This article may contain graphic and/or adult content unsuitable for minors and sensitive readers delivered the province’s 2025 budget speech in Bhisho on Tuesday and announced that there will be no additional resources allocated to departments for the 2025 Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) departments must identify alternative funding sources “We encourage everyone to identify alternative funding sources to augment the provincial fiscus,” Mvoko stated and pledging of conditional grants.” The province will continue implementing cost-saving initiatives such as zero-based budgeting and service delivery model adjustments to optimize resource allocation Under the theme “Inclusive Growth and Development Through Government Allocative Efficacy,” The MEC said the 2025/26 budget prioritizes the poor and vulnerable while supporting economic growth and job creation “For our economy to grow and create more employment opportunities it is critical that we create an environment conducive to private investment continue to invest in public infrastructure the province will focus on reducing bureaucratic red tape and engaging businesses to attract investment the Democratic Alliance (DA) has criticized the budget arguing that it fails to present a clear roadmap for economic recovery The province has received R97.6 billion from the national government comprising R82.4 billion in equitable share and R15.2 billion in conditional grants Total provincial payments for 2025/26 amount to R100 billion resulting in a budget deficit of R2.3 billion we have considered utilizing R1.8 billion from Provincial Own Revenue and R506.8 million from own reserves,” Mvoko said and Human Development cluster receives the largest share with R79.4 billion for 2025/26 and R254.7 billion over the MTEF and Infrastructure Development cluster is allocated R16.4 billion for 2025/26 and Institutional Development cluster receives R3.2 billion Infrastructure Investments and Economic Development Infrastructure development remains a key driver of economic growth The South African National Roads Agency (SANRAL) is investing R20 billion in road infrastructure “The construction of the Msikaba Bridge is ongoing with the bridge deck expected to be completed this year,” Mvoko noted Rail and port infrastructure improvements are also a priority Project Ukuvuselela aims to boost rail capacity between Gauteng and the Port of Port Elizabeth facilitating the transportation of 150,000 fully built vehicles annually by 2026 “The project is expected to create 9,500 indirect jobs and 2,500 direct jobs in the province with an investment value of R8.4 billion,” he added Mvoko said investment in social infrastructure remains a priority The Department of Education receives R1.9 billion for school construction while the Department of Health gets R1.6 billion for hospital upgrades “The Nelson Mandela Academic Hospital is one of the health facilities that will benefit from this program,” Mvoko said R1.5 billion is allocated to the Department of Human Settlements for building 4,970 housing units DA MPL Dr Malcolm Figg has raised concerns about the sustainability of the province’s financial management stating that the reliance on reserves signals a weakening fiscal foundation He strongly criticized the lack of straightforward measures to address inefficiencies in key departments They argue that while billions are allocated to the Department of Health no specific measures have been outlined to stabilize its finances the opposition has condemned the R11 million increase in the Community Safety budget as insufficient calling it "contemptuous given the scale of the crisis" of rising crime in the Eastern Cape The DA further cast doubt on the impact of the government’s job creation initiatives stating that Expanded Public Works Programmes and youth employment schemes only provide temporary relief and do not lead to sustainable employment The DA argues that this budget does not offer real hope but rather more of the same “recycled rhetoric and no meaningful shift in how public money is spent.” Mvoko emphasized that the budget seeks to drive economic growth “We must ensure that every rand spent achieves maximum impact,” he concluded an exclusive podcast on the life of Vicki Terblanche Dive into the expansive world of motoring with Naresh Maharaj Join Mark Marshall as he shares his extraordinary encounters with everything from bees to reptiles i said a cluster system would be introduced to tackle the province’s key priorities amid rising social ill and low economic growth Tabling his medium-term budget policy statement in the Provincial Legislature on Tuesday he said the “moment for the people of the Eastern Cape to work together has never been so urgent” “The foundation has been laid by the national government to fight these social ills through national priorities focusing on inclusive economic growth and job creation reducing poverty and tackling the high cost of living a cluster approach has been prioritised by the Eastern Cape government to ensure the alignment to those priorities,” the MEC said.  