ANC split: Eastern Cape Premier keeps his sense of humour

While the Legislature is abuzz with a possible split in the ANC, Premier Mbulelo Sogoni is clearly one of those who still finds some humour in the situation.

Introducing the tabling of his annual report, Sogoni commented on the earlier election of a new deputy-speaker and chairman of committees telling DA leader Athol Trollip that there was only one nomination for each position “and that demonstrates how united the ANC is”.

Chairman of Committees Sam Masoziwe was elevated to the position of deputy-speaker and Neo Moerane-Mamase takes over his position.

There seems to be general acceptance now that there will be some kind of split, senior members of the Legislature indicating yesterday that they expected the former deputy-minister of Defence Mluleki George to drive the new entity in the Amathole region while there was also a suggestion that former presidential spokesman Smuts Ngonyama might emerge as its candidate for the premiership of the Eastern Cape in the next election.

End to dry spell for Eastern Cape legislators?

Democratic Alliance MPL Bobby Stevenson’s water problems may be about to end.

Stevenson has been without water in his house in the government compound in Bhisho for three weeks but this morning received an SMS stating: “Supply to Legislature, Fort Hare and Bhisho CBD to be interrupted today in order to switch ministerial houses from low pressure to high pressure supply”.

The message came from the Buffalo City municipality.

Stevenson and others occupy houses in the “ministerial complex” that was once home to the members of the Ciskei cabinet when they are required to be in the provincial capital.

The problem according to Stevenson is that currently the houses are served by the lower reservoir and needed to be connected to the upper reservoir. Buffalo City maintains “this is the problem of the Amathole District Municipality as they are responsible for supplying water to the reservoir. Amathole District Municipality say it is the problem of Buffalo City Municipality”.

While Stevenson will know doubt be pleased to have water it will also provide comfort to his neighbours to know that Bobby will be bathing again.

If Zuma's ever in King ...

Democratic Alliance MP Stuart Farrow is one of the most popular people in King William’s Town at present.

Farrow has water and his DA colleagues in the Bhisho Legislature who have now been without water for three weeks at the houses provided by the Legislature and are hurtling down to Farrow’s house to shower.

DA MPL Bobby Stevenson is one of those affected and after endless complaints to the Buffalo City municipality who have offered promises and not much else this week took up the offer of the Legislature and moved into a guest house with his colleagues for the duration of this week’s plenary session.

Province awash with EIAs

There were 354 environmental impact assessment applications “pending” in the Eastern Cape at the end of March, Environmental Affairs and Tourism minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk has told the National Assembly.

Van Schalkwyk revealed that 93 applications were “pending” in terms of the 1997 EIA regulations and 261 in terms of those promulgated in 2006.

In reply to a written question from Gareth Morgan (DA), the minister said that there was a shortage of staff and even in provinces such as the Eastern Cape where there were only two vacancies at the end of March “a significant percentage of filled posts are occupied by case officers with limited experience”.

Nationally, Van Schalkwyk said the situation was improving with applications in terms of the 1997 regulations that were pending standing at 998 on March 31 this year as opposed to 5 859 at the end of June 2006..

With regard to the 2006 regulations, he said that some 70 per cent nationally were dealt with in the prescribed timeframes and “provincial authorities have started to express concerns that a new backlog might be forming … primarily due to capacity considerations”.

Computer error: The Blobster's on the case

Anyone remember the saga of the missing computers in the Ndlambe municipality (Port Alfred) when the municipal manager admitted that he “made a mistake” when he signed for 39 laptops worth R400 000, without checking whether they had actually arrived?

The DA’s Bobby Stevenson – affectionately dubbed “the blobster" by former DA leader Tony Leon - has not and has asked a question for oral reply this afternoon and to what progress has been made with the investigation.

Stevenson wants to know whether any disciplinary action has been taken or criminal charges laid and whether any steps have been taken to recover the money.

Ndlambe, however, needed not feel alone because Stevenson has unearthed the fact that six computers went missing in the Koukamma local municipality. These were not new computers they just held vital information such as salaries and details of municipal accounts.

Health department ripped apart in Bhisho

The Eastern Cape Health department is being ripped apart in the Legislature today with the African People Convention’s Zingisa Mkabile saying that spending R1,5 million of the audio-visual promotion material is typical of MEC Nomsa Jajula.

“She has an appetite to spend on things that are not vital like the refurbishment of the whole floor where her office is – yet there is a shortage of everything in her department.”

And, he said: “The ruling party remains quiet”.

Earlier UDM leader Mhlati recalled the death of a child at the Nelson Mandela Academic Hospital in Mthatha saying the family could not access the file to find out why the child had died – “this was a black child who had suffered at the hands of a black government,” he said.

DA Health spokesman Athol Trollip also waded in saying with regard to the deaths of more than 100 babies at Ukhahlamba that his party would obtain the report handed to national minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang through the Promotion of Access to Information Act and lay “criminal charges of negligence” against those responsible.

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