LETTER

Dear Editor

The Democratic Alliance (DA) is taking action to compel the Inxuba Yethemba Local Municipality (IYLM) and the Provincial Government to resolve the municipality’s Eskom debt crisis.

This follows on the DA receiving responses from the MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA), Zolile Williams, which confirmed the IYLM’s R752 million debt to Eskom.

Shockingly, this figure has increased by more than R300 million in less than two years, due to ongoing non-compliance with payment plans, repeated defaulting, and accumulation of interest and penalties.

Over the past six months Inxuba Yethemba has managed to pay only R2 million to Eskom. This is a token amount that does not begin to address the crisis.

Despite signing a cooperation agreement with Eskom in May 2025, the municipality has failed to honour its own commitments.

In response to a parliamentary question from the DA, the MEC himself admits that departmental interventions have not really been effective and that no resources have been allocated to support financial recovery.

We will, therefore, table a motion at council to ringfence funds paid by the public for electricity so those funds service only the Eskom usages and Eskom debt.

Furthermore, the DA will table questions at council requiring a full explanation as to why the municipality defaulted on its obligations in terms of the cooperation agreement with Eskom and Provincial Treasury.

Provincial Parliamentary questions will also be put to Provincial Treasury and CoGTA to confirm if an affordability assessment was part of the cooperation agreement and what will be done from Provincial level to stem the tide of the debt.

Residents and businesses have pursued legal action to compel electricity supply, while many households continue to live under the constant threat of power disruptions. Instead of providing solutions, CoGTA has limited itself to persuading the municipality to negotiate payment plans it cannot afford.

The DA cannot allow this reckless financial mismanagement to continue. The people of Nxuba and Middelburg deserve reliable services, transparent governance, and a municipality that lives within its means.

Regards

Heinrich Müller MPL
DA EC Midlands Constituency Leader

Dear Editor

The N10 national road near Nxuba (formerly Cradock) and Middelburg has earned a notorious reputation as one of the deadliest stretches of road in the Eastern Cape, with several fatal accidents attributed to the high volume of heavy freight trucks using this route.

The persistent disregard for road rules by truck drivers has created a state of lawlessness on the road, culminating in yet another devastating accident that has taken the lives of four much-loved Nxuba residents over the weekend.

The fatal accident occurred on Saturday when a truck is alleged to have swung into oncoming traffic and collided head-on with the car in which the four were travelling.

The Democratic Alliance (DA) extends our deepest condolences to the families and friends of those who have so tragically passed away in this horrendous accident.

Despite repeated warnings and calls for action by the DA, the Eastern Cape government has not taken the necessary steps to mitigate the carnage on our roads. The situation on high-risk routes, such as the N10, N2, and R61, remains dire, with numerous lives lost on these treacherous stretches.

I will be writing to the MEC for Transport, Xolile Nqatha, demanding that urgent and concrete action steps be taken to ensure safer roads.

These action steps include:

• 24/7 Traffic Law Enforcement: High-risk routes must be continuously monitored, and additional resources must be allocated to ensure visibility and proactive intervention.
• Average Speed Over Distance Cameras: Proven effective in the DA-governed Western Cape, these systems should be implemented on the most dangerous stretches, like the N2, to reduce speeding and reckless driving.
• Targeted Roadblocks and Sobriety Checks: Stricter penalties for drunk and negligent drivers are non-negotiable. These measures must be consistently enforced to deter law-breaking behaviour.

The DA will not rest until the Eastern Cape government takes decisive action to protect lives.

The current administration’s leadership and solutions have fallen short in addressing this crisis. The people of the Eastern Cape deserve better, and the DA will continue to champion road safety initiatives to prevent further tragedies.

Regards

Kabelo Mogatosi MPL
DA Shadow MEC for Transport

Dear Editor

The Democratic Alliance (DA) has written to the Minister of Transport Barbara Creecy, urging her to urgently consider our proposals to address the growing issue of heavy freight trucks wreaking havoc in Nxuba.

