We will unite South Africans from all communities in a new political home, built on the foundation of the principles and ideals of our National Constitution. To this end we will address poverty and imbalances in our society, inspired by our unifying love of our Country and its people.
The Core Values, which the United Democratic Movement will uphold and promote and upon which its fundamental policy positions are based, are as follow : respect for life, dignity and human worth of every individual; integrity in public- and private life; the individual rights and freedoms enshrined in our Country’s Constitution;
President of the UDM
Major General (Retired) Bantubonke ‘Bantu’ Holomisa co-founded the United Democratic Movement (UDM) on 27 September 1997, and serves as its elected President, which in 2022 celebrated its 25th year of existence. He was again elected as a Member of Parliament in the 2024 National and Provincial Elections and was appointed as the Deputy Minister of Defence and Military Veterans in the Government of National Unity in the 7th Administration in President Cyril Ramaphosa’s cabinet.
He was the Commander of the Transkei Defence Force and Head of the Transkei Government (former independent homeland from 1987 to 1994) up to the first National Elections in South Africa in 1994. He was one of the first two black persons accepted by the South African Army College to do a one-year senior staff course for officers in 1984.
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The United Democratic Movement (UDM) has worked diligently to promote the interests of all South Africans over the years. Despite the challenges and stumbling blocks the party rose to the occasion and scored many political victories. Our successes are manifested in our public representation at various levels of government across the country, but also in the influence we have had irrespective of the ruling party’s parliamentary majority.
The UDM’s vision is to be “…the political home of all South Africans, united in the spirit of South Africanism by our common passion for our Country, mobilising the creative power inherent in our rich diversity, towards our transformation into a Winning Nation”.
Statement by Bulelani Bobotyane, Provincial Secretary of the UDM in the Eastern Cape The United Democratic Movement (UDM) in the Eastern Cape expresses its full support and appreciation for the principled leadership demonstrated by Councillor Luxolo Namette, Chairperson of the Municipal Public Accounts Committee (MPAC) in the Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality. In the face of serious concerns regarding the irregular payment of R3.7 million to politically deployed individuals between 2013 and 2017, Cllr Namette has steered the committee with integrity and fairness, ensuring that the matter is handled in accordance with due process. His decision to defer the item pending a legal opinion demonstrates a commitment to responsible governance, accountability, and the rule of law. As the UDM in the Eastern Cape, we believe that public funds must be safeguarded, and any allegations of irregular expenditure thoroughly investigated. We commend Cllr Namette for prioritising transparency and due diligence, and for upholding the principles of clean governance that the UDM holds dear. We further call on the Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality to expedite the legal opinion process and ensure that all measures are taken to prevent a repeat of such irregularities. The citizens of this metro deserve nothing less than a government that acts in their best interest and protects the public purse. Cllr Namette’s leadership reflects the UDM’s commitment to ethical public service and the strengthening of institutions that hold power to account.
Statement by Andile Jabavu, Provincial Secretary of the UDM in Gauteng The United Democratic Movement (UDM) in Gauteng is deeply alarmed by the Gauteng Department of Education’s (GDE) decision to slash subsidies to independent schools by 20% for secondary and 18% for primary institutions, while simultaneously failing to spend R317 million of its 2024 education budget. This decision is not only fiscally unjustifiable but also morally reprehensible in a province grappling with widespread educational inequality. Independent schools, particularly low-fee institutions, play a vital role in absorbing learners who would otherwise be left behind by a public system strained by overcrowding, inadequate infrastructure, and uneven quality. These schools often serve poor and working-class communities, offering a beacon of hope to parents who seek quality education for their children in the absence of viable public alternatives. To cut funding to these institutions while returning funds to Treasury reflects a glaring disconnect between the department’s policy intentions and the lived realities of learners and educators. What is particularly disconcerting is that this cut affects the most vulnerable - children in low-fee independent schools that operate on razor-thin margins. It undermines the constitutional imperative of access to quality education and violates the principle of equity that should guide all public funding decisions. The GDE’s explanation, that the funds were redirected to fee-free public schools, raises more questions than answers. Why must support for one group of disadvantaged learners come at the expense of another? Is the Department not capable of simultaneously planning for both? Moreover, the underspending of R317 million is a symptom of administrative inefficiency and poor planning. This is not merely a missed financial target; it is a failure to deliver services, provide resources, and invest in the future of Gauteng’s learners. Underspending on education in a province where schools still battle with infrastructure backlogs, teacher shortages, and over-enrolment is both inexcusable and an indictment on leadership. The UDM calls on MEC Matome Chiloane to account to the people of Gauteng: • Why were these funds not spent in a province with so many glaring education needs? • What processes were followed in deciding on the subsidy reductions, and were affected schools consulted? • What are the GDE’s contingency plans to prevent low-fee independent schools from collapsing under the weight of these cuts? We further urge the Provincial Legislature to institute a full review of GDE’s budgeting processes and to ringfence funding for low-fee independent schools in future fiscal years. The UDM also calls on the Portfolio Committee on Basic Education in Parliament to initiate an inquiry into provincial education departments that repeatedly underspend while simultaneously cutting essential services. Education is not a favour bestowed by government; it is a right enshrined in our Constitution. No child should be punished because their school does not fall neatly into the public sector box. The real question is not whether we can afford to support independent schools; it is whether we can afford to lose the contributions they make to an already overburdened education system.
