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10 Nov, 2025
No leader above the law: UDM KwaZulu-Natal condemns Councillor Ndlovu’s alleged sexual assault of young girl
Statement by Remington Mazibuko, Councillor in the Inkosi Mtubatuba Local Municipality and UDM KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Chairperson The United Democratic Movement (UDM) in KwaZulu-Natal is shocked and dismayed by reports that an Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) councillor from Ward 14 in Inkosi Mtubatuba Local Municipality, Cllr Ndlovu, allegedly sexually assaulted a young girl and later attempted to bribe the child’s mother with R10,000 to conceal the incident. The details of this case reveal a painful abuse of power and a failure of conscience. Those chosen to serve must protect the dignity of every person, especially the young and vulnerable. Anything less undermines the values on which our democracy stands. The UDM calls on the IFP to immediately suspend Cllr Ndlovu from office pending the outcome of the criminal investigation. Failure to do so will raise serious questions about the IFP’s commitment to ethical leadership and the protection of vulnerable citizens. The Party further calls for a swift, transparent, and impartial investigation into this case. Law enforcement must act decisively to ensure that justice is served, and no political affiliation or public office should be allowed to shield anyone from accountability. We also call for immediate support and protection for the victim and her family. The South African Police Service and the Department of Social Development must ensure that the child receives proper psychosocial care and that her safety is guaranteed throughout the legal process. Gender-Based Violence and Femicide are symptoms of a leadership crisis that has allowed impunity to thrive. Until those in positions of authority lead by example and enforce accountability, our communities will continue to suffer the pain of fear and loss. The UDM in KwaZulu-Natal believes that leadership means protecting the most vulnerable, not preying on them. We expect every public representative to embody the values of honesty, accountability, and respect for human dignity. Those who violate these principles should have no place in public life.
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22 Oct, 2025
UDM says Mayor Mchunu’s excuses insult the people of uMzinyathi: where is the water?
Statement by Remington Mazibuko, Councillor in the Inkosi Mtubatuba Local Municipality and UDM KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Chairperson The United Democratic Movement (UDM) in KwaZulu-Natal notes with deep concern the recent comments by uMzinyathi District Mayor Thembisile Mchunu, who has admitted that the municipality lacks the technical skills and resources to maintain its collapsing water infrastructure. These excuses come six years after the UDM first exposed corruption and maladministration in uMzinyathi, and two years after the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) confirmed that the district violated the Msinga community’s right to water under Section 27(1)(b) of the Constitution. The UDM in KwaZulu-Natal lodged the original complaint with the SAHRC in 2019 on behalf of the Msinga community, under the leadership of the then UDM KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Secretary, Mr Boysey Gumede. That complaint laid the groundwork for the Commission’s 2023 Final Report, which found that uMzinyathi’s failures stem from poor management, lack of planning, and corruption, not water scarcity. The SAHRC’s 2024 follow-up visits reiterated those findings and urged urgent implementation of the recommendations. Just last week, CoGTA Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa acknowledged that uMzinyathi had incurred R1.4 billion in irregular expenditure, calling it “a lost opportunity.” He pledged that his department would conduct skills audits and strengthen capacity. The UDM welcomes this admission but reminds the Minister that words alone will not fill a water drum. The people of Msinga, Nquthu, Endumeni and Umvoti have heard these promises before. Meanwhile, Water and Sanitation Minister Pemmy Majodina continues to tout the progress of large-scale projects such as the Lower uMkhomazi Water Scheme while turning a blind eye to municipalities that have failed for years to deliver basic services. National leadership cannot boast about megaprojects while households in KwaZulu-Natal still rely on rivers and tankers for their daily water. The UDM in KwaZulu-Natal demands that: 1. Mayor Mchunu and the uMzinyathi District Council immediately table a public implementation plan for the SAHRC’s recommendations, with clear timelines and funding commitments. 2. The Department of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs invoke Section 139 should the municipality fail to act within 60 days. 3. The Department of Water and Sanitation and National Treasury provide written updates to the SAHRC on corrective action taken since 2023. The UDM in KwaZulu-Natal will continue to monitor this matter closely to ensure that the SAHRC’s findings are implemented and that accountability follows where corruption and incompetence have stolen people’s right to water.