Nxuba, situated in the Inxuba Yethemba Municipality (IYM) along the N10 corridor, has for years been traversed and parked in by heavy trucks, undermining road safety, damaging infrastructure, and disrupting commerce.

This has led to congested main roads, accelerated road deterioration, obstructed shop access, increased noise and dust, heightened pedestrian risk, and rising crime around overnight truck stops. Previous measures, such as bollard installations, have proven ineffective and sometimes hindered legitimate parking.

On 13 August 2025, I wrote to Eastern Cape MEC for Roads and Transport, Xolile Nqatha, proposing the following solutions to resolve the issue:

1. Establish a dedicated truck stop and parking facility outside town limits.
2. Enhance by-law enforcement in partnership with the IYLM to deter non-compliance, penalise infrastructure damage, and promote responsible behaviour through fines, ringfenced for road maintenance.
3. Engage with National Government to declare this section of the N10 a toll route, enabling national funding for upkeep and reducing the burden on the municipality.

These proposals align with broader goals to strengthen transport infrastructure and economic resilience. It is essential that Provincial Government provides a clear indication on their adoption, along with a timeline for implementation. Unfortunately, I received no response from the MEC.

Given the urgency of the situation and the apparent unwillingness of the Provincial Government to act, I have now approached Minister Creecy, insisting that she intervenes and gives attention to our proposed solutions.

Nxuba was once a jewel in the Eastern Cape’s crown, but it has now become a monument to ANC destruction, evident in the almost total economic collapse of the municipality and the absence of service delivery.

The DA will not stand idly by as Nxuba’s economy further collapses. We will fight to free residents from the crippling impact of heavy freight trucks on their town’s already failing infrastructure.

Regards

Heinrich Müller MPL
DA EC Midlands Constituency Leader

Dear Editor

Stock theft continues to devastate farming communities across the Eastern Cape, threatening livelihoods, weakening rural economies, and reducing food security for the province. This is no longer only a policing concern. It is an agricultural, economic, and humanitarian crisis.

Large-scale farming operations, which provide the majority of affordable food in the province, are being systematically undermined by ongoing theft. Subsistence farmers and small-scale herd owners face even harsher consequences, as each stolen animal removes food directly from their families’ tables, pushing households deeper into poverty and hunger.

The challenge is made worse by persistent resource shortages within law enforcement, where limited transport and personnel often result in delays before crime scenes are attended to. Such delays hinder investigations, allow evidence to deteriorate, and enable suspects to evade justice.

The challenge is compounded by lengthy justice processes, where repeated remands often discourage complainants and make it harder to secure witness testimony. This creates gaps that offenders can exploit. To restore confidence, case management must be strengthened, timelines tightened, and communities assured that reporting stock theft will lead to visible outcomes.

The National Rural Safety Strategy exists, yet its implementation in provinces such as the Eastern Cape remains slow and ineffective. There is a clear absence of urgency and commitment from SAPS to fully execute its provisions.

The DA believes that decisive action must target the problem where it is most severe. This means focusing on high-risk stock theft corridors, particularly those near borders, livestock auctions, and known kraals. Proactive measures, such as night checkpoints, brand verification blitzes, and trailer inspections, must become routine. At the same time, the Department of Agriculture should lead in educating farmers, scaling up livestock branding, and ensuring that recovery and prevention measures are fully supported at the community level.

I will write to the MEC for Agriculture, Nonceba Kontsiwe, urging her to identify ways in which her Department can play a proactive role in combating this very real threat against our farmers’ livelihoods and the province’s food security. She must also collaborate with the Acting Provincial Commissioner, Major-General Thandiswa Kupiso, in establishing a formal framework for preventing, responding to, and recovering from stock theft.

The DA will continue to press for decisive action to protect farmers, restore trust in the justice system, and strengthen food security for every household in the Eastern Cape. The people of this province deserve leadership that prioritises safety, opportunity, and dignity for all.

Regards

Heinrich Müller MPL
DA Shadow MEC for Agriculture

Dear Editor

Persistent pressure from the DA has prompted progress in resolving the sewage crisis in Nxuba, with the Chris Hani District Municipality (CHDM) making key commitments to the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC).

