Bumpy ride

Budget holes

Spreading the wealth

Imagine what R 26 million would do for the poor of the region. School books, clinics, primary healthcare, libraries?  But no, in her infinite wisdom, MEC Majodina is going to spend the money on parties and celebrations, including Worker's day, Africa day and R3.7 million to celebrate Nelson Mandela "as a traditional leader".  A lovely opportunity for the comrades to eat, drink and be merry and pass on catering tenders to friends and family.

Cry, the beloved country

The sheer corruption, non accountability and greed certainly makes me want to weep.  Only our EC cadres could dream up such an obscene concept on the eve of an icon's funeral, spend R 2.5 million on the function and then botch it up so badly that the musicians were paid but didn't perform, the stage and mics were delivered to another venue and nobody turned up so the catering went to waste.  This from our tourism authority - no wonder nobody visits the Eastern Cape.

House of card sharks

Almost half the provincial housing budget has been skived off to pay cronies in other provinces. No wonder the poor old Eastern Cape is in the state thaty it's in.  Time for thre thieving comrades to get some new housing - in a jail cell.

crumbling support base

What comes around, goes around.  Seems like el Supremo Weeno might struggle a bit in the forthcoming elections.

professional foul

Don't believe it when they tell you that the ANC factions have disappeared. They're still playing the political game here in the Eastern Cape, scoring own goals all the way. Premier Noxolo Kiviet goes head to head with Local Govt MEC Mlibo Qoboshiyane in some really dirty play.

big black hole

Buffalo City is not known as the pothole capital of the country for nothing. Here is financial proof. A 6 billion Rand backlog to fix our roads. Any funding just seems to disappear into this big black local government hole!

Down and out

Over 70% of the migrant miners facing retrenchment from Amplats are from the poorest areas of the Eastern Cape. That means about 10 000 miners and their dependent families will be facing unemployment and poverty. What is the Eastern Cape Government do? Tell the mining house their decision is ill-considered. How about getting your @sses into gear and create some development and employment opportunities here in the East Cape instead ? Poor miners - talk about going from one deep, dark, depressing hole to another.