official Opposition in the Eastern Cape Provincial Legislature
Bobby Stevenson (MPL), Deputy provincial leader
Bobby Stevenson (MPL), Leader in the Eastern Cape Provincial Leader
Bobby Stevenson (MPL), Leader of the DA in the Eastern Cape Provincial Legislature
Bobby Stevenson (MPL), Leader of the Official Opposition in the Eastern Cape Provincial Legislature
Bobby Stevenson (MPL), Shadow MEC for Finance
Bobby Stevenson (MPL), Shadow MEC for Safety and Security
Bobby Stevenson (MPL), Shadow MEC for Safety and Security
Bobby Stevenson (MPL), Spokesperson on Safety and Security
Bobby Stevenson DA MPL
Bobby Stevenson MPL, DA Chief Whip
Bobby Stevenson MPL, DA Shadow MEC for Finance
Bobby Stevenson MPL, DA Shadow MEC for Safety
Bobby Stevenson MPL, DA Shadow MEC for Safety and Security
Bobby Stevenson MPL, Leader in the Eastern Cape Provincial Legislature
Bobby Stevenson MPL, Leader of the Official Opposition in the Eastern Cape Provincial Legislature
Bobby Stevenson, DA Shadow MEC for Finance
Bobby Stevenson, MPL, DA Shadow MEC for Safety and Security
Bridget Masango MP, DA Member of the NCOP
Cameron MacKenzie MP, DA Shadow Deputy Minister of Telecommunications and Postal Services
Cameron MacKenzie MP, DA Shadow Deputy Minister of Telecommunications and Postal Services
Celeste Barker (MPL), Shadow MEC for Health
Celeste Barker MPL (Shadow MEC for Health) and Sue Bentley (BCM councillor)
Celeste Barker MPL, Chris Hani Constituency Leader
Celeste Barker MPL, Chris Hani Constituency Leader
Celeste Barker MPL, DA Shadow MEC for Health
Celeste Barker MPL, DAWN Provincial Chairperson
Celeste Barker MPL, Shadow MEC for Health.
Chantel King MP, Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality
Chris Hattingh MPL, DA Leader in North West
Chris Hunsinger MP, DA Shadow Deputy Minister of Transport
Cllr Andrew Whitfield Caucus spokesperson, NMBM
Cllr Andrew Whitfield Caucus spokesperson, NMBM
Cllr Andrew Whitfield DA Caucus Spokesperson NMBM
Cllr Andrew Whitfield PR Councillor – Sports, Arts, Recreation and Culture
Cllr Andrew Whitfield, Caucus Spokesperson NMBM
Cllr Andrew Whitfield, DA Caucus Spokesperson NMBM
Cllr Annette Rademeyer PR Councillor: Buffalo City Municipality
Cllr Bettie Lawens Inxuba Yethemba Municipality
Cllr Brenton Williams Spokesperson for Kouga DA Caucus
Cllr Cecilia Auld
Cllr Dean Biddulph, DA Metro Caucus Spokesperson - Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality
Cllr Desmond Peterson, Kouga Municipality
Cllr Dillon Webb, DA PR Councillor - Buffalo City Municipality
Cllr Francois Greyling - Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality
Cllr Francois Greyling - Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality
Cllr Francois Strydom, Koukamma PR Councillor
Cllr Gustav Rautenbach - Nelson Mandela Bay Metro
Cllr Gustav Rautenbach DA Chief Whip - Nelson Mandela Bay Metro
Cllr Horatio Hendricks, MPAC Chairperson, Cacadu District Municipality
Cllr Isabel Thompson, Buffalo City Metro Municipality
Cllr Jan Smit, DA Caucus Chairperson - Buffalo City Municipality
Cllr Jan Smit, DA Caucus Spokesperson - Buffalo City Municipality
Cllr Johnny Lewis and Cllr Bradley Seekoei PR Councillors - Ikwezi Municipality
Cllr Joseph Cawood, Caucus Leader for Kouga Municipality
Cllr Khanyisa Daweti, DA Eastern Cape Provincial Interim Youth Chairperson
Cllr Kobus Botha DA BCM Caucus Spokesperson
Cllr Kobus Botha DA BCMM Caucus Spokesperson
Cllr Lance Weyer DA Buffalo City Caucus
Cllr Lance Weyer Buffalo City Metro Municipality Caucus
Cllr Lance Weyer Councillor - DA Buffalo City Caucus
Cllr Lance Weyer DA member of the Municipal Public Accounts Committee
Cllr Lance Weyer, BCM Caucus Spokesperson
Cllr Lance Weyer, DA BCM Caucus Spokesperson
Cllr Lance Weyer, DA BCMM Caucus Spokesperson
Cllr Leon de Villiers DA Caucus Leader, Nelson Mandela Bay Metro
Cllr Leon de Villiers DA Caucus Leader - Nelson Mandela Bay Metro
Cllr Leon de Villiers DA Caucus Leader in the Nelson Mandela Bay
Cllr Les Reynolds, DA Makana Caucus Leader
Cllr Les Reynolds, DA Makana Caucus Leader
Cllr Les Reynolds, PR Councillor & DA Makana Caucus Leader
Cllr Magda Botha, PR Cllr: Inkwanca Municipality
Cllr Marina Van Zyl, Caucus Leader - Gariep Municipality
Cllr Marion Mackley, Ward 4 Councillor - Buffalo City Metro Municipality
Cllr Marshall von Buchenroder Spokesperson on Safety and Security
Cllr Marshall von Buchenroder, Member of Portfolio Committee on Public Participation
Cllr Morne Steyn, Ward 5 Councillor - Nelson Mandela Bay Metro
Cllr Olwethu Ntame BCMM DA Whip Councillor
Cllr Patricia Williams, Buffalo City Municipality Caucus
Cllr Patricia Williams, Buffalo City Municipality Caucus
Cllr Ramona Joubert
Cllr Retief Odendaal - DA Caucus Leader, Nelson Mandela Bay Metro
Cllr Retief Odendaal DA Caucus Leader, Nelson Mandela Bay Metro
Cllr Retief Odendaal DA Caucus Leader, Nelson Mandela Bay Metro
Cllr Retief Odendaal DA Spokesperson, Municipal Public Accounts Committee
Cllr Retief Odendaal, Caucus Leader, Nelson Mandela Bay Metro
Cllr Retief Odendaal, Caucus Leader, Nelson Mandela Bay Metro
Cllr Retief Odendaal, DA Caucus Leader - Nelson Mandela Bay Metro
Cllr Samantha Jankovich Karoo-Midlands Constituency Spokesperson on Fracking
Cllr Samantha Jankovich, DA Mayoral Candidate: Camdeboo/Ikwezi/Baviaans Municipality
Cllr Sharne Jacobs DA PR councillor, Great Kei Municipality
Cllr Sue Bentley DA Caucus, Buffalo City Metro
Cllr Sue Bentley DA Caucus, Buffalo City Metro
Cllr Sue Bentley, BCMM Councillor
Cllr Sue Bentley, DA Caucus - Buffalo City Metro
Cllr Taki Kyriakos, Councillor in the Amahlathi Local Municipality
Cllr Terence Fritz Caucus Leader - Buffalo City Municipality
Cllr Terence Fritz, Caucus Leader - Buffalo City Municipality
Cllr Terri Stander, Ndlambe DA caucus
Cllr Thabisa Goniwe-Mafanya, Councillor in the Phesheya Kwenciba Constituency
Cllr Wonga Potwana, Councillor in the Alfred Nzo Constituency
Cllr. Angelo Dashwood (PR) DA Spokeperson, Budget & Treasury
Cllrs Bev Wood & Sharne Jacobs, Great Kei Municipality
Councillor Bill Gould, Buffalo City Metropolitan
Councillor Handri Vorster, Inxuba Yethemba Local Municipality
Councillor Kekeletso Mahlelebe, Elundini Local Municipality
Councillor Kekeletso Mahlelebe, Elundini Local Municipality
Councillor Malibongwe Xhelisilo, Enoch Mgijima Local Municipality
Councillor Matthee Nel, Walter Sisulu Local Municipality
Councillor Matthee Nel, Walter Sisulu Local Municipality
Councillor Mlindi Nhanha, DA Caucus Leader in makana Municipality
Councillor Monde Desha, DA Caucus Leader in Inxuba Yethemba Municipality
Councillor Thembalihle Xhangayi, OR Tambo District Municipality
Dacre Haddon (MPL) Housing, Transport, Local Government and Traditional Affairs in the Eastern Cape Provincial Legislature.
Dacre Haddon (MPL) Shadow MEC for Local Government
Dacre Haddon (MPL) Spokesperson on Housing
Dacre Haddon (MPL) Spokesperson on Human Settlements
Dacre Haddon (MPL) Spokesperson on Transport
Dacre Haddon (MPL) Zuurberg Constituency Leader
Dacre Haddon (MPL), Zuurberg Constituency Leader
Darren Bergman MP, DA Shadow Deputy Minister of Sports and Recreation
David Matsepe MP, DA Member of the Portfolio Committee on Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs
David Maynier MP DA Shadow Minister of Defence and Military Veterans
David Maynier MP, DA Shadow Minister of Defence and Military Veterans
David Ross MP DA Shadow Deputy Minister of Finance
David Ross MP, DA Shadow Deputy Minister of Finance
Dean Macpherson MP, DA Shadow Deputy Minister for Trade and Industry
Debbie Schafer MP DA Shadow Deputy Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development
Debbie Schafer MP DA Shadow Deputy Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development
Democratic Alliance
Denise Robinson MP DA Shadow Deputy Minister of Health
Denise Robinson MP, DA Shadow Minister of Women in the Presidency
Denise Robinson MP, Leader of the DA Women’s Network (DAWN)
Denise Robinson MP, Leader of the DA Women’s Network (DAWN) and Shadow Minister for Women in the Presidency
Denise Robinson MP, Leader of the DA Women’s Network (DAWN) and Shadow Minister for Women in the Presidency
Derrick America MP, DA member on Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Labour
Desiree van der Walt MP, DA Shadow Deputy Minister of Basic Education
Desiree van der Walt, DA Limpopo Education Spokesperson
Dianne Kohler Barnard MP DA Shadow Minister of Police
Dianne Kohler Barnard MP DA Shadow Minister of Police
Dianne Kohler Barnard MP, DA Shadow Minister of Police
Dianne Kohler Barnard MP, Patricia Kopane MP, Nqaba Bhanga MP, Cathy Labuschagne MP, Stevens Mokgalapa MP, Sejamothopo Motau MP, Annette Steyn MP
Dion George MP DA Representative on the Standing Committee on Public Accounts
Dirk Stubbe MP DA Shadow Minister of State Security
Dirk Stubbe MP, DA Shadow Minister of State Security
Dr Dion George MP, DA Shadow Minister of Finance
Dr Heinrich Volmink MP, DA Shadow Deputy Minister Health
Dr Malcolm Figg (MP), Baviaans Constituency Leader
Dr Malcolm Figg MP, DA Member of the National Assembly
Dr Malcolm Figg MP, DA Member on Standing Committee on Appropriations
Dr Mamphela Ramphele DA Presidential Candidate
Dr Michael Cardo MP, DA Shadow Deputy Minister in the Presidency
Dr Wilmot James MP DA Parliamentary Caucus Chairperson
Dr Wilmot James MP Federal Chairperson of the Democratic Alliance
Dr Wilmot James MP Shadow Minister of Trade and Industry
Dr Wilmot James MP, DA Federal Chairperson
Dr Wilmot James MP, DA Parliamentary Caucus Chairperson
Dr Wilmot James MP, DA Shadow Minister of Health
Dr Wilmot James MP, DA Shadow Minister of Health
Dr Wilmot James MP, DA Shadow Minister of Trade and Industry
Dr Wilmot James MP, Federal Chairperson of the Democratic Alliance
Dr. Dion George MP, DA Shadow Minister of Finance
Dr. Wilmot James MP, DA Shadow Minister of Health
Dr. Wilmot James MP, DA Shadow Minister of Health
Edmund van Vuuren (MPL) DA Shadow MEC for Education
Edmund van Vuuren (MPL) Eastern Cape Shadow MEC for Education
Edmund van Vuuren (MPL) Shadow MEC for Education
Edmund van Vuuren (MPL), Shadow MEC for Education
Edmund van Vuuren (MPL), Shadow MEC for Education.
Edmund van Vuuren MPL, DA Constituency Leader – Northern Areas
Edmund van Vuuren MPL, DA Shadow MEC for Education
Edmund van Vuuren MPL, DA spokesperson on the Office of the Premier
Elza van Lingen (MP) DA Leader in the National Council of Provinces
Elza van Lingen (MP), DA Constituency Leader: Kouga
Elza van Lingen (MP), DA Leader, National Council of Provinces
Elza van Lingen MP DA Leader in the National Council of Provinces
Elza van Lingen MP, DA Eastern Cape Member of the NCOP
Elza van Lingen MP, DA Leader in the NCOP
Elza van Lingen MP, DA National Council of Province Member for the Eastern Cape
Elza van Lingen MP, DA National Council of Province Member for the Eastern Cape
Erik Marais MP, DA Shadow Deputy Minister of Public Enterprises
Gavin Davis MP, DA Shadow Minister of Communications
Geordin Hill-Lewis MP, DA Shadow Minister for Trade and Industry
George Michalakis MP, DA Member of the NCOP
Glynnis Breytenbach MP, DA Member of Parliament
Glynnis Breytenbach MP, DA Shadow Minister of Justice
Glynnis Breytenbach MP, Shadow Minister of Justice
Gordon Mackay MP, DA Shadow Deputy Minister of Energy
Greg Krumbock MP DA Shadow Deputy Minister of Transport
Greg Krumbock MP, DA Shadow Deputy Minister of Transport
Haniff Hoosen MP, DA Shadow Minister of Home Affairs
Helen Lamoela MP DA Shadow Minister of Women, Children and People with Disabilities
Helen Zille Leader of the DA
Helen Zille Leader of the Democratic Alliance
Helen Zille DA Leader
Helen Zille Leader of the DA
Helen Zille Leader of the Democratic Alliance
Helen Zille Premier of the Western Cape
Helen Zille, Leader of the DA
Helen Zille, Leader of the DA
Helen Zille, Leader of the Democratic Alliance
Helen Zille, Premier of the Western Cape
Helen Zille, Premier of the Western Cape and Leader of the Democratic Alliance
Helga van Staaden, PR Councillor in the DASO Constituency
Hendrik Schmidt MP DA Shadow Deputy Minister of Mineral Resources
Hendrik Schmidt MP, DA Shadow Deputy Minister of Mineral Resources
Hlumela Bucwa, NMMU SRC President
Ian Ollis MP DA Shadow Minister of Transport
Ian Ollis MP, DA Shadow Minister of Labour
Ivan Meyer MPL, DA Leader in the Western Cape
Ivan Meyer, DA Leader in the Western Cape
Ivan Meyer, DA Leader in the Western Cape
Jack Bloom MPL, DA Gauteng Health Spokesperson
James Lorimer MP, DA Shadow Minister of Mineral Resources
James Masango DA Mpumalanga Chairperson
James Masango MP, DA Shadow Deputy Minister of Public Works
James Selfe MP Chairperson of the DA Federal Council
James Selfe MP Chairperson of the DA Federal Executive
James Selfe MP DA Shadow Minister of Correctional Services
James Selfe MP, Chairperson of the DA Federal Executive
James Selfe MP, Chairperson of the DA’s Federal Executive
James Selfe MP, DA Shadow Minister of Correctional Services
James Selfe MP, DA Shadow Minister of Correctional Services
James Selfe, DA Chairperson of the Federal Executive
James Vos MP, DA Shadow Minister of Tourism
Joe McGluwa MP DA Shadow Minister in the Presidency
Joe McGluwa MP, DA Shadow Minister of Public Service and Administration
John Cupido (MPL) Spokesperson for Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture
John Moodey DA Leader in Gauteng
John Moodey DA Gauteng Leader
John Moodey DA Gauteng Leader
John Moodey DA Leader in Gauteng
John Moodey MPL Provincial Leader
John Moodey, MPL Gauteng Provincial Leader
John Steenhuisen MP DA Shadow Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs
John Steenhuisen MP, DA Chief Whip
John Steenhuisen MP, DA Shadow Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs
John Steenhuisen MP, Democratic Alliance Chief Whip
Johni Steenkamp MP, DA member on Parliament's Portfolio Committee on Environmental Affairs
Joint Statement by Dr Mamphela Ramphele & Helen Zille
Karin de Kock MP, DA member on Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Social Development
Kenneth Mubu DA Shadow Minister of Labour
Kenneth Mubu MP, DA Shadow Minister of Public Works
Kenneth Mubu MP, DA Shadow Minister of Public Works
Kenneth Mubu Shadow Minister of Labour
Kevin Mileham (MP) DA Constituency Leader - Makana Municipality
Kevin Mileham (MP) Frontier Constituency Leader
Kevin Mileham MP & Natasha Michael MP
Kevin Mileham MP DA Shadow Deputy Minister of Rural Development and Land Reform
Kevin Mileham MP, DA Shadow Deputy Minister of Rural Development and Land Reform
Kevin Mileham MP, DA Shadow Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs
Kevin Mileham MP, DA Shadow Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs
Kevin Mileham, DA Shadow Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs
Kevin Mileham, MP Buffalo City Coastal Constituency Leader
Kevin Mileham, MP Constituency Leader, Frontier (Grahamstown & Port Alfred)
Kevin Mileham, MP Frontier Constituency Leader
Kobus Botha (MPL) Shadow MEC for Human Settlements
Kobus Botha (MPL) Shadow MEC for Social Development
Kobus Botha (MPL), Deputy spokesperson on Local Government and Traditional Affairs
Kobus Botha (MPL), Shadow MEC for Social Development
Kobus Botha MPL, Constituency Leader: EC Midlands
Kobus Botha MPL, DA Midlands Constituency Leader
Kobus Botha MPL, DA Shadow MEC for Human Settlements
Kobus Botha MPL, DA Shadow MEC for Social Development
Kobus Botha MPL, DA Spokesperson for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs
Kobus Botha, MPL, DA Shadow MEC for Human Settlements
Kobus Botha, MPL, DA spokesperson on Transport
Kobus Marais MP DA Shadow Minister of Public Service and Administration
Kobus Marais MP, DA Shadow Minister of Economic Development
Lance Greyling MP & Natasha Michael MP, DA Shadow Minister of Energy & DA Shadow Minister of Public Enterprises
Lance Greyling MP DA Shadow Minister of Energy
Lance Greyling MP, DA Shadow Minister of Energy
Leon Basson MP, DA Shadow Deputy Minister of Water and Sanitation
Lindiwe Mazibuko MP Parliamentary Leader of the Democratic Alliance
Lindiwe Mazibuko MP Democratic Alliance Parliamentary Leader
Lindiwe Mazibuko MP Parliamentary Leader of the Democratic Alliance
Lindiwe Mazibuko MP, Parliamentary Leader of the Democratic Alliance
Lindy Wilson MP, DA Shadow Deputy Minister of Social Development
Makashule Gana MP, DA Shadow Minister of Human Settlements
Makashule Gana MP, DA Shadow Minister of Human Settlements
Makashule Gana, DA Shadow Minister of Human Settlements
Manny de Freitas MP, DA Shadow Minister of Home Affairs
Manny de Freitas MP, DA Shadow Minister of Transport
Marian Shinn MP DA Shadow Minister of Communications
Marian Shinn MP DA Shadow Minister of Communications
Marian Shinn MP, DA Shadow Minister of Telecommunications and Postal Services and Gavin Davis MP, DA Shadow Minister of Communications
Marian Shinn MP, DA Shadow Minister of Communications
Marian Shinn MP, DA Shadow Minister of Telecommunications and Postal Services
Marius Redelinghuys MP, DA National Spokesperson
Marius Redelinghuys MP, DA member on Justice and Correctional Services Portfolio Committee
Marshall von Buchenroder MPL, DA Member of the Eastern Cape Provincial Legislature
Marshall von Buchenroder MPL, DA Shadow MEC for Transport
Marshall von Buchenroder MPL, Deputy Shadow MEC for Safety and Security
Marti Wenger MP DA Shadow Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs
Mbali Ntuli DA Youth Leader
Mbali Ntuli DA Youth Leader
Mbali Ntuli DA Youth Leader
Mbali Ntuli, DA Youth Leader
Michael Bagraim MP, DA Shadow Deputy Minister of Labour
Mike Moriarty MPL, DA Chief Liaison to the IEC
Mike Waters MP, DA Shadow Minister of Social Development
Mike Waters MP, DA’s Deputy Chief Whip
Mmusi Maimane DA Gauteng Premier Candidate
Mmusi Maimane DA Gauteng Premier Candidate
Mmusi Maimane DA Gauteng Premier Candidate
Mmusi Maimane DA National Spokesperson
Mmusi Maimane DA Premier Candidate for Gauteng
Mmusi Maimane DA Premier Candidate for Gauteng
Mmusi Maimane Gauteng Premier Candidate
Mmusi Maimane MP, DA Leader
Mmusi Maimane MP, DA Parliamentary Leader
Mmusi Maimane MP, Wilmot James MP, Phumzile Van Damme MP, Natasha Michael MP, Anchen Dreyer MP, James Lorimer MP
Mmusi Maimane, DA Gauteng Premier Candidate
Mpowele Swathe DA Shadow Minister of Rural Development and Land Reform
Natasha Michael MP DA Shadow Minister of Public Enterprises
Natasha Michael MP DA Shadow Minister of Public Enterprises
Natasha Michael MP, DA Shadow Minister of Public Enterprises
Niekie van den Berg MP DA Shadow Minister of Arts and Culture
Nokonwaba Dorah Matikinca (MPL), Shadow MEC for Cooperative Government and Traditional Affairs
Nokonwaba Dorah Matikinca MPL, Shadow MEC for Co-operative Government and Traditional Affairs
Nokonwaba Matikinca MPL, DA Shadow MEC for Local Government & Traditional Affairs
Nomsa Marchesi MP, DA Shadow Deputy Minister of Women in the Presidency
Nosimo Balindlela MP, DA Shadow Minister of Water and Sanitation
Nqaba Bhanga MP, DA Constituency Leader for Ngqura
Nqaba Bhanga MP, DA Shadow Deputy Minister of COGTA
Nqaba Bhanga MP, DA Shadow Deputy Minister of Cooperative governance and Traditional Affairs
Olwethu Ntame Chief Whip Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality
Ondela Kepe Provincial Youth Chairperson
Ondela Kepe, Eastern Cape DA Youth Chairperson
PR Cllr Jan Joy, Kouga Municipality
PR Cllr Jonathon Lawack, Nelson Mandela Bay Metro
PR Cllr William Ward
Patricia De Lille, DA Member of Federal Council
Patricia Kopane DA Leader in the Free State
Patricia Kopane MP DA Free State Leader
Patricia Kopane MP, DA Free State Leader
Patricia Kopane MP, DA Shadow Minister of Social Development
Patricia Kopane MP, DA Shadow Minister of Social Development
Patricia Kopane, DA Leader in the Free State
Phumzile Van Damme MP, DA National Spokesperson
Pieter van Dalen MP DA Shadow Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
Pieter van Dalen MP DA Shadow Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
Pieter van Dalen MP, DA Shadow Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
Pieter van Dalen, Shadow Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
Prof Belinda Bozzoli MP, DA Shadow Minister of Higher Education and Training
Prof Belinda Bozzoli MP, DA Shadow Minister of Higher Education and Training
Raymond Schenk, DA Ndlambe Caucus Chief Whip
Ross Purdon (MPL), Constituency Leader: Ntsikana
Ross Purdon (MPL), Constituency Leader: Ntsikana
Ross Purdon (MPL), Constituency Leader: Ntsikana (including Nxuba, Nkonkobe and Ngqushwa municipalities)
Ross Purdon (MPL), Member of the Public Participation, Petitions and Education Committee
Ross Purdon (MPL), Shadow MEC for Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture
Ross Purdon MPL, DA Shadow MEC for Economic Development and Environmental Affairs
Ross Purdon MPL, DA Shadow MEC for Economic Development, Environmental Affairs and Tourism
Ross Purdon MPL, DA Shadow MEC for Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture
Ross Purdon, MPL, DA Shadow MEC for Economic Development, Environmental Affairs and Tourism
Ross Purdon, MPL, DA Shadow MEC for Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture
Roy Jankielsohn, Leader of the Official Opposition in the Free State Provincial Legislature
Sandy Kalyan MP Deputy Chief Whip of the Democratic Alliance
Sandy Kalyan MP Deputy Chief Whip of the Democratic Alliance
Sandy Kalyan MP, DA Shadow Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation & Member of the Pan-African Parliament
Sandy Kalyan MP, Deputy Chief Whip of the Democratic Alliance
Sanele Magaqa MPL, Shadow MEC for Human Settlements
Sej Motau MP, DA Shadow Minister in the Presidency
Sejamothopo Motau MP, DA Shadow Minister in the Presidency
Shahid Esau MP, DA Shadow Deputy Minister of Defence and Military Veterans
Shaid Esau MP, DA Shadow Deputy Minister of Defence and Military Veterans
Site Admin
Sizwe Mchunu DA Leader in KwaZulu Natal
Sizwe Mchunu, DA KZN Leader
Smah Cele DASO NMMU Constituency Executive: Acting Chairman
Solly Malatsi MP, DA Shadow Minister of Sports and Recreation
Sonja Boshoff MP, DA member on Basic Education Portfolio Committee
Stevens Mokgalapa MP, DA Shadow Minister International Relations and Cooperation
Sue Bentley - DA PR Councillor in Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality
Sue Bentley DA PR Councillor - Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality
Taki Kyriakos DA Amahlathi Caucus Leader
Tania Baker MP, DA Member on the Portfolio Committee on Human Settlements
Terri Stander (MP), DA Constituency Leader
Terri Stander (MP), DA Constituency Leader: SB Farrow
Terri Stander MP, DA Shadow Deputy Minister of Environmental Affairs
Thandeka Gqada MP, DA Shadow Deputy Minister of Human Settlements
Thomas Hadebe MP, DA Shadow Minister of Environmental Affairs
Thomas Walters MP, DA Shadow Minister of Rural Development and Land Reform
Tim Harris MP DA Shadow Minister of Finance
Tim Harris MP, DA Shadow Minister of Finance
Toby Chance MP, DA Shadow Minister of Small Business Development
Tsepo Mhlongo MP, DA Shadow Deputy Minister of Rural Development and Land Reform
Veliswa Mvenya (MPL) Provincial spokesperson
Veliswa Mvenya (MPL) Social Development, Local Government and Traditional Affairs in the Eastern Cape Provincial Legislature.
