2017 Archive Archives - United Democratic Movement | UDM

UDM New Year’s Message: 2018, a year to work on South Africa

Mr Bantu Holomisa, MPUDM President 2017 was the first year in our democracy in which the African National Congress (ANC) did not govern South Africa’s major cities. Overall the ANC’s power has been curtailed and lessened, which will possibly bring with it changes in our 2019 political landscape. If the ANC has seen decline over the past few elections, the Democratic Alliance (DA) has also not done itself any favours in 2016/17. The [...]

Admin2018-01-24T15:58:26+02:00December 31st, 2017|2017 Archive, Bantu Holomisa, Home, Media statements: UDM|Comments Off

#ZumaImpeachment: ConCourt tells National Assembly to do its work

Mr Bantu Holomisa, MPUDM President The longsuffering people of South Africa, and indeed all people trusting our country will be in the presence of good governance, have been waiting since early September - after hours and hours of argument before the Constitutional Court - to hear if the end of the disastrous Zuma-era may be quickened. The Constitutional Court today, in its continuing affirmation of the Constitution, provided for this quickening. The ball [...]

Admin2018-01-24T15:58:50+02:00December 29th, 2017|2017 Archive, Bantu Holomisa, Home, Media statements: UDM, Parliamentary oversight, Zumagate|Comments Off

#PIC #GEPF: employees lost R12bn of pension money with Steinhoff corruption! Any political party that (may) have benefitted through #Steinhoff should: #PayBackTheirMoney

Mr Bantu Holomisa, MPUDM President Of course, the call to “pay back the money” was a legitimate demand for the return of taxpayer money illegitimately used to fund Nkandla, the “Gupta industry” and other sinister personal gains. Right now, there are other monies that should be paid back; that should be returned from whence it came. The Steinhoff debacle shows that corruption and unethical behaviour place people in the path of clear [...]

Admin2017-12-29T08:30:03+02:00December 29th, 2017|2017 Archive, Bantu Holomisa, Corruption and clean governance, Home, Media statements: UDM|Comments Off

Let South Africans meet on your land expropriation decision Mr Ramaphosa!

Mr Bantu Holomisa, MPUDM President After a plenary debate, so furious as to have threatened the collapse of its conference last Wednesday, the African National Congress (ANC) announced a decision to allow for land expropriation without compensation… subject to a “sustainability test” to ensure that food security is not threatened, and the economy not undermined. Is the new ANC President making populist noise for political positioning? Is he admitting continuing ANC land [...]

Admin2018-01-24T16:02:23+02:00December 22nd, 2017|#NationalSummit, 2017 Archive, Bantu Holomisa, Home, Land, Media statements: UDM|Comments Off

Annual festive season road fatalities: arrive alive

Mr Bongani MsomiUDM Secretary General As the festive season approaches, the United Democratic Movement (UDM) dreads the annual increase in road injuries and fatalities during this period; especially since we have already seen some dreadful accidents, particularly in the Eastern Cape, Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal, and the festive season is not yet in full swing. The months of December and January see the busiest time on our highways and byways with everyone excited to [...]

Admin2017-12-07T11:12:17+02:00December 7th, 2017|2017 Archive, Bongani Msomi, Civil Disobedience, Home, Media statements: UDM, Road Safety|Comments Off

#RememberingMandela, Bantu Holomisa’s keynote address on the the Fourth anniversary since Madiba’s passing

NMF's 4th anniversary of the passing of Madiba (Houghton) • Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer of the Nelson Mandela Foundation, • Mrs Graça Machel and Members of the Mandela Family, • Honoured Guests, • Ladies and Gentlemen. 1. Meeting Nelson Mandela When Madiba passed away, four years ago, a great sense of loss filled the Nation and a resounding note of sadness reverberated across the Globe. Today we remember his departure, reflect [...]

