Tag Archives: Democratic Alliance

DA has ‘Big Five’ at it’s sight

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Tlokwe – The Democratic Alliance has “the big five” in its sights for next year’s local government elections, DA leader Mmusi Maimane said on Saturday.


File photo: Democratic Alliance leader Mmusi Maimane. Picture: Giordano Stolley. 
(Credit: ANA)

“We have identified five local governments where we have a real chance to either increase our lead or to take over from the ANC,” he told a gathering in Tlokwe, North West, as part of his national Vision 2029 tour.

Most of the talk until now had been about Cape Town, Nelson Mandela Bay, Tshwane, and Johannesburg. “But the fifth big municipality that we’re aiming for is this very municipality here in Tlokwe,” Maimane said.

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Department of Education in North West refute DA claims

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BY REGINALD KANYANE

THE NORTH West Education and Sport Development refute the claims from Democratic Alliance that they refused to appear before NCOP committee. In response to the statement issued by the Democratic Alliance on two weeks, about the National Council of Provinces Select Committee on Education and Recreation summoning MEC Maphefo Matsemela to explain the current administration of the department.

The North West Education and Sport Development department said they view the reaction of the DA as unnecessary and regard it as sensational more than anything, because it is normal for any government department or parastatal to be invited to the NCOP to explain its operation.

“At the moment the department has not received any formal invitation by NCOP, however the department will comply with any call to explain its operation and also to report on its achievements. In the 2014/2015 financial year under the tutelage of MEC Matsemela, the department obtained a clean audit due to the hard work shown by all officials of the department,” departmental spokesperson, Elias Malindi said.

“Since the visit of the NCOP last week to the province, his department has honoured all the engagements that were requested from them and therefore MEC Matsemela will avail herself and the management of the department anytime should there be a formal invitation to do so,” he said.

-TDN

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North West Sport Department refutes DA’s claims

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BY OBAKENG MAJE
THE North West Department for Sport Development and Education refutes claims brought to light by Democratic Alliance that they left 8 athletes stranded without any help.

North West Education and Sport Development departmental spokesperson Elias Malindisi said “We will like to disagree in the strongest terms with the statement issued by the Democratic Alliance regarding 8 disabled athletes who have been selected by the Special Olympics South Africa (SOSA) to represent the country in the World games at Los Angeles, America from 20 July to 5 August 2015,”.

The North West Department of Education and Sport Development said they assisted these athletes long before they could participate at a National and International level.

“We supported these athletes during the time when they were still competing at the district level.

These athletes were selected from the 8 – 11 July 2014 at the National Special Olympics event held at Pietermaritzburg. The Department of Education and Sport Development assisted them with meals, transport, accommodation and the sports attire (tracksuits, dry necks, warm suitors’, t-shirts, sport bags, etc)” he said.

However Democratic Alliance Member of Parliament Legislature in North West, Dr Tutu Faleni said they are adamant regarding their statement and they will ensure that the North West Provincial Government honours their responsibility to eight disabled athletes who were chosen to participate at the World Summer Games in Los Angeles from 20 July to 5 August 2015.

“The DA learned with shock that the North West Government has not given any recognition to these athletes who will join 62 other athletes (from the remaining eight provinces in South Africa) for this prestigious international event.

“Special Olympics South Africa (SOSA) in North West, has also gone to great lengths to try and get financial assistance in order to ensure their participation in the event,” said Faleni.

According to DA, SOSA is worried, because to date, all correspondence to the NWPG by SOSA in North West were ignored.

“According to SOSA (NW) all the other provinces support their athletes in this venture.

“If the situation is not dealt with immediately these eight athletes will have to withdraw from the event” Faleni outlines.

He said they took the matter up after SOSA’s plea to the Democratic Alliance for help.

 “The DA will bring an urgent motion in the Legislature in order to help these athletes to participate on international level.

“The DA encourages and want to promote participation (to the fullest extent possible) of persons with disabilities in sporting activities at all levels,” concludes Faleni.

Malindisi put the matter into perspective and said on the 20 – 21 May 2015, these athletes went for their Visa interviews at the American Embassy and they were transported and accommodated at Stay Easy Hotel in Yeoville by the department.

“Now that these athletes will be representing the country not the province, the Special Olympics South Africa (SOSA) is responsible for paying their air tickets to Los Angeles, America and the University of Los Angeles will accommodate all the athletes for free.

“However the department will still be paying for the departure camps which include transport and accommodation on the 18 – 20 July 2015 and still the department will collect them when they comeback from Los Angeles, America,” he said.

He said the department continues to support all disciplines of the disability sports in the province throughout the sporting calendar of 2015/16.