Veliswa Mvenya (MPL), Eastern Cape Provincial Chairperson
Veliswa Mvenya (MPL), Provincial chairperson
Veliswa Mvenya (MPL), Provincial chairperson
Veliswa Mvenya (MPL), Shadow MEC for Cooperative Governance & Traditional Affairs
Veliswa Mvenya (MPL), Shadow MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs
Veliswa Mvenya (MPL), Shadow MEC for Social Development
Veliswa Mvenya MPL, Phesheya Kwenciba Constituency Leader
Veliswa Mvenya MPL, Shadow MEC for Social Development
Veronica van Dyk MP, DA Shadow Deputy Minister of Communications
Vicky Knoetze (MPL), Shadow MEC for Roads and Public Works
Vicky Knoetze (MPL), Zuurberg Constituency Leader
Vicky Knoetze (MPL), Zuurberg Constituency Leader
Vicky Knoetze MPL, DA Shadow MEC for Roads & Public Works
Vicky Knoetze MPL, Dr Beyers Naude Constituency Leader
Vicky Knoetze MPL, Shadow MEC for Cooperative Governance
Vicky Knoetze, MPL, DA Shadow MEC for Roads and Public Works
Watty Watson MP Democratic Alliance Chief Whip
Watty Watson MP, Democratic Alliance Chief Whip
Werner Horn MP, DA Shadow Deputy Minister of Justice
Winston Rabotapi MP DA Shadow Minister of Sport and Recreation
Winston Rabotapi MP, DA Shadow Minister of Sport and Recreation
Xabiso Nicholas Nyati, NMMU SRC President
Yusuf Cassim DA Youth Chairperson
Yusuf Cassim DA Youth Federal Chairperson
Yusuf Cassim MP, DA Shadow Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Training
Yusuf Cassim MP, DA Shadow Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Training
Yusuf Cassim MP, DA Youth Chairperson
Yusuf Cassim MP, DA Youth Federal Chairperson
Yusuf Cassim MP, DA Youth Federal Chairperson
Yusuf Cassim MP, DA Youth Interim Leader
Yusuf Cassim MP, DA Youth Leader
Yusuf Cassim MP, DASO Leader
Yusuf Cassim MP, Johni Steenkamp MP, Makashule Gana MP, George Michalakis MP
Yusuf Cassim, Constituency Leader of DASO
Yusuf Cassim, DA Youth Chairperson
Yusuf Cassim, DA Youth Leader
Zakhele Mbhele MP, DA Shadow Deputy Minister of Police
Zelda Jongbloed MP, Shadow Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
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Category: National Media Statements
DA launches online portal to allow unfunded, qualifying students to speak out peacefully
Published on 2016-10-13
The DA has today launched an online portal allowing students who allege that they remain unfunded, despite qualifying for NSFAS, to speak-out about their concerns peacefully. Almost all of these students are poor, and have been left behind by the ANC government’s complete lack...
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Local Media Statements
Yusuf Cass...
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The DA will work to unlock NMB’s economic and job creating potential
Published on 2016-05-23
Fellow South Africans, Residents of Mandela Bay Democrats, As the Democratic Alliance (DA) we have committed, through our Manifesto for Change, to create opportunities and jobs for all South Africans. This is a fight we have committed ourselves to, a fight that will ensure that we restore the dignit...
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National Media Statements
Mmusi Maim...
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Minister Masutha must not grant Schabir Shaik ordinary parole
Published on 2015-02-23
The Minister of Justice and Correctional Services, Michael Masutha, must deny Schabir Shaik’s application to have his medical parole converted to ordinary parole. This comes after reports this afternoon alleging that the former financial advisor to President Jacob Zuma and convict...
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James Self...
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Dodgy defence force air transport tender must be investigated by the Auditor-General
Published on 2014-08-29
I will request the Auditor-General, Mr Kimi Makwetu, to investigate alleged irregularities in awarding a tender for the transportation of troops and supporting equipment by the Department of Defence. Today the Mail & Guardian reveals that an aircraft brokering company called Y&a...
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David Mayn...
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DA petitions government to change visa regulations
Published on 2014-08-29
Today, the DA launched a petition urging the ministries of Tourism and Home Affairs to introduce regulations that will pave the way for the introduction of electronic visas for tourists, in order to save jobs for South Africans. A study commissioned by the Tourism and Business Council of Sout...
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National Media Statements
James Vos ...
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DA to submit SAHRC complaint on bucket toilets in the Eastern Cape
Published on 2014-08-29
The DA will initiate an investigation into the increased use of bucket toilets in the Eastern Cape. STATS SA yesterday released a report indicating that the number of households using the bucket system in the Eastern Cape increased appallingly from 38 606 to 52 732 between 2012 and 2013. ...
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National Media Statements
Kevin Mile...
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Nkandla Ad Hoc Committee: A step closer to accountability
Published on 2014-08-29
Today’s referral of the Terms of Reference of the Nkandla Ad Hoc Committee, to Parliament for clarity, is a win for accountability. The Terms of Reference are critical to the work of the Committee. Only when the Terms of Reference clearly include consideration of the Public Protector&rs...
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National Media Statements
Mmusi Maim...
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SCA orders release of the Spy Tapes
Published on 2014-08-28
Today is an historic day in our young, constitutional democracy. Today we can feel reassured that the institutions tasked to protect our democracy are very much alive and well. As long as we have an independent judiciary that is prepared to hand down court orders such as th...
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National Media Statements
Helen Zill...
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Protestors keeping Kuruman children out of school are criminals
Published on 2014-08-28
The DA will pressure the Minister of Police, Nathi Nhleko, to take urgent action in respect of the charge laid at Kimberley Police Station on 11 August 2014 relating to the doors of 54 schools in Kuruman being shut for almost three months. 17 000 children in the John Taolo Gaetsewe district i...
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National Media Statements
Annette Lo...
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Court verdict a massive victory against tolling in the Western Cape
Published on 2014-08-28
The Democratic Alliance (DA) in the Western Cape is delighted with the victory scored by the DA-led City of Cape Town in the High Court today. The City opposed SANRAL’s application to keep all documents relating to their plans for tolling in the Western Cape secret. In an at...
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Ivan Meyer...
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DASO NMMU marches against failed NSFAS pilot project
Published on 2014-08-28
Today, the Democratic Alliance Students’ Organisation at NMMU marched against the failed NSFAS pilot project at that University. The DA Youth and DASO NMMU calls on NMMU to withdraw from the failing NSFAS pilot project immediately. NMMU is one of 7 universities that a...
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Yusuf Cass...
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DA to fight for VAT concession in agri-sector
Published on 2014-08-28
The DA will seek a meeting with Treasury representatives and the Acting Commissioner of the South African Revenue Service (SARS) ,Ivan Pillay, to discuss Treasury’s proposal to do away with value-added tax (VAT) concession for the agricultural sector through the Taxation Laws Amendment Bill.&...
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David Ross...
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DA welcomes Minister's visit to Grahamstown
Published on 2014-08-28
The DA in the Eastern Cape welcomes Minister Pravin Gordhan's visit to the collapsing Makana Municipality. The Minister has accepted the DA's challenge to come to Grahamstown and now we wait with baited breath to see if decisive action will be taken, or if it is going to be more of the same f...
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Andrew Whi...
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PSC must investigate endless suspension at the Labour department
Published on 2014-08-27
In a reply to a DA parliamentary question the Minister of Labour, Mildred Oliphant, confirms that the Ministry’s Chief Director of Legal Services, Advocate N. Pasha, has been under suspension for the past three years - at the expense of the taxpayer. The Minister&r...
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DA welcomes ceasefire in Israel-Hamas conflict
Published on 2014-08-27
The DA welcomes the ceasefire achieved in the conflict between Israel and Hamas. We hope that this will be the first step in the negotiation of a lasting peace built on a sustainable two-state solution. We believe that through sensible discussion and transcendent leadership...
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Stevens Mo...
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Manufacturing sector continues haemorrhaging jobs
Published on 2014-08-27
Today, manufacturing sector advocacy group, Manufacturing Circle, revealed that 59000 jobs have been lost in the manufacturing sector in the second quarter of the year. This follows the release of economic data indicating manufacturing industry shrank by -0,3 percentage within the second quar...
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National Media Statements
Dean Macph...
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DA challenges President Zuma to make Nkandla SIU report public
Published on 2014-08-26
Later today I will write to President Jacob Zuma challenging him to make public the Special Investigating Unit’s (SIU) final report on the upgrades to his private residence at Nkandla, delivered to him on 20 August 2014. Neither Parliament nor the public has seen a copy of this re...
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James Self...
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NCOP: Only 10 petitions considered in 5 years
Published on 2014-08-26
The Parliamentary Select Committee on Petitions and Executive Undertakings has not sat since the beginning of the 5th Parliament, save for a brief meeting to elect a committee chairperson on the 1st of July 2014. According to the Parliamentary program, there are also no meetings scheduled for...
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George Mic...
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DA urges Minister to halt Transnet pension appeal
Published on 2014-08-26
I will request a meeting with the Minister of Public Enterprises, Lynne Brown, and the Chief Executive Officer of Transnet, Brian Molefe, to implore the Minister to halt Transnet’s appeal of the North Gauteng court decision that over 60,000 pensioners gain access to pension funds that have bee...
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National Media Statements
Natasha Mi...
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DA to probe Zuma’s Russian retreat
Published on 2014-08-26
Today, I will submit Parliamentary questions to the Presidency, requesting details behind the President’s supposed “trade visit” to Russia. Strangely, the President has neglected to invite any ministers within the economics cluster – surely even the Minister of E...
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Sejamothop...
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Minister Muthambi treats Public Protector and Parliament with contempt
Published on 2014-08-26
Today’s briefing to the Portfolio Committee on the progress with implementing the Public Protector’s Report on the SABC was a sickening display of accountability evasion. Minister Muthambi had until 16 August to finalise the remedial action required by the Public Protector. ...
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Gavin Davi...
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Parliament must tell the Executive to back off
Published on 2014-08-26
The Democratic Alliance (DA) is gravely concerned at the implication of the statement released today by the Joint Crime Prevention and Security (JCPS) Cluster, which appears to violate the most basic principle of separation of powers – enshrined in our Constitution. As such, I will be requesti...
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John Steen...
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SA economy stuck in first gear
Published on 2014-08-26
The DA urges the Minister of Finance, Nhlahla Nene, as the head of the economics cluster, to engage in urgent and concerted efforts to turn the economy around through the National Development Plan. This follows StatsSA’s announcement of feeble second quarter GDP growth of 0,6% - n...
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National Media Statements
Dr Dion Ge...
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Government must make funds available for black entrepreneurs through NEF
Published on 2014-08-25
Today, I will write to the Minister of Trade and Industry, Rob Davies and the Minister of Finance, Nhlanhla Nene, that funding is urgently made available to the National Empowerment Fund (NEF) in order to provide meaningful support for new entrepreneurs. A recent oversight visit by the ...
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National Media Statements
Dean Macph...
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Government fails retrenched workers
Published on 2014-08-25
In a reply to a DA parliamentary question the Minister of Labour, Mildred Oliphant, has revealed that only R20.056 million of the R1.2 billion budgeted for the Training and Layoff Scheme, or 1.7%, has been made available towards capacitating employees facing unemployment. I wi...
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Ian Ollis ...
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Nkandla: ANC’s attack on Public Protector must be condemned
Published on 2014-08-25
The DA notes with grave concern the malicious public attack of ANC Chief Whip, Honourable Stone Sizani, against Public Protector, Adv. Thuli Madonsela, in a statement yesterday. Mr Sizani fails to abide by the constitutional imperative that the work of the Public Protector be completed withou...
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Mmusi Maim...
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Employment of ANC princelings in SSA should be investigated by the IGI
Published on 2014-08-24
The Inspector-General for Intelligence, Advocate Faith Radebe, should conduct a full-blown investigation into allegations that ANC “princelings”, the dependants of the ANC elite, are being provided with what amounts to sheltered employment by the State Security Agency. The S...
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David Mayn...
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Nkandla Ad Hoc Committee must consider Madonsela’s letter to Zuma
Published on 2014-08-24
At the first sitting of the ad hoc committee on Nkandla in Parliament, the DA will move for the Public Protector, Adv. Thuli Madonsela, to be called to appear before the committee and to table the content of her letter to the President. Reports in today’s print media that the Public Pro...
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Mmusi Maim...
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Deputy Police Minister must apologise for remarks on teenage pregnancy
Published on 2014-08-22
The DA condemns the alleged statement made by the Deputy Police Minister, Makhotso Sotyu, while addressing pupils at Hillary Mthethwa Secondary School in Tekwane North near Mbombela, where she reportedly stated that pregnant school girls should be expelled from school along with their boyfriends.&nb...
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Dianne Koh...
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Animal cruelty at state farms must be probed
Published on 2014-08-22
The DA calls for an investigation into yet another animal cruelty scandal on a state-owned farm - this time in Limpopo province. Information received by the DA on conditions at the Rietspruit farm in the Modimolle area shows evidence of shocking neglect of livestock allegedly ...
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Annette St...
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Spy Tapes: Arbitrator appointed to hand over NPA records to the DA
Published on 2014-08-22
As of 16h00 today, legal teams representing the DA, President Zuma and the NPA have agreed on an arbitrator to review the full set of Spy Tapes records for release to the DA. The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) originally used these records to drop over 700 counts of corruption aga...
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National Media Statements
Helen Zill...
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DA’s inspection shows bribe-taking at CIPC and SARS
Published on 2014-08-21
On Friday 15 August, the Democratic Alliance conducted an unannounced oversight visit to the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC) head office and customer walk-in centre in Sunnypark in Pretoria. We wanted to see for ourselves how prevalent the problem of so-called 'runners' is, fol...
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National Media Statements
Geordin Hi...
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Motshekga must act on 200 000 Eastern Cape learners without desks
Published on 2014-08-21
The DA will request a meeting with the Minister of Basic Education, Angie Motshekga, to discuss the critical shortage of desks for learners in the Eastern Cape. Minister Motshekga must act in terms of Section 100(1) of the Constitution and instruct the Eastern Cape Basic Education MEC to table a com...
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Desiree va...
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EFF & Speaker undermine Parliament
Published on 2014-08-21
Today is a sad day for the state of democracy in our country. During Parliament today, the Speaker failed by not insisting that the President answer the question which the EFF rightfully put to him in terms of the rules. The Speaker acted with haste and unduly summoned the Sergea...
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Mmusi Maim...
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DA welcomes travel ban on Ebola-affected countries
Published on 2014-08-21
The DA welcomes Minister of Health, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi’s, announcement today to suspend all travel by non-South Africans to and from Ebola-affected countries. We also welcome the Minister’s intention to medically examine and screen all South Africans returning from these co...
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Dr Wilmot ...
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Parliament conducting preliminary inquiry into SABC Chairperson’s qualifications
Published on 2014-08-20
It was revealed in the Communications Portfolio Committee yesterday that Parliament is conducting a preliminary inquiry into allegations that SABC Chairperson, Ellen Tshabalala, lied about her qualifications. This follows my request to the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on 1...
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Gavin Davi...
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It’s time to establish an ad hoc parliamentary committee to probe CARgate
Published on 2014-08-20
The Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, seems determined to ensure that the truth about the circumstances surrounding the deaths of fifteen South African National Defence Force (SANDF) soldiers in the Central African Republic (CAR) is never made public. R...
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David Mayn...
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119 initiation deaths and only 11 persons convicted
Published on 2014-08-20
In the past two years, 119 deaths and 66 injuries have been recorded as a result of botched initiations, a reply to a DA parliamentary question has revealed. Only 11 people have been convicted in connection with these deaths. The DA calls on Police Minister, Nathi Nhleko...
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Nqaba Bhan...
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Nkandla Ad Hoc Committee: DA members and expectations
Published on 2014-08-20
Today the Democratic Alliance announces the selection of two members who will serve on the Nkandla Ad Hoc Committee, and one alternate member. Yesterday, 19 August 2014, Parliament voted to establish this Ad Hoc Committee. That resolution of Parliament gives the Democratic Alliance two ...
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Mmusi Maim...
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DA to call for urgent debate on state of SA economy
Published on 2014-08-20
The DA will, in terms of rule 103 of the Parliamentary rules, call for a debate of public importance on South Africa’s economy following the downgrades of our four major banks by Moody’s rating agency and the collapse of African Bank. Yesterday, Moody’s rating agency ...
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Dr Dion Ge...
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New CEO must finally hand over Medupi contracts
Published on 2014-08-20
The DA will write to the new CEO of Eskom, Mr Tshediso Matona, requesting an urgent meeting to discuss the on-going problems at the state utility, particularly the surrender of contracts relating to the delayed Medupi and Kusile power stations and the recaptilisation of Eskom. This foll...
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Natasha Mi...
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Minister must intervene to save tourism jobs in KZN
Published on 2014-08-19
I will write to the Minister of Tourism, Derek Hannekom, requesting an intervention into the proposed increase of tourism levies in the province of KwaZulu-Natal. I will also raise this issue in the next Portfolio Committee on Tourism. This follows reports that KwaZulu-Natal intends on increa...
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James Vos ...
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New Nkandla ad hoc committee designed to fail
Published on 2014-08-19
The DA is deeply concerned by the ANC’s draft resolution that has been placed on today’s National Assembly Order Paper that seeks to establish an ad hoc committee to consider the Nkandla matter. The resolution quite specifically refers the committee to only consider the ...
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Mmusi Maim...
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Vaccine shortage could cripple agricultural sectors
Published on 2014-08-19
The DA will today write to the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Senzeni Zokwana, to request an urgent meeting to address the shortages of vaccines for livestock. Government’s primary vaccine manufacturer, Onderstepoort Biological Products (OBP), is currently at a standstill.&nb...
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Annette St...
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11 646 South African schools still using pit toilets
Published on 2014-08-19
A reply to a DA parliamentary question has revealed that 11 646 of the 23 906 schools in South Africa still use pit toilets with KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) and the Eastern Cape accounting for 60% of the pit toilets in schools. KZN accounts for 3 419 of these pit toilets and the Eastern Cape accou...
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Desiree va...
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DA welcomes decision to summon Credit Regulator to Parliament
Published on 2014-08-19
The DA welcomes the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Trade and Industry, Ms Joan Fubbs’ decision to accept the DA’s request for the National Credit Regulator (NCR) to appear before Parliament to brief the committee on its activities to prevent reckless lending by the country's m...
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Dean Macph...
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ANC attack on Beeld Editor won't make Nkandlagate questions disappear
Published on 2014-08-19
The ANC's attack on Beeld Editor, Adriaan Basson, is the latest instalment in a series of desperate attempts to duck accountability on the Nkandlagate saga. It is an equally sad bid to deflect attention from the President's hopelessly inadequate response to Parliament and the intended re-establishme...
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Marius Red...
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How did 40 000 police officers disappear?
Published on 2014-08-19
In a bizarre reply to a DA parliamentary question the new Minister of Police, Nathi Nhleko, claims there are only 115 692 operational South African Police Service (SAPS) members. Yet in the current Annual Report the figure – which the DA has used extensively – is 155 531....
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Dianne Koh...
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Nkandla Ad Hoc Committee: Sizani commits to broader mandate
Published on 2014-08-19
The DA will hold the ANC Chief Whip, Stone Sizani, to his public commitment in the National Assembly today that other documents, including the Public Protector’s report, will be considered by the ad hoc committee established to consider the Nkandla matter. It is however concerning...
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Mmusi Maim...
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Parliament dragging its feet on SABC Chairperson investigation
Published on 2014-08-18
It has been over a month since I formally requested the Chairperson of the Communications Portfolio Committee to initiate an inquiry into allegations that the Chairperson of the SABC Board, Ellen Tshabalala, misled Parliament about her qualifications. I have written to the Chairperson of the ...
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Gavin Davi...
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DA calls for public education campaign on LGBTI rights following brutal murder of Disebo Makau
Published on 2014-08-18
The DA will request a debate on the protection and strengthening of LGBTI rights when Parliament reconvenes this week. During the debate, the DA will call for the roll-out of a nationwide public education campaign on LGBTI rights driven by the Departments of Education, Social Developmen...
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Phumzile V...
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Minister Masutha must verify Jiba’s qualifications
Published on 2014-08-18
The DA will write to the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services, Mike Masutha, requesting that he launch a special investigation into the qualifications of the Deputy National Director of Public Prosecutions, Nomgcobo Jiba, with reference to her admission as an advocate. This is a requirement...
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Glynnis Br...
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DA to seek legal opinion on LRA Amendment Act
Published on 2014-08-18
The DA will seek a legal opinion on the recent passing of the job-killing Labour Relations Amendment Act following its assent by President Jacob Zuma yesterday. This follows a petition by the DA, based on section 79 of the Constitution, to have this legislation returned to Parliament fo...
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Ian Ollis ...
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DA to oppose Koloane nomination
Published on 2014-08-17
The DA will write to the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on International Relations and Cooperation, Moses Masango, to request an urgent sitting of the committee to ascertain the fitness of Bruce Koloane as a South African representative to The Hague. This follows reports that Mr Koloa...
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Stevens Mo...
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DBE needs plan to deal with sexual offences at our schools
Published on 2014-08-17
A reply to a DA parliamentary question has revealed that sexual offences, committed by teachers in schools, remains worryingly high. I will therefore write to the CEO of the South African Council of Educators (SACE), Rej Brijraj, requesting a meeting to discuss what interventi...
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Sonja Bosh...
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PIC’s security at risk following website hacking
Published on 2014-08-17
The DA will write to the Minister of Finance, Nhlanhla Nene, requesting urgent clarification on what measures have been taken to protect the integrity of information held by the Public Investment Corporation (PIC) following a cyber-attack on its website. A hacker, succeeded in breaching...