Admin2017-12-05T19:39:11+02:00December 5th, 2017|#NationalSummit, 2017 Archive, Bantu Holomisa, Chapter Nine Institutions, Coalition Government, Economy, Environment, Home, Justice, SONA, Speeches, Zumagate|Comments Off

Aids Day 2017

Ms Thandi NontenjaUDEMWO Secretary General The impact of HIV/Aids (and other sexually transmitted diseases) on South African communities remains a concern. It is true that some progress has been made to make medical care available, to Aids sufferers and HIV positive South Africans, and that antiretroviral treatment is more readily obtainable. We have also seen a slight positive shift in the tolerance of Aids sufferers and HIV positive individuals, but they still [...]

Admin2017-12-01T11:52:22+02:00December 1st, 2017|2017 Archive, Health, Home, Media statements: UDEMWO, Thandi Nontenja, Women's Issues|Comments Off

Bantu Holomisa addresses 4th Annual ReNAPRI Stakeholders Conference

Mr Bantu Holomisa, MPUDM President • Discussion Moderator • Executive Mayor • Members of the South African Executive • Fellow panellists and Members of Parliament • Distinguished guests and participants Agricultural transformation in Africa must be achieved through meaningful, practical and sufficiently funded policies. This will mean self-sustaining food production, as well as successful competition globally. The transformation of this sector is urgent, having experienced (to mention the few) the following: • [...]

Admin2018-01-24T15:19:46+02:00November 30th, 2017|2017 Archive, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Bantu Holomisa, Home, Land, Speeches|Comments Off

#HighLevelPanel Report: UDM welcomes the High-Level Panel Report on the assessment of key legislation and the acceleration of fundamental change

Mr Bantu Holomisa, MPUDM President The United Democratic Movement (UDM) welcomes the report presented in Parliament today by the High-Level Panel led by former President Kgalema Motlanthe. Some of the findings and recommendations of the Panel vindicates UDM policies and positions that we have consistently advanced in Parliament. We welcome the following concrete recommendations amongst others that: 1. The Land Framework Bill in order to provide a comprehensive ‘catch-all’ response to problems besetting [...]

Admin2018-01-24T15:19:56+02:00November 29th, 2017|2017 Archive, Bantu Holomisa, Home, Land, Media statements: UDM, Parliamentary oversight|Comments Off

Bantu Holomisa to deliver Nelson Mandela Foundation’s keynote address at 4th anniversary since Madiba’s passing

Mr Bantu Holomisa, MPUDM President As we approach the centenary year of the late former President Mr Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela’s birth next year, the Nelson Mandela Foundation has invited Mr Bantu Holomisa, MP and President of the United Democratic Movement to deliver the keynote address at the fourth anniversary of his passing on 5 December 2017. Mr Holomisa is grateful that the Nelson Mandela Foundation extended this tremendous honour to him and aim [...]

Admin2018-01-24T15:20:17+02:00November 27th, 2017|2017 Archive, Bantu Holomisa, Home, Media statements: UDM|Comments Off

Justice is served: UDEMWO welcomes Christopher Panayiotou’s life sentence

Ms Thandi NontenjaUDEMWO Secretary General The United Democratic Movement Women’s Organisation (UDEMWO) is pleased by the life sentence given to Mr Christopher Panayiotou after having been found guilty of murdering his wife. The murder of Ms Jayde Panayiotou is a typical example of how South African women are under siege from those closest to them. The Panayiotou case has dragged on for a very long time and UDEMWO is happy that it [...]

Admin2018-01-24T15:20:29+02:00November 24th, 2017|2017 Archive, Correctional Services, Home, Media statements: UDEMWO, Thandi Nontenja, Women's Issues|Comments Off

UDM welcomes the appointment of our new National Police Commissioner

Mr Bongani MsomiUDM Secretary General The United Democratic Movement (UDM) welcomes the appointment of General KJ Sitole as our new National Police Commissioner. It is good that he comes from inside the ranks of the South African Police Services (SAPS). This means that he is a career professional and would therefore have a sound understanding of the challenges that face our police personnel; unlike his predecessors who were just parachuted in. Commissioner Sitole [...]