Mvoko also emphasised that the provincial medium-term budget strategy focuses on delivering an inclusive economy the provincial consolidated expenditure is set to grow from R95.6 billion in 2024/25 to R103.8 billion in 2027/28 with a consolidated budget of R302.3 billion for the 2025 MTEF "The Department of Transport will receive R142.1 million for road maintenance while the Provincial Legislature is allocated R58.7 million to support ICT projects A key priority will be the social services sector which will receive R246.9 billion (81.7%) of the budget Education initiatives will focus on expanding early childhood development In-year budget adjustments have allocated R713.6 million to address immediate departmental pressures with no changes to transfers from the National Treasury The MEC also highlighted the importance of private sector investment for economic growth and job creation continue to be key assets for industrial development Notable investments include a R11.4 billion pledge from Zero Carbon Charge for green electric vehicle charging stations and plans for an electric bus assembly plant in East London." He also welcomed investments in cold chain infrastructure Mvoko stressed the need to invest in key sectors such as agriculture Despite the Eastern Cape's agricultural potential much of the province's output comes from a small group of commercial farmers the provincial government will accelerate the Agriculture and Agro-processing Master Plan (AAMP) and partner with Infrastructure South Africa to revitalize irrigation schemes in Amathole and Chris Hani Districts A new procurement model will also help local farmers access government markets for school nutrition particularly through the Provincial Electric Vehicle Strategy This includes 13 new EV charging stations funded by an R18 million allocation and an R11.4 billion investment from Zero Carbon Charge for 29 more off-grid charging sites the R3 billion Stellantis plant in Coega SEZ will begin assembling Peugeot Landtrek in 2026 Tourism was also highlighted for its investment potential with R65 million from the World Bank to boost conservation tourism at Addo Elephant Park and Great Fish Nature Reserve such as Baviaanskloof World Heritage Site and the Kowie River aim to grow the tourism industry and create jobs Mvoko said the province’s film and creative industries have flourished since the establishment of the Eastern Cape Film Investment Fund in 2018/19 with R72.7 million allocated and R506.4 million in external investments creating over 8,000 jobs and supporting 758 SMMEs The province plans to further develop this sector by investing in film studios significant investments have been made in roads Notable achievements include SANRAL’s completion of the R438 million N2 Belstone and Breidbach Interchange and upgrades to the N2 road from Qonce to Green River Transnet’s high-capacity rail project between Gauteng and the Eastern Cape is set to create 11,000 jobs and improve automotive logistics will see the construction of the Ntabelanga Dam an R8 billion investment that will support domestic use and irrigation The project is set to move forward with the appointment of a contractor for the dam wall in November 2024 Mvoko promised the expansion of the School Nutrition Programme to include all grades and an additional meal with a focus on food quality and safety through centralized procurement and technology the government will improve access to quality care particularly for maternal and child health and invest in infrastructure aligned with National Health Insurance (NHI) standards Funds will also be allocated to fight poverty and malnutrition through the Integrated Mother & Child Development and Support Programme the province will strengthen crime prevention strategies and improve oversight of police focusing on securing critical infrastructure the province will prioritize high-return projects and ensure effective monitoring for quality on-time projects through a coordinated approach involving the Provincial Treasury The province is also advancing its broadband project and upgrading digital services in healthcare focusing on improving public trust and accountability This project includes an investment of R173.2 million for the Office of the Premier mainly for broadband and ICT infrastructure Mvoko concluded by stating that the province is committed to reducing unauthorized and wasteful expenditures to negligible levels within two years He believes these objectives are achievable with strong collaboration with the Legislature particularly the Standing Committee on Public Accounts Twenty-six farmers from across the Eastern Cape received hemp seeds and signed off-take contracts with the provincial Department of Agriculture and Medigrow at the Coega Special Economic Zone in Gqeberha on Thursday This comes after Premier Oscar Mabuyane launched the Medigrow facility in April last year pronouncing a multi-million rand investment in ensuring the Eastern Cape becomes a leader in the cannabis industry "This is a first of its kind which will grow the province's economy exponentially as we will be exporting the hemp and manufacturing it for medicinal use," said Kontsiwe She adds that the 26 were selected from 100 hemp farmers as they are registered The MEC also committed her department to assisting the remaining farmers to acquire permits "Our department is going to provide technical support in showing them how they should grow this hemp," the MEC said training is already being provided to farmers to ensure their readiness to work with hemp adding that her department had spent about R4 million on this partnership with Medigrow The secretary of the Eastern Cape Hemp Growers Association praised Medigrow as a game changer in the cannabis industry and says through them farmers are now able to put food on the table for their families She also praised Medigrow and the Department of Agriculture for recognising hemp farmers "For years we were regarded as emerging farmers but now we are finally full-blown farmers," Madliwa said She said they are hoping that the recipient farmers will have all the seeds planted by the end of February said the seeds can be planted throughout the year adding that growth takes place three months after planting a farmer in the Ngqushwa Municipality was the first to receive his seeds and sign the off-take agreement "I am happy that I am among the selected farmers From here I hope it goes better and that I can put food on the table." Please check your email and enter your one time pin below:   Open in Gmail Sorry there was an error loading the audio Five masked and armed men took the Department of Cooperative Governance double cab bakkie in the early hours Eastern Cape