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10 Oct, 2025
31 years later: ANC has bankrupted the Eastern Cape municipalities
Statement by Bulelani Bobotyane, Provincial Secretary of the UDM in the Eastern Cape The United Democratic Movement (UDM) in the Eastern Cape is deeply disturbed by revelations that seven municipalities in the Eastern Cape are on the verge of financial collapse. This is not an isolated administrative failure. It is the product of decades of African National Congress (ANC) misrule that has left local government structures hollow, indebted, and incapable of delivering even the most basic services. The Provincial Treasury’s presentation to Parliament revealed that Makana, Sundays River Valley, Amathole, Raymond Mhlaba, Amahlathi, Walter Sisulu and King Sabata Dalindyebo municipalities will not survive beyond a month without intervention. Only Koukamma has slightly more cash reserves, barely enough for three months. Under ANC governance, 33 out of 39 municipalities are distressed, with only six receiving clean audits in the 2023/24 financial year. The scale of financial recklessness is staggering. Nelson Mandela Bay Metro recorded R22 billion in unauthorised, irregular, fruitless and wasteful expenditure. Buffalo City Metro recorded R11.6 billion. Amathole District recorded R1.3 billion, OR Tambo District R1.1 billion, and Inxuba Yethemba R910 million. Despite this, more than R300 million in unspent infrastructure funds was returned to the National Treasury. This is an unforgivable betrayal of the people. A province drowning in unemployment and poverty is being robbed not only by corruption but by chronic incompetence. The UDM in the Eastern Cape holds Premier Oscar Mabuyane and Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) MEC Zolile Williams politically responsible for the collapse of governance in the province. For years they have been warned about the dire state of municipalities but responded with empty plans and recycled rhetoric. MEC Williams himself has acknowledged that Nelson Mandela Bay accounts for over seventy percent of the province’s R30 billion in irregular expenditure, driven by evergreen contracts that he admits are criminal. Yet there is no visible action, no prosecutions, and no accountability. The rot runs deep. A captured CFO in Sundays River Valley inflated consultancy contracts from R4 million to R38 million. Evergreen contracts in Nelson Mandela Bay have become the feeding trough for politically connected service providers. State departments owe municipalities such as Nelson Mandela Bay more than R208 million in unpaid rates and service charges, proof that even government does not respect local government. It is shocking and unacceptable that national and provincial government departments owe municipalities more than R208 million in unpaid rates and service charges. These are not private companies or delinquent ratepayers. They are organs of the same state that lectures ordinary citizens about paying their municipal accounts. This failure by the state to pay what it owes is an act of internal sabotage. It cripples the very municipalities tasked with delivering water, electricity, sanitation and waste removal to communities. When government departments do not honour their obligations, they drain the lifeblood of local government, its revenue base, and accelerate the collapse of essential services. The UDM in the Eastern Cape finds this behaviour reprehensible and hypocritical. It exposes a culture of impunity within the ANC government where accountability is applied selectively. Citizens are threatened with disconnection for non-payment, while government institutions continue to consume services without consequence. This situation also shows the utter breakdown of intergovernmental cooperation in the Eastern Cape. The Premier and his MECs have allowed a crisis where the left hand of government starves the right. How can municipalities be expected to survive when the very departments that fund them are also their biggest debtors? The UDM in the Eastern Cape is deeply concerned by the recent remarks of Buffalo City Mayor Princess Faku, who told Parliament that her municipality is “neither dysfunctional nor cash-strapped.” This statement is misleading and irresponsible. Both the Provincial Treasury and the Auditor-General have confirmed that Buffalo City incurred R11.6 billion in irregular, fruitless and wasteful expenditure, and returned unspent infrastructure funds while residents continue to endure failing services. For a mayor to deny this reality shows disregard for the truth and for the daily struggles of the people she serves. It reflects the ANC’s entrenched culture of denial, where leaders protect their image instead of fixing what is broken. The UDM calls on Premier Mabuyane to act against Mayor Faku for misleading Parliament and the public. The people of Buffalo City deserve honesty, accountability and real solutions, not empty political theatre. As a partner in the Government of National Unity (GNU), the UDM in the Eastern Cape believes this crisis demands direct intervention by the National CoGTA Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa. The Minister must immediately: 1. Deploy a national intervention team to the seven municipalities on the brink of collapse, with powers to stabilise finances, strengthen governance, and halt corruption. 