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Dr Dion Ge...
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The passing of Mario Ambrosini a great loss for democracy
Published on 2014-08-16
We have lost a great man in Mario Ambrosini. He was a fighter for human rights and democracy, a person of integrity who understood and advanced our cause, and a powerful friend. The DA extends its deepest condolences to his family, friends and loved ones. Mario will be sorely missed.&n...
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Remember Marikana: Two years later, nothing has changed
Published on 2014-08-16
Sanibonani, Dumelang, Molweni, It is with great pain in my heart that I stand before you today. Here, we commemorate the loss of the 44 compatriots who were brutally slain by the very same police who pledged to protect them. We are here to stand together with the wives an...
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Mmusi Maim...
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Cwele must be allowed to do his job to fast-track digital migration
Published on 2014-08-15
The Democratic Alliance will write to President Jacob Zuma to intervene in the ‘turf war’ over Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) that has ensued between the Minister of Communications, Faith Muthambi, and the Minister of Telecommunications and Postal Services, Siyabonga Cwele, so that...
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Marian Shi...
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DA pleased with Spy Tape court proceedings
Published on 2014-08-15
The DA is very pleased with proceedings before the Supreme Court of Appeal in the so-called "Spy Tapes" case today. Although the Court reserved its judgment, President Zuma's legal team conceded that there were no grounds on which the spy tapes should not be released to the DA. In addi...
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James Self...
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By-election results show battle for SA’s cities is on
Published on 2014-08-14
The Democratic Alliance swept to victory in 17 of the 19 by-elections we contested countrywide yesterday, winning many battleground wards in major towns and cities. The DA won battleground ward 32 in Johannesburg (Alexandra and Greenstone), increasing our marginal 2014 majority of 51% to 56% ...
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Helen Zill...
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DA to appeal failure to hand over Bloemhof report
Published on 2014-08-14
The 30 day period has expired since the DA submitted an application to gain access to the final report on water contamination in Bloemhof, in terms of the Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA). Failure to respond, under the terms of this law, is a deemed refusal by the North West Depa...
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Dr Wilmot ...
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Eskom must table a plan to keep SA’s lights on during maintenance
Published on 2014-08-14
The DA will write to the Acting Eskom CEO, Colin Matjila, requesting that the state utility table a plan for the mitigation of blackouts during Eskom’s proposed maintenance overhaul of the national power grid. This follows the state enterprise’s decision to focus less on &nb...
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Natasha Mi...
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Clarity needed on rhino conservation efforts at Kruger National Park
Published on 2014-08-14
The DA will submit Parliamentary questions to the Minister of Police, Nathi Nhleko, requesting clarity on cross-boarder hot pursuits operations, with respect to rhino poaching, between the Kruger National Park and neighbouring Mozambique. This follows revelations by the National Police Commis...
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Terri Stan...
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South Africa must insist on good principals
Published on 2014-08-14
The DA congratulates Minister Motshekga on the gazetting of draft regulations dealing with The South African Standard for Principalship. We will be participating in the process of refining her draft, by submitting our comments before the deadline date of 29 August 2014. We encourage all interes...
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Annette Lo...
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State Security probe into Spy Agency must be comprehensive
Published on 2014-08-14
The DA welcomes the Minister of State Security, David Mahlobo’s announcement requesting the Inspector-General of Intelligence, Faith Radebe, “conduct an investigation, in terms of the Intelligence Services Oversight Act” into the alleged abuse of state resources by the Special Oper...
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Dirk Stubb...
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President Zuma’s Nkandla reply undermines Public Protector’s findings
Published on 2014-08-14
In his response to the Public Protector’s Report, which was finally submitted to Parliament this afternoon, President Zuma has attempted to avoid accountability for his role in the Nkandlagate scandal. Not only does his response undermine the Public Protector’s findings, but...
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Mmusi Maim...
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DA to submit parliamentary questions on student security
Published on 2014-08-13
I will be submitting parliamentary questions to the Minister of Higher Education and Training, Blade Nzimande, to determine what measures have been put in place, or which are being planned, in order to protect students who are being intimidated and prevented from attending lectures by violent strike...
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Prof Belin...
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SIU may be scapegoating Nkandla architect
Published on 2014-08-13
In the lead-up to the completion of the SIU report into the ‘security upgrades’ to President Jacob Zuma’s private residence at Nkandla, it appears that the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) is attempting to scapegoat the Nkandla architect, Minenhle Makhanya. The latest report...
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James Self...
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Minister Zulu must target film industry as strategic industry
Published on 2014-08-13
The DA calls upon Minister Lindiwe Zulu to target the film and industry sector as a strategic industry for job creation in South Africa by establishing sector specific business incubators for small and medium enterprises within the film and production sectors. This follows an announceme...
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Toby Chanc...
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DA backs call to delay regulation on unabridged birth certificates
Published on 2014-08-13
The DA backs a call by twenty international airlines to delay enforcing the use of unabridged birth certificates by minors. These regulations will have a disastrous impact on tourism and our economy. Questions must be asked as to why this hasn’t be done already. Indeed, in a rece...
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Archibold ...
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DA calls on Ministers to refurbish rotting barracks
Published on 2014-08-13
The Minister of Public Works, Thulas Nxesi, must work together with the Minister of Police, Nathi Nhleko, and table a plan with the Portfolio on Police showing how they intend to improve the inhumane conditions that plague police barracks. In a reply to a DA parliamentary question a...
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PSC must investigate the ANC’s fundraising practices
Published on 2014-08-12
I will write to the Public Service Commission (PSC) today to request an investigation into the ANC’s alleged requests for contributions from state employees to party funds. This follows disturbing reports that the ANC has required officials employed within state departments to agr...
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Municipalities not ready for disaster management
Published on 2014-08-12
In a recent reply to a DA parliamentary question, the Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) Department revealed that the majority of local municipalities do not comply with the South African National Standard (SANS) 10090: Community Protection Against Fire, which is the pr...
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DA commends Pallo Jordan on resigning from Parliament
Published on 2014-08-12
The DA commends Pallo Jordan on his decision to resign from Parliament. Given the current controversy surrounding Jordan, his resignation is in the best interests of Parliament, his party and himself. This must have been a difficult decision. We respect his choice to take responsibility for hi...
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PRASA must account to SCOPA for Jacob Zuma Propaganda Project
Published on 2014-08-12
The DA will write to the chairperson of Parliament's Standing Committee on Public Accounts, Themba Godi, demanding that the CEO of Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA), Lucky Montana, be summoned to Parliament to account for the spending of public money on political propaganda unrelated to ...
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DA welcomes SIU civil suit against Makhanya and Department of Public Works
Published on 2014-08-12
The DA learned this morning and welcomes, with caution, the Special Investigating Units’s (SIU) civil suit against the Department of Public Works and the architect of President Jacob Zuma’s private residence at Nkandla, Minenhle Makhanya. This comes as the SIU announced that...
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African Bank – NCR must brief Parliament on credit monitoring
Published on 2014-08-12
The DA will write to the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Trade and Industry, Ms Joanmariae Fubbs, requesting that the National Credit Regulator (NCR) brief Parliament on what action it took to prevent reckless lending by the country's major credit providers, particularly African Bank, now ...
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Can we have confidence in a free and fair 2016 election?
Published on 2014-08-11
Last Sunday, the campaign for this week’s 19 by-elections countrywide, took me to Port Elizabeth’s marginal Ward 40. I was to address a crowd of DA activists, and for this we reserved the local Kuyga Community Hall. If there’s one thing the DA understands very well, it&rsquo...
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Ebola: Minister must urgently gazette codes of practice
Published on 2014-08-11
I will write to Health Minister, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, to urgently gazette a code of practice regarding the current Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) threat, since the World Health Organisation has declared an international emergency. In terms of the National Health Act of 2003, the 2008 regulat...
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Nene and Marcus must brief Parliament on African Bank intervention
Published on 2014-08-11
I will today write to the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Finance, Yunus Carrim, to request that the Minister of Finance, Nhlanhla Nene, and the Governor of the Reserve Bank, Gill Marcus, appear before the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Finance to report on plans to intervene in Afri...
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Phiyega’s plans to address off-duty cop murders is ineffective
Published on 2014-08-11
A reply to a DA parliamentary question has revealed that the number of murders of off-duty South African Police Service (SAPS) members has marginally decreased in the last year but calls into question the effectiveness of the existing measures put in place to prevent such attacks on SAPS m...
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DA lays criminal charges following Northern Cape school crisis
Published on 2014-08-11
Democratic Alliance national and provincial spokespersons for education have today laid criminal charges against protestors responsible for keeping children from attending school in the John Taolo Gaetsewe district of the Northern Cape. Protestors are demanding the tarring of a 130km stretch ...
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President Zuma must table SIU Nkandla report before Parliament
Published on 2014-08-11
The DA urges President Jacob Zuma to table the Special Investigating Unit’s (SIU) report into the ‘security upgrades’ at his private residence at Nkandla, KwaZulu-Natal as soon as possible. This comes after the SIU announced that “it is confident that the report will b...
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DA will request JSCI probe of SOU criminal activities
Published on 2014-08-10
The DA will request the Joint Standing Committee on Intelligence (JSCI) to launch a full probe into the latest newspaper reports of abuse of state resources by the Special Operations Unit (SOU) of the State Security Agency (SSA). This comes after City Press reported this morning that it had h...
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DA welcomes NPA recommendations for boards of inquiry into its top brass
Published on 2014-08-10
The DA welcomes, with caution, reports that the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has recommended that President Jacob Zuma, in consultation with the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services, Mike Masutha, establish boards of enquiry to investigate the fitness of Deputy National ...
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DAWN to wage national campaign for child maintenance justice
Published on 2014-08-09
Today the Democratic Alliance Women's Network is marching in solidarity with every single parent in South Africa struggling to provide for their children because child maintenance money is not being paid. In our country today, 48% of children grow up either without a mother or a father. ...
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DA welcomes NERSA intervention over threatened electricity disconnections in the Free State
Published on 2014-08-08
The DA has met with the National Energy Regulator of South Africa’s (NERSA) regulator member, Thembani Bakhulu over possible disconnection of electricity to Maluti-a-Phofung Local Municipality, Ngwathe Local Municipality and Dihlabeng Local Municipality in the Free State by Eskom....
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Lindiwe Sisulu wastes more money on chartered aircraft
Published on 2014-08-08
In a recent reply to a DA parliamentary question, the Department of Public Service and Administration revealed that former Minister, Lindiwe Sisulu, chartered two flights to Umtata in June and July of 2013 respectively. According to the reply, the flights cost R132 569 and R14...
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DA urges President Zuma to return LRA Bill to Parliament
Published on 2014-08-08
The DA strongly urges President Jacob Zuma to return the job-killing Labour Relations Act (LRA) Amendment Bill back to Parliament for much needed reconsideration. Reports today indicate that the President is still seized with submissions on the Bill and has not yet decided whether he will sig...
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Department of Small Business Development needs a strong captain at the helm
Published on 2014-08-08
A reply to a recent DA Parliamentary question reveals that the Department of Small Business Development continues to struggle with formulating an effective mandate and policy direction, crucial for justifying its existence as a new Ministry, and for growing effective support for small busi...
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Electronic visas a must for SA tourism
Published on 2014-08-08
At a conference held by the South African Tourism Services Association (SATSA) which I attended today, very serious concerns were raised regarding the impact of the new visa regulations on South Africa’s tourism industry. The conference, which was attended by important industry entities...
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Northern Cape education department may be ‘cooking’ matric results
Published on 2014-08-08
The Democratic Alliance is shocked and angered at a letter sent to education district staff in the Northern Cape by Dr M Ishmael (indicated as Deputy Director-General: Curriculum and Assessment) of the provincial Department of Education. The DA received a copy of this letter this afternoon...
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36% increase in drunken-driving cases not making it to court
Published on 2014-08-07
A reply to a DA parliamentary question revealed that during the 2012/2013 period, a total of 44 526 cases of drunken-driving were withdrawn from the courts. This is an increase of 15 961 or 36%, when compared to the 2010/2011 period. During the 2011/2013 period, the figure stood at 3...
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SITA needs crisis management
Published on 2014-08-07
A crisis management strategy, driven by external expertise, must be put in place if the State Information Technology Agency (SITA) is to have a role in the delivery of eGovernment to South Africa. In recent media revelations, further corruption in the awarding of a contract by SITA’s to...
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Mathematics in SA schools: enough talk, time for action
Published on 2014-08-07
The DA has read, with great concern, the latest report on the state of Mathematics teaching in our primary schools. We now call on the Minister of Basic Education, Angie Motshekga, to use the best Maths and education brains in the country to help her develop and implement a truly effective turnaroun...
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Finalise ministerial performance agreements to get the MTSF in motion
Published on 2014-08-07
In the wake of today’s release of the Medium Term Strategic Framework (MTSF): 2014-2019, the DA will press for performance agreements between the President and Ministers to be finalized as soon as possible. The agreements must be made publicly available in the interests of transparency. ...
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NYDA must freeze vacant executive posts
Published on 2014-08-06
I have written to the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation, Bertha Peace Mabe, and asked her to summon the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) to explain how it plans to reduce its wage bill. The NYDA should freeze all vacant executive management ...
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Real progress on child maintenance defaulters
Published on 2014-08-06
We are pleased to be able to report real progress in the effort to hold child maintenance defaulters accountable in law. For the last six weeks the DA has been working closely with government agencies, departments and the major credit bureaux to find a way to increase the pressure on pa...
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DA Youth condemns ‘Blackface’ incident
Published on 2014-08-06
The Democratic Alliance Youth condemns the recent ‘Blackface’ incident at the University of Pretoria. The DA Youth rejects racial stereotypes and calls on all young people to help foster an environment of tolerance and respect for each other. We welcome the University’...
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DA welcomes Israel-Hamas ceasefire agreement
Published on 2014-08-06
The DA welcomes the Israel-Hamas ceasefire as a step towards ending the hostilities in Gaza and resolving this conflict that has cost so many civilian lives. The two sides must now come together and negotiate a sustainable two-state solution. Violence cannot be stopped with more ...
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Over R10 million spent on suspended SAPS in one year alone
Published on 2014-08-06
Yesterday a reply to a DA parliamentary question revealed that there were 296 South African Police Service (SAPS) members on suspension as at March 2014, of which 116 received remuneration to the tune of R10 738 149 in the 2013/2014 financial year alone. These police officers are of...
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Minister must set deadline to reintroduce the ISMO Bill
Published on 2014-08-06
The DA challenges the Minister of Energy, Tina Joemat-Pettersson, to set a deadline for tabling the Independent System and Market Operator (ISMO) Bill before Parliament. Should the Minister fail to announce a date for tabling the Bill before Parliament, the DA will fight for the re...
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Madibeng Municipality must be placed under section 139 administration
Published on 2014-08-06
In a recent reply to a DA parliamentary question, the Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) Department revealed that the Madibeng Local Municipality in the North West, owes service providers and contractors more than R110 million. In addition to the gro...
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Home Affairs chaos jeopardising birth registry
Published on 2014-08-05
According to a reply to a parliamentary question, 159 of the 389 online child registry systems in the country are not fully operational due to 134 experiencing IT-related challenges, 8 being delayed due to a lack in human resources, and 17 not functioning due to space allocation. &nb...
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Privatise Eskom now
Published on 2014-08-05
The DA welcomes the mooted partial privatisation of Eskom. The Business Day today reported that a number of unnamed Cabinet Ministers and government officials were advocating for the unbundling and partial privatisation of Eskom. The DA has always advocated for the privatisation of ele...
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DA to probe increase in child murders
Published on 2014-08-05
A recent reply to a DA parliamentary question, asked by Mike Waters MP, revealed that the number of murder cases reported against children has gone up from 793 in 2011/2012 to 827 in 2012/2013. This is cause for great concern. The Minister of Police, Nathi Nhleko, also shockingly re...
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Police must take urgent action to stop ukuthwala
Published on 2014-08-04
The DA will write to the Minister of Police, Nkosinathi Nhleko, to request that he urgently deploys Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Units to ukuthwala hot-spots across the country. The practice of ukuthwala is illegal. According to tradition it is the abduction of young ...
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DA supports proposals on Matric Reform
Published on 2014-08-04
The Democratic Alliance welcomes the open and frank approach taken by the Ministerial Task Team appointed to investigate and report on the quality of the National Senior Certificate. We applaud, too, the decision by the Minister to undertake the investigation, and, importantly, to publicly release t...
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New SAFA broadcast deal could alienate soccer fans
Published on 2014-08-04
The President of SAFA, Dr Danny Jordaan, must urgently clarify whether Bafana Bafana's games will be broadcast on SABC. There were extremely worrying reports this weekend that the TV rights to all Bafana Bafana games were sold to a new pay TV provider, Siyaya TV. As the available detai...
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R2.129 billion spent on repairing defective RDP houses
Published on 2014-08-04
In a recent reply to a DA parliamentary question, the Department of Human Settlements revealed that it spent R2.129 billion on repairing haphazardly built RDP homes in the past three years. We estimate that more than 35 000 new housing units could have been built with that money. ...
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DAFF: Minster must account for job losses
Published on 2014-08-04
The DA will write to the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Rosina Semenya, requesting that Minster Senzeni Zokwana present the committee with a plan to curb job losses in the Agricultural sector. According to Statistics South Africa (StatsSA) 73 00...
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Minister Nxesi must disclose cost of Ministerial Houses
Published on 2014-08-04
The DA welcomes the dismissal of former Director of the Prestige Unit in the Department of Public Works, Noloyiso Ntwana, for fraudulently paying contractors more than R60 million to renovate houses for new government ministers in 2009. Questions remain as to the total amount spent on u...
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Your vote the first step to victory in Nelson Mandela Bay in 2016
Published on 2014-08-03
Today we are campaigning ahead of the 13 August by-elections in Nelson Mandela Bay. It is good to be in Port Elizabeth, the City that will be the next frontier for the DA in 2016! These by-elections will go down to the wire and that’s why we need every single DA voter to get to t...
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Sabotage takes Rail Vandalism to New Depths
Published on 2014-08-03
Wednesday 30 July 2014 marked one of the biggest acts of sabotage ever committed on South Africa’s public transport infrastructure. Starting in the early hours of the morning, signal cables along Metrorail’s central line in Cape Town were systematically cut in 25 places, disabling...
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Spy tapes: claims by Mphego support DA case
Published on 2014-08-03
The DA has noted claims by former boss of Crime Intelligence, Mulangi Mphego, that the so-called “spy tapes” are not the work of Crime Intelligence. This calls into question whether the tapes, used by former National Director of Public Prosecutions, Mokotedi Mpshe, as reason to dr...
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Fisheries: DA to introduce Private Members Bill
Published on 2014-08-03
The DA will introduce a Private Members Bill which will allow the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF) to roll over the allocation of fishing rights for three years instead of having to renew every year. This follows the announcement by Minister Senzeni Zokwana, on the ext...
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NDPP enquiry: President Zuma’s announcement raises questions
Published on 2014-08-02
The Democratic Alliance is concerned that President Jacob Zuma yesterday afternoon announced that he is considering suspending the National Director of Public Prosecution (NDPP), Mr Mxolisi Nxasana, despite the terms of reference of the enquiry into Mr Nxasana’s appointment having not been mad...
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DA welcomes Transnet class action legal proceedings
Published on 2014-08-01
The DA welcomes the decision by the Pretoria High Court to allow the commencement of class action proceedings against Transnet and two of its pension funds, Transnet Pension Fund and the Transnet Second Defined Benefit Fund (TSBF), on behalf of 65 000 former Transnet employees. This fol...
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Let’s fight for true freedom this women’s month
Published on 2014-08-01
Today marks the start of women’s month which is commemorated in August each year as a tribute to the brave women who marched to the Union Buildings on 9 August 1956 to protest against Pass Laws for women. Although, since then, significant progress has been made in South Africa in empowe...
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Threats, coercing and interference allegations in Modise Animal Cruelty case
Published on 2014-08-01
The confirmation by the Veterinary Defence Association (VDA) that there were attempts by "political parties and other vested interests " (1) to "coerce and threaten" the veterinary surgeon involved in the investigation of the animal cruelty on Thandi Modise's farm is a serious indication that ...
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NERSA must explain Eskom tariff increase to Parliament
Published on 2014-07-31
The DA is extremely concerned about the impact that Nersa’s latest electricity tariff increase will have on the South African economy, and in particular, our already struggling households and businesses. It is a move that will undermine job creation and hurt the poor. Indeed, it is clea...
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55 Northern Cape schools still closed: MEC must take action now
Published on 2014-07-31
I will be writing to the Minister of Basic Education, Angie Motshekga, urging her to utilise the provisions of the law to force action in the Northern Cape to address the ongoing protests that are affecting school attendance in the John Taolo Gaetsewe District. The DA is deeply concerned by t...
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DA calls for National Ebola Task Team
Published on 2014-07-31
The DA welcomes the steps announced by the Minister of Health, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, to ensure that South Africa is placed on alert for the potential spread of the Ebola virus in South Africa. This follows reports that the first case of the virus has been recorded in Lagos, Nigeria, one of the...
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DA is leading the way in Parliament
Published on 2014-07-31
Today the Democratic Alliance announces quantitative measures of our performance in Parliament, for the first term of this Fifth Parliament. Over 4-million South Africans voted the Democratic Alliance (DA) into the position of Official Opposition, and gave us a mandate to hold the governing p...
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AG Report: Inquiry needed into COGTA failures
Published on 2014-07-31
The DA will request a parliamentary inquiry by the Portfolio Committee on Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) into a number of glaring failures by the National Department in providing proper support and oversight to local government. The committee’s press release toda...
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DASO condemns University of Fort Hare’s actions
Published on 2014-07-31
Yesterday, the students at the University of Forth Hare's Alice campus were reportedly informed that they must vacate university residences by 11:00 today, 31 July, and are expected to return to on the 8th of August. This is the result of the University Management claiming not to have been paid by N...
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Minister to investigate electronic visas
Published on 2014-07-31
This afternoon, I met with the Minister of Tourism, Derek Hannekom, to discuss the various solutions to strengthen the tourism industry given the fact that the National Development Plan has identified tourism as one of the country’s key job-creating sectors. I especially raised the hasty imple...
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DA welcomes decision to summon Minister Davies over corporate visa applications
Published on 2014-07-30
The DA welcomes the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Trade and Industry, Ms Joanmariae Fubbs’ decision to accept the DA’s request to summon the Minster of Trade and Industry, Rob Davies, to Parliament so as to account for the reasons behind the limitations placed on corporate vi...
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Employment Equity Amendment Act proclamation is premature
Published on 2014-07-30
A recent proclamation from the Presidency reveals that the provisions of the Employment Equity Amendment Act are set to come into operation as of 1 August this year. This announcement is completely premature. Indeed, the Department pronounced that it was considering the withdr...
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Small businesses must be protected from big unions
Published on 2014-07-30
The DA will write to the Minister of Small Business Development, Lindiwe Zulu, requesting she advocate for the exclusion of small and medium business enterprises from collective bargaining agreements which they are not signatories to through amendments to the Labour Relations Amendment Act. &n...
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Drastic increase in irregular and wasteful expenditure cause for concern
Published on 2014-07-30
The DA is deeply concerned with the dramatic increase in irregular, wasteful, fruitless and unauthorised expenditure by ANC municipalities in the latest findings of the audit outcomes of local government as reflected in the MFMA 2012-13 report, released today. The DA will request the Mi...
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Minister Motshekga fails thousands of technical school learners
Published on 2014-07-30
A reply to a DA parliamentary question has revealed that the Minister of Basic Education, Angie Motshekga, is nowhere closer to meeting her January 2015 deadline to implement the revised curriculum in technical schools. Indeed, the Department undertook to implement 9 specialist tech...
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DA congratulates Kallis on a successful cricketing career
Published on 2014-07-30
The DA congratulates South Africa’s cricketing legend, Jacques Kallis, on an illustrious international career. Kallis is regarded as one of the finest all-rounders in the history of the game. His incredible records for the Proteas are a testament of his indelible impr...
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Eskom must explain 23 employee deaths in 2014
Published on 2014-07-29
The DA will submit parliamentary questions to the Minister of Public Enterprises, Lynne Browne, requesting details around the death of 23 employees who worked for Eskom in 2014. This includes 5 staff and 18 contractors. We will also request further information on what further plans have...