Department of Transport spokesperson Unathi Binqose said the search is on for the five who made off with the vehicle in a brazen robbery at the Department of Cooperative Governance’s offices in Bhisho The attack occurred at about 1.30am.advertisementDon't want to see this? Remove ads He said witnesses saw five armed men with their faces covered with balaclavas enter the premises Three men held up the security guards while the other two took the keys to the fleet management offices where they took the key to a double cab Nissan Navara (GGL472EC) and drove off in it The Navara is the 10th government vehicle to be hijacked in the province this year and brings the number of state vehicles hijacked or stolen to 65 since January 2024 Binqose said all government fleet vehicles are fitted with tracking devices He added that the overwhelming majority of the stolen vehicles are bakkies “There clearly is a huge demand for bakkies in the province given our terrain and the rural nature of our province.” does not know the motive for the consistent attacks Transport MEC Xolile Nqatha said the thefts threaten to severely hamper service delivery in the province and rob residents of much-needed services since officials are wary of going where their services are most needed From January 2024 to December 2024, 55 state vehicles were taken by criminals. Since January 2025 another 10 have been stolen. Nqatha said most vehicles are hijacked.advertisementDon't want to see this? Remove ads “Many of these hijackings have occurred in towns such as Mthatha while Ngcobo has been identified as another hotspot have recovered 26 of the 55 vehicles (last year) while 29 vehicles are still unaccounted for The most-targeted vehicle model during this period were bakkies – the Toyota Hilux GD6 – followed closely by the Isuzu D-Max.” Nqatha has warned that the state will go “all out to not only put an end to this criminality but also bring perpetrators of these crimes to book” not only against the state but also against civilians This is done by individuals or groups who have clearly taken a stance against the people and service delivery – individuals or groups who are prepared to sabotage service delivery to dozens of communities for their selfish gains He said that in the first eight weeks of 2025 10 vehicles were stolen or hijacked Before the latest incident a bakkie from the Department of Transport was hijacked in Mthatha ' + scriptOptions._localizedStrings.webview_notification_text + ' " + scriptOptions._localizedStrings.redirect_overlay_title + " " + scriptOptions._localizedStrings.redirect_overlay_text + " SANRAL OPENS N2 BELSTONE INTERCHANGE TO TRAFFIC Caption: Construction of the Belstone Interchange along the N2 near Bhisho has been completed 24 July 2024 – The South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (SANRAL) has announced the opening of the N2 Belstone Interchange and route MR0688 linking Bhisho to Zwelitsha to traffic today This follows a 33-month construction period the project was critical to address the high accident rate at the old Breidbach intersection and the traffic congestion at the intersection of the MR0690 and MR0688 Safety and flow of traffic were thus central in its design and construction The upgrades included construction of new interchanges at the Belstone and the Breidbach intersections construction of a link road from Breidbach towards Sweetwaters outside Zwelitsha free-flowing interchange at Belstone Bridge dualling of the MR0688 road Bhisho and reinforcement of the concrete structures with the necessary road works “The benefit to the community goes beyond the new and safer road infrastructure SANRAL was able to create job opportunities for 376 general workers from the local community with about R106 million spent on wages of targeted labour.” “Over R194 million was spent on 100 targeted enterprises (SMMEs) who were subcontracted on the project SANRAL invested over R4.6 million towards formal training of 614 locals by accredited training service providers to contribute to the skills development and capacitation of targeted enterprises This was done to ensure that they can be self-sufficient beyond the SANRAL project,” said Peterson The Eastern Cape Health Department said it had authorised the outstanding payment of overtime to nurses and staff at Dora Nginza Hospital in Gqeberha who were engaged in what the Department said was an unprotected strike were locked in a meeting with union representatives to resolve the impasse.  Provincial Health Department spokesperson Mkhululi Ndamase said the department had authorised the payments which would be processed on the next payment run on 5 February 2025 "Their overtime money will appear in the workers' bank accounts on February 10," Ndamase confirmed "Although people have the right to protest they must do so within the ambit of the law No one should be blocking entrances to the hospital as that might have serious consequences for those in desperate need of medical attention," Ndamase said "We can also confirm that the acting CEO and management [are meeting] with the leaders of all the admitted unions to discuss the workers' grievances "We regret the inconvenience that was caused by the unprotected action." Home | South Africa The trial of the 10 people accused of killing University of Fort Hare (UFH) Vice Chancellor’s bodyguard Mboneli Vesele and the University’s fleet manager Petrus Roets is set to begin at the Bhisho High Court Vesele was shot dead outside the residence of the Vice Chancellor Prof. Sakhela Buhlungu in January last year while Roets was murdered in a hail of bullets at his home in May 2022 The University’s head of investigations and Vetting The National Prosecuting Authority’s Provincial Spokesperson Luxolo Tyali says the state is ready to prosecute “The case against the 10 persons accused of the murders that took place at the University of Fort Hare is due to appear