Statement by Yongama Zigebe, Councillor in the City of Johannesburg for the United Democratic Movement and Chairperson of the S79 Committee on Gender, Youth and People with Disabilities The United Democratic Movement (UDM) in the City of Johannesburg welcomes the recent arrests of suspects linked to the heinous murder of a Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) officer in Lenasia. This swift action by law enforcement is a crucial step toward justice and serves as a stern message to those who seek to undermine the rule of law and the safety of our communities. We commend the South African Police Service (SAPS), the JMPD, and all involved in the investigations for their diligent work. We remain deeply concerned by the rising levels of violent crime targeting law enforcement officers, who risk their lives daily to maintain order and protect our residents. Attacks on officers are attacks on the very fabric of our democracy. As the UDM Johannesburg Caucus, we reiterate our call for better resourcing, training, and protection for our metro police officers. We also urge communities to cooperate with the police to root out criminal elements. We continue to extend our heartfelt condolences to the family, friends, and colleagues of the fallen officer. May their courage and service never be forgotten.
Statement by Yongama Zigebe, Councillor in the City of Johannesburg for the United Democratic Movement and Chairperson of the S79 Committee on Gender, Youth and People with Disabilities The United Democratic Movement (UDM) warmly welcomes the official launch of the Review of the 1998 White Paper on Local Government by the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA), under the leadership of Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa. This Review is long overdue and comes at a critical juncture in South Africa’s democratic journey. For years, local government has been the epicentre of governance failure - characterised by service delivery collapse, financial mismanagement, deepening inequality, and the erosion of public trust. The UDM has consistently raised these concerns across all spheres of government, and we are encouraged to see the Department finally initiating a reform process that seeks to address these structural and systemic shortcomings. We are particularly pleased that the Discussion Document for the Review does not shy away from confronting the hard truths. It acknowledges the challenges of over-politicisation, the disconnect between municipalities and their communities, the need for fiscal reform, and the growing threat of climate change on local infrastructure and service sustainability. However, the Review must go beyond diagnosis. It must offer a bold and implementable vision of what a fit-for-purpose, ethical, and citizen-responsive local government system should look like. This includes addressing areas not adequately covered in the Discussion Document, such as the rampant abuse of procurement and supply chain systems, the absence of a clear separation of powers within local municipalities, and the need to institutionalise participatory governance and oversight mechanisms. The UDM calls on all South Africans, community organisations, traditional leaders, youth, faith-based groups, business, labour, and academic institutions, to actively participate in this Review. It is only through inclusive and transparent engagement that we can rebuild municipalities that serve the people, not parties or elites. We remind all stakeholders that the deadline for written submissions on the White Paper Review is 30 June 2025. Submissions can be sent to WPLG26@cogta.gov.za or delivered to the Department’s offices as outlined in the official Government Gazette. Our presence at the Launch underscored the Movement’s commitment to constructive engagement on matters of governance and public accountability. As a party committed to accountable and developmental governance, the UDM will be making detailed submissions to this Review process. We believe that local government must be rescued from dysfunction and repositioned as the engine of grassroots development, social cohesion, and democratic renewal.