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DA welcomes the withdrawal of Certificate of Need
Published on 2014-07-29
The DA welcomes a reported decision by the Minister of Health, Aaron Motsoaledi, to do away with the Certificate of Need. In sections 36 to 40 of the National Health Act of 2003, promulgated in May, doctors would require a ‘Certificate of Need’ for establishing, constructing, modi...
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Ethics Committee must investigate Executive members’ business interests
Published on 2014-07-29
The DA will request that the Parliamentary Ethics Committee investigate the business interests of 15 cabinet ministers who are reported to continue to have business interests; so as to determine whether there is any conflict of interest, and specifically that none of these businesses are tendering w...
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DA to table motion to re-establish Nkandla Committee
Published on 2014-07-29
The DA will today, in the National Assembly, table a motion for the re-establishment of the Nkandla Ad-hoc Committee. It is high time that Parliament takes a stand against the numerous delays which President Zuma has caused in this matter, and which he continues to cause. As of today, ...
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President Zuma must address unemployment crisis
Published on 2014-07-29
It is high time that President Jacob Zuma address the growing unemployment crisis directly. The STATS SA second quarter labour force survey, released today, indicates that the unemployment rate has increased to 25.5% as per the narrow definition of unemployment. When accoun...
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Mandela’s reconciliation must live on
Published on 2014-07-29
The Spirit of Reconciliation must forever live on. It’s difficult if not impossible to capture the enormous nature and contribution of Nelson Mandela to our nation. The Hero and legend who bequeathed to us this nation, born out of the ashes of Apartheid, a Constitution out a...
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DA wishes all Muslims Eid Mubarak
Published on 2014-07-28
On behalf of the Democratic Alliance, I would like to wish all South Africans of Muslim faith Eid Mubarak. As the end of the holy month of Ramadan is marked, the DA wishes you well in your celebrations. May this day be one of peace and joy for you and your family, and a time to promote...
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Basic Education: Backlog of almost 23 000 incapacity and ill-health retirement
Published on 2014-07-28
A reply to a DA parliamentary question has revealed that the backlog of 22 882 incapacity leave and ill-health retirement applications, accumulated by November 2013 across the nine provincial departments of education, has still not been dealt with, nine months later. More worryingly...
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SAPS needs more detectives to fight crime
Published on 2014-07-28
A reply to a DA parliamentary question has revealed that there are only 23 682 trained detectives in the South African Police Service (SAPS). However, in the recent budget briefings, the number of detectives (less support staff) was given as 25 771. This therefore raises questions over the...
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DA welcomes the end to strike in metal and engineering sector
Published on 2014-07-28
The DA welcomes an end to the 5 week long strike, involving 220 000 members of the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) within the metal and engineering sector. It is reported that workers accepted a 10% wage increase from employers within the sector. The DA applau...
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Hlongwa should resign over Gauteng corruption allegations
Published on 2014-07-27
I congratulate the National Prosecuting Authority for its court action against companies and individuals implicated in alleged corruption involving contracts with the Gauteng Health Department. This vindicates my exposure of fishy contracts in this department and my questioning of former Heal...
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More than 39 000 SAPS officers not competent with firearms
Published on 2014-07-27
A reply to a DA parliamentary question revealed that only 116 201 of approximately 155 534 operational South African Police Services (SAPS) members were competent in the minimum standards for firearm competency. This means that 39 333 (25.3%) of the operational SAPS officers d...
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DA welcomes appointment of Shakes Mashaba
Published on 2014-07-26
The DA welcomes the appointment of Ephraim 'Shakes' Mashaba as the new coach of Bafana Bafana and wish him well for his tenure. Coach Mashaba's extensive experience in local football and success with South Africa's national youth teams is exactly what Bafana Bafana needs to reclaim their spot...
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DA Congratulates Mbali Ntuli
Published on 2014-07-25
The Democratic Alliance congratulates the DA Youth Leader, Mbali Ntuli, on being one of 100 Young African Leaders invited to attend the first US African Leaders summit in Washington DC. The summit aptly titled 'Investing in Africa's next generation' will focus on the next generation and how it is th...
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DA opposes move to name stadium after Hlaudi Motsoeneng
Published on 2014-07-25
The decision by the Free State Arts and Culture Department to name a stadium in Qwa Qwa after Hlaudi Motsoeneng is an insult to the people of Qwa Qwa. The Public Protector recently found that Hlaudi Motsoeneng lied about his qualifications and irregularly increased his own salary. At th...
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Only 8% of cops who aided escapees dismissed
Published on 2014-07-25
A reply to a DA parliamentary question has revealed that between 2010 and 2013, only 40 out of a total of 516 South African Police Service (SAPS) officers that were found guilty of aiding escapees were dismissed. This amounts to a mere 7.75% of the total. In addition, of the 907 SAPS offic...
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Ramaphosa must fight for LRA’s return to Parliament
Published on 2014-07-25
Deputy President, Cyril Ramaphosa, must agitate for the Labour Relations Amendment Bill to be returned to Parliament if he is serious about his support for strike balloting. This follows reports today that the Deputy President has come out in support of the democratisation of labour rel...
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Minister must hold KZN MEC and SADTU members accountable
Published on 2014-07-25
The Democratic Alliance notes, with great concern, the conduct of SADTU during this week. The union has shown its true colours in no uncertain terms. The KwaZulu Natal provincial branch of the union has chosen to hold its annual congress from 22 to 25 July - the first week of the third term o...
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DA sends condolences after Air Algerie flight AH 5017 crash
Published on 2014-07-25
The DA extends our deepest condolences to the families of the victims of Air Algerie flight AH 5017 which crashed yesterday. We also extend our condolences to the friends, family and loved ones of all others who died in this horrific tragedy. This comes after the flight, en route...
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South Africans refuse to pay R1 billion E-toll bill
Published on 2014-07-25
A recent reply to a DA Parliamentary question has shown that the people of South Africa continue to resoundingly reject the imposition of E-tolls in Gauteng. Of the 1 134 834 unaudited registered and active accounts identified on the E-tolls network, as at 31 May 2014, overdue...
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Free State Education must fire racist teachers
Published on 2014-07-24
The Democratic Alliance welcomes the findings by the Human Rights Commission (HRC) into allegations of racism at Dr. Viljoen Combined School in the Free State. The HRC has found that a number of teachers were racially abusing pupils. It is a disgrace that children at a public school in a democrati...
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DA welcomes additional R1bn for ARVs
Published on 2014-07-24
The DA welcomes the announcement made yesterday by Health Minister, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, that an additional 2 million HIV-positive South Africans, with a CD4 count of 500, will be placed on Anti-Retroviral (ARV) treatment over the next 3 years. This is a step in the right direction and ...
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Minister Gigaba to consider DA submission on visa regulations
Published on 2014-07-24
The Minister of Home Affairs, Malusi Gigaba, will accept a formal written submission from the DA on the new Visa Regulations, for consideration in his ongoing review of these stringent new rules. This morning, with DA Shadow Minister of Home Affairs, Haniff Hoosen, and DA Shadow Minister of T...
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Ses’khona in alleged pay for jobs scandal
Published on 2014-07-24
The DA will submit Parliamentary questions to Minister of Transport, Dipuo Peters, demanding clarity on the alleged pay for jobs scandal between Metrorail and Ses’khona People’s Right Movement. Today it is reported that Ses’khona, operating from Bridgetown in Athlone, ...
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NDPP: President Zuma must announce terms of reference
Published on 2014-07-24
The DA has welcomed the announcement of an enquiry into the procedure followed in appointing the National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP), Mxolisi Nxasana, specifically because it was suggested that the procedure itself may have been flawed. Now three weeks later there has been no prog...
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Transnet must urgently account to Parliament over pension fund debacle
Published on 2014-07-24
The DA will be writing to the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Public Enterprises, Dipuo Letsatsi-Duba, requesting the urgent summons of Transnet officials in order to obtain clarity on the status of the Transnet Pension Fund and the Transnet Second Defined Benefit Fund (TSBF), as wel...
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DA welcomes Muthambi's decision to oppose court application
Published on 2014-07-24
The DA notes the announcement today that Minister Muthambi will oppose our court application to have the appointment of Hlaudi Motsoeneng reviewed and overturned. We look forward to hearing the Minister's arguments in court on August 19. It is our strong view, set out in our founding&n...
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DA Shadow Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs & DA Shadow Minister of Public Enterprises
Published on 2014-07-23
It is of extreme concern that approximately R2.815 billion rand is owed to Eskom by 51 municipalities across South Africa as at 31 May 2014. This information was furnished by Eskom and is in the DA’s possession. The DA will request that the Minister of Public Enterprises, Lynne B...
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DTI prepares to re-introduce job-destroying Bills
Published on 2014-07-23
A reply to a DA parliamentary question reveals that the Minister of Trade and Industry, Rob Davies, is preparing to bring two job-destroying Bills before Parliament before the end of this financial year. The Department has revealed that it will introduce the ironically named Protection and...
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Minister Motshekga's Mathematics Muddle
Published on 2014-07-23
A reply to a DA parliamentary question, detailing the current state of Mathematics study in South African schools, makes nonsense of every aspect of a statement made by President Zuma in his reply to the debate on the State of the Nation Address in June 2014. On 20 June, the ...
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DA welcomes correctional services probe
Published on 2014-07-23
The DA welcomes the forensic probe by auditing firm, KPMG, into the recently-awarded tender by the Department of Correctional Services for electronic monitoring. This is a victory for the DA following my calls to have this matter investigated by the Public Protector or the Department during the Budg...
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Minister doesn’t know how many cops have been convicted in the last year
Published on 2014-07-23
The Minister of Police, Nathi Nhleko, needs to make clear his reasons for not making public the record of South African Police Service (SAPS) personnel who have been convicted of criminal offences in the last year. This morning a reply to a DA parliamentary question has revealed tha...
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Lead or step aside, Mr President
Published on 2014-07-23
Deputy Speaker,Honourable President,Honourable Members,Ladies and Gentlemen,Bagaetso Dumelang, Five years from now, the year will be 2019, and this fifth democratic parliament will conclude its mandate, given to us by the people of South Africa, with their hopes and dreams in our hands.T...
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DA Youth protests against Higher Education Budget
Published on 2014-07-22
Minister Blade Nzimande has failed South Africa. The DA and the DA Youth have on countless occasions asked Minister Nzimande to increase the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) to R16 billion per year. If we get our priorities right, we can easily afford it. And if we did, we ...
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Ses’Khona scored R330k from Lwandle plot-selling, evidence suggests
Published on 2014-07-22
The DA calls on the SAPS to act on emerging evidence that the Ses’Khona People’s Rights Movement could have made as much as R330 000 from illegal plot-selling prior to the Lwandle evictions. Affidavits submitted by the DA to the SAPS detail how Ses’Khona ran the operation in...
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Minister reveals that criminal cops won’t appear before Boards of Fitness
Published on 2014-07-22
The DA will write to the Minister of Police, Nathi Nhleko, requesting that he instruct the National Police Commissioner, Riah Phiyega, to lawfully re-instate the Fitness Boards of Inquiry into the 1448 members of the South African Police Service (SAPS) who have been convicted of criminal offences.&...
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Mining Risk Committee meets only twice in five years
Published on 2014-07-22
The DA will be writing to the Minister of Health, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, requesting reasons as to why the Risk Committee for Mines and Works has only met twice in the space of five years since 1 January 2009. This comes after a reply to a DA Parliamentary question which reveals that the c...
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DA will seek justification for termination of section 100 intervention in Limpopo
Published on 2014-07-22
The DA notes the Minister of Finance, Nhlanhla Nene’s letter to the Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces, Thandi Modise, bringing to the NCOP’s attention the resolution passed by Cabinet to have the section 100 (1)(b) intervention in Limpopo terminated. This lette...
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Muthambi Task Team stacked with Zuma acolytes
Published on 2014-07-21
The DA has in its possession alist of members of Minister Muthambi’s newly formed National Communications Task Team, established to develop a White Paper on the overarching communication strategy of government. The Task Team is stacked with individuals closely linked to President J...
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The DA welcomes the conclusion of the EU EPA negotiations
Published on 2014-07-21
The Democratic Alliance welcomes the conclusion of the Economic Partnership Agreement between the SADC EPA group and European Union(EU). With the agreement now making its way to Parliament for ratification, we will scrutinize it in detail to ensure that it improves terms of trade for South Af...
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Minister Motsoaledi must intervene in FS Health Crisis or face constitutional consequences
Published on 2014-07-21
Without a doubt the Free State Provincial Department of Health is near total collapse. We have spent the last two days conducting oversight visits at various public health facilities and the conditions we have found them in point to a crisis in the Free State health system. The Free Sta...
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Charges against officials not enough – Zuma must answer to Parliament
Published on 2014-07-20
The DA welcomes reports that the 13 officials, some of whom are senior officials in the Department of Public Works, have been charged in an internal disciplinary hearing for maladministration relating to the R246 million upgrades of Jacob Zuma’s Nkandla homestead. However, these charges...
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Parliament must convene special inquiry into rhino poaching crisis
Published on 2014-07-20
The DA will write to the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Environmental Affairs, Jackson Mthembu, to request that a special inquiry be launched into the current Rhino poaching crisis. Specifically, Parliament needs to be briefed by the Department - and its entities - &nbs...
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NCOP tries to halt investigation into Thandi Modise again
Published on 2014-07-18
Yesterday, the House Chairperson of the NCOP, Mr A J Nyambi, expunged clause 4 of the motion tabled by the DA last week to have the house mandate the Select Committee on Agriculture to investigate Thandi Modise’s gross negligence which resulted in the alleged mistreatment of her farm workers, ...
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Flight MH17: Condolences to the family of Cameron Dalziel
Published on 2014-07-18
The DA extends our deepest condolences to the family of Cameron Dalziel, a South African helicopter pilot who was one of the victims of the Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 crash yesterday. We also extend our condolences to the friends, family and loved ones of all others who died in this horrif...
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NDP implementation will ensure Mandela’s words live forever
Published on 2014-07-18
Today, we are in the Eastern Cape, the birthplace of one of Africa’s greatest sons – Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela. We are in the Metro of Nelson Mandela Bay, which is named after the great man, who fought for freedom and justice. Yet, looking at this province we must ask ourselves to...
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Nkandla submission: Zuma’s latest excuse doesn’t sell
Published on 2014-07-18
The DA has today received a response from the acting Speaker of the National Assembly, Mr Lechesa Tsenoli MP, following my letter to Ms Mbete requesting clarity on what steps would be taken by Parliament to ensure President Zuma submitted his response to the Public Protector’s Nkandl...
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Criminal charges laid against Ses’Khona
Published on 2014-07-17
The Democratic Alliance has today laid criminal charges against a number of Ses’Khona leaders and ANC members in Cape Town. The charges relate to several illegal activities that played a key role in the South African National Road Agency Limited’s (SANRAL) winter eviction of peopl...
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Nkandla Submission: Parliament must not accept Zuma’s delay tactics
Published on 2014-07-17
President Jacob Zuma’s latest delay in submitting his full response to the Public Protector’s Report on the Nkandla matter is unacceptable and without any basis. According to the Presidency, President Zuma is still “seized with preparing the report”. The statement issu...
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Parliament must review new “undesirable” businesses list
Published on 2014-07-17
The DA will write to the Minister of Trade and Industry, Rob Davies, and demand that he clearly explain the reasons behind the limitations placed on corporate visa applications in relation to various business undertakings. We will also request that Portfolio Committee of Trade and Indus...
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Speaker must allow for Oral Questions this term
Published on 2014-07-17
It was confirmed in the National Assembly Programming Committee this morning that oral questions to the Executive will not be scheduled this term. These questions were supposed to be scheduled for 30 July 2014 – but it was cancelled because all Presiding Officers are now attending a &ld...
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Government must heed warning by Reserve Bank Governor
Published on 2014-07-17
The DA takes note of the announcement by the Reserve Bank Governor, Gill Marcus, of a 25 basis point rise in the repo rate to 5.75% This means that South Africans will have to tighten their belts even further as their disposable income continues to shrink. The Governor mentioned that the econ...
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Meeting with Deputy President serves to strengthen Parliament
Published on 2014-07-17
This afternoon, I had an introductory meeting with Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa, in his capacity as Leader of Government Business in the National Assembly. In this cordial meeting, we spoke about a number of issues, including our parties working together where we agreed, and that the voic...
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DA submits questions on assignment of NPA prosecutors for E-tolling
Published on 2014-07-16
The DA will submit questions to the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services, Michael Masutha, and the Minister of Transport, Dipuo Peters, to determine the full extent of the NPA’s assignment of two prosecutors to investigate whether the conduct of some motorists constitute an offence.&n...
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Minister Muthambi must clarify Afrikaans move to SABC 3
Published on 2014-07-16
Minister of Communication, Faith Muthambi, must explain what the SABC’s plans are for Afrikaans programming. Reports have suggested that the SABC is planning a wholesale move of Afrikaans programming away from SABC 2 to SABC 3. Such a move could be in violation of the SABC’s own editori...
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NPA Inquiry: President Zuma is stalling
Published on 2014-07-15
It has been 11 days since President Jacob Zuma announced an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the appointment of the National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP) Mr Mxolisi Nxasana. Yet today South Africa is no closer to understanding the nature of this investigation. Given ...
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DA condemns anti-Semitic hate speech by ANC staffer
Published on 2014-07-15
The DA strongly condemns the anti-Semitic hate speech posted by an ANC Western Cape media official on Facebook. The DA calls on the governing party to distance itself from the remarks and take the appropriate disciplinary action. The ANC Western Cape social media manager Rene Smit posted a Fa...
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DA welcomes suspension of Boxing SA CEO
Published on 2014-07-15
The DA welcomes a decision by the Board of Boxing South Africa (BSA) to suspend the organization's acting CEO, Mr Loyiso Mtya, following allegations of corruption and fraud levelled against him. Mr Mtya was informed of his preliminary suspension yesterday. The DA congratulates th...
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DA Youth congratulates South African choirs
Published on 2014-07-15
The DA congratulates South African youth choirs that took part in the eighth World Choir Games in Latvia this weekend. They performed exceptionally well. They have made us extremely proud. The Stellenbosch University Choir have been crowned as three time world champions. The Stellenbosc...
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“Ultimately, it is all about jobs.”
Published on 2014-07-15
Speech highlights:Your government has aspired to quantity, before addressing quality.The quality of education in South Africa, by every international and national measure, is poor.Our low-skilled youth have little chance, ever, of complete independence from the state.We cannot allow one fifth o...
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DA to seek High Court review of Motsoeneng appointment
Published on 2014-07-14
The Democratic Alliance today announces legal action on the appointment of Hlaudi Motsoeneng as Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC). The process of serving papers on Communications Minister Faith Muthambi and the SABC Board has begun, with the ap...
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No impact assessment done on visa regulations
Published on 2014-07-14
According to a reply to a DA Parliamentary Question, a Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA) was not conducted prior to the introduction of the new visa regulations. The failure to conduct such an assessment, despite the clearly anticipated concerns regarding these regulations, is dee...
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Manufacturing Jobs: ANC government is failing the poor
Published on 2014-07-14
The release of jobs statistics today which show a sharp decline in employment in the manufacturing sector is a sign that the ANC government's continued indecision on the National Development Plan is having serious consequences for South Africa, and especially for the poor. Today, Statis...
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DA extends condolences on the passing of Nadime Gordimer
Published on 2014-07-14
The Democratic Alliance extends our deepest condolences to the family of Nadine Gordimer, and everyone touched by her work, on the sad news of her passing today. From each generation invariably rises transformative figures who can see past present circumstances toward a better future. ...
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Parliament must investigate SABC Board Chairperson’s claims about her qualifications
Published on 2014-07-13
It was reported today that SABC Board Chairperson, Ellen Tshabalala, lied about her qualifications when she submitted her application for the position to Parliament last year. I will be writing to the Chairperson of the Communications Portfolio Committee, Joyce Moloi-Moropa, to request that t...
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North West Public Accounts Committee must investigate abuse of public funds for Modise cover up
Published on 2014-07-13
The revelations today that Thandi Modise hired undocumented foreign farm workers, that she promised to only pay them R25 per day and that she didn’t pay them anything in the end are shocking. These allegations are extremely serious and represent breaches of our labour legislation. It seems t...
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Minister Motsoaledi must place FS Health Department under administration
Published on 2014-07-13
The DA in the Free State has repeatedly called on Premier Ace Magashule to fire the MEC for Health, Dr Benny Malakoane, and to implement measures that would see the department’s finances be brought to order. All action must be taken to ensure that the province delivers high quality health care...
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Hlaudi appointment: DA welcomes new Public Protector investigation
Published on 2014-07-11
The DA welcomes reports that the Public Protector is to launch a new investigation into SABC Chief Operating Officer Hlaudi Motsoeneng. It is reported that the investigation will consider what process was followed in appointing Mr Motsoeneng, whether he has the qualifications required for the...
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NCOP tries to block DA motion on Thandi Modise
Published on 2014-07-11
On Tuesday, the DA tabled a notice of motion for the next sitting of the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) against Thandi Modise, the former Premier of North West and the current Chairperson of the NCOP, condemning her action on abandoning her farm in Modderfontein outside Potchefstroom, which re...
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The time for promises is over: DA calls for parliamentary inquiry into initiation deaths
Published on 2014-07-11
At the age of 19 I underwent the sacred ceremony of initiation in Port Elizabeth in the Eastern Cape. My experience was one of elation as I finally became a man. During this time we never experienced the fear of death as our young men are today, and our leaders led us by e...
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Why was Nxasana refused access to the Spytapes?
Published on 2014-07-11
The DA will seek urgent clarity from both the National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP), Mxolisi Nxasana, and his deputy, and former acting NDPP, Adv. Nomgcobo Jiba, on whether or not Mr Nxasana was denied access to the Spytapes when he requested it, and on what grounds. Furthermo...
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DA calls for peace in Israel-Palestine conflict
Published on 2014-07-11
The DA calls for an immediate end to the escalating violence in the Israel-Palestine conflict and urges all parties to prevent a descent into war. Innocent civilians are being maimed and killed. This is indefensible, and can only entrench bitterness and hatred that will make the conflict even...
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Muthambi must answer for Hlaudi appointment in Parliament
Published on 2014-07-10
I have today written to the Chairperson of the Communications Portfolio Committee, Joyce Moloi-Moropa, to request Minister of Communications, Faith Muthambi, be summoned to explain the appointment of Hlaudi Motsoeneng as SABC Chief Operating Officer (COO). Given the gravity of the decision to...
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VISA regulations: DA to submit questions on tourism decline
Published on 2014-07-10
In an interview with Tourism Update, CEO of Cullinan Holdings, Michael Tollman, has stated that South Africa’s new immigration regulations are already having grave effects on the travel of tourists into the country from one of our main growth markets, China. According to Tollman, ...
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Strike Violence: COSATU must come clean on disciplinary cases
Published on 2014-07-10
The DA challenges COSATU to disclose all cases over the past 3 years in which they have suspended or cancelled the membership of union members who have been involved in acts of intimidation, violence and the destruction of property during a strike. In opposing the DA's proposed Private Member...
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Makhura’s E-tolls Review Panel is a publicity stunt
Published on 2014-07-10
Gauteng Premier David Makhura’s announcement of the Gauteng Provincial Government review of the E-tolls system is nothing more than a public relations stunt. The E-tolls system is governed by national legislation, therefore the only body that is empowered to legitimately review the syst...
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De Kock parole application raises unanswered questions
Published on 2014-07-10
The DA takes note of the decision by the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services, Mike Masutha, to deny parole to Eugene de Kock who was tried and convicted on 89 charges and sentenced to two life sentences and 212 years in prison after disclosing the full scope of his crimes while testifying ...
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DA saddened by stabbing of toddler
Published on 2014-07-10
The DA is deeply saddened by the brutal stabbing of a 3-year-old child allegedly by a relative in Kutlwanong, Free State this week. We express our sincere condolences to the mother of the child and other relatives following this heinous incident, and we hope that the person suspected of this ...
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Manufacturing down 3.7%: Where is Minister Davies?