in court As the state we are ready to proceed with the prosecution but because the matter is appearing for the first time in the high court pretrial proceedings have to take place so that everyone involved in the case the state and the defense are ready to proceed.” A former Bhisho government official and two businessmen appeared in the East London Specialised Commercial Crimes Court on Friday the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act (PRECCA) and defeating the ends of justice A trial within a trial has been taking place this week as the province's suspended Community Safety Director challenge the admissibility of unauthorised recordings The trio is accused of attempting to bribe investigating officers from the NPA's Investigative Directorate with R3.5 million The alleged bribery was aimed at halting an investigation into a national police tender in which KJP Traders allegedly delivered substandard furniture in a contract worth R69 million The suspects appeared in court under tight security with heavily armed police officers present Their defence argued that recordings of meetings and phone conversations should not be admitted as evidence claiming they were made before authorisation from the Director of Public Prosecution for a Section 252a application of the Criminal Procedure Act which allows police to set traps or go undercover to stop a crime The unauthorised recordings span from 9 March to 2 April 2022 The defence further argued that the suspects' right to a fair trial was violated as the evidence was obtained in an improper and unfair manner They claimed that the law enforcement agents went beyond providing an opportunity instead pressuring the accused into offering bribes explained the recordings by saying that they needed every single piece of information from the "targets" to form a strong reasoning for a Section 252a application Magistrate Sadia Jacobson allowed the court to stand down to give Prince an opportunity to refresh her memory on the corruption case which is separate to the procurement fraud case after the Captain could not answer questions by the defence The trial within a trial is set to continue from 9 -11 December while Govender’s bail was set at R50 000 AVBOB celebrates a milestone by rewarding its members on a large scale BHISHO - Unemployed doctors in the Eastern Cape have been picketing outside the Premier's office to demand jobs They have vowed to continue their protest until their demands are attended to The spokesperson for the protesting doctors Dr Philisiwe Ngcai said unemployed doctor's on various occasions have tried to raise their grievances however they fell to deaf ears.  I’m writing this blog post following Friday’s (October 11) decision by ANC provincial chair and premier, Oscar Mabuyane, to place public works and infrastructure (DPWI) head of department (HoD) on leave pending an investigation into rape and sexual abuse allegations levelled against him “Noting the seriousness of the allegations levelled against HoD Manda and the position he holds in government I have considered the options available to me in line with the applicable public service prescripts I am convinced that placing him on leave will best serve the provincial government,” said Mabuyane while announcing the suspension I have appointed prominent persons to constitute an investigating panel that will take a deep dive into these matters focusing primarily on DPWI Mabuyane called on all those who have experienced sexual abuse and/or harassment in the workplace to use the panel that has been appointed “I also call on anyone who has experienced this kind of abuse to report the matter to the police for investigation The rape culture is institutionalised in Bhisho where powerful men – married widowed and single alike – have carte blanche to women’s bodies raping them at will to supposedly advance their careers The sex-for-jobs phenomenon has been going on for decades in the provincial capital where managers have made it the norm to demand sexual favours from their vulnerable subordinates personal assistants (PAs) and interns to promote them to senior government positions These scandals have been reported at length by the media including publications such as the East London-based with no consequences for the perpetrators who continue to roam the corridors of power at Independence Avenue in Bhisho the Eastern Cape DA Women’s Network (Dawn) called on the department of cooperative governance and traditional affairs (Cogta) to act against officials implicated in the sex-for-jobs saga and demanded that sex offenders be named and shamed a subsequent whitewash report by Cogta cleared senior managers’ alleged involvement in the scandal effectively spurring the vicious cycle to continue with many wannabe sex offenders watching closely and thinking they could The Daily Dispatch reported a decade ago about how two men had their marriages falling apart after discovering their wives had been sexually involved with their superiors with promises of promotions The newspaper reported about how one of the men saying he had decided to have a vasectomy and that two years after the procedure “I did not understand it and it is then that she confessed to what I had been suspecting for years,” the police officer was quoted as saying “She told me she had sex with the man for a better job because she needed the money to a more unique story: There is a Gauteng-based senior government official I know personally He got a senior state job in the Eastern Cape he was approached by a subordinate who introduced herself as his PA And the employee said something along the lines of: “I can also be your girlfriend because I was both a PA and a girlfriend to the guy who was here before you” The married official was shocked to the core and declined her advances protesting that he was a happily married man With Mabuyane having set up a panel – comprising