These remarks were delivered by ActionSA Member of Parliament, Malebo Kobe MP, during Parliament’s urgent debate on the electricity tariff increases this afternoon.

Action SA welcomed the announcement of private investment in infrastructure development at the public participation meeting for Vopak, organised by the Office of the Speaker of Lesedi Municipality at Ratanda Multipurpose on Wednesday, 18 September 2024.

ActionSA calls on coalition partners in the ‘GNU’/Grand Coalition to clearly express their stance on the highly controversial Protection of State Information Bill (“Secrecy Bill”), which looks set to be revived by the 7th Administration.

ActionSA Gauteng is deeply concerned about the Auditor-General’s (AG) most recent report, which reveals continued inappropriate expenditure within the Gauteng Health Department, and calls for urgent action to be taken against those implicated in its findings.

ActionSA expresses deep concern regarding the troubling issues surrounding Pikitup’s Co-Production Model Program, which was launched in 2021 to combat unemployment caused by the impact of Covid-19. This initiative, designed to deliver waste management services in collaboration with local communities, now faces significant challenges, raising serious questions about its effectiveness and fairness.

The on-going burning of refuse waste at the Luipaardsvlei Landfill Site in Krugersdorp is of serious concern, as it releases toxic pollutants into the air, threatening the health and well-being of the local community.

ActionSA expresses concern that Ithala Bank faces imminent collapse following the Deputy Minister of Finance’s confirmation in the National Assembly this afternoon, stating that neither the KZN Government, as the shareholder, nor National Treasury are planning to inject any capital to ensure Ithala is adequately capitalised.

Without going to the merits of the case, we would like to urge Johannesburg Water to speedily address the water interruption at Charlotte Maxeke Hospital and surrounding areas that have been impacted by Parktown 2 Reservoir.

ActionSA is gravely concerned about the rampant dumping at Kya Sands, Randburg. This unprecedented challenge continues to cause immeasurable damage to the health of those living nearby, and is in breach of a recent court order.

ActionSA commends the recent arrests of fourteen traffic officials in Mpumalanga, including traffic officers and a driving school operator. These arrests, which occurred in Sabie, Graskop, Lydenburg, Elukwatini, and Verena, are the result of a joint operation by the Road Traffic Management’s Anti-Corruption Unit (NTACU), the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI), and Police Crime Intelligence in Mpumalanga. This successful operation demonstrates the dedication and coordinated efforts of our law enforcement agencies.

ActionSA continues to stand in solidarity with the families of the Lily Mine victims, echoing the concerns raised by ActionSA President, Herman Mashaba in his recent statement. The heartbreaking and unresolved situation surrounding the collapse of the Lily Mine, which claimed the lives of three innocent workers – Pretty Nkambule, Yvonne Mnisi, and Solomon Nyirenda – continues to be a painful reminder of the systemic failures in our mining industry.

ActionSA denounces Justice Minister Thembi Simelane’s planned attendance at the BRICS Ministers of Justice meeting in Russia scheduled for this Wednesday to Friday.

ActionSA notes with concern on-going irregularities and quality control issues since 16 suspected illegal immigrants were taken into custody at Western Mega on Wednesday, 4 September 2024.

The decision to consider an alternative municipal coalition government for Tshwane – dictated by both the multiparty post-electoral reality in South Africa and the many instances of mismanagement we have witnessed in Tshwane – has not been taken lightly, without deep introspection and deliberation by ActionSA’s Senate, our party’s highest decision-making body.