Published on 2014-07-10
Minister of Trade and Industry, Rob Davies, must urgently convene talks between the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa), employers within South Africa’s steel and engineering sectors and the Minister of Labour, Mildred Oliphant in order to end strike action in the manufacturing. ...
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Hlaudi appointment: Muthambi must release law firm report for public scrutiny
Published on 2014-07-10
Communications Minister, Faith Muthambi, claimed today that SABC COO, Hlaudi Motsoeneng, had been cleared of any wrongdoing by an independent law firm. Her belief that a legal report from a private law firm can trump a report of the Public Protector is bizarre and unprecedented. If Mini...
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Are we getting bang for our buck? Tourism spends R1.9 million on flights in one year
Published on 2014-07-09
The former Minister of Tourism, Martinus Van Schalkwyk, spent a total of R1,946,788.00 on international flights between April 2013 and his exit from cabinet following the national elections, a reply to DA parliamentary question has revealed. In total, Mr Van Schalkwyk went overseas ...
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Just one teacher training centre opened in three years
Published on 2014-07-09
A reply to a DA parliamentary question has revealed that in the past three financial years, only one additional teacher education campus in South Africa, at the former Ndebele College of Education in Siyabuswa, has been opened. It was also revealed that a bid for funding to su...
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The Jobs Parliament: Parliament should pass laws that create jobs
Published on 2014-07-09
Today, the DA sets out our agenda to make this Fifth Parliament the “Jobs Parliament” – a Parliament committed to creating laws which enable our economy to create more jobs. To promote a Jobs Parliament, we will champion legislation that establishes the right conditions for ...
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IPID must investigate e-toll harassment by JMPD
Published on 2014-07-09
I will write to the Head of the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID), Robert McBride, to request an urgent investigation into the utilisation of the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) by the South African National Roads Agency (SANRAL) for the purpose of coercing motor...
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SIU must provide full reasons for Nkandla report delays
Published on 2014-07-09
I have written to the Head of the Special Investigating Unit (SIU), Adv Vasantrai Soni, requesting that he provide further details regarding the delays in the SIU’s investigation into the spending of over R246 million expenditure on President Zuma’s private residence at Nkandla, KwaZulu-...
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DA saddened by passing of former NCOP Chief Whip
Published on 2014-07-09
It is with deep sadness that we learned of the passing of Nosipho Dorothy Ntwanambi, the former Chief Whip of the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) and chairperson of the Parliamentary Women's Caucus, yesterday. Ms Nosipho Dorothy Ntwanambi, served as NCOP Chief Whip from 2009 for the enti...
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Hlaudi appointment a dark day for democracy
Published on 2014-07-09
The appointment of Hlaudi Motsoeneng as permanent Chief Operations Officer (COO) of the SABC is a dark day for democracy. Mr Motsoeneng has been given a renewed mandate to continue his reign of terror at the public broadcaster. We can expect more surveillance and purging of SABC staff, more c...
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ANC covering up for Modise
Published on 2014-07-08
The ANC today released a statement regarding NCOP Chairperson Thandi Modise’s farm in North West in an attempt to deflect attention from the fact that she treated her animals with criminal cruelty. Modise allowed her animals to die of hunger and thirst, subjecting them to unnecess...
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DA welcomes election of Helen Zille to Deputy chair of NCOP
Published on 2014-07-08
The DA welcomes the election of DA leader and Premier of the Western Cape, Helen Zille, to the position of rotating Deputy Chairperson in the National Council of Provinces, today. We congratulate Ms Zille on her election and believe that this would add value to the NCOP. Indeed, the NCO...
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DA to request investigation into R807 326, 00 price tag for one flight
Published on 2014-07-08
link to the reply can be found here The DA will write to the Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts (SCOPA), Thembi Godi, to request that he launch an investigation into the chartering of a flight to the tune of R807 326, 00 to Abuja, Nigeria on the 7th May 2014 by the ...
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Treasury spends R1.2 million on pot plants
Published on 2014-07-08
A reply to a DA parliamentary question has revealed that the National Treasury has spent R1 238 539, 03 on pot plants over the past five years. At an average cost of R 247 707, 80 per year, and relative to the costs spent by other government departments on this line item &ndas...
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NDPP inquiry must be open to public and extended to include deputy NDPP
Published on 2014-07-08
The DA calls on President Zuma to publish the terms of reference for his announced inquiry into the appointment of the National Director of Public Prosecutions, Mr Mxolisi Nxasana, and should immediately extend the terms of reference (to be published) to include a broader enquiry into the fitness to...
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Strike Violence PMB: It is time for COSATU to bring labour relations into the 21st Century
Published on 2014-07-08
COSATU’s official response opposing the DA's proposed private members bill that would seek to prevent strike related violence shows that the union federation has yet to come to terms with labour relations in the 21st century and demonstrates that it is quickly becoming a fossil in our politica...
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Minister Nkoana-Mashabane must account for anti-LGBTI vote at UN
Published on 2014-07-08
The DA will write to the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, to demand an urgent explanation for South Africa’s endorsement of the exclusion of LGBTI families from a resolution passed by the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC). Acco...
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ICASA’s role and independence must be clarified
Published on 2014-07-07
The Democratic Alliance calls on President Jacob Zuma to categorically state that the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa is a Chapter Nine institution charged with regulating the electronic communications sector and that its independence of government is guaranteed. At the J...
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Police should investigate Modise’s animal cruelty
Published on 2014-07-07
Thandi Modise, the former Premier of North West and the current Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces, should be investigated by the police for the animal cruelty that took place at her farm Modderfontein outside Potchefstroom. The SPCA has discovered scores of dead animals on Mod...
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E-tolls task team must be a Parliamentary committee, and Parliament must debate E-tolls
Published on 2014-07-07
Within the coming days I will be moving for the Transport Portfolio Committee to push for a full review of the E-toll scheme. Furthermore, the outcome of the Committee’s work must be debated in the National Assembly. This review will include the effects and the impacts of E-tolls since incepti...
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DA to introduce Private Member’s Bill on strike violence
Published on 2014-07-07
At the soonest available opportunity, the DA will submit a Private Member’s Bill that will seek to prevent strike-related violence before it occurs. This follows the arrest of 26 Numsa members this past weekend due to acts of intimidation, public violence and malicious damage to propert...
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DA to re-submit question on ministerial housing costs
Published on 2014-07-07
The Minister of Public Works, Thulas Nxesi, has refused to provide a breakdown of public money spent on 35 ministerial homes, a reply to a DA parliamentary question, generated by my colleague Alf Lees MP, has revealed. The reason given that such details would ‘compromise security&r...
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Police Minister must address more than R150 million in irregular and wasteful expenditure
Published on 2014-07-07
The DA will write to the Chairperson of the Police Portfolio Committee on Police, Francois Beukman, to summon the Minister of Police, Nkosinathi Nhleko, to explain what will be done to curb the flagrant misuse of public funds, especially while the South African Police Service (SAPS) is woefully unde...
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DA to probe revelation of dysfunctional TVET colleges
Published on 2014-07-06
In a Portfolio Committee Meeting held in Parliament this week, the Director-General of the Department of Higher Education and Training revealed that 8 of South Africa’s 50 TVETs, formerly known as FET colleges, have been placed under administration and a further 13 are now under forensic inves...
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DA to request urgent COGTA intervention in North West
Published on 2014-07-06
The DA is in possession of a leaked report to the North West Provincial Speaker, which recommends that the Ngaka Modiri Molema District Municipality (and its associated local municipalities) be placed under administration. The leaked document also reveals that every local municipality in the ...
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NYDA recruitment drive must be explained to Parliament
Published on 2014-07-06
I will write to the Chairperson of the Public Service and Administration Portfolio Committee, Bertha Peace Mabe, to summon the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) to explain its turnaround strategy; including its plans to reduce the public wage bill. At a time when the National You...
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DA welcomes inquiry into NPA head
Published on 2014-07-05
The Democratic Alliances welcomes the long overdue investigation into the National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP), Mr Mxolisi Nxasana. The announcement by President Jacob Zuma is an admission that due process was not followed when appointing the head of the National Prosecuting Author...
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NYDA must be scrapped
Published on 2014-07-04
The National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) has failed South Africa’s youth and they must be scrapped as a matter of urgency. NYDA has been involved in one corruption scandal after another since its inception in 2009, continuously failing the South African youth and wasting tax p...
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Magashule must fire Health MEC Malakoane
Published on 2014-07-04
Free State Premier Ace Magashule must fire his MEC for Health, Dr Benny Malakoane immediately. It is alleged that MEC Malakoane interfered with ICU admission procedures at the Dihlabeng Hospital in Bethlehem. He abused his power and privilege to force the hospital to make an ICU bed imm...
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NSFAS needs more money
Published on 2014-07-04
Minister of Higher Education and Training, Blade Nzimande, has again failed to make enough money available for student bursaries. The allocation for the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) is much too low, as it increased only slightly from the previous figure of R 8,69 billion to R 8,85 b...
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DA welcomes SAHRC’s hearings on farm murders
Published on 2014-07-03
The DA welcomes reports that the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) will host a series of public hearings on the safety and security in farming communities. Following numerous calls, SAHRC chairperson Advocate Lawrence Mushwana, yesterday confirmed that the Commission would hold pu...
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Minister agrees to need for urgent performance review of Incubator Support Programme
Published on 2014-07-03
This morning I met with the Minister of Small Business Development, Lindiwe Zulu, for our first meeting to discuss plans and priorities for the new department. Minister Zulu agreed with me that an urgent performance review of the Incubator Support Programme was required, and that the legislat...
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Hlaudi has given the SABC Board another reason to suspend him
Published on 2014-07-03
Acting Chief Operating Officer Hlaudi Motsoeneng today confirmed why the SABC Board must suspend him without delay. Mr Motsoeneng reportedly told the ‘Radio Days’ conference this morning that the media needs to be tightly regulated, and that journalists only report corruptio...
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Export taxes will destroy more jobs in mining sector
Published on 2014-07-02
Reports this morning that the ANC is considering the introduction of export taxes on key mining exports like platinum group metals (PGM) and iron ore could have a further destabilizing effect on the industry, and will cost more jobs. I will write to the Minister of Trade and Industry, R...
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Communications Minister dragging her feet over Hlaudi replacement
Published on 2014-07-02
I have today written to Communications Minister Faith Muthambi to ask her to request that the SABC Board immediately suspend Acting Chief Operations Officer (COO) Hlaudi Motsoeneng until the deadlock at the national broadcaster is resolved. In a reply to a parliament...
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Your vote can turn Ethekwini wards blue for the first time
Published on 2014-07-01
Today we are campaigning ahead of by-elections in Ethekwini to cement the immense growth the DA achieved in the 2014 elections. Between 2009 and 2014 the DA grew by 56.2% in KZN to become the official opposition in this province for the first time. Nationally the DA recorded its highes...
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Science and Technology splurges over R1 million on pot plants
Published on 2014-07-01
The Department of Science and Technology has spent R1 074 429 on “the maintenance of indoor plants” within the past five years, a reply to a DA parliamentary question has revealed. According to the reply, the Department spent: R487,710.12 between 2009 and 20...
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NYDA must be scrapped, not given more money
Published on 2014-07-01
Deputy Minister of Performance and Monitoring in the Presidency, Buti Manamela’s proposal that the National Youth Development Agency Act should be reviewed in order to introduce provincial advisory boards and give the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) “a bigger slice of the nation...
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Land Bills: President is showing disregard for Section 79 of the Constitution
Published on 2014-07-01
The DA is deeply concerned that President Zuma has signed the Restitution of Land Rights Amendment Bill and the Property Valuation Bill into law despite having received a petition from the DA to refer this proposed legislation back to the National Assembly in terms of Section 79 of the Constitution....
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DA walks out of Communications’ Briefing
Published on 2014-07-01
The Democratic Alliance members of the portfolio committees on Communications and Telecommunications and Postal Services walked out of the briefing by the Department of Communications on its budget and strategic plan today in protest against the lack of time allocated to prepare and interrogate the ...
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Boxing SA board must suspend CEO
Published on 2014-06-30
The DA will today write to the Chairperson of Boxing South Africa (BSA), Ntambi Ravele, and request that they launch an investigation into allegations of corruption and fraud levelled against the body's acting CEO, Loyiso Mtya. Furthermore, we will request that he be suspended pending the out...
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ICASA must investigate SABC’s Afrikaans programming snub
Published on 2014-06-30
Reports that the SABC intends to relocate almost all of the remaining Afrikaans language programmes on SABC2 to SABC3 following the 2014 FIFA World Cup is cause for serious concern. SABC 3 has a much poorer terrestrial footprint than SABC 2 in Afrikaans-speaking areas such as the North...
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Minister Brown must prevent Numsa strike at Eskom
Published on 2014-06-30
National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) has indicated that they will embark on an indefinite strike on the 1 July 2014. Approximately 10 000 Eskom workers may also down tools, joining a strike of 200 000 workers, which could have a serious negative impact on the South African e...
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New Mining Proposals – From bad to worse
Published on 2014-06-30
Incalculable damage has already been done to South Africa’s ability to attract mining investment by the Minerals and Petroleum Resources Development Act (MPRDA) Amendment Bill. To his credit, new Minister Ngoako Ramatlhodi has recognised that the Bill is flawed and has suggested changes. ...
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DA will fight Muthambi’s dangeorus plan to control SABC Board
Published on 2014-06-29
In an interview in today’s Sunday Times, Communications Minister Faith Muthambi revealed dangerous plans to centralise control of the SABC in her office. Minister Muthambi said that she intends tabling amendments to the Broadcasting Act to:Remove Parliament’s power to remove SAB...
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Parliamentary Ethics Committee must investigate Ramatlhodi’s Mining interests
Published on 2014-06-29
The DA will request that Parliament’s Ethics and Members Interest Committee be urgently constituted so that it can launch an investigation into claims relating to the Minister of Mineral Resources, Ngoako Ramatlhodi’s alleged R20 million conflict of interest in the mining sector. &...
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DA to lay complaint with Press Ombudsman over libellous report on Van Damme citizenship
Published on 2014-06-29
The DA will lay a complaint with the Press Ombudsman against the Sunday Times following its report on the citizenship of DA National Spokesperson Phumzile Van Damme today. The report is opportunistic at best, and libellous at worst. The circumstances surrounding her birth and the registration...
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DA challenges Minister Nkwinti to withdraw controversial land reform policy
Published on 2014-06-29
The DA will write to the Minister of Rural Development and Land Reform, Gugile Nkwinti, requesting he officially withdraw his department’s controversial land reform proposal which will lead to forced expropriation. This comes after senior members of ANC, of which the Minister is a...
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Public Protector must probe VFS tender
Published on 2014-06-29
The DA will write to the Public Protector, Adv Thuli Madonsela, to request an investigation into an estimated R 1 billion VISA facilitation tender awarded to VFS Visa Processing SA (Pty) Ltd and determine whether or not this tender was awarded unlawfully. This comes after allegation...
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DA wishes all Muslims a blessed Ramadan
Published on 2014-06-29
The Democratic Alliance wishes all Muslim families across South Africa a blessed Ramadan. We wish you strength and peace during this sacred month of the Islamic calendar. May this be a time of deep devotion and reflection for you and your family.
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17 million hectares that could change our economy forever
Published on 2014-06-29
In President Zuma’s recent State of the Nation Address (SONA) it was encouraging to hear him targeting agriculture as a key job driver. He set a goal of 1 million new jobs in the sector by 2030. That’s a big number, but it’s good to set ambitious targets. We believe th...
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DA will submit PAIA application to gain access to SIU Nkandla Report
Published on 2014-06-27
Reports that the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) has delayed the release of their final report on the R246 million expenditure on President Jacob Zuma’s private home in Nkandla are deeply concerning. It is equally suspicious that the SIU has now noted “certain circumstances...
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Cut the red tape and support small businesses, Minister Zulu
Published on 2014-06-27
A survey of established small businesses showed that small businesses spend on average, 8 days a month dealing with red tape. Red tape is the enemy of economic growth and employment. But there is hope if our government implements the NDP now. Today! If the NDP is implemented now ...
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DA condemns Al-Jazeera journalist sentencing
Published on 2014-06-26
The DA condemns the sentencing of Al-Jazeera journalists by Egyptian courts and will table this matter for discussion at the Pan African Parliament. The DA will also be submitting parliamentary questions to the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Hon. Maite Nkoana-Masha...
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ANC blocks land reform debate in Parliament
Published on 2014-06-26
At today’s sitting of the Portfolio Committee on Rural Development and Land Reform, the ANC used its majority to block the DA’s request that Minister of Rural Development and Land Reform, Gugile Nkwinti, come to Parliament in order to debate his department’s controversial new land ...
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SAHRC Poverty Report must be tabled before Social Development Committee
Published on 2014-06-26
I will today write to the Chairperson of the Social Development Portfolio Committee, Rosemary Capa, and request that the report by the South African Human Rights Commission into child poverty be tabled before the committee for consideration and debate. The ‘Poverty Traps and Socia...
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Minister Cwele must prioritise post office strikes
Published on 2014-06-26
The Democratic Alliance notes with concern the latest strike at the South African Post Office (SAPO), more specifically in Gauteng where normal operations are likely to be affected. That labour relations issues remain unresolved despite protracted negotiations and mediation between SAPO manag...
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DA tightens the screws on Maintenance Defaulters
Published on 2014-06-26
Today, I have written to the heads of the major credit bureaus in South Africa (TransUnion, Experian SA, XDS and CompuScan) as well as to the National Credit Regulator, Nomsa Motshegare, for an urgent meeting to discuss how maintenance defaulters can be held responsible with the full force of the la...
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DA requests urgent meeting with tourism minister to discuss immigration regulations
Published on 2014-06-26
Minister of Tourism, Derek Hanekom’s, admission yesterday that the new immigration regulations may have unintended consequences for the tourism industry is a clear indication that the Minister has heard our calls. To further illustrate this, in a recent reply to a DA parliamen...
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Mbalula flounders on Pan Pacific Championship swimmers’ sponsorship
Published on 2014-06-26
I have met with the Minister of Sport and Recreation, Fikile Mbalula, to, in part; urge him to locate funds within his department's budget to support South African swimmers in the upcoming Pan Pacific Championships in Gold Coast, Australia. The Minister, however, was not prepared to make a firm comm...
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ICASA must investigate SABC’s dropping of TV news bulletins
Published on 2014-06-26
I have today written to the Chairperson of ICASA, Dr Stephen Sipho Mncube, to request an investigation into the dropping of TV news bulletins during the World Cup. The Tsonga/Venda, Siswati/Ndebele and Afrikaans news bulletins were reportedly bumped off the SABC this week to make way for the ...
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Govt must act immediately to prevent Numsa strike
Published on 2014-06-26
Confirmation today that the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) will embark on an indefinite strike in the metals and engineering sector from Tuesday is cause for serious concern. We welcome government’s proposed intervention and encourage it to launch a task team to prev...
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ESKOM – National Energy Regulator must report to Parliament
Published on 2014-06-26
Today, I will write to the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Energy, Fikile Majola, requesting that the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA) be called to Parliament to provide an independent report on the financial and operational state of Eskom. This comes as NERSA...
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DAWN to support new laws against Maintenance defaulters
Published on 2014-06-25
Today the DA Women’s Network gathers outside Parliament to announce important new steps to crackdown on child maintenance defaulters. An estimated 9 million children are growing up in South Africa without fathers. From 1996 to 2009, the proportion of living fathers who are absent from t...
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R36 million price tag for new ministries
Published on 2014-06-25
A reply to a DA parliamentary question has revealed that President Jacob Zuma’s recent additions to his cabinet will cost tax payers approximately R36 million. According to the reply, it will cost R8 million and R4 million for the establishment of every new ministry and ...
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Who is profiting from our prison sales?
Published on 2014-06-25
In a reply to a DA parliamentary question, the Minister of Public Works revealed that a feasibility study was being undertaken into the “possible disposal” of Pollsmoor and Leeuwkop Correctional Centres. While the DA welcomes this move, given the proximity of these corre...
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Home Affairs committee to debate immigration regulations
Published on 2014-06-25
Yesterday, at the first meeting of the Home Affairs Portfolio Committee meeting, I requested an urgent discussion and debate on the new job-killing visa regulations and its impact on our tourism, economic development and job creation. The Chairperson, Buoang Lemias Mashile, supported this req...
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SADTU must allow our young people to honour their past, but own their future
Published on 2014-06-25
The DA notes the call by the South African Democratic Teachers’ Union (SADTU) for the subject of History to be rewritten to ensure that it is “relevant”, and for it to be made a compulsory subject to be carried through to matric. SADTU’s lobbying for the reconfiguratio...
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Removed mayors must be fired, not redeployed
Published on 2014-06-24
The announcement by the ANC’s Limpopo Provincial Executive Committee that senior officials within the province are being moved to improve service delivery is not a solution to the on-going crisis of poor governance at local government level. We call on the ANC to walk the talk and fire ...
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Nkwinti proposals a departure from the NDP
Published on 2014-06-24
The Democratic Alliance today outlines our position on the new Land Reform Policy Proposals published by Minister Gugile Nkwinti. In their current form, the proposals will lead us on a path of forced expropriation, greater government control of farming development, insecurity, job losses and ...
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Minister Motshekga, striving towards perfection is your only option
Published on 2014-06-24
In appealing a judgment at the Limpopo High Court, Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga asserts that to expect the Department of Basic Education to provide learners with textbooks timeously, would amount to a level of “perfection” which she says she does not need to achieve. To suppo...
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Eskom Recapitilisation – more money into a black hole
Published on 2014-06-24
The DA will approach Minister of Public Enterprises, Lynn Brown, requesting an urgent meeting to discuss alternative strategies for reform at Eskom and the restructuring of the energy sector. Three government Ministers, Minister Brown amongst them, have been tasked with producing a recapitali...
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DA welcomes SABC CEO announcement
Published on 2014-06-24
The DA welcomes the announcement today by Communications Minister Faith Muthambi that an SABC Group CEO will be appointed within three months. The appointment has the potential to bring stability to the public broadcaster, if the right candidate is chosen. We will, however, be seeking clarity...
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ANC in NCOP denies opposition representation on JSC
Published on 2014-06-24
The DA is concerned that the ANC has deliberately undermined the notion of proportional representation - that is the bedrock of our parliamentary system - by rejecting MPs nominated by opposition parties in the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) to serve on the Judicial Services Commission (JSC).&...
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Hlaudi Motsoeneng must apologise to Vanessa Mutswari
Published on 2014-06-23
Hlaudi Motsoeneng must apologise for his offensive interpretation of the ritual where be believed Vanessa Mutswari was reportedly being “offered” to him as a wife in Limpopo. Ms Mutswari and other members of the Mudzi we Vhurereli ha Vhavenda traditional lobby group yeste...
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Ramaphosa must present plan to improve ministers’ performance in Parliament
Published on 2014-06-23
With Parliament now in full swing, the newly appointed Leader of Government Business and Deputy President, Cyril Ramaphosa, must present a plan to Members of Parliament on what he intends to do to ensure that all members of the executive are fully accountable to Parliament and that they fulfil their...
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Nzimande must provide answers for UWC dispute
Published on 2014-06-23
The DA will submit parliamentary questions to the Minister of Higher Education and Training, Blade Nzimande, concerning his appointment of five convocation members at the University of the Western Cape which were involved in the sudden and unlawful removal of Council Chair, Brian Williams, earlier t...
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New immigration regulations will kill jobs in Tourism Sector
Published on 2014-06-23
The DA calls on the Minister of Tourism, Derek Hanekom, to urgently brief the Portfolio Committee on Tourism on what steps his Department will take to overcome the potentially devastating impact of the new visa regulations on South Africa’s tourism sector. Indeed, the Department of Home...
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DA welcomes end to strike in the Platinum Belt
Published on 2014-06-23
The DA welcomes the end to the strike in the Platinum Belt. The strike has cost our economy billions and has pushed South Africa to the verge of recession. We encourage all parties involved to work together to restore the platinum belt to maximum productivity as soon as possible. Our economy ...