Majola Tshwete and Badi – to investigate the very serious allegations against Manda Majola is a respected community activist in the Eastern Cape who is widely quoted on issues of social justice while Tshwete is a former deputy minister and ANC politician publish the scope of the investigating panel; the terms of reference of the investigation; the timeframe She also wants him to declare how victims will be protected and how whistleblowers would remain safe Written by: Lindiwe Mabena President Cyril Ramaphosa will be in the Eastern Cape next week for a visit which Bhisho said underscored his commitment to engaging directly with provinces and driving South Africa’s broader development agenda said that President Ramaphosa would be in Gqeberha on Tuesday and Wednesday “The provincial government is particularly encouraged by the visit’s focus on fostering synergy and enhancing service delivery to accelerate economic growth,” she said Rantjie said Premier Oscar Mabuyane and his executive council was looking forward to engaging with President Ramaphosa and members of the national executive on provincial priorities “The two-day visit will include an oversight visit at CoegaIDZ as well as a joint cabinet meeting which will be extended to executive mayors of the Eastern Cape Rantjie said this platform would allow for a comprehensive review of progress made as well as a candid discussion on both challenges and opportunities in advancing inclusive economic growth and efficient service delivery for the people of the Eastern Cape "We are confident that this visit will strengthen the partnership between the Eastern Cape and national government “Working closely with the President and his administration and unlock the full potential of our province,” Mabuyane said in a statement The South African National Roads Agency has officially opened the N2 Belstone Interchange and route MR 0688 which links the provincial capital Bhisho to Zwelitsha The commissioning on Wednesday follows a 33-month construction period the project was critical to address the high accident rate at the old Breidbach intersection and the traffic congestion at the intersection of the MR0690 and MR0688,” said Mbulelo Peterson SANRAL’s Regional Manager for its Southern Region “Safety and flow of traffic were thus central in its design and construction “The upgrades to this section of the N2 will result in improved management of traffic flow from Bhisho and improved safety for pedestrians and other non-motorised road users,” he said Peterson said the one loop and off-ramp will present safer access to the N2 and improve safety for both motorists and pedestrians “The benefit to the community goes beyond the new and safer road infrastructure with about R106 million spent on wages of targeted labour “Over R194 million was spent on 100 targeted enterprises (SMMEs) who were subcontracted on the project,” Peterson added Home | Politics Eastern Cape communities are pinning their hopes on Premier Oscar Mabuyane to come up with tangible and practical solutions to socio-economic challenges plaguing the province Mabuyane will deliver his State Of the Province Address (SOPA) for the seventh administration tomorrow in Bhisho Poverty, crime and a high unemployment rate continue to hamper economic development in the province Political analyst Professor Ntsikelelo Breakfast says government needs to strengthen relations with the private sector to create much needed jobs for the province “Another problem for the Eastern Cape which feeds to under development is the fact that the economy is not diversified for instance in cities like Nelson Mandela Bay and Buffalo City the majority of people are employed in the automotive sector so there is a need for diversification of the economy,” says Breakfast — GCIS – Eastern Cape (@GCIS_ECape) February 17, 2025 has kept his provincial cabinet largely unchanged as Bhisho prepares for the 7th administration Mabuyane announced the appointment of the Executive Council in Bhisho on Friday noting that since the ANC in the province had won a landslide victory there was no need to negotiate with anyone as was happening at national level He said the re-appointment of several MEC's from the 6th administration had been guided by "the principles of competency "I have worked with many of them in the previous administration and can attest to their hard work and dedication," the Premier emphasized There are only two new faces in the provincial cabinet while some MEC's were reshuffled to different portfolios who was recently elected as chair for the provincial ANC Women's League while Sibulele Ngongo has taken over as the MEC for Sports In a move described as a "significant restructuring" of the provincial government Premier Mabuyane announced the separation of the Department of Finance from the Department of Economic Development,Environmental Affairs he announced the merging of the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure with the Department of Human Settlements which he said would facilitate the seamless planning and execution of infrastructure projects in communities "The men and women I am appointing are capable and experienced leaders I have worked with many of them in the previous administration and can attest to their hard work and dedication "I expect these MEC's to spend 90% of their time in our communities addressing the challenges of our people andstakeholders in the wards I will support them in performing their duties for the benefit of the Eastern Cape," Mabuyane said the leader of the official opposition in the Legislature said the new cabinet has it work cut out for them in addressing systemic challenges in their respective portfolios She welcomed Mabuyane’s commitment to focussing on economic growth by splitting the Department of Finance from the Department of Economic Development will monitor each portfolio closely to ensure good governance and