Admin2018-01-24T15:20:38+02:00November 23rd, 2017|2017 Archive, Bongani Msomi, Civil Disobedience, Home, Marikana Massacre, Media statements: UDM, Police brutality, Safety and Security|Comments Off

UDM Deputy President, Nqabayomzi Kwankwa, to address annual assembly of the Southeast Asian Nations Parliamentarians

Mr Nqabayomzi Kwankwa, MP Background Mr Nqabayomzi Kwankwa, MP (Deputy President and Chief Whip of the United Democratic Movement) was invited to - from 6 to 8 October 2017 - participate in a Regional Meeting of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Parliamentarians. The meeting focussed on the use innovative means to prevent discrimination, to uphold political freedom and to promote democracy and human rights throughout that region (and in fact the world). [...]

Admin2018-01-24T15:20:53+02:00November 16th, 2017|2017 Archive, Home, Media statements: UDM, Nqabayomzi Kwankwa|Comments Off

UDM’s reaction on the report of the Commission of Inquiry into Higher Education and Training

Statement issued by Mr Nqabayomzi Kwankwa – UDM Deputy President and Chief Whip The United Democratic Movement (UDM) has noted the report of the Commission of Inquiry into Higher Education and Training released by the President on 13 November 2017. We welcome the Report’s reaffirmation of the clarion call and the need to make education accessible to all South Africans. We, however, reject the Report’s recommendation that Income Contingency Loans be adopted as the new [...]

Admin2018-01-24T15:21:12+02:00November 14th, 2017|2017 Archive, Higher and Basic Education, Home, Issues, Media statements: UDM, Youth Issues|Comments Off

UDEMWO condemns the attack of traffic officer by church members

Statement issued by Thandi Nontenja – UDEMWO Secretary General The United Democratic Movement Women’s Organisation (UDEMWO) condemns with strongest terms the attack of the Johannesburg Metro Police Department Officer by the church members in Hillbrow yesterday. This cannot be right and cannot be justified in anyway. Based on the chilling footage of the attack, these people look like angry bouncers who do not respect law. The helpless officer tried to warn the angry crowd [...]

Admin2018-01-24T15:22:00+02:00November 13th, 2017|2017 Archive, Home, Issues, Media statements: UDEMWO|Comments Off

UDM condemns violent taxi strike

Statement issued by Bongani Msomi – UDM Secretary General The United Democratic Movement (UDM) is concerned by the timing of the protesting taxi industry in many parts of Gauteng. This is a critical time for scholars especially those doing Grade 12 who are busy writing their final exams. We understand the frustration of the taxi industry however we are much concerned with the effects of the protest towards pupils and the innocent commuters. We [...]

Admin2018-01-24T15:21:36+02:00November 8th, 2017|2017 Archive, Bongani Msomi, Home, Issues, Media statements: UDM|Comments Off

Shocking handling of Emfuleni mayor’s WhatsApp “slip”

Media Statement by Thandi Nontenja – UDEMWO Secretary General The United Democratic Movement Women’s Organisation (UDEMWO) is appalled by the way the situation around Emfuleni Mayor Simon Mofokeng (with his so-called “slip up” with a lewd post on an African National Congress (ANC) WhatsApp group) is being handled. It is shocking that, by all accounts, Mr Mofokeng was in a “relationship” with a 14-year-old girl. An adult man cannot be in a “relationship” with [...]

Admin2018-01-24T15:21:47+02:00November 7th, 2017|2017 Archive, Home, Issues, Media statements: UDEMWO, Women's Issues|Comments Off

#FeesMustFall: Students up in arms yet again, when will Government learn?

Mr Bongani MsomiUDM Secretary General The United Democratic Movement (UDM) is concerned by the #FeesMustFall protests that have, yet again, forced several institutions of higher learning to grind to a halt, and interrupted exams. The UDM expresses sympathy with our students’ plight and we believe their grievances are real, and their demands, valid. What boggles the mind is that, Government and university managements do not learn from experience. These protests have dragged [...]

Admin2017-11-30T19:58:52+02:00October 26th, 2017|2017 Archive, Bongani Msomi, Higher and Basic Education, Home, Media statements: UDM, Youth Issues|Comments Off