In June, I filed a formal complaint with the SAHRC, highlighting the critical issue of untreated sewage contaminating the Great Fish River in Nxuba, which poses an environmental danger and a grave human rights violation.

The Great Fish River is a vital water resource and the contamination of it with raw sewage poses a great threat to the health of residents and the surrounding ecosystem.

Soon after the complaint was filed, the SAHRC confirmed an investigation and engaged the CHDM, the water and sanitation authority for the Inxuba Yethemba Local Municipality (IYLM), which includes the town of Nxuba.

After its interaction with the SAHRC the Chris Hani District Municipality officially stated that it is “committed to maintaining a clean and healthy environment as the Water Services Authority responsible for water and sanitation services”. (download response here)

The CHDM also committed to the following action plan to stop untreated sewage discharge into the Great Fish River:

• Short- to Medium-term (Ongoing): Jetting and dredging blocked sewer lines, repairing damaged pipes, and restoring non-functional treatment units.
• Long-term (Planned): Comprehensive upgrades to Cradock’s bulk sewer and sanitation systems, currently in planning with a Professional Service Provider and scheduled for implementation in the 2028/2029 financial year.

The DA will closely monitor the implementation of all commitments made by the Chris Hani District Municipality to the SAHRC and compile a detailed report on all claims and undertakings. This report will be submitted to the SAHRC in due course.

Given CHDM’s repeated failure to address the sewage crisis in Inxuba Yethemba, their commitments cannot be accepted at face value.

The people of Inxuba Yethemba and especially Nxuba, deserve better. The DA will continue to fight tirelessly to protect their fundamental human rights to health and dignity.

Regards

Heinrich Müller MPL
DA EC Midlands Constituency Leader

Dear Editor

The DA has written to the Eastern Cape government seeking urgent intervention to address the hazardous dust pollution, deteriorating road infrastructure, and economic decline in Middelburg in the Inxuba Yethemba Municipality (IYM). The crisis stems from the stalled Middelburg Weighbridge project, abandoned since May 2024, which remains unresolved despite the Eastern Cape MEC for Transport, Xolile Nqatha, promising to intervene three months ago.

What remains of the project is a dilapidated construction site, and the town’s main access route, Meintjies Street, has been rendered so hazardous that it has been closed to the public, severely impacting the local economy.

Despite this, the IYM, responsible for project implementation, remains unresponsive and appears compromised, unable to effectively deliver on its obligations.

In January I wrote to MEC Nqatha to request feedback on various issues including the status of the Weighbridge project and road infrastructure.

I followed up with a member’s statement in the Eastern Cape Legislature in April, after which MEC Nqatha acknowledged the project’s failure and undertook that his department would intervene. However, three months have since passed with no action taken.

Residents of upper Meintjies Street are still plagued by hazardous dust from the construction site, as water trucks previously used to mitigate the dust remain inactive and stalled road resurfacing efforts, promised in January 2025, leave them facing growing health and safety risks.

I have again written to MEC Nqatha and the MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Zolile Williams, requesting the following feedback:

• A full and up-to-date status report on the Weighbridge project.
• Details on the water trucks’ last operation, reasons for their absence, and expected return.
• Timeline for grading, repairing, and resurfacing upper Meintjies Street.
• Explanation for the delay in resurfacing, initially promised for January 2025.
• Confirmation on whether progress or challenges have been reported to relevant departments and what support has been offered.

The DA also reiterates our previous demand for an immediate investigation into how the project contractor, Khoza Tradings, secured this contract, verification of the company’s proper registration and full transparency on all payments made. Officials responsible for approving this contract must be held accountable to restore public trust.

The DA will not stand idle as public funds are mismanaged and communities suffer the consequences. We will pursue all available oversight channels, including law enforcement bodies, to uphold public interest and enforce accountability.

Regards

Heinrich Müller MPL
DA EC Midlands Constituency Leader

Dear Editor

The Democratic Alliance (DA) has called on the Eastern Cape Provincial Government to launch an investigation to probe the Inxuba Yethemba Local Municipality’s (IYLM) apparent mismanagement and lack of progress surrounding the development of the Central Cemetery in Nxuba.