accountability I will be announcing our shadow cabinet early next week which will be tasked with monitoring their respective portfolios and ensuring that their counterparts are held to account "We will continue to advocate for policies that promote economic growth and improved living conditions for all," Knoetze said said the decision to have minimum changes to the cabinet was a political move that would cost the people of the Eastern Cape He said the leadership of the ANC failed to effect the necessary changes and "succumbed to the political pressure to nurse the feelings of the league and their alliance partners." Madikizela however expressed concern for the rising problems in the Health Department saying the elected MEC Capa does not have any authority to command the department We have been consistent in complaining about the former MEC of Health who was taken from a mayorship of OR Tambo to the Health Department He also questioned the appointment of MEC Siphokazi Mani-Lusithi as the head of the merged departments "They go and reward someone who failed to spend R60 million rand from Social Development to purchase food parcels for indigent people." He said he can only imagine how Human Settlements and Public Works would function under the leadership of a person who had no capacity to spend money that had a very clear function Despite the doom outlook by the provincial EFF Premier Mabuyane expressed enthusiasm about the new appointments stating that Eastern Cape is poised for a transformative period of growth and development "I appeal to the people of our province and our stakeholders to support this team of MECs in their mission to serve our various sectors Lungile Mxube is convenor of the Makana and Eastern Cape Federation of Civic Movements with a strong track record of fighting corruption established election structures and coordinated its 2021 local government elections campaign which led to the MCF securing 18.1% of the vote Makana is like a sinking ship without a captain Relocating the seat of the high court to Bisho is a particularly bad move because failed municipal governance has already trashed the local economy. advertisementDon't want to see this? Remove ads Unemployment is rampant and many residents have lost hope Any move like this that requires large-scale construction and addition to office space runs the risk of corruption of building and lease contracts With 2024 being an election year, we must all concentrate our minds on how to achieve real change. In this context, the proposed relocation of the seat of the high court is based on economic and narrow business interests and has nothing to do with the interests of the people of the Eastern Cape why does the government not make Legal Aid for rights violations more available and accessible to the poor Access to justice is not just about the cost of taxi fare to the nearest high court More concerning is that the Eastern Cape is becoming the headquarters of corruption by outside forces who have captured our province To show that these people are really clueless and lack a developmental mindset, in 2019 the same high court they now want to relocate ordered the premier and province to dissolve the scrapyard Makana Council they appealed the judgment and the appeal was overtaken by the local government elections in 2021 This decision is linked to the Bisho Airport upgrade and its recommercialisation to pursue external business interests by an elite linked to the premier and President Cyril Ramaphosa building up Bisho makes no sense as it is too close to a major city to be a developmental hub whereas Makhanda is strategically positioned between the two largest metros in the province where it has the potential to offer services in common to both It is therefore obvious that any developmental initiative targeting Bisho has ulterior motives The upgrade of the derelict former Amatola Sun hotel at Bisho is part of a business package which will destroy other small towns Construction of new buildings and government leases are both ripe with opportunities for massive fraud crimes we have seen over and over again without consequence and impoverishing the state of resources it needs to service the poor This is the final straw in the agenda of converting our beloved city from a city of saints into a city of shame Heaven is looking upon them with horror and disgrace The bones of Makhanda must be shaking in disbelief No one person or organisation removed the National Party from government but it was because of the sustained emancipatory struggles of the masses below Makana needs a unity conference of all genuine democratic forces which must be led by organised civil society That is why we are launching a new Makana Civic Movement under the umbrella of the Eastern Cape Federation of Civic Movements We must bring everybody under one roof — excluding the ANC Removing the high court is not only economic sabotage but a declaration of war by this corrupt and murderous state We need fresh leadership with ideas to lead Makana into the future — we need the people to stand up and demand their rights Many institutions are now bleeding and state-owned institutions have been looted to the ground they arrogantly want to destroy a credible institution which has survived many storms and turbulence The decision to relocate the seat of the high court is not based on the will of the people demand that the ANC government backs off and abandons this thoughtless decision Read about the Makana Citizens Front And nobody wants to be in Bhisho anyway – they all relocate their offices to East London Unemployed medical doctors in the Eastern Cape held a peaceful march to the offices of the Provincial Government in Bhisho on Tuesday to demand jobs by March The final-year medical students and qualified doctors who completed their in-service training in January which were received by Dr Mthandeki Xhamlashe The march