2. Oversee forensic investigations into the misuse of funds, fraudulent consultancy contracts, and the R30 billion evergreen contract scandal in Nelson Mandela Bay. 3. Ensure strict consequence management, including suspension and prosecution of accounting officers, councillors and mayors who enabled this rot. 4. Coordinate intergovernmental debt recovery, compelling all government departments to pay what they owe to municipalities. 5. Enforce public transparency and reporting, ensuring that all municipal recovery reports demanded by Parliament are made public within thirty days. 6. Work with National Treasury and the Department of Water and Sanitation to restore critical infrastructure and basic service delivery in the affected municipalities. 7. Hold Premier Mabuyane and MEC Williams politically accountable for years of failed oversight and negligence under their leadership. The UDM in the Eastern Cape also reminds the ANC, as a partner in the GNU, that it carries the greatest responsibility for this crisis. Its national leadership must urgently call its counterparts in the province and municipalities to order. The continued collapse of governance in the Eastern Cape is not just a local embarrassment; it undermines the credibility of the GNU’s commitment to clean, accountable and effective government. If the ANC is sincere about renewal, it must start by cleaning its own house in this province. For thirty-one years, the ANC has turned the Eastern Cape into a case study of corruption and decay. The people deserve better. They deserve leaders who act, not talk, who serve, not steal. The UDM in the Eastern Cape calls on all honest public servants, civil society and communities to rally behind the call for accountability and renewal.
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04 Oct, 2025
Cape Town cannot hide behind spin while billions go missing
Statement by Bongani Maqungwana, UDM Councillor in the City of Cape Town The United Democratic Movement (UDM) in the City of Cape Town notes with grave concern the large-scale police raids conducted across Cape Town this week in connection with alleged fraud and corruption involving R1.6 billion worth of municipal contracts. Reports indicate that 26 properties, including the private residences of municipal officials and businesses linked to tenders, were searched with documents and electronic devices seized as part of the ongoing investigation by the South African Police Services (SAPS). While we recognise the importance of law enforcement acting on credible whistle-blower information, it is deeply troubling that once again the City of Cape Town finds itself at the centre of allegations of corruption, maladministration and questionable procurement practices. These scandals come at the direct expense of ordinary residents who rely on municipal services and who expect that every rand of public money is spent on service delivery, not siphoned off through shady contracts. The UDM is particularly concerned that the spectre of “tenders for cash” has become a recurring theme in Cape Town’s governance. Allegations of links to underworld figures and repeat instances of unlawful contracting erode public confidence and reinforce the perception that corruption is entrenched rather than being rooted out. We caution against premature self-congratulation by the City for “cooperating” with SAPS. True accountability does not come from spin but from transparent investigations, full disclosure and holding individuals, no matter how senior, personally liable if they are found complicit. The UDM therefore calls for: • The immediate suspension of any officials under suspicion to prevent interference with evidence. • Law enforcement to ensure prosecutions follow swiftly so that whistle-blowers and the public see justice done. Cape Town’s residents deserve a municipality that prioritises clean governance and service delivery, not one mired in allegations of corruption worth billions. The UDM will continue to monitor these developments closely, engage relevant oversight bodies and demand accountability at every level.
