Notes From The Western Cape Parliament (August 2020)

Our province appears to be over the worst of the COVID infections for now, but we must remain vigilant as schools and the economy begin to reopen. The Western Cape Government reprioritised their budgets to help fund the additional healthcare expenses over the last few months and I welcome the measures implemented by the Provincial Treasury to prevent Covid-19 procurement corruption.

Our country is being betrayed in cynical and disgusting ways by businesses, government officials and political office bearers.  In Oudtshoorn a politician was recorded confirming that millions of taxpayers' money was diverted to a secret trust account instead of going to the municipality. I have asked the Auditor General to investigate this. We are facing unprecedented health and economic crises, but walking among us are those constantly looking out for opportunities to steal us blind.

We need good, impartial oversight for effective governance. The role of the City Ombudsman for example is to act as the champion of all residents and it demands actual and perceived impartiality. Cape Town's cadre deployment of a former DA-MP to this role thus demonstrates contempt for the concepts of accountability and transparency.

As we look to the road ahead of us, we must put in place systems that protect and support the most vulnerable.  I have raised my concerns that the paltry R84 million allocated for additional humanitarian relief by the Western Cape government is simply inadequate. The scale of job losses and hunger we will need to alleviate demands and deserves far more.