Despite the R6 million the municipality has already spent, this project shows little to no progress.

The contractor is reportedly off-site, and serious concerns have emerged about the land’s suitability for burials, including doubts over whether a proper Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) was conducted. Even more concerning is that the IYLM is apparently allocating an additional R5 million, despite the project’s stalled state and lack of accountability.

I have written to the Eastern Cape MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA), Zolile Williams, requesting an urgent investigation into the matter.

This project is of critical importance to the community due to the derelict state of the Nxuba Cemetery. The Nxuba Cemetery lies in a state of disarray, with graves scattered randomly across the site. It seems that whenever a vacant space is identified, a new grave is dug without any consideration for the site’s historical integrity or spatial planning.

In February of this year, I wrote to the IYLM Mayor to highlight the appalling state of the Nxuba Cemetery.

The mayor’s response stands in contrast to the findings from our three oversight inspections to the Nxuba Cemetery conducted this year. In her reply, she also refers to the development of the Central Cemetery, seemingly suggesting it as a solution to the overcapacity at the Nxuba Cemetery. However, with that project currently stalled, the Nxuba Cemetery continues to be neglected, with no clear resolution in sight.

In February, given the Nxuba Cemetery’s historical significance dating back to the 1800s, I submitted a request to SAHRA and ECPHRA for investigation. I have yet to receive a response.

While the municipality drags its feet and mismanages a cemetery development, the people of Nxuba and the memories of their loved ones are being subjected to ongoing neglect, marked by a lack of respect and dignity.

The DA will not allow this injustice to continue. The people of Nxuba and the memories of their departed loved ones deserve better. They deserve to be treated with dignity and respect.

Regards

Heinrich Müller MPL
DA EC Midlands Constituency Leader

Dear Editor

The Middelburg Weighbridge project has descended into chaos, marked by irregular procurement, unpaid workers, and a blatant disregard for accountability.

Despite repeated warnings from the Democratic Alliance and other civic organisations, MEC Xolile Nqatha and Mayor Noncedo Zonke have failed to act, leaving this critical project in limbo while costs spiral and progress grinds to a halt.

This stalled project is not just a bureaucratic misstep; it directly impacts the people of Middelburg, who face worsening road conditions and growing safety risks as delays persist. The Democratic Alliance (DA) finds this unacceptable and calls for immediate intervention.

Khoza Tradings, the contractor awarded this significant government contract, appears unregistered with the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC), raising grave concerns about oversight in the Department of Transport’s procurement processes. The ongoing lack of transparency and inaction has fuelled public frustration, suggesting a severe breach of accountability and due diligence.

The project has deteriorated to the point where workers remain unpaid, essential road base material for the Meintjies Street entrance has not been delivered, and local SMMEs are systematically sidelined.

Reviewing the contractor’s documentation suggests potential fraud, while previous suppliers report they have not been paid for completed work. The silence from MEC Nqatha and Mayor Zonke since these issues were brought to their attention months ago raises the perception of either gross incompetence or a willingness to disregard procurement regulations.

The DA demands an immediate investigation into how Khoza Tradings secured this contract without proper registration and full transparency regarding all payments made to date. Immediate steps must be taken to ensure workers receive their wages and establish a clear project timeline. Officials responsible for approving this contract must be held accountable to restore public trust.

We will not stand idle as public funds are mismanaged and communities suffer the consequences. Should MEC Nqatha and Mayor Zonke continue to ignore this crisis, the DA will pursue all available oversight channels, including law enforcement bodies, to uphold public interest and enforce accountability.

Regards

Heinrich Müller MPL
EC Midlands Constituency Leader

Dear Editor

The Democratic Alliance (DA) congratulates the DA Students Organisation (DASO) on their landslide victory in last month’s Grootfontein Agricultural College Student Representative Council (SRC) elections.

The trust students have in DASO was reaffirmed when our candidates were elected to the majority of the top SRC leadership positions.