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03 Oct, 2025
Open letter to the Financial Sector Conduct Authority, National Treasury and the government of South Africa on pension arrears
Mr Enoch Godongwana, MP Minister of Finance Private Bag X115 Pretoria 0001 and Mr Velenkosini Hlabisa, MP Minister of the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Private Bag X802 Pretoria 0001 and Commissioner Unathi Kamlana Financial Sector Conduct Authority PO Box 35655 Menlo Park 0102 Dear Minister Godongwana, Minister Hlabisa and Commissioner Kamlana An open letter to the Financial Sector Conduct Authority, National Treasury and the government of South Africa on pension arrears 1. The United Democratic Movement (UDM) writes with grave concern about the worsening crisis of unpaid pension contributions, recently highlighted by the Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA). According to the FSCA, employers across South Africa owe more than R7.29 billion in pension arrears, affecting nearly 600,000 workers. 2. This is not only a financial scandal; it is a betrayal of trust. Pensions are not perks; they are deferred wages. For thousands of workers, the discovery that contributions deducted from their salaries were never paid over to pension funds has caused shock and despair. Many only became aware of this painful truth when attempting to access their savings under the two-pot retirement system in September 2024. 3. The introduction of the two-pot retirement system was meant to improve financial security by splitting new contributions into a savings pot, from which one withdrawal can be made each year, and a retirement pot, which remains locked until retirement. Instead of providing relief, the system has exposed the depth of the arrears crisis. When workers tried to make their first withdrawals, many discovered that their contributions had never been transferred to their funds. What should have been a safety net has become proof of betrayal, leaving workers with empty accounts where their savings should have been. 4. Families who are already struggling with rising costs of living now face the indignity of poverty in their old age because of the failures of their employers and the weakness of the regulatory framework. 5. As a party within the Government of National Unity (GNU), the UDM sees it as our duty to exercise firm oversight from within, ensuring that government does not turn a blind eye to failures that harm workers and their families 6. The scale of the crisis 6.1. The arrears problem is no longer marginal; it is systemic. Arrears surged by 40% in one year to reach over R7 billion. Nearly 600,000 workers are affected, with many still in employment and others already retired. Over 1,000 cases have been referred to the South African Police Service, and more than 8,000 instances of legal action have been initiated by retirement funds. Yet, prosecutions remain limited and recoveries slow. 6.2. This problem is not confined to small businesses. Large provident funds such as the Auto Workers Provident Fund and the Motor Industry Provident Fund account for the bulk of legal actions, and government itself has emerged as one of the biggest culprits. 7. Accuracy and transparency of data 7.1. While the scale of the arrears is shocking, there are also concerns about the accuracy of FSCA data. Reports have shown that some employers named in arrears lists insist they had made payments, but that the arrears were still reflected because of delays in updating data, incomplete reporting by funds, or administrative errors. 7.2. Such inaccuracies undermine trust in the regulatory system, cause reputational harm to compliant employers, and create confusion for workers. Transparency only has value if the information is accurate and up to date. Workers and Parliament need figures they can rely on. 8. The systemic weaknesses 8.1. The UDM acknowledges steps the FSCA has taken, including publishing arrears lists, collaborating with Treasury and the Hawks, recovering R39 million and R50 million from municipalities through withheld transfers, and securing court orders against delinquent municipalities and company directors. These are important interventions. 8.2. However, they remain insufficient. The FSCA itself admits that it lacks full powers over employers until the Conduct of Financial Institutions (COFI) Bill is passed into law. Enforcement is slow, arrears continue to grow, and some retirement fund trustees are failing to act decisively against non-compliant employers. In the meantime, workers continue to suffer while billions in deferred wages are withheld. 9. Accountability and governance 9.1. It is especially alarming that government itself (through national and provincial departments and municipalities) is among the biggest culprits, owing an estimated R1.5 billion despite Treasury interventions. Municipalities in particular are repeat offenders, often defaulting again even after arrears are recovered through withheld equitable share transfers. National and provincial departments are not immune either. 9.2. This is unacceptable. When the state itself is in breach, it weakens public confidence in the entire system and sets a terrible example for private employers. The UDM cannot remain silent while the state itself is one of the worst offenders. We will use every platform in Parliament, including SCOPA, to hold both our partners and ourselves to account. Leadership cannot demand compliance from others while defaulting on its own workers’ pensions. 10. In light of the above, the United Democratic Movement calls for urgent action on the following: 10.1. The Minister of Finance to prioritise the Conduct of Financial Institutions Bill and for the Portfolio Committee on Finance to fast-track its passage through Parliament, so that the FSCA is fully empowered to act against defaulting employers. 