comes after Health Minister Dr Joe Phaahla announced last week that the Department of Health The Minister is expected to address unemployed doctors across the country and will be in the Eastern Cape on Friday Speaking during a debate on the State of the Nation Address on Tuesday Phaahla said one of the solutions from the government is to check if the National Treasury could reassign funds to enable the employment of more healthcare professionals in public health facilities He said they are hoping to enroll new doctors by the 1 April “I am therefore happy to announce that working with the Minister of Finance we have a solution to address the current challenge of doctors The details of how we are going to fund the posts will come out from Minister Godongwana’s Budget Speech next Wednesday.” He further assured that they are working with the medical association SAMA and the trade union SAMATU to look at more opportunities for doctors including in multidisciplinary group practices offering Primary Health Services in communities as we prepare for the implementation of National Health Insurance which he said would contract such services after their demands were read out by Dr Zingisa Apleni “We note that it is not just about unemployment but other issues that relate to how the healthcare service is structured A lot of them are in line with the vision of the Department of Health," Xhamlashe said Among the marchers was Dr Lungile Memela from KwaZulu Natal who had been a practising doctor for almost 25 years Dr Memela said she would travel to each province to support the marches by the doctors I fill in those death certificates every day and so it bothers me when we have young doctors in the streets when our hospitals do not have doctors Even though they refused to leave without a response the doctors were inevitably told to allow the meeting with stakeholders to come to pass and to wait 14 days for a response On the 26th of April 2023 ActionSA Eastern Cape will be marching to the Provincial Legislature in Bhisho to present the Premier with a petition about the actual state of the province As a new political party that has yet to contest Municipal Provincial or National elections in this Province we are not yet represented in any councils the legislature or parliament and this is our only platform to engage the Provincial government on the issues we have encountered and have to deal with since our official establishment in the Province in March 2022 Multiple protest actions around the province have been inspired by the unconscionable living conditions which the majority of the people of the Eastern Cape live under Some of the things that our people are forced to endure are: Power outages beyond the already unnecessary loadshedding the deplorable condition of crucial infrastructure (roads school infrastructure especially sanitation etc) inhumane health facilities and generally unacceptable service delivery ActionSA’s five-week campaign to assess the state of the province that preceded the Premier’s State of the Province Address unveiled the shocking state of education in the province Besides the drastic shortage of teaching personnel the infrastructure of the schools around the province is in a terrible state The recent floods have exacerbated the shocking state of our roads and underground water infrastructure Crime statistics have not only exposed Nelson Mandela Bay as the murder capital of the country but also paint a picture of a province that is losing the war on crime The Eastern Cape is plagued by the highest unemployment rate in the country The Finance MEC’s budget speech exposed the paucity of this administration’s plans of how the government intends to meaningfully deal with these matters and reduce unemployment The provincial government continues to display an inexplicable carelessness about the plight of the people of the Province and ActionSA plans to take our petition to the doorstep of government for their urgent attention ActionSA Eastern Cape will march to the Provincial Legislature to demand that the Premier outlines an urgent response with practical plans to remedy the issues contained in the petition and which we have highlighted on so many previous occasions We implore the people of the Eastern Cape to join the protest march to amplify the pressure because the province deserves better than this uncaring government Eastern Cape Premier Oscar Mabuyane says he is "happy" with the progress made in eradicating mud schools while acknowledging that had the hard work started sooner the province would have been further down the road in addressing the problem Mabuyane was speaking after opening the brand new Tyali Senior Secondary School in Kwa Maxhama Village at Centane on Thursday which boasts amenities that include "three multipurpose centres three libraries as well as media centres." It now enrols over 1000 learners from Grade 8 to Grade 12 Responding to questions from the media on several issues affecting schools in the province particularly the eradication of mud schools Mabuyane said Bhisho was "trying to catch up." "Had we done the work that we are doing now We would not be talking about mud schools," he said The Premier said however that "the system is maturing year by year," adding that the province is now left with "fewer mud schools now than there were in 1994." Mabuyane also said Bhisho was doing its level best to improve the access roads to schools in deep rural areas of the province He said the provincial Department of Transport and Municipalities were "rolling up their sleeves" to ensure that those roads are maintained properly On the issue of scholar transport is a problem that we are sorting out "It's a systems issue which has been left like that for some time The Eastern Cape government has welcomed investments in the East London Special Economic Zone totalling R1.3 billion Bushveld Energy and RAM Hand-To-Hand Couriers to the SEZ where the announcements were made on Thursday He said this marks a pivotal moment in the province’s journey towards economic prosperity and sustainability Mabuyane noted that the three companies are expected to create 1000 direct and indirect jobs in the province "These investments come at a critical juncture as government continues with its efforts to combat challenges such as load shedding particularly in the manufacturing industry," Mabuyane said in partnership with the Industrial Development Corporation will invest R400 million to establish local manufacturing capacity for vanadium-based electrolytes "This initiative aims to boost the province's competitiveness in innovative manufacturing and supply vanadium-based electrolyte to the global Vanadium Redox Flow Battery (VRFB) market "Thezi Langa (Pty) Ltd investment is a R920 million project aimed to develop a 50MW photovoltaic solar plant within the ELIDZ's Ntabozuko Precinct "The goal is to increase the independent energy generation capacity in the Eastern Cape and provide renewable energy to various sectors," the provincial government statement noted RAM Hand-to-Hand Couriers is investing R18 million to establish a hub within the ELIDZ "This initiative is expected to create 50 direct jobs at the ELIDZ Hub and will enable RAM to handle shipments from around the country facilitating collection and delivery services in East London and beyond." "This influx of investment demonstrates the fertile ground for business in the Eastern Cape Recent developments such as the R100 million desalination water plant and the R4 billion investment to produce a new SUV by VW Africa Group in Kariega further solidify the province as a prime destination for investment," said Premier Mabuyane A policy document geared at regulating Community-Based Safety Structures in the Eastern Cape has raised the concern of a rural safety forum in Nelson Mandela Bay The directive issued by the Eastern Cape Department of Community Safety in Bhisho states that all neighbourhood watches in the Eastern Cape must agree to and sign the policy document and adhere to its regulations Willie Bosch is the chairman of the Kabega Rural Safety Forum to which 11 neighbourhood watches are affiliated in the rural farming districts of The Bay He's appealing to representatives of all neighbourhood watches in the Metro to attend an urgent meeting to discuss the matter at the Londt Park Sports Club in Fernglen on Tuesday evening 22 November - at 6.30 pm "We want to share the documentation we have received from Community Safety and also show to them that this new documentation is a way of stopping neighbourhood watches from operating the way they are at the moment," said Bosch "Its cutting neighbourhood watches short and my feeling is that Bhisho is trying to disband them in the long run." Bosch shared the Eastern Cape Department of Community Safety's policy document on neighbourhood watches with AlgoaFM News The original document was penned in 2021 and was signed and approved for immediate implementation earlier this year by then Community Safety MEC Weziwe Tikana-Gxothiwe including that neighbourhood watches need to seek approval from a local Community Policing Forum to operate - and to be accountable to this forum and the police It states that the policy is binding on all neighbourhood watches and that if they do not adhere to it then they must be disbanded The policy document concludes that community-based safety structures need to be above reproach and uphold the Bill of Rights as enshrined in the Constitution at all times MAKHANDA - Legal practitioners in the Eastern Cape are at loggerheads over the proposed relocation of the seat of the High Court Some are suggesting that the office of the Judge President be moved to the provincial capital Bhisho but residents of Makhanda are concerned that this could lead to joblessness Justice and Correctional Services Minister Ronald Lamola got the opportunity to engage with disgruntled residents of the town The people from the town of Makhanda say moving the seat of the High Court could be detrimental not only to the economy but it could also lead to a jobs bloodbath.                           Makhanda High Court Action Committee Sizwe Mabizela said "We have had an engagement with him and it was critically important for him to come to Makhanda understand the role and place of the High Court in the entire ecosystem here in Makhanda." "So we briefed him fully about why the Seat of the High Court needs to remain in Makhanda."                             Makhanda High Court Committee Brin Brody said "All the people who had put in submissions for the court to move are serving their self-interests they are either attorneys or advocates We haven't seen any civic organisations suggesting this so it is motivated by what they will gain without having any regard to what it will do to Makhanda."    Moving the Seat of the High Court to Bhisho could also lead to political and economic instability Makhanda executive mayor Yandiswa Vara said "People come from far people buy and sleep in Makana "So that will have a huge negative impact on us and our ability as a municipality to render the services through the limited resources that we are generating from the collection of the revenue."                                              Minister Ronald Lamola described the Makhanda High Court Action Campaign gathering as unprecedented He hopes that the right decision will be made in the best interests of the people in the Eastern Cape.    "The first issue is access to justice and the demographics across the province the issue is that it relates to where are the people in East London litigating." and how are they affected by the jurisdictions of their courts."      It has also been projected that should the move happen that the projected unemployment rate in Makhanda could skyrocket to over 50 percent.