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Eskom must account for ‘killer coal plants’
Published on 2014-06-22
According to Eskom-commissioned reports released last week, the air pollution caused by the state parastatal’s coal power stations in as few as two provinces is killing close to 20 people a year. Once all its stations are up and running the report estimates that this figure could jump to 617, ...
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Minister Motsoaledi agrees to debate National Health Act
Published on 2014-06-20
Today, I met with the Health Minister, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, to discuss the state of our nation’s health. I am pleased to announce that Dr Motsoaledi, committed to debate the ‘Certificate of Need’ required by the National Health Act of 2003 and the labelling of food ite...
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SONA Debate: President Zuma out of touch
Published on 2014-06-20
President Zuma’s response on the State of the Nation debate was as dull and uninspiring as his State of the Nation Address. Despite our constant calls for President Zuma to respond to the growing economic crisis, no substantive answers were given. He once again rehashed the same old pro...
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DA calls for ad hoc committee to consider Tlakula judgment
Published on 2014-06-19
The Electoral Court’s recommendation today that Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) of South Africa chairperson, Adv Pansy Tlakula, be removed from her post is a very serious situation. It is the first time in our democracy that a member of a Chapter 9 institution has been found to have com...
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DA welcomes Chairperson's ruling on derogatory racial language
Published on 2014-06-19
This evening, Chairperson, Thandi Modise, ruled that Minister of Human Settlements, Lindiwe Sisulu's , insults in the National Assembly yesterday referring to me as a "hired native" were in fact unparliamentary. We welcome Minister Sisulu's decision to withdraw her remarks. Mini...
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DA requests meeting with Ismail Vadi to discuss e-Tolls ‘rethink’
Published on 2014-06-18
Reports that Gauteng Transport MEC, Ismail Vadi, has called for a “second look [into e-Tolls]” is a significant development in the DA’s fight against South African National Roads Agency Ltd’s (Sanral) gangster gantries. I will write to MEC Vadi and request a form...
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DA requests meeting with Ismail Vadi to discuss e-Tolls ‘rethink’
Published on 2014-06-18
Reports that Gauteng Transport MEC, Ismail Vadi, has called for a “second look [into e-Tolls]” is a significant development in the DA’s fight against South African National Roads Agency Ltd’s (Sanral) gangster gantries. I will write to MEC Vadi and request a form...
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DA calls for inquiry into Cessna crash
Published on 2014-06-18
The Democratic Alliance extends our condolences to the families and friends of the air force crew and passengers who died and were injured in yesterday’s Cessna Caravan C208 crash. Reports suggest that the crash occurred during a training flight over Blystaanhoogte, Mpumalanga; killing ...
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DA welcomes reinstatement of Mdluli charges
Published on 2014-06-18
The DA welcomes the reinstatement of some of the charges against disgraced Crime Intelligence Head, Richard Mdluli. We note with some concern, however, that the reinstated charges appear to be a bare minimum approach in order to meet the deadline of the Supreme Court of Appeal. No ment...
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Where are the Jobs Mr President?
Published on 2014-06-18
Madam Speaker, Chairperson of the NCOP, It is my most sincere honour to address this House today. I greet the Honourable President, it is good to have you back in good health. I extend greetings to the Honourable Deputy President, Premiers, Ministers and their deputies, Leaders of othe...
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Criminal cops: Phiyega’s latest blunder
Published on 2014-06-17
Reports that the Fitness Boards of Inquiry probe into the misconduct and criminal records of over a thousand SAPS staff, established by National Police Commissioner, Riah Phiyega, was done without the requisite authority and is yet another major blunder by the National Commissioner. We call o...
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Zuma's SONA has no new plans to create jobs
Published on 2014-06-17
The gap between President Zuma’s words tonight and the reality of what is needed to grow the economy is enormous. South Africans continue to suffer from increasing unemployment and a stagnating economy, yet President Zuma claims we are “a nation at work”. We needed decisive ...
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DA Youth launches Bokamoso bo bontle campaign
Published on 2014-06-16
Good morning, Dumela fellow Democrats. It is a privilege to be here with you today. We, as the DA Youth, are here today to say that Bokamoso bo bontle is coming. A better future is coming. Change is coming. Today is 16 June. It is a day to remember the sacrifices of previous generations...
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DA saddened by passing of Eddie Zondi
Published on 2014-06-16
The Democratic Alliance is saddened by the passing of radio host Eddie Zondi. Zondi was a legend in the broadcasting industry and will be dearly missed. His contributions to the broadcasting and music industry will forever be remembered, and South Africa’s Sundays will neve...
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President Zuma must offer a better deal for young people
Published on 2014-06-16
Democrats, we meet today at a difficult moment for our country. Some of you might have followed the news in recent weeks. In just the last few weeks, we saw that our economy got smaller in the first part of the year. We see how unemployment is increasing all around us – and how th...
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DA to summon SASCOC and SAFA to Parliament to resolve dispute
Published on 2014-06-15
I will write to the chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Sports and Recreation, Mrs Beauty Dudlane, and request that she summon the leadership of the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) and the South African Football Association (SAFA) to Parliament to resolve the ...
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Minister Motsoaledi must declare TB a National Health Crisis
Published on 2014-06-15
Minister of Health, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi refusal to accede to almost 800 health workers and experts’ call to declare drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB) a public health emergency at the South African TB Conference this week could have a devastating effect on our public health sector. The...
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Minister Masutha must prioritise prison corruption
Published on 2014-06-15
Today's media revelations that warders at Leeuhof Prison have been helping prisoners smuggle various contraband in and out of the prison is outrageous and a symptom of a system in crisis. According to the City Press, warders have been using cell 14 in Leeuhof to facilitate the trafficking of ...
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DA calls for probe into FSB CFO corruption allegations
Published on 2014-06-15
At the earliest available opportunity, the DA will write to the Chairperson of the Finance Portfolio Committee, Yunus Carrim, and request that the committee summon the Financial Services Board (FSB) to Parliament to account for the recent allegations of corruption within the Board’s leadership...
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DA saddened by passing of Michael Coetzee
Published on 2014-06-14
The Democratic Alliance is saddened by the passing of Secretary to Parliament, Michael Coetzee last night. Coetzee loyally served Parliament for over a decade. Before that he was a noted anti-apartheid activist and community organiser. Parliament has been enriched by his contribu...
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Abalone fishing rights allocation botch up could sink sector
Published on 2014-06-13
The DA is deeply concerned that the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries has yet to initiate any steps to extend abalone fishing rights, despite the current rights expiring at the end of July. This means that in little over a month, hundreds of fisherman could be left without wor...
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Load shedding: DA submits questions to get clarity from Eskom
Published on 2014-06-13
Eskom needs to come clean with South Africans about the full extent of the problem we are facing and what is being done to solve this on-going crisis. To make sure that this happens without any further delay, the DA will submit a range of parliamentary questions to the Minister of Enterprises...
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Spygate: DA requests investigation by Inspector-General of Intelligence
Published on 2014-06-13
The DA will request that the Inspector General of Intelligence, Adv Faith Radebe, launch an urgent investigation into the alleged use of state intelligence operatives to further ANC political ends. Today the Mail and Guardian reported that the State Security Agency (SSA) was investigating an ...
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DA to investigate new cabinet’s bloated budget
Published on 2014-06-12
The DA will submit a series of questions to determine the exact amount President Zuma’s bloated new Cabinet will cost South Africans. President Zuma’s tenure in office has been characterised by unabated wasteful expenditure. Estimates already suggest that the new Cabinet will cost...
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World Cup 2014: This one's for Africa
Published on 2014-06-12
The DA wishes the five African teams participating in the 2014 FIFA Soccer World Cup in Brazil all the best. Algeria, Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana and Nigeria carry the hopes of the continent with them in this year's World Cup. We encourage all South Africans to rally behind th...
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Abuse of domestic workers must stop
Published on 2014-06-12
The case in the Cape Town Magistrate’s Court yesterday where a man stands accused of common assault and crimen injuria is a stark reminder of the abuse that many domestic workers in South Africa still endure. Andre van Deventer allegedly grabbed Gloria Kente (50), spat in her face and s...
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5 urgent interventions President Zuma must bring to SONA
Published on 2014-06-12
President Jacob Zuma must use next week’s State of the Nation Address to restore confidence in our economy, and avert a recession. This is a crucial moment in South Africa. We face very difficult economic conditions, and could be on the verge of entering into a formal economic recession. If...
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Eskom must shed light on rolling blackouts
Published on 2014-06-12
The DA is deeply concerned by the continued failure of Eskom to come clean with South Africans on its current capacity crisis. Not only will rolling blackouts have a disastrous impact on an already weakened economy, but it will diminish investor confidence and interrupt key services to our ci...
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Platinum Strike: DA welcomes agreement in principle
Published on 2014-06-12
The DA welcomes reports of an agreement in principle between the world’s three largest platinum producers Anglo American Platinum, Impala Platinum and Lonmin, and the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu). This agreement may finally bring South Africa’s longest ...
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Exploitation and abuse of children must be stamped out
Published on 2014-06-11
This morning the DA Women’s Network (DAWN) protested outside the Cape Town Magistrate’s Court where a woman, her husband and three others appeared on charges of child prostitution. The woman allegedly prostituted her 14-year-old daughter and “sold” her to men along the N7 hig...
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SA’s labour crisis: Where’s Minister Oliphant
Published on 2014-06-11
The recent rise in labour unrest across the country suggests that government, particularly the Minister of Labour, Mildred Oliphant, and President Zuma are not doing enough to facilitate efficient labour bargaining practices, prevent strikes and save jobs. It is particularly worrying that the...
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New Police Minister Nhleko must fire Phiyega
Published on 2014-06-11
The DA will push for the Minister of Police, Nkosinathi Nhleko, to remove Riah Phiyega as National Police Commissioner at the earliest sitting of the Police Portfolio Committee. By firing Phiyega, the new Police Minister can show that he is committed to improving the state of our police servi...
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NDPP probe: ANC Chief Whip must constitute Justice Committee immediately
Published on 2014-06-11
The DA will today write to the ANC Chief Whip, Stone Sizani, and Speaker of the National Assembly, Baleka Mbete, to call for the urgent constitution of the Portfolio Committee on Justice. This will allow the committee to immediately initiate a probe into the process followed in appointi...
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Nkandla report: The DA will continue to press for the establishment of an ad hoc committee
Published on 2014-06-11
In today’s Parliament Announcement, Tablings and Committee Reports document (ATC) President Jacob Zuma confirmed that he has received the Provisional Report requested from the Head of the Special Investigations Unit regarding the security upgrades at the President’s residence at Nkandla....
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ANC must abandon, not rebrand cadre deployment policy
Published on 2014-06-10
The ANC’s recent pledge to ‘review’ its cadre deployment policy is empty rhetoric in the face of a serious problem. If the ANC was serious about curbing corruption and maladministration, it would completely discard cadre deployment and commit to appointing or electing people based ...
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Bring Back our Girls: AU must make it a priority
Published on 2014-06-10
The DA strongly condemns the abduction of 20 women in what appears to be another terrorist attack in Nigeria this week. We call on the South African government to urge the African Union to prioritise the kidnappings at the upcoming AU Assembly of Heads of State and Government scheduled to tak...
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North West Water Crisis: Pathogenic E. coli found in water
Published on 2014-06-10
Preliminary reports suggest that Escherichia coli (E. coli) is the bacteria responsible for the unnecessary death of three babies and treatment of over 500 other people after drinking contaminated water in Bloemhof’s Boitumelong Township. The National Institute for Communicable Diseases...
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Nkandla Bill: President Zuma must hand over legal opinion
Published on 2014-06-10
Today’s Parliament Announcement, Tablings and Committee Reports document (ATC) has confirmed that President Zuma has signed the Infrastructure Development Bill into law. Earlier this year, the DA petitioned President Zuma to refer this Bill back to the National Assembly in terms of Sect...
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DA calls for urgent debate on SA’s economic crisis
Published on 2014-06-10
Today’s release of Statistics South Africa’s (StatsSA) Manufacturing: Production and Sales report is yet another indication that President Jacob Zuma’s ANC is failing our economy. The data suggests that the recent economic turbulence within the mining sector has had a knock-...
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DA calls for immigration regulations debate
Published on 2014-06-09
Minister Malusi Gigaba’s assertion that the Department of Home Affairs’ recently gazetted immigration regulations are in the best interest of South Africa’s security is an insufficient excuse for inefficient policy. I will approach the Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs and...
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Platinum strike negotiations: Ramatlhodi is turning his back on our economy
Published on 2014-06-09
Minister of Mineral Resources, Ngoako Ramatlhodi, decision to withdrawal from the negotiations between the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (AMCU) and platinum producers on the platinum belt displays a distinct lack of leadership in the face of our very serious economic challenges....
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DA to petition President Zuma to reconsider draconian health legislation
Published on 2014-06-08
The DA will, in accordance with section 79 of the Constitution, petition President Jacob Zuma to reconsider the rigid sections 36 to 40 of the National Health Act of 2003, promulgated last month. These sections of this Act seek to give the state more control over where medical practitioners s...
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DA will challenge Speaker’s Nkandla Committee stalling tactics
Published on 2014-06-08
Last Thursday the DA finally received a response from the newly elected Speaker, Baleka Mbete, regarding our request to establish a new Nkandla ad hoc committee. The DA urged the Speaker to establish the ad hoc committee before Friday 6 June 2014 and allow it the appropria...
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DA extends condolences on the passing of Epainette Mbeki
Published on 2014-06-07
The DA extends our deepest condolences to the Mbeki family on the passing of Epainette Mbeki, mother of former President Thabo Mbeki. Ma Mbeki will be remembered for her dedication to community development through the establishment of an AIDS hospice and various support initiatives for farmer...
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DA wishes President Zuma a speedy recovery
Published on 2014-06-07
The Democratic Alliance notes the announcement today of the hospitalization of President Jacob Zuma. This comes a day after he was placed on a leave of absence from the office of the President, by the ANC. We wish the President a speedy recovery. We also await clarity on the con...
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DA wishes President Zuma a speedy recovery
Published on 2014-06-07
The Democratic Alliance notes the announcement today of the hospitalization of President Jacob Zuma. This comes a day after he was placed on a leave of absence from the office of the President, by the ANC. We wish the President a speedy recovery. We also await clarity on the con...
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Minister must commit to December deadline for Medupi completion
Published on 2014-06-06
The DA calls on the new Minister of Public Enterprises, Lynne Brown, to publicly commit to Medupi’s completion by December 2014. There can be no more delays. The project is already almost three years behind schedule. Media reports today confirm that Eskom will struggle to supply South A...
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Magwaza-Msibi sells out to the ANC
Published on 2014-06-05
The DA has learnt with great dissapointment that the leader of the NFP, Zanele Magwaza-Msibi, has accepted an offer to join President Jacob Zuma’s cabinet as Deputy Minister of Science and Technology. She is yet another opposition leader that has been co-opted by the ANC with an offer of a h...
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Eskom’s executives buckle to DA bonus petition
Published on 2014-06-05
The DA welcomes the announcement by Eskom’s executive that they will be forfeiting their annual performance bonuses, after the DA demanded this action earlier this year. The new announcement, however, cannot be a temporary appeasement while the same challenges remain unresolved. ...
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ANCYL takes pupils out of school for ridiculous march
Published on 2014-06-05
The ANCYL march held today to the offices of the Mail and Guardian is an embarrassment to the ANCYL. The march itself is ridiculous. The ANCYL claims to be marching against bias in the Mail and Guardian. If the ANCYL were concerned about the reporting at the Mail and Guardian they are f...
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The DA’s new Shadow Cabinet
Published on 2014-06-05
Today, I am proud to announce the DA’s new shadow cabinet. This shadow cabinet will make pragmatic legislative proposals that will tackle South Africa’s problems head on, with a commitment to the creation of real jobs in South Africa. The DA shadow cabinet will work to provide rob...
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DA to request Justice Committee to urgently probe political meddling in tenure of NPA head
Published on 2014-06-04
As soon as it is constituted, the DA will ask the Justice Portfolio Committee of the fifth Parliament to investigate and make known the truth behind serious questions raised this week around the appointment and tenure of National Director of Public Prosecutions, Mr Mxolisi Nxasana. The head o...
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The SA government must raise its voice about child abuse
Published on 2014-06-04
This week South Africa will observe the annual Child Protection Week, aimed at raising awareness of issues around the protection of children and focusing on the rights of children. This year’s Child Protection Week is unfortunately marred by recent and increasing media reports of growin...
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WEF education rankings: Minister Motshekga must carry out a full skills audit
Published on 2014-06-03
The DA calls on Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga to carry out a full skills audit, assessing the subject knowledge and teaching competency of all Maths, Science and Technology teachers, and insisting that those found in need of assistance, receive it regardless of SADTU objections. Th...
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Lwandle Evictions - Sanral and Minister Peters must take responsibility
Published on 2014-06-03
Attempts by the ANC to scapegoat the forced eviction of people from the Lwandle informal settlement in Strand, Cape Town, by blaming the DA is nothing short of cheap and petty politicking. It is entirely disingenuous and in no way accurate. Yesterday, SA National Roads Agency Limited (Sanral)...
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Social Development Minister is failing to protect our children
Published on 2014-06-02
At the first available opportunity the DA will submit a series of questions to the Minister of Social Development, Bathabile Dlamini, to ascertain whether her department has now received the South African Human Rights Commission’s (SAHRC) report on the Child Protection Register (CPR) and what ...
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SA’s maths and science education: worst in the world
Published on 2014-06-02
The 2014 World Economic Forum (WEF) Global Information Technology Report has ranked South Africa’s Mathematics and Science education quality the worst in the world. Furthermore, the overall perceived quality of our education system has also plummeted from 140 to 146 of 148 countri...
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Senzeni Zokwana part of the problem, not solution
Published on 2014-06-01
Recent revelations that the new Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Senzeni Zokwana has been paying his cattle herder R800 a month and subjecting them to squalorous living conditions are simply outrageous. Considering some of the exploitation that tends to take place in the agr...
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Justice committee must prioritise politicisation of the NPA in 5th Parliament
Published on 2014-06-01
Today’s revelations in the Sunday Times that newly appointed National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP), Mxolisi Nxasana, is essentially being pushed out of the National Prosecuting Unit due to his refusal to play ‘Yes Man’ is yet another indication of how severely compromised...
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The ANC’s about-turn on Nkandlagate is a predictable move
Published on 2014-06-01
Reports today indicate that the Ministers in the Security Cluster have now decided not to pursue the dubious legal action against the Public Protector, Adv Thuli Madonsela for the damning report against President Jacob Zuma released earlier this year. These Ministers had been carrying o...
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DA receives Waterkloof 4 crash investigation confirmation
Published on 2014-05-30
Today I received confirmation from Correctional Services Regional Commissioner of Gauteng, Zach Modise, that his office is co-operating with the police investigation into the Waterkloof Four crash and will be taking “immediate action” pending the investigation’s outcome. &nbs...
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DA appoints National Spokespeople
Published on 2014-05-30
The DA’s Federal Executive met this morning and approved the appointment of Phumzile van Damme MP and Marius Redelinghuys MP as the National Spokespeople of the DA. Phumzile van Damme MP previously worked in various roles both in the Western Cape government and Parliament, includi...
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New immigration regulations a threat to tourism and investment
Published on 2014-05-30
The Department of Home Affairs’ recently gazetted immigration regulations are nothing short of xenophobic and will surely curb tourism, investment and kill jobs. A speculative analysis of these regulations would suggest that Home Affairs is trying to remedy – or rather, cover-up &...
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Angie Motshekga must account for damning SAHRC report
Published on 2014-05-30
At the first available opportunity, the DA will write to the chairperson of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee of Basic Education, requesting that the Minister of Basic Education, Angie Motshekga, be summoned to Parliament to account for her failings, as detailed in the South African Human Rights...
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DA saddened by passing of Isaac 'Shakes' Kungwane
Published on 2014-05-29
The Democratic Alliance is saddened by the recent passing of former Bafana Bafana star, coach and prominent soccer analyst Isaac 'Shakes' Kungwane. Kungwane was a legend on the pitch with unrivalled flair and passion for the game. Many of us who were fortunate to watch him ...
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DA mourns the passing of Maya Angelou
Published on 2014-05-29
The DA mourns the passing of Maya Angelou. A warrior for equality, tolerance and peace, Ms Angelou was an inspiration to many South Africans. In Ms Angelou the world has lost one of the greatest writers of the civil rights era. With her words and courage she bound South Africans and Americans...
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Whitewash SIU report proves need for Nkandla ad hoc committee
Published on 2014-05-29
What appears to be provisional Special Investigating Unit (SIU) report emanating from an investigation into the R246 million expenditure on President Jacob Zuma’s private home in Nkandla has been leaked to the public. If what is being reported in the media this morning is in fact ...
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New parliamentary leadership team to focus on job creation
Published on 2014-05-29
The election of a new DA parliamentary leadership team is a significant moment in our quest to realign politics in South Africa. It is a talented and diverse team, with a huge amount of collective experience. I have served for the last three years as the Leader of the 90-member Johannesburg Metro ...
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EU citrus ban: A black spot on Tina’s DAFF legacy
Published on 2014-05-28
Yesterday evening the European Commission imposed even stricter import requirements for South African citrus fruit to Europe. This follows a pre-existing European Union (EU) ban on South African citrus products instated last year. Former Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, ...
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Economy could go into recession - Zuma’s ANC has no plan
Published on 2014-05-28
South Africa’s economy is at high risk of slipping into recession. Stats SA yesterday found that our economy shrunk by 0.6% in the first quarter of this year. In fact, it is possible that we are already slipping into recession. Government needs to work feverishly to put an end to...
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Herman Mashaba, blue like us
Published on 2014-05-28
The Democratic Alliance (DA) would like to formally welcome Herman Mashaba who has announced that he will be joining the our party's ranks. Mr Mashaba is the founder of Black Like Me and numerous other successful entrepreneurial ventures. His decision to join the DA is an endorseme...
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80/20 Report confirms DA best at service delivery
Published on 2014-05-27
Yet another independent study has shown that DA-led local governments deliver best. The South African Institute of Race Relations (SAIRR) yesterday released its 80/20 report on local governments. The SAIRR used 80 indicators to monitor and track municipalities’ performance after 20 year...
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Minister Brown must hold SAA and Eskom Boards to account for inefficiencies
Published on 2014-05-27
Freshly minted Public Enterprises Minister, Lynn Brown, must commit to holding the boards of state enterprises, Eskom and South African Airways (SAA), to account for inefficiencies at these utilities. Embattled Eskom, buckling under rising pressure due to rising power demands and inadeq...
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Zuma’s ANC to blame for economic decline
Published on 2014-05-27
Statistics South Africa (StatsSA) today reported a 0.6% decline in the real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) during the first quarter of 2014. This is a shocking announcement. It means that South Africa has actively become poorer in the last three months and it is further evidence that Sou...
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New Police Minister: Nkosinathi Nhleko yet another Empty Suit?
Published on 2014-05-27
The DA fears the appointment of Nkosinathi Nhleko as Minister of Police is yet another glaring example that President Zuma is unwilling to make the hard decisions that are necessary to keep South Africans safe. Minister Nhleko has a history of abusing his powers to the benefit of Presid...
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SA’s slow internet crippling economic growth and job creation
Published on 2014-05-26
The recent release of the 2014 World Economic Forum’s (WEF) Global Information Technology (IT) report has unfortunately confirmed a devastating decline in South Africa’s IT infrastructure and the skyrocketing costs of internet connectivity. Although our overall ranking has stabili...
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Tina Joemat-Pettersson should be fired, not promoted
Published on 2014-05-26
The appointment of Minister Tina Joemat-Pettersson to the Energy portfolio is yet another indication that President Jacob Zuma is far more concerned with creating jobs for his pals than he is about good governance. After a dismal performance as the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and ...
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The Ministry of Propaganda presents itself as the new Department of Communications
Published on 2014-05-26
President Jacob Zuma’s deployment of Chief Spy, Minister Siyabonga Cwele, to communications is a chilling move. This is the very same Minister who spear-headed the introduction of the controversial ‘Secrecy Bill’ and went to great lengths to cover-up the Nkandla scandal. &nbs...