10.2. The FSCA, working with National Treasury, the Hawks and the National Prosecuting Authority, to enforce the law through criminal charges, asset seizures and by holding directors, officers and municipal managers personally liable. 10.3. The FSCA to continue publishing arrears lists, but to strengthen them by ensuring accuracy, providing sectoral breakdowns, and reporting not only on arrears but also on recoveries and enforcement actions, so that workers, Parliament and the public can track real progress transparently 10.4. National Treasury and Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa, in his role as Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, to intervene firmly in delinquent municipalities and government departments, with SCOPA exercising oversight to ensure that such failures do not repeat. 10.5. The FSCA to act against trustees who neglect their duty to recover contributions from defaulting employers. 10.6. National Treasury to put in place interim protection measures so that workers making use of the two-pot system are not left destitute because of employer failures. 11. Conclusion 11.1. South Africa cannot tolerate a situation where nearly R7.3 billion in pensions is left unpaid while workers go hungry and pensioners live in indignity. Pensions are deferred wages earned through years of labour and withholding them is nothing short of theft from the future. 11.2. Being part of the GNU does not mean turning a blind eye. It means doubling our vigilance. The UDM will continue to play its role by exercising firm oversight inside government to safeguard the rights of workers and ensure public money is used with integrity. Yours sincerely Mr NLS Kwankwa, MP Deputy President of the United Democratic Movement Party Leader in Parliament Copied to: Ms Nomakhosazana Meth, MP - Minister of Employment and Labour Mr Songezo Zibi, MP - Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts Dr Mkhacani Maswanganyi – Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Finance Mr Makhosonke Maneli – Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Employment and Labour Dr Zwelini Mkhize – Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Ms Thandi Nontenja, MP - UDM Member on the Standing Committee on Public Accounts
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01 Oct, 2025
Respect the dead, protect the living: UDM on Gauteng cemeteries
Statement by Andile Jabavu, Gauteng Provincial Secretary of the United Democratic Movement The United Democratic Movement (UDM) in Gauteng notes with deep concern the worsening pattern of neglect, vandalism, illegal dumping, informal settlements and more tarnishing cemeteries across the province which are sites of dignity, memory and community — not just plots of land. Despite repeated outcries from communities who have voiced their anger and frustration over these issues, the matter has only worsened. From Bredell Cemetery (Kempton Park), Kromvlei and Alberton Cemeteries (City of Ekurhuleni) to Pretoria East Cemetery and Zenzele Cemetery in the West Rand, multiple reports in Gauteng have highlighted growing incidents of uncontrolled waste dumping, safety risks and concerns such as damaged infrastructure and overgrown vegetation as well as people establishing unlawful occupation within burial grounds. It is deeply concerning that families arrive to find their loved ones’ graves desecrated, memorials stolen, tombstones broken or burial grounds overtaken by litter and informal settlements further eroding these cemeteries. Meant to offer dignity in death and solace to the living, burial grounds are being reduced to habitats of decay and disregard. What is most disheartening is that these same grievances have been emphasised from one community to the next. In particular, the absence of visible law enforcement or municipal maintenance, overgrown grass, broken fences and even shacks erected over graves have turned cemeteries into unsafe and unhealthy spaces. The erection of informal dwellings on burial sites is not only disrespectful but also poses serious health risks and reflects shocking failures in town planning and land use management. As symbols of respect, tradition, community and history, this is a matter that is affecting different communities and religious backgrounds. Communities should no longer be left to fend for themselves in these concerning circumstances with little to no meaningful intervention from local authorities. Protection, restoration and proper management of cemeteries needs to be prioritised quickly and urgently which includes dedicated funding for infrastructure, security personnel and ongoing maintenance while enforcing existing municipal bylaws. What should be places of remembrance and peace should remain so to give communities and families a place of reflection, dignity and connection to their loved ones and heritage.
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12 Sep, 2025
Lawlessness, violent protests, and broken governance: South Africa needs urgent reform
Statement by Nqabayomzi Kwankwa, MP, UDM Deputy President and Leader in Parliament The United Democratic Movement (UDM) notes with concern the violent turn taken by community protests in Mondlo township, KwaZulu-Natal, where municipal buildings and vehicles were torched in the wake of anger over load reduction, poor services, and a lack of municipal accountability. Similar scenes unfolded in Coronationville in Westbury and Ivory Park in Tembisa, where residents clashed with police over prolonged water cuts, leaving community members injured. These incidents are neither isolated nor unprecedented. They form part of a deepening national crisis of lawlessness, in which citizens increasingly turn to destruction, arson, and violent attacks to express their grievances. This alarming trend reflects both a collapse of governance and the erosion of trust in peaceful engagement with authorities. International examples provide a stark warning for the powