Women's Issues Archives - United Democratic Movement | UDM

Violence against women and children, and crime in South Africa

Honourable Speaker, Mr President and Deputy President, Honourable Ministers and Deputy Ministers, Honourable Members. 1. Introduction The United Democratic Movement (UDM) commends the fact that Parliament is debating solutions to gender-based violence, child abuse, rampant crime in general, as well as lawlessness. We are here today in response to the brave women of this country who said: “No more!”. This House and the Executive must prioritize finding solutions, even if it means that we must [...]

Admin2019-09-18T16:15:22+02:00September 18th, 2019|2019 Archive, Bantu Holomisa, Home, Issues, Media statements: UDM, Safety and Security, Speeches, Women's Issues, Youth Issues|Comments Off

Open Letter to President Ramaphosa: Gender-based violence

Ms Thandi Nontenja Dear Mr President Recently, the country has been ravaged by news of gender based violence, women being abducted, raped and murdered. This is an everyday life for women in this country hence now we have the #AmInext movement, because honestly we are constantly stressing about who is going to be a victim of these atrocities ravaging our communities. The United Democratic Movement Women’s Organisation call on you Mr President, [...]

Admin2019-09-10T10:10:04+02:00September 10th, 2019|2019 Archive, Home, Issues, Justice, Media statements: UDEMWO, Open Letters, Thandi Nontenja, Women's Issues|Comments Off

Violence against women: Punishment of women abusers is a laughing stock

Ms Thandi Nontenja The United Democratic Movement Women’s Organization is disheartened by violence against women and children that is currently taking place throughout South Africa, Uyinene Mrwetyana a young girl who had a bright future was deprived an opportunity to achieve her goals and dreams, she didn’t just die, she was brutally murdered. Jeighandre Jegels a boxing champion from the Eastern Cape was also killed by her Police Officer boyfriend. A body [...]

Admin2019-09-03T14:59:19+02:00September 3rd, 2019|2019 Archive, Government, Home, Issues, Media statements: UDEMWO, Thandi Nontenja, Women's Issues, Xenophobia, Youth Issues|Comments Off

Eastern Cape Legislature: Mr Mncedisi Filtane, MPL’s contribution to the debate on violence against women and femicide

Eastern Cape Legislature: Mr Mncedisi Filtane, MPL’s contribution to the debate on violence against women and femicide on 16 August 2019 A very emotional issue indeed. The United Democratic Movement supports the support given by this House to fighting violence against women. Accordingly, we propose that the Zizipho Apleni be invited to come and address this house. We shall have made a powerful statement to our women that we are wholly against their abuse [...]

Admin2019-08-23T16:26:10+02:00August 16th, 2019|2019 Archive, Home, Mncedisi Filtane, Speeches, Women's Issues|Comments Off

Women’s Day: 25 years on and women are still under attack

Ms Thandi Nontenja The United Democratic Movement Women’s Organisation would like to wish every woman out there, a good Woman’s Day. We are the mothers and daughters; we are well-able and there is absolutely nothing a woman cannot do. However, how do we celebrate Women’s Month if there is, in fact, nothing to celebrate? Twenty-five years down the line and women in this country still live with a target on their backs; [...]

Admin2019-08-08T17:27:51+02:00August 8th, 2019|2019 Archive, Media statements: UDEMWO, Thandi Nontenja, Women's Issues|Comments Off

UDEMWO: Women are not punch bags

Ms Thandi NontenjaUDEMWO Secretary General Women abuse has become our daily bread, we are sick and tired of waking up to outrageous stories that revolves around women abuse. We are absolutely shocked and disturbed by a video of kwaito star Mampintsha that is making the rounds on social media showing that he is seemingly beating his girlfriend Bongekile Simelane, better known as ‘Babes Wodumo’. The United Democratic Movement Women’s Organisation (UDEMWO) believes [...]

Admin2019-03-04T16:49:20+02:00March 4th, 2019|2019 Archive, Home, Media statements: UDEMWO, Women's Issues|Comments Off

UDEMWO abhors the murder of rural women accused of witchcraft

We find it extremely difficult to digest the fact that three women, who hail from the Alfred Nzo district municipality in the Eastern Cape were, late last year, burnt to death because they had allegedly been witchcraft practitioners. This can only be described as the worst aberration of what might be called “mob justice”. It was recently reported that elderly women in the Eastern Cape are physically abused, raped and killed, because they practised [...]

Admin2019-03-01T10:53:06+02:00March 1st, 2019|2019 Archive, Home, Human rights, Media statements: UDEMWO, Social development and welfare, Thandi Nontenja, Women's Issues|Comments Off

UDEMWO slams ANC and ANCWL’s hypocrisy re women abuse

The United Democratic Movement Women’s Organisation (UDEMWO) is disgusted that yet another African National Congress (ANC) leader has been accused of women abuse. As the story unfolds, we note that these accusations constantly rotate amongst the ruling party’s prominent male leaders. Some of those alleged culprits have been Danny Jordaan, Marius Fransman, Mduduzi Manana, and more recently Pule Mabe and Zizi Kodwa. And, lest we forget, their very own, former president Jacob Zuma. Even [...]

Admin2019-02-28T11:02:25+02:00February 28th, 2019|2019 Archive, Home, Human rights, Media statements: UDEMWO, Thandi Nontenja, Women's Issues|Comments Off

Sexual abuse of children living with disability

Mr Bongani MsomiUDM Secretary General As the world this week marked the international day for persons living with disabilities, the United Democratic Movement (UDM) is extremely worried about the continued abuse of children living with disabilities in special schools across the country. The recent revelations, of sexual abuse of children living with disabilities, made by SABC 1 current affairs programme, Cutting Edge, send chills down the spine. The programme showed that child [...]

Admin2018-12-05T11:31:33+02:00December 5th, 2018|2018 Archive, Bongani Msomi, Home, Media statements: UDM, Social development and welfare, Women's Issues, Youth Issues|Comments Off

8 years is not enough for Uitenhage rapist dad

Ms Thandi NontenjaUDEMWO Secretary General The United Democratic Movement Women’s Organisation (UDEMWO) is pleased to see that it is true that “ityala aliboli”. The sentencing of the retired Salvation Army captain, Lionel Potgieter, who raped his daughter since an early age is a typical example. In as much as he finally got what he deserved, eight years is not enough. Chantel was viciously abused and tortured for six years during her formative years. [...]

Admin2018-11-06T13:20:01+02:00November 6th, 2018|2018 Archive, Home, Media statements: UDEMWO, Thandi Nontenja, Women's Issues, Youth Issues|Comments Off

UDEMWO welcomes the decision of zero-rated sanitary pads

Ms Thandi NontenjaUDEMWO Secretary General The United Democratic Movement Women’s Organisation (UDEMWO) welcomes the announcement by the Finance Minister Tito Mboweni for sanitary pads to be zero-rated. This step in the right direction is long overdue however; to say it will only kick off next year is too far. It should be with immediate effect. The struggle of young girls being unable to access pads has been an on-going tussle for a very [...]

Admin2018-10-25T12:55:21+02:00October 25th, 2018|2018 Archive, Home, Media statements: UDEMWO, Thandi Nontenja, Women's Issues, Youth Issues|Comments Off

Omotoso trial: Dauberman’s questioning is immoral and unethical

Ms Thandi NontenjaUDEMWO Secretary General Since the start of the Tim Omotoso trial, the past few days have been nothing but the most unbearable time for women in South Africa. It is so overwhelming to witness the young and brave rape survivor, Cheryl Zondi being grilled in the manner that the defence Advocate Peter Daubermann did. In our view, his morals and ethics are questionable. The United Democratic Movement Women’s Organisation (UDEMWO) [...]

Admin2018-10-18T12:28:05+02:00October 18th, 2018|2018 Archive, Home, Media statements: UDEMWO, Thandi Nontenja, Women's Issues|Comments Off

UDEMWO: 6-year-old raped in a Dros Restaurant

Ms Thandi NontenjaUDEMWO Secretary General The United Democratic Movement Women’s Organisation (UDEMWO) is shocked and outraged by the recent rape of a 6-year-old girl at a Dros restaurant. This is sickening and too much to swallow. The thought that the culprit went as far as committing his evil act in a public space, where it is thought to be safe, makes us even angrier. This wicked man did not even care that there [...]

Admin2018-09-27T09:39:45+02:00September 27th, 2018|2018 Archive, Bantu Holomisa, Home, Media statements: UDM, Thandi Nontenja, Women's Issues, Youth Issues|Comments Off

UDEMWO: The SA police is not serious about stopping the kidnapping and murder of women and children

Ms Thandi NontenjaUDEMWO Secretary General The United Democratic Movement Women’s Organisation (UDEMWO) is concerned that the South African Police Services do not appear to take kidnapping reports seriously. One only has to open a newspaper to read about the kidnapping and murder of women and children. Our communities are plagued by this scourge and those that are tasked to ensure our safety and security are failing dismally. Not long ago, live footage showed [...]

Admin2018-09-11T16:17:29+02:00September 11th, 2018|2018 Archive, Home, Thandi Nontenja, Women's Issues|Comments Off

UDEMWO calls for police visibility in rural areas to fight crime against women, children

Ms Thandi NontenjaUDEMWO Secretary General The United Democratic Movement Women’s Organisation (UDEMWO) is distraught by the rape and murder of a female student in Engcobo in the Eastern Cape. This time the victim was young Zikho Cabeni, who was also an active member of the United Democratic Students’ Movement. This horrifying incident comes just after the country “celebrated women” in the month of August. We have learnt that nothing much has been done [...]

Admin2018-09-05T10:50:12+02:00September 5th, 2018|2018 Archive, Home, Media statements: UDEMWO, Safety and Security, Thandi Nontenja, Women's Issues, Youth Issues|Comments Off

UDEMWO: Another female student bears the brunt of abuse: Fort Hare

Ms Thandi Nontenja The assault of a female student from the University of Fort Hare, in a video that is making the rounds on social media, is quite chilling. The United Democratic Movement Women’s Organisation (UDEMWO) condemns the actions of the young man in the strongest possible terms. Witnessing such an assault in the period where the country is celebrating women is even more heart-wrenching. This is a clear sign that South [...]

Admin2018-08-15T10:58:15+02:00August 15th, 2018|2018 Archive, Home, Media statements: UDEMWO, Thandi Nontenja, Women's Issues, Youth Issues|Comments Off