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Economics Cluster – These cooks are destined to spoil the broth
Published on 2014-05-26
President Jacob Zuma’s appointments of the ministers in the economic cluster show that he is more interested in creating and keeping jobs for his friends than he is committed to creating job opportunities for South Africans. The formation of a new superfluous Ministry of Small Bus...
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DA Parliamentary Caucus Elections
Published on 2014-05-26
The nominations for the DA Parliamentary Caucus elections are now closed and the following nominations have been received and are in order: Parliamentary Leader: ...
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Government must use mining royalties to uplift communities
Published on 2014-05-25
Government must reforms it spending on mining royalties in order to improve the lives of mining communities. Since the beginning of the strike, government has been almost entirely absent from mining communities and the problems faced within the sector. With reserves worth an esti...
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President Zuma’s new, even bigger cabinet is bad news for economic growth and job-creation
Published on 2014-05-25
President Jacob Zuma’s announcement of his new cabinet does not inspire confidence that South Africa’s major challenges – weak economic growth, unemployment and corruption - will be tackled effectively in the President’s second term. The continuity in some crucial departmen...
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DA Youth chairperson to be the voice of the youth in parliament
Published on 2014-05-23
I, together with the many other newly elected young MP’s will make the voices of young people heard in parliament for the next 5 years. We will fight for opportunities for the youth. In South Africa today Iearners leave school without the skills they need in the workplace. Youth unemployment i...
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DA calls on re-establishment of Nkandla ad-hoc committee
Published on 2014-05-22
The DA yesterday formally requested newly elected Speaker, Baleta Mbeke, to re-establish the Nkandla ad-hoc committee without delay. The ad-hoc committee on the President’s submissions in response to the Public Protector’s report on the security upgrades to his Nkandla residence w...
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Baleka Mbete a gatekeeper for Luthuli House
Published on 2014-05-21
The DA today challenged the position of Speaker of the National Assembly because we believe the ANC’s nomination of Baleka Mbete will undermine the independence of Parliament and will allow Luthuli House to prevent Parliament from fully holding the executive accountable. We furthermore ...
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DA objects to nomination of Mr Jacob Zuma as President of the Republic
Published on 2014-05-21
The DA today objected to the majority party’s nomination of Mr Jacob G Zuma as President of the Republic of South Africa. This nomination is irrational as it is inconsistent with the Constitution of the Republic. Mr Zuma through his own conduct has shown himself to be a candidate ...
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DA Youth congratulates Yusuf Cassim
Published on 2014-05-20
The DA Youth congratulates its Chairperson, Yusuf Cassim, on being the youngest Member of Parliament ever to be sworn in as part of the national assembly. Cassim will be 24 years, 4 months and 16 days old tomorrow, making him the youngest MP in South African history. Cassim formed part ...
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ANC premier nominations show they are not serious about fighting corruption
Published on 2014-05-20
Today’s premier announcements by the ANC are yet another indication that the ANC are not committed to curbing corruption and promoting accountability in government. The return of problematic premiers such as Ace Magashule, Sylvia Lucas, David Mabuza and Senzo Mchunu despite the disastro...
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The DA calls on the Public Protector to investigate Zuma’s alleged abuse of power to enrich his nephew
Published on 2014-05-19
The DA calls on Public Protector, Adv. Thuli Madonsela, to investigate Presdident Jacob Zuma’s nephew, Khulubuse Zuma, and whether or not President Zuma ignored a clear conflict of interest and abused his power to improperly secure private business deals for his nephew. Recent allegatio...
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The DA calls on South African delegation to reject immunity for leaders
Published on 2014-05-15
The DA strongly urges the South African delegation to reject the draft proposal to grant immunity to sitting government leaders before Africa’s regional court for crimes against humanity. Justice Ministers and Attorney-Generals of African Union (AU) member countries are sche...
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Bring Back our Girls: The DA condemns the kidnapping of over 250 schoolgirls in Nigeria
Published on 2014-05-15
The DA condemns, in the strongest possible terms, the kidnapping of over 250 schoolgirls by Boko Haram in Nigeria. We also call on the South African government to do everything possible to support the Nigerian government in its efforts to ensure the safe return of these girls. Last mon...
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Nkandla court action: DA consulting lawyers with view of joining as intervening party
Published on 2014-05-15
The Democratic Alliance (DA) has already begun consulting our lawyers with the view of joining as intervening party, following the news that the Security Cluster intends to take the Public Protector’s Report on the Nkandla matter on judicial review. This decision by the Security Cluster...
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DA seeks urgent clarity for the diminished terms of reference on the Marikana Commission of Inquiry
Published on 2014-05-13
The DA seeks urgent clarity on the deletion of a clause that directed the Farlam Commission of Inquiry to investigate the role of the Department of Mineral Resources or any other government department or agency in relation to the Marikana violence. This deletion significantly limits the commi...
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Platinum Sector – Secret Balloting must be instituted to end strike
Published on 2014-05-13
Secret strike balloting must be introduced into the mining industry immediately. Now in its 16th week, and no real end in sight, introducing democratic decision making at Lonmin, Anglo American Platinum (Amplats) and Impala Platinum (Implats) mines would end protest action at the world’s three...
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DA wishes Lindiwe Mazibuko well
Published on 2014-05-11
The Democratic Alliance wishes our outgoing Parliamentary Leader, Lindiwe Mazibuko, all of the best for her sabbatical year in Harvard. We rejoice with her at receiving this “once-in-a-lifetime” opportunity of joining the prestigious Masters in Public Administration Programme at t...
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The DA Youth salutes Lindiwe Mazibuko on her new venture
Published on 2014-05-11
The DA Youth congratulates Lindiwe Mazibuko on her exciting new venture to take a place at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. Lindiwe Mazibuko is everything that is good and right about our party. She espouses honesty, authenticity and a sheer drive for excellence. Her ac...
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DA Youth leader thanks supporters and activists
Published on 2014-05-09
I would like to thank every single DA Youth supporter and activist that has worked tirelessly to campaign for the DA in this election. Thank you for all your hard work, be it canvassing, being party agents or any of the many other jobs which helped the DA in this election. We have done ...
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The DA’s growth is a victory for all South Africans
Published on 2014-05-09
The DA would like to thank every South African for voted for us on Wednesday. We deeply appreciate the support they have given us, and we will work hard over the next five years to justify their faith in us. The DA’s increase from 16.6% in 2009 to 22.2% in the 2014 election (a 33....
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Today we can make history together!
Published on 2014-05-07
A message to all South Africans: Today we will vote in South Africa’s 5th democratic election. When you enter the voting booth today, you will choose the political party that you believe can bring positive change for our country. The choice you make will have a big impact on your life a...
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SACSI report: DA-run City of Cape Town best in the country
Published on 2014-05-06
The latest figures released by the South African Customer Satisfaction Index (SACSI) shows that the DA-run City of Cape Town is the best run municipality in the country. With a score of 71.6, the City of Cape Town was 17.8% higher than the calculated average. This compares with a nation...
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Tomorrow we can make history together!
Published on 2014-05-06
A message to all South Africans: Tomorrow we will vote in South Africa’s 5th democratic election. When you enter the voting booth tomorrow, you will choose the political party that you believe can bring positive change for our country. The choice you make will have a big impact on your ...
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Concourt must review Electoral Court’s Nkandla SMS judgement
Published on 2014-05-06
The DA will seek leave for a Constitutional Court appeal to a truly bizarre judgement this evening by the Electoral Court in the Nkandla SMS matter. We believe that the Constitutional right to freedom of speech cannot be limited by legislation in an election period, as the Electoral Court cla...
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Stats SA confirms that DA government creates most jobs in SA!
Published on 2014-05-05
Democrats, fellow South Africans, There are two days to go until Election Day. This Wednesday you have an opportunity to change South Africa for the better. In this election, political parties have been saying lots of different things. But there is one issue that is ...
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Jobs lost in GP: On 7 May we can vote for change
Published on 2014-05-05
Today’s jobs numbers from StatsSA show how unemployment has increased in Gauteng in the last year. Instead of creating jobs, more and more people are without work in the country’s economic hub. We are now faced with a crisis where over 2 million people are unemployed ...
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Nkandla: President Zuma’s last minute damage control is misleading
Published on 2014-05-05
President Zuma today claimed that he did “nothing wrong” in the Nkandla scandal, where over R246 million of public money was spent upgrading his private home in Nkandla. This is nothing more than last minute damage control before the elections on Wednesday and it is blatantly mislea...
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Abahlali Basemjondolo endorse the DA Western Cape
Published on 2014-05-05
This morning, the DA in the Western Cape accepted a public endorsement from Abahlali Basemjondolo for the upcoming elections. Abahlali is the biggest and most influential shack dwellers’ movement in the country. They work tirelessly to improve the lives of the poor. We have great respect and ...
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Labour Force Survey: DA-run Western Cape tops the jobs chart
Published on 2014-05-05
The latest jobs numbers from Statistics South Africa (StatsSA) show that the DA-run Western Cape has created by far the most jobs in the past year. 146 000 jobs have been created in the Western Cape – more than double the number created in Gauteng. These figures expose, as pre-election ...
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Jobs lost in GP: On 7 May we can vote for change
Published on 2014-05-05
Today’s jobs numbers from StatsSA show how unemployment has increased in Gauteng in the last year. Instead of creating jobs, more and more people are without work in the country’s economic hub. We are now faced with a crisis where over 2 million people are unemployed ...
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ANC stones DA busses enroute to We Can Win Concert, driver hospitalized
Published on 2014-05-04
Police are interviewing hundreds of DA supporters who were the victims of ANC ambushes this morning when their busses were stoned enroute to the We Can Win Concert in Soweto. Over 8000 DA supporters are gathering at Walter Sisulu Square in Kliptown for the We can Win concert to celebrate our ...
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Nkandla ad hoc committee: Speaker must urgently clarify Luthuli House summons
Published on 2014-05-04
The DA will request that the Speaker of the National Assembly, Max Sisulu, urgently clarify reports today that senior parliamentary officials were summoned by the ANC, together with himself, to provide an ‘explanation’ as to why an ad hoc committee was established to consider the Preside...
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Your vote can bring change, your vote can bring jobs, your vote can make history!
Published on 2014-05-03
Fellow South Africans, friends, Democrats, Blue People everywhere – welcome to the DA’s magnificent final election rally here in Jozi – our “Vote for Jobs” Rally. It’s been a long campaign. We’ve worked day and night. S...
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Abahlali Basemjondolo publicly endorse the DA for the elections
Published on 2014-05-02
The Democratic Alliance is pleased to announce that we have accepted a public endorsement from Abahlali Basemjondolo for the upcoming elections. Abahlali is the biggest and most influential shack dwellers’ movement in the country whose campaigns are largely geared towards improvin...
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New Handbook will cut corruption in Gauteng
Published on 2014-05-02
Today the DA unveils a new Ministerial Handbook for Gauteng. The Handbook will cut out all luxuries and abuse of public funds that have been the hallmark of Premier Nomvula Mokonyane’s term office. One of our first acts in provincial government will be to pass this ne...
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“Where are the jobs, President Zuma?”
Published on 2014-05-01
On this Workers’ Day we honour the many millions of working South Africans who go to their jobs each day to help build this country.They are the backbone of our economy. They make all the products, provide all the services, build all the infrastructure, teach our children, and look after us i...
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In solidarity with workers and the Unemployed alike
Published on 2014-05-01
Dumelang, ma-demokrat a-Kimberly! Hello democrats of Kimberley! Goeie more mense van Kimberley! It is wonderful to be back in the Northern Cape. There is no better place to celebrate the contribution of South Africa's workers than here in Kimberley. Want hier in Kimberley...
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ANC leadership running scared from debating job creation and corruption
Published on 2014-05-01
President Zuma and ANC Deputy President, Cyril Ramaphosa, have now declined or cancelled three separate debates with the DA in this election. Ramaphosa and I were scheduled to participate in a live debate at Wits University later today. But Mr Ramaphosa once again withdrew his participation i...
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SABC buckles: Ayisafani 2 will be on the airwaves today!
Published on 2014-05-01
The DA has received written notice from the SABC’s legal representatives that our Ayisafani 2 advert will be aired on SABC channels as from today. We will be monitoring SABC channels closely today to ensure that it is aired in the agreed slots. The SABC’s revised position on this ...
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One week until we make history. One week until we bring 2-million jobs to Gauteng
Published on 2014-04-30
Democrats, Today is one week until we make history. 7 days until we bring change to Gauteng and South Africa. And most importantly, today is one week until a clean, corruption-free, DA government can start to grow the economy and create 2 million real jobs in Gauteng. That’...
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Mbalula should retract irresponsible Kenya comments
Published on 2014-04-30
The comments made yesterday by the Minister of Sports and Recreation, Fikile Mbalula, about Kenyan athletes constitutes nothing less than a diplomatic blunder. He should immediately retract and apologise for these irresponsible remarks. During a breakfast meeting between editors of the...
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DA will fight SABC’s censorship in court
Published on 2014-04-30
The DA has received notice from the SABC’s Head of Broadcast Compliance, Mr Fakir Hassen, that the SABC will not allow the DA’s second Ayisafani election TV advert to air. The commercial can be viewed at this weblink: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rsirDxI8xqU) This is cens...
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Platinum mining strike - Portfolio Committee must be recalled to end crisis
Published on 2014-04-29
The DA will today write to the Chairperson of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Mineral Resources, Ms Faith Bikani, requesting an urgent meeting to address the breakdown in negotiations between the world's three largest platinum producers, Lonmin, Impala Platinum (Implats) and Anglo American ...
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The DA’s record of job creating growth is changing SA
Published on 2014-04-29
Democrats and friends, This week we are celebrating 20 years of democracy. And the world is celebrating with us. When South Africa is at its best, we are unbeatable. Ours is a fantastic country with a great future. Up until five years ago, we were broadly goin...
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Overseas Voters: Your Vote Can Make History!
Published on 2014-04-29
At 21h00 (SAT) this evening, South Africans living in Wellington, New Zealand, will cast the first votes in the 2014 general election. The last overseas voting station will close at 06h00 (SAT) on Thursday 1 May, in Los Angeles, USA. This makes for a marathon 33 hour ‘voting day’. ...
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DA will seek legal advice on ANC’s blocking of Nkandla ad hoc committee
Published on 2014-04-29
Yesterday, Parliament celebrated the 20th anniversary of South Africa’s democracy with a ceremony to unveil a statue of President Nelson Mandela outside the doors of the National Assembly. Within just a few hours, this powerful gesture was quickly tarnished by President Zuma&rsqu...
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Ayisafani 2: The DA is bigger, stronger, and ready to win!
Published on 2014-04-28
Today we are launching our last election advert, which will screen every day on every channel between now and Sunday. (URL link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rsirDxI8xqU) This advert tells the real story of how the DA is growing in South Africa, and why the ANC is so worried about us ...
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Parliament must become the institution envisioned by the founders of our democracy
Published on 2014-04-28
Nearly five months ago, our country stood together to mourn the passing of our beloved President, Nelson Mandela. Across the country, from the Grand Parade to the Union Buildings, we celebrated Tata Madiba’s great life. We promised to cherish the legacy he left us, and to uphold the val...
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Nkandla Ad Hoc Committee: President Zuma protected at all costs by arrogant ANC
Published on 2014-04-28
This morning, Parliament celebrated the 20th anniversary of South Africa’s democracy with a ceremony to unveil a statue of President Nelson Mandela outside the doors of the National Assembly. It was meant to be a day to honour a memory of selfless dedication and respect for the Co...
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The 20th Anniversary of Democracy
Published on 2014-04-27
Today we celebrate the 20th anniversary of our first democratic election and the end of apartheid. Even in an election period, today’s commemoration transcends party politics. Today is a celebration of a nation, not of a party. South Africa is an infinitely more just, humane, and peacef...
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DA calls for an IPID investigation into SAPS and ANC abuse of state resources
Published on 2014-04-27
The DA will be calling for the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID)to investigate the incident that involved members of the South African Police Service (SAPS) VIP protection unit confiscating a journalist’s phone and deleting evidence of state resources being used during an ANC...
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Eskom’s R500 million Extreme Make-over: SCOPA must intervene
Published on 2014-04-27
The DA will write to the chairperson on the Standing Committee on Public Accounts, Themba Godi, demanding Eskom executives urgently be summoned to Parliament over a proposed R500 million cosmetic upgrade at the state utility’s headquarters. We cannot stand by while the South Afri...
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We must continue to strive for freedom in South Africa
Published on 2014-04-27
Sanibonani, Good morning, democrats, Kumnandi ukuba lapha! Namhlanje, sithokozela konke esikuzuzile njengesizwe kulemnyika engu 20 yenkululeko. [Today, we celebrate everything what we have achieved as a nation in the past twenty years.] Sibonga abaholi bethu abanje...
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DA will seek High Court review of ICASA CCC decision
Published on 2014-04-26
The Democratic Alliance will seek a High Court review of the ICASA Compliance and Complaints Committee's decision to censor our Ayisafani televison commerical. We believe that the CCC has presented a fundamentally biased and incorrect decision that amounts to censorship. It is clear th...
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The dream of 27 April 1994 is alive where the DA governs
Published on 2014-04-26
Democrats, voters, al die blou Wes Kaapenaars, The election in the Western Cape is close. The newspapers are saying that we are going to win. Even some people in the ANC are saying that we are going to win. But people forget that we won this province with just over 50% of the vote in 20...
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ANC must immediately force Chancellor House to disinvest from Eskom supplier
Published on 2014-04-26
Reports today that the ANC's investment company, Chancellor House, has bought a major Eskom supplier, Pfisterer South Africa, must result in an urgent multi-pronged investigation and immediate disinvestment from the company now embroiled in this scandal. This condemnable abuse of public money...
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DA has a plan to harness South Africa’s entrepreneurial spirit
Published on 2014-04-25
Low rates of new business ownership and low survival rates for new enterprises show that South Africa is not yet a place where entrepreneurs can thrive. The Global Entreneurship Monitor (GEM) Global Report for 2013, however, shows that South African entrepreneurs are still upbeat about opportunities...
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DA Youth launches DemocraCITY
Published on 2014-04-25
Today, the DA Youth are officially launching DemocraCITY. DemocraCITY is a Mxit-specific strategy game. DemocraCITY is essentially a hybrid between SimCity and Tamagotchi Each game runs for 72 hours, with players being continually prompted to make strategic decisions which influence the happi...
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Your vote can make history!
Published on 2014-04-24
Fellow South Africans, democrats. As this election campaign heads into its final days, the DA is poised to significantly grow our support in communities across the country. More and more South Africans are recognising the DA as the only party that has a credible plan to create rea...
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Minister Shabangu must answer for Department's double - dealings
Published on 2014-04-24
The DA will submit Parliamentary questions in the next Parliamentary term relating to the Department of Mineral Resources’s double – dealing with regard to manganese mining rights in the Northern Cape. This follows the department’s inability or unwillingness to resolve dispu...
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DA welcomes court ruling on fishing rights
Published on 2014-04-24
The DA welcomes the Western Cape High court’s ruling to grant line fishermen indefinite fishing exemption following the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries botched right’s allocation process earlier this year. Of the 3 490 applications for fishing licences, onl...
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DA will not enter into any coalition with EFF
Published on 2014-04-23
There has been media speculation over the last few days that the Democratic Alliance and the Economic Freedom Fighters may form a coalition after the election. I wish to state categorically that the DA will not enter into a coalition with the EFF under any circumstances. This includes Gauteng...
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We are Together for Jobs in Gauteng
Published on 2014-04-23
Democrats today thousands of us have marched on the Gauteng Premier’s Office to deliver a clear message to this corrupt government: The people of Gauteng have had enough of corruption and unemployment under Jacob Zuma’s ANC. On 7 May we will make history by firi...
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DA calls on Speaker to extend Nkandla ad hoc committee reporting date following ANC delays
Published on 2014-04-22
On 9 April 2014, the Speaker of the National Assembly, Max Sisulu, made an important decision to establish an ad hoc committee to probe the multi-million rand scandal surrounding the upgrading of President Jacob Zuma’s private home in KwaZulu-Natal. This was a key moment for Parliament,...
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Your vote can win Gauteng
Published on 2014-04-22
As we launch the final phase of the DA's election posters in Gauteng today, we stand on the doorstep of history. With just 2 weeks until Election day all signs point to the closest election result in Gauteng's history. Today our message to every person who believes in change is: Your v...
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Zuma’s Nkandla housing project last minute damage control
Published on 2014-04-21
President Jacob Zuma is set to hand out houses that have been built by his foundation, the Jacob Zuma Foundation today in Nkandla as part of the ANC’s electioneering events. President Zuma’s efforts at damage control are transparent and quite frankly misplaced. If he really was se...
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Mdluli saga: Mthethwa and Phiyega should be investigated
Published on 2014-04-21
The DA welcomes the ruling of the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) that charges against suspended police intelligence boss Richard Mdluli be upheld. While this is a victory for accountability in this drawn out saga, the matter cannot be put to rest. Answers are now needed from the Police t...
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DA requests Public Protector investigation into R10 million VIP scandal
Published on 2014-04-21
The DA will today report the allegations that the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) spent an exorbitant R10 million of public money on VIP protection for its Chief Executive Officer, Virginia Petersen, and the spokesperson of the Department of Social Development, Lumka Oliphant, to the Pu...
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Patel’s selective stats don’t change facts of Western Cape delivery
Published on 2014-04-21
Minister Ebrahim Patel's weak attempt to refute the DA's success in turning around the Western Cape economy does not hold water when the facts are considered. By every measure that matters the Western Cape is the best-run province in South Africa. Last year, the Presidency’s Department ...
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Your vote can make history!
Published on 2014-04-21
Democrats, We gather two weeks and two days away from the general election. The countdown is on to the most important poll in twenty years. There is a big difference in this election. That difference is the mighty blue army of committed South Africans who love this country and care about buil...
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DASO shows growth in university of Forth Hare SRC elections
Published on 2014-04-17
The Democratic Alliance Youth would like to congratulate the Democratic Alliance Student Organisation (DASO) at the University of Fort Hare (UFH) on their results for the Student Representative Council (SRC) elections that took place on Tuesday. DASO UFH contested in the SRC elections for the...
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President Zuma’s government has ignored fishing communities
Published on 2014-04-17
The DA government in the Western Cape has been working for four years to get national government to take small-scale fishing communities, and the fishing harbours they live around, more seriously. We have called on many Ministers, written many letters, and attended many meetings. We&rsq...
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Speaker agrees that Nkandla ad hoc committee should begin work “as soon as possible"
Published on 2014-04-16
The DA has received a response to our urgent correspondence to the Speaker of the National Assembly, Max Sisulu, following the ANC’s delaying of the Nkandla ad hoc committee. The DA had written to Mr Sisulu following our concerns that the ANC was delaying the start of the comm...
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Nkandla money came from Soweto housing projects
Published on 2014-04-16
We welcome the opportunity to debate the State of the City today because it is important that 20 years into our democracy we analyse both how far we have come, and where we need to take Johannesburg as a City. It is also a bittersweet day for me because today this is my last speech as C...
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Only the DA has the policies to create jobs
Published on 2014-04-16
Good morning to the people of Mhluzi! It is wonderful to be here in the beautiful province of Mpumalanga today. As province names go, Mpumalanga is my favourite. It sends a message of hope to the people. It says there is a new dawn; that things will be better; that change i...
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Hammanskraal: Stand with the DA on 7 May
Published on 2014-04-16
Democrats, Three weeks from today South Africa will go to the polls to elect a new government. This has been a long campaign. Many have spoken passionately about the state of South Africa twenty years after Nelson Mandela was elected as our first democratic president. His legacy...
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The DA is working for change in Limpopo
Published on 2014-04-15
Good evening ladies and gentlemen, In our modern lifestyles, we are rarely afforded the opportunity of gathering together as a community in “town hall”-type forums like this. It gives me great pleasure to see such a great turn out here this evening. To me it shows tha...
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UPDATE: DA's censorship complaint to be heard Thursday morning
Published on 2014-04-15
This afternoon the Democratic Alliance received a letter from ICASA asking that the hearing relating to the SABC’s decision to censor our television and radio adverts be postponed to Thursday morning at 09h30, ostensibly because the ICASA Complaints Committee is not able to quorate tomorrow mo...