The college, located in Middelburg, concluded its SRC election on Thursday, 24 October 2024, but the election of the SRC president was declared a tie.

Yesterday, 31 October 2024, students returned to the ballot box, where DASO’s Sisipho Sijako made history by becoming the first woman to be elected as SRC president in the 123-year history of Grootfontein. In total DASO won 15 out of the 19 electable seats across the SRC and house committee.

This outcome reflects a growing youth support for the DA, after DASO also recently achieved a landslide victory in the Nelson Mandela University SRC elections.

Students deserve an honest and caring government, and DASO will provide that. We believe that an effective SRC must be accessible, responsive, transparent, and accountable to the needs of the student body.

DASO will deliver real leadership and create new opportunities at Grootfontein while continuing to fight for no student to be left behind.

Regards

Heinrich Muller MPL
DA EC Midlands Constituency Leader

Dear Editor

The Democratic Alliance (DA) is urgently calling for a thorough investigation into the Collie Koeberg Stadium renovations. This project has stalled despite R19 million in public funds allocated to its completion. Years into this contract, the stadium remains derelict, with vandalised facilities, unusable fields, and a shocking lack of transparency from the Dr Beyers Naudé Local Municipality.

The community of Graaff-Reinet deserves better. This protracted stagnation deprives sports clubs and residents of the basic facilities they were promised. Growing frustration over broken promises and inadequate communication has left local clubs and residents questioning the municipality’s commitment to delivering essential infrastructure.

Repeated municipal assurances of regular site inspections and progress updates have gone unfulfilled, showing a lack of accountability that leaves the project shrouded in uncertainty. Such failures erode public trust and bring into question the integrity of the entire contracting process.

Recent findings by the Auditor-General relating to irregular expenditure and violations of the Municipal Finance Management Act raise concerns about the awarding and oversight of this contract. These red flags demand immediate action to restore integrity and transparency.

The DA calls for a comprehensive breakdown of expenditures, including an itemised budget, work progress, and quality controls. The community has a right to see how and where the R19 million has been spent, with records to justify every cent.

The DA has written to the MEC for the Department of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture (DSRAC), Sibulele Ngongo, and the MEC for the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA), Zolile Williams. We urge these departments to investigate and ensure the stadium’s renovation is resumed and completed.

The DA will not relent until full accountability is achieved. We urge the Dr Beyers Naudé Local Municipality to take swift corrective action by producing a full project report, conducting monthly site inspections, and prioritising the timely completion of the stadium.

The residents of Graaff-Reinet deserve better. They deserve safe, usable sports facilities, not hollow promises.

Regards

Heinrich Müller
DA Shadow MEC for Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture

Dear Editor

For the past two years, the communities of Twinsville and Hofmeyr town have had limited or no water due to the inability of the Chris Hani District Municipality to deliver on its mandate to provide potable water.

This, despite the fact that there is water. Unfortunately, the incompetent cadres that have been employed to provide water to these communities are incapable of fixing the pumps which would fill dams and reservoirs if they were working. They are depriving these residents of their constitutional right to access water.

I have written to the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) to request that they investigate why this water crisis has yet to be attended to and to establish what steps will be taken against the Chris Hani District Municipality for their continued failure to fulfil their mandate. We have in the past escalated this matter to the Eastern Cape MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), Zolile Williams, but he has proven to be completely ineffective in dealing with the issue.

Residents and farmers in the area have offered to repair the pumps themselves at little or no cost in order to ensure the provision of water to all residents in Hofmeyr. However, the municipal officials refuse to allow them to do this. Instead, they have put the repair of the pumps out to tender so that yet another incompetent cadre can jump on the gravy train.

Holes have been dug around pipes and have been left open for more than two weeks. Who will take responsibility if a child falls into these holes and is injured, or worse, drowns?

It is unconscionable that people can be deprived of their constitutional right to access water for two years while a collapsed municipality cannot even fix a pump.

The residents of Hofmeyr deserve better. They deserve access to water whenever they open their taps, not only when incompetent officials decide to allow them a few drops. On 29 May this year, we will vote the incompetent and corrupt ANC out of government to Rescue South Africa and rebuild our towns and province.

Regards

Jane Cowley MPL
Enoch Mgijima Constituency Leader

Dear Editor

Fed-up residents and businesses in Cradock and Middelburg have been without municipal electricity for the last seven days. This follows after the Inxuba Yethemba Municipality decided to block electricity and pre-paid supply due to alleged arrears and non-payment.

I have written to the Eastern Cape MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), Zolile Williams, to demand that he intervene to resolve the mounting conflict between residents and the council’s political leadership.

Businesses and residents have not received municipal accounts for years, and credit control measures are hardly ever instituted to maintain an effective and efficient financial system.

Various businesses and residents have suffered disruptive routines as the Council embarked on a disconnection spree to boost the shrinking municipal budget.

Yesterday, 07 February 2024, furious residents of Cradock and Middelburg mobilised and took to the streets, and also congregated at municipal buildings.

Retail stores, industrial businesses, and even funeral parlours were targeted, forcing some business owners to turn to the high court in Makhanda for help to get their electricity switched back on to sustain daily cash flow and to pay accounts and salaries.

The DA has been at the forefront of informing MEC Williams about the ongoing electricity issues in the Inxuba Yethemba Municipality but we have had no response from him regarding a previous letter and a discussion we had with him about the mounting frustration and anger of residents.

The political leadership of the municipality and the municipal manager must be fired, as they have abdicated their fiduciary duties.

DA public representatives have assisted the poor and vulnerable communities in verifying subsidy statuses on the municipal system, as in many instances their information had mysteriously disappeared and they were slapped with huge electricity accounts.

The DA condemns the ANC-controlled municipality’s uncaring attitude and conduct. We believe that the municipality’s action is illegal and procedurally flawed.

We will continue to fight to rescue the Inxuba Yethemba Municipality’s people and ensure they get the basic services they are entitled to.

Regards

Kobus Botha MPL
EC Midlands Constituency Leader

Dear Editor

The DA in the Dr Beyers Naude Municipality has laid criminal charges against the municipality due to its inability to manage landfill sites, which have now become hazardous to residents.

On Friday, 1 December 2023, I laid charges at the Graaff-Reinet police station under the National Environmental Management: Waste Act, 2008 (Act No. 59 of 2008) because the Municipality has failed to fulfil a general duty in respect of waste management.

On Thursday last week, residents of Graaff-Reinet were forced to endure a suffocating pall of smoke blowing across the town. The noxious smoke emanated from the uncontrolled fires burning at the municipal waste transfer station.

The waste transfer station stood closed for a year due to complete mismanagement where the extent of the rubbish became unmanageable and a woman lost her life. Instead of providing a sorting facility to remove the recycling material from wet waste, the station stood empty.

This all changed on 1 November 2023, when the Municipality issued a notice that its landfill site had been closed and that all refuse must now be dumped at the waste transfer station. The reason for the closure of the landfill site was that no refuse was being dumped at the actual landfill site. Instead, the access road had been used as a dumping site to the extent that it was impassable. Were one able to actually pass, the tip dwellers were so aggressive, that people were too scared to venture closer. By the end of October, the access road was completely blocked and the link road between the N9 and Kendrew Road had become the new dump site and had become impassable. Even municipal refuse trucks were dumping on the road. The landfill site also burns every day.

Within a month after the announcement that all rubbish must now be dumped at the waste transfer site, it has become a seething mass of rubbish, tip dwellers and endless spirals of toxic smoke polluting the air.

A number of complaints were made to the Department of Economic Development, Environmental Affairs and Tourism, but were unsuccessful. We therefore had no choice but to lay criminal charges.

The Municipality is obligated, not only to fulfil its service delivery mandate in respect of waste management, but also to ensure that it is done in an environmentally sound manner which protects the health of its residents.

The DA will not falter in its fight to rescue the residents of Dr Beyers Naude from municipal mismanagement.

Regards

Samantha Graham-Maré MP
Dr Beyers Naude Constituency Leader