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DA will go to court on ICASA delays
Published on 2014-04-15
The Democratic Alliance will today submit an urgent High Court application to compel ICASA to hear the DA’s complaint against the SABC without any further delay, and to give us a decision on the matter immediately. ICASA has not fulfilled its regulatory and constitutional obligati...
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Nkandla ad hoc committee delay: ANC excuses don’t sell
Published on 2014-04-15
The Democratic Alliance (DA) remains deeply concerned that the Nkandla ad hoc committee has yet to begin its work because the ANC refuses to timeously submit its names to the Secretary of Parliament. In a poor attempt to defend this delaying tactic, the Office of the ANC Chief Whip has argued...
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UPDATE: ICASA buckles - DA's censorship complaint to be heard today!
Published on 2014-04-15
Following our urgent High Court application this morning, the Democratic Alliance has just received a letter from ICASA informing us that the hearing on our complaint against the SABC will be held at 18h00 this evening. Just a few hours ago the DA announced that we would approach the Ga...
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SAHRC must investigate dire water shortages in Limpopo
Published on 2014-04-15
Fellow South Africans, It is a great honour to be here with you in Podile, in the beautiful province of Limpopo. I love visiting Limpopo, not only because of its natural beauty, but because of the hope and potential I see in each and every resident here. From Tzaneen to Be...
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#Ayisafani: The ANC has changed. But the SABC remains His Master’s Voice
Published on 2014-04-14
Democrats, In the past, the SABC was always a propaganda machine of the apartheid government. The ruling National Party always deployed loyalists to the SABC. Their job was to make sure South Africans only saw and heard what the apartheid leaders wanted them to. That was on...
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The DA can win the Northern Cape
Published on 2014-04-14
Goeie môre mense van Upington! Ek is hier om vir julle almal welkom te heet na ‘n nuwe toekoms vir die Noord-Kaap. Le amogetswe! Welcome! Here, in Morning Glory, I welcome you to a new dawn for the Northern Cape. The dawn of hope and prosper...
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Nkandla SMS appeal another opportunity for the truth
Published on 2014-04-14
The DA welcomes the ANC’s appeal of the High Court's decision to dismiss their application against the DA's Nkandla SMS. We are looking forward to telling another court and the SA public why we were justified in saying that Zuma stole people’s money to build his R246 million Nkand...
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SABC censors DA radio adverts
Published on 2014-04-14
The Democratic Alliance has learnt that the SABC has now also removed DA election advertisements from radio stations across South Africa. This is in addition to the SABC’s decision to censor our television adverts. The fact that the SABC is now censoring the DA’s radio adver...
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Medupi: DA to fight Eskom’s decision to limit access to contracts
Published on 2014-04-14
The DA will seek to compel Eskom to hand over all information relating to 31 contracts connected to the construction of the significantly delayed Medupi power station. Following the DA’s appeal against Eskom’s constructive refusal to hand over the contracts, the state utili...
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ANC delaying start of Nkandla ad hoc committee undermines Office of the Speaker
Published on 2014-04-14
The DA is outraged by the ANC’s attempts to delay the start of the ad hoc committee, which the Speaker of the National Assembly, Max Sisulu, established last week following my request to investigate the Nkandla scandal. We have confirmed this morning that the ANC have yet to submit the ...
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Mayor Tau’s good story is not how residents feel on the ground
Published on 2014-04-14
Mayor Parks Tau seemed more focused on electioneering rather than speaking to the real concerns of Joburg residents in his State of the City address today. If the City really has such a good story to tell, then why do I hear the same concerns from residents everywhere I go in this elect...
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DA's censorship complaint to be heard tomorrow morning
Published on 2014-04-14
The Democratic Alliance submitted a complaint to ICASA on Saturday afternoon, relating to the SABC's decision to censor our television and radio adverts. The DA has received correspondence from ICASA requesting that we make oral arguments to them tomorrow morning at 09h30. ...
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DA to fight censorship of ‘Ayisafani ’ television commercial
Published on 2014-04-11
The DA has received notice from the SABC that it is removing the DA’s ‘Ayisafani’ television commercial from the airwaves. This is censorship pure and simple. The reasons advanced by the SABC are spurious, and almost certainly illegal. This is a transparent attempt by...
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Nkandla questions: President Zuma violates 10 day rule
Published on 2014-04-11
More than ten days ago the DA submitted numerous written parliamentary questions to President Jacob Zuma through the National Council of Provinces in order to force answers from him following the release of the Public Protector’s report. President Zuma has yet to respond to a sing...
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Small business needs less red tape and more support – not a new government department
Published on 2014-04-11
South Africa does not need another government department, and especially not a ministry of small business. Voters should reject ANC Secretary-General Gwede Mantashe’s proposal for a small business ministry as the election gimmick that it is. In addition, this proposal flies in the face of gove...
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DA requests investigation by Inspector General of Intelligence into tapping of SABC journalists’ phones
Published on 2014-04-11
The DA will request that the Inspector General of Intelligence, Adv Faith Radebe, investigate reports that SABC journalists’ phones are being tapped. The tapping of phones is in violation of section 14 of our Constitution that states, “Everyone has the right to privacy, which incl...
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CASE report highlights concerns around ANC election abuses
Published on 2014-04-11
Research by the Community Agency for Social Enquiry (CASE) shows that the ANC is engaging in a range of practices designed to skew the election in their favour (see link). CASE’s 102-page report is based on extensive newspaper sources and interviews conducted between August and November...
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Speaker establishes special ad hoc committee to investigate Nkandla following DA request
Published on 2014-04-10
The DA welcomes the decision by the Speaker of the National Assembly, Max Sisulu, to establish an ad hoc committee to investigate the Nkandla scandal. We believe this to be the first step in the impeachment proceedings against President Jacob Zuma. This follows my request to the Speaker...
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DA announces MPs to serve on Nkandla ad hoc committee
Published on 2014-04-10
The DA welcomes the decision by the Speaker of the National Assembly, Max Sisulu, to accede to our request and establish a special ad hoc committee to investigate the Nkandla scandal. This is a victory for parliament, for the constitution and for accountability. Indeed, it sends a messa...
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StatsSA report shows why SA needs a new policy approach
Published on 2014-04-10
Statistician-General Pali Lehohla reportedly said that the new Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) report on Labour Market Dynamics would give policy makers the opportunity to “sharpen their pencils” for the decades ahead. The report shows that after 20 years of democratic government, Sou...
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Mthethwa’s action on criminal cops not good enough
Published on 2014-04-10
According to a press release, 1 017 polices officers with criminal records are to be removed from the South African Police Service (SAPS). The press release states that a SAPS audit identified 1 448 SAPS members as having criminal records – of this number 1 017 are to be removed; 67 have...
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DA to submit PAIA application for Nkandla architectural plans
Published on 2014-04-09
The DA will file a Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA) application with the Department of Public Works to ascertain if President Jacob Zuma signed off on architectural plans for improvements to his private home at Nkandla. The Minister of Public Works, Thulas Nxesi, has refuse...
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DA Youth leader visits small business in Soweto
Published on 2014-04-09
It is a pleasure being here at Themba Ndlovu’s Squeaky Clean car wash today. Themba is the proud owner of this car wash. We, as the Democratic Alliance, want to see many more small businesses growing in Soweto. Job creation is the DA’s top priority. We know that small busine...
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Zuma’s failure to condemn anti-gay law an insult to the Constitution
Published on 2014-04-09
The DA is outraged by the failure of President Zuma to condemn the draconian anti-gay legislation passed in Uganda earlier this year. In a reply to my parliamentary question - which I posed to President Zuma to gain clarity on his position on this matter which has received wor...
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Nzimande should rather focus on fixing his department
Published on 2014-04-09
South African Communist Party (SACP) leader, Blade Nzimande’s attack on the Public Protector’s findings, referring to reports on it as “white people’s lies” must be condemned in the strongest terms possible. It is a poor attempt to cover up the rot at Nkandla and...
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DA welcomes Speaker’s intention to establish ad hoc committee
Published on 2014-04-08
The DA welcomes the Speaker of the National Assembly’s full consideration and action on the DA’s request for the establishment of an ad hoc committee to investigate the Nkandla scandal. I requested the establishment of such a committee, in terms of Section 89 of the Constitution, ...
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“Enough” – The DA’s new TV ad campaign
Published on 2014-04-08
Today is a turning point in Election 2014. Today is the day where the truth gets broadcast to millions of South Africans watching national television. In 2009 South Africans were promised millions of jobs. But 5 years later unemployment and corruption is rising under Jacob ...
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Zuma’s ANC only cares about one Nkandla resident
Published on 2014-04-08
Water and Environmental Affairs minister Edna Molewa’s visit to Nkandla today is a shameless election ploy. Where was the ANC’s care for the people of Nkandla before the media spotlight turned towards the President’s R246 million private homestead built with public money? The fact...
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Nkandla: Security Cluster must back off
Published on 2014-04-08
The DA notes with concern the Security Cluster’s statement this morning in which they request “further clarity” from the Public Protector with regards to her report into the over R246 million upgrades at President Jacob Zuma’s private home in Nkandla. The Securit...
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IPAP 6: Davies’s plan will fail to create jobs for SA’s poor
Published on 2014-04-08
The sixth iteration of the Industrial Policy Action Plan (IPAP 6) fails to go far enough in aggressively stimulating export growth in order to create real jobs for South Africa’s poor. Yesterday, Minister of Trade and Industry, Rob Davies, unveiled the plan as part of government&r...
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DA Youth leader addresses Whoonga crisis
Published on 2014-04-07
Whoonga is a street drug in widespread use in impoverished townships in Durban. Young people are experimenting with the drug as a way to pass time. Young people’s lives are being threatened whilst the ANC are just standing on the sidelines, not addressing this serious issue. We cannot accept t...
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DA encourages the public to make use of special vote opportunities
Published on 2014-04-07
Today marks the opening of applications for all registered South Africans who are unable to vote at their voting station on Election Day and would like to cast special votes before Election Day. South Africans with disabilities, the ill and infirm and pregnant women can apply for house visits from...
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DA will not permit abuse of public resources for ANC campaigning
Published on 2014-04-07
Over the last two weeks, the spotlight has been focused on the abuse and misappropriation of public resources for the private benefit of one person. With 30 days to go before the election, it is clear that President Zuma’s government is also abusing public resources to assist the ANC’s s...
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DA submits Nkandla SMS judgment to Speaker to back impeachment call
Published on 2014-04-07
The DA will hand over the Gauteng South High Court judgment on the DA’s Nkandla SMS to the Speaker of the National Assembly, Max Sisulu, as further evidence that an ad hoc committee needs to be urgently established for the consideration of my motion to impeach President Jacob Zuma as...
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DBE plan for 2014/15 shows Zuma's ANC not serious about education
Published on 2014-04-07
The Democratic Alliance is disappointed by the vague and non-committal 2014/15 strategic plan of the Department of Basic Education. According to the plan, Basic Education Minister, Angie Motshekga, and her ex-Director-General, Bobby Soobrayan, have failed to set targets for learner outcomes and for ...
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Nigeria No. 1 in Africa: DA would work to get SA back on top
Published on 2014-04-07
The ANC government’s failure to achieve South Africa’s growth potential over the past two decades has now led to our economy being overtaken as the largest economy in Africa. The DA has a plan to accelerate economic growth. We will work to get our country back on top. On Sun...
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DA welcomes Nkandla SMS appeal
Published on 2014-04-07
The DA welcomes the ANC’s intention to appeal the High Court's decision to dismiss their application against the DA's Nkandla SMS. We are looking forward to telling another court and the SA public why we were justified in saying that Zuma stole people’s money to build his R246 mil...
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Pascoe’s move motivated by opportunism
Published on 2014-04-07
Grant Pascoe’s reported “personal reasons” for leaving the DA are complete nonsense. The fact is that Mr Pascoe was imminently going to be demoted out of the Mayoral Committee (Mayco) in Cape Town for poor performance. He knew that things weren’t going well in his por...
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Nearly R50m spent on a “Presidential Medical Unit” between 2009 and 2014
Published on 2014-04-06
The Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, has revealed that nearly R50 million was spent on a “Presidential Medical Unit”, operated by the South African Military Health Service, between 2009 and 2014. The Presidential Medical Unit is responsible for t...
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Makhura must come out and debate jobs in Gauteng
Published on 2014-04-06
Democrats, thank you for coming out in your thousands today in support of policies that can create jobs and cut corruption in Gauteng. Today we have painted Tembisa blue and on 7 May Gauteng will be blue! This week we have won a great victory in the South Gauteng High Court. The ANC too...
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Fishing rights: Where is Tina?
Published on 2014-04-06
The DA calls on Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Tina Joemat-Pettersson, to come out of hiding and address disgruntled fishing communities over the bungled allocation of fishing rights. This comes after the Minister failed to attend a meeting held for the community of Ho...
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The DA will put 250 000 police on the streets
Published on 2014-04-06
Tomorrow evening Shrien Dewani will be escorted by South African marshals from Britain to appear in the Cape Town High Court on Tuesday morning. He will be charged with hiring two hit men to murder his wife in Cape Town in 2010. As the Premier of this province, I am frustrated that this...
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New land reform proposal is unconstitutional
Published on 2014-04-06
Minister Gugile Nkwinti’s policy proposal entitled “Strengthening the Relative Rights of People Working the Land” is a radical departure from any common sense approach to land reform. It is effectively expropriation by stealth, and is unconstitutional. The DA will accordingly oppos...
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The Blue Wave continues to grow in KwaZulu-Natal
Published on 2014-04-05
Today I am pleased to welcome three Minority Front councillors and 150 members into the ranks of the Democratic Alliance. We welcome Councillor Bradley Singh, Councillor Ronnie Pillay and Councillor Lyndal Singh with open arms. It is wonderful to have them as part of the DA’s blue family &ndas...
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Fighting the evil drugs and gangsterism
Published on 2014-04-05
Mmusi Maimane and I have come to Reiger Park to stand shoulder to shoulder with you. We stand with this community in the fight against drugs and crime. It is time to say NO to drugs and gangsterism! I don’t need to tell the residents of Reiger Park that d...
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DA victory in Nkandla SMS case
Published on 2014-04-04
The DA welcomes the High Court's dismissal with costs of the ANC's application against the DA's Nkandla SMS. This is both a victory for freedom of speech and for the truth about Nkandla. Judge Hellens found the DA's SMS was "fair comment". It was further found that the ANC failed to p...
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South African Youth wants Zuma to step down
Published on 2014-04-04
More than two thirds of South African young people between the ages of 18 and 34 who responded to a survey on the social network Mxit wants Zuma to step down due to the Nkandlagate scandal. This is broadly in line with our own research on Zuma's favorability among young people. This just this...
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The big issue: Jobs
Published on 2014-04-04
Today I met with residents, community and faith leaders, and business people on the West Coast. We exchanged stories on the successes of the Western Cape Story since the DA took over the provincial government in 2009. We also shared ideas on how we can build on the solid foundations that we have lai...
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DA finds thousands of undelivered textbooks
Published on 2014-04-03
During a routine oversight visit this morning, a DA delegation discovered thousands of undelivered textbooks in the teacher training college in Fetakgomo. Security barred us from completing the oversight process. But the photographs (photo 1, photo 2, photo 3, photo 4) we were able to take prove tha...
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Eskom Directors must pay back R31 million in bonuses
Published on 2014-03-07
The DA will today demand that the R31 million in bonuses awarded to Eskom’s Directors are returned to Treasury immediately so that it can be used to purchase generators for emergency services such as hospitals affected by the rolling blackouts. According to Eskom’s Annual Fi...
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Municipal Rates Bill not passed: ANC in Parliament is in disarray
Published on 2014-03-07
The highly problematic Municipal Property Rates Act Amendment Bill did not pass in the National Assembly yesterday as the requisite number of 201 MPs were not present. This is the second time the ANC has failed to ensure quorum in the House this week alone, and the fourth time since the...
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IPID and SAHRC must investigate police brutality incident
Published on 2014-03-07
The growing trend of police brutality under President Jacob Zuma’s ANC continues. Following the death of nine people in areas such as Mothotlung and Durban Deep in January allegedly at the hands of the South African Police Service (SAPS) officers, the DA is further horrified by the video relea...
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DA requests urgent debate of public importance on Eskom power crisis
Published on 2014-03-06
The DA will this morning write to the Speaker of the National Assembly, Max Sisulu, to request that he urgently grant a debate of public importance on the Eskom power crisis and confirmed load shedding. The Speaker is empowered through rule 104 of the rules of the National Assembly to p...
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Fight still on for people’s voice against E-tolls
Published on 2014-03-06
Judgement will be delivered in 2 weeks in the DA’s court action against e-tolls following 2 days of battle with the state’s legal machinery in the High Court. Our central argument has been that the people of Gauteng must have a say on whether we want this unjust e-tolling sy...
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Robert McBride: DA scrutinising documentation received via PAIA application
Published on 2014-03-06
The Democratic Alliance is now in possession of documentation relating to the interview process for the position of the Head of the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID), a position that was assumed by the controversial Robert McBride on Monday. We will be scrutinising the...
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DA welcomes announcement of final release date for Nkandlagate report
Published on 2014-03-06
The DA welcomes the announcement today by the Public Protector, Adv Thuli Madonsela, that the final Nkandlagate report emanating from an investigation into the R200 million of public money spent on President Jacob Zuma’s home will be released on the 19th of March. This investigation was...
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ISMO Bill: ANC blocks motion to have key bill considered by Parliament
Published on 2014-03-05
Today, the DA will write to the ANC Chief Whip, Stone Sizani, demanding an explanation as to why the ANC is committed to maintaining ESKOM’s monopoly at the expense of poor. Yesterday in Parliament, Zuma’s ANC rejected our motion without notice to revive the Independent Services a...
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PSIRA Bill: ANC undermining parliamentary processes in NCOP
Published on 2014-03-05
President Jacob Zuma’s ANC is hell-bent on bulldozing through job-killing Bills in the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) ahead of the elections. In doing so, they are undermining the very clearly set out processes that exist to ensure proper consideration of draft legislation i...
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National Scholar Transport Policy stuck on blocks for eight years
Published on 2014-03-05
During a presentation to the Transport Portfolio Committee, the Department of Transport’s Chief Financial Officer, Collins Letsoalo, admitted that after eight years the Department still has not finalised its National Scholar Transport Policy. Furthermore, after five years the policy for...
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Election-time advertising: What is Tina hiding?
Published on 2014-03-04
In a reply to a DA parliamentary question asking how much money will be spent on advertising by her department between January 2014 and 30 April 2014, the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Tina Joemat-Pettersson, has suspiciously refused to provide any details. Indeed,...
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Pistorius: Interpret the interpreter?
Published on 2014-03-04
Yesterday’s start to the Oscar Pistorius case highlights serious concerns about the state of interpreters in our justice system. Ms Michelle Burger, the first witness for the State, wished to testify in Afrikaans. There appear to be various versions reported as to why an interpreter was...
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E-tolling case kicks off in the High Court
Published on 2014-03-04
The following remarks were made by DA Gauteng Premier Candidate, Mmusi Maimane, on the steps of the Western Cape High Court where the DA’s court action against e-tolling is taking place. Proceedings have kicked off in the DA’s case against E-tolling in the Western Cape High Court ...
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DA to table motion of censure against ANC MP Annelize van Wyk
Published on 2014-03-03
Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Police and ANC MP, Annelize van Wyk, failed to disclose critical information with respect to the feedback received on the job-killing Private Security Industry Regulation Act (PSIRA) Amendment Bill. I will be tabling a motion of censure against Ms Van...
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R120 million inauguration is a snub to Finance Minister
Published on 2014-03-03
The South African taxpayer is set to fork out an extravagant R120 million for the upcoming Presidential Inauguration. Today, the DA will submit Parliamentary questions to the Minister of Finance, Pravin Gordhan, demanding he justify the increased budget for the upcoming Presidential Inaugurat...
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ANC’s commitment to passing Traditional Courts Bill an affront to women’s rights
Published on 2014-03-03
The ANC’s commitment to continue to pursue the Traditional Courts Bill after the elections is an affront to women’s rights and is a clear indication of the party’s desperation to win votes at all costs. The Bill, which was clearly designed to muster up support for President ...
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Mmusi Maimane DA Premier Candidate for Gauteng
Published on 2014-03-02
The Democratic Alliance heads to court this week to have the passing of the E-Tolling Bill declared unconstitutional. I will be in court representing Gauteng residents who have expressed an overwhelming majority of opposition to e-tolling. We are of the view that the Transport Laws and...
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Zuma’s party with Mugabe an insult to Madiba’s legacy
Published on 2014-03-02
Reports that President Zuma will not attend a memorial service for Nelson Mandela at Westminster Abbey in London tomorrow is an affront to the former President’s legacy. The date of the memorial had been changed specifically so that President Zuma could attend. The President&rsqu...
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Parliament must intervene in Hitachi debacle
Published on 2014-03-02
The DA will be writing to the chairperson of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts (SCOPA) requesting him to urgently lead an investigation into all Hitachi Power Africa and government contracts and deals in the last five years. The recent revelation that Chancellor House - the ANC's business ...
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DA to resubmit parliamentary motion to condemn Uganda’s anti-gay law
Published on 2014-02-28
Yesterday the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) released a statement urging South Africa to make its rejection of Uganda's anti-gay law clear and visible. In light of this urgent call by a Chapter 9 Institution, the DA will resubmit its parliamentary motion without notice condemni...
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DA welcomes Waterkloof duo parole being revoked
Published on 2014-02-28
The DA welcomes The Parole Board’s decision today to revoke the infamous Waterkloof Two’s parole. Frikkie du Preez and Christoff Becker will spend another 12 months in prison before they are permitted to re-apply for parole. Du Preez and Becker were rightfully re-arrested last mon...
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Appointment of Mcbride: DA to pursue PAIA application appeal
Published on 2014-02-28
The Democratic Alliance (DA) is extremely disappointed that the Minister of Police, Nathi Mthethwa, would have such brazen disregard for the integrity of both the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) and the South African Police Service (SAPS) by finalising the appointment of the scan...
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Dianne Koh...
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DA Youth holds silent protest against Ugandan Anti-Gay laws
Published on 2014-02-27
Today, the DA Youth held a silent protest outside the Ugandan Embassy in support of the LGBTI community in Uganda. The recent Anti-Homosexuality Bill legislated by President Yoweri Museveni is a massive violation of human rights. The Bill imposes life imprisonment on homosexuals, and ma...
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National Media Statements
Mbali Ntul...
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Budget 2014: Not enough money to implement Land Restitution Bill
Published on 2014-02-27
According to Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan’s 2014/15 National Budget Speech, government is only prepared to spend R8.7 billion on the settlement of land restitution claims over the next three years – approximately R300 million less than the past three years. This means that at t...
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Local Media Statements
Kevin Mile...
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ANC’s acquisition strategy increasingly desperate
Published on 2014-02-27
The Democratic Alliance would like to thank the ANC for taking problem councillors Toni Molefe and Sipho Masigo off the DA’s hands. Molefe was disqualified from running for DA Youth Chair in Gauteng because he is too old. He is currently undergoing a disciplinary inquiry for dishonest a...
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National Media Statements
John Moode...
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DA calls on Public Protector to investigate forensic labs
Published on 2014-02-26
The DA will write to the Public Protector, Thuli Madonsela, to request an investigation into the serious backlogs and associated problems at government-run forensic laboratories. According to media reports today the National Health Department’s Forensic Chemistry Laboratory in Pre...
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National Media Statements
Dianne Koh...
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SIU Amendment Bill – ANC again shows it's not serious about corruption
Published on 2014-02-26
Today Zuma’s ANC passed up a golden opportunity to show that they are serious about fighting corruption. Last year I tabled a Private Member's Bill proposing four small but significant changes to the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) Bill. These were:A head of the SIU may only be...
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National Media Statements
Debbie Sch...
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DA welcomes Waterkloof duo re-arrest
Published on 2014-02-17
The video footage of two members of the infamous Waterkloof Four drinking alcohol and partying in their cell at the Kgosi Mampuru prison, in Pretoria that surfaced this weekend is yet another stark illustration of the corruption allowed to run rampant in our prisons. Frikkie du Preez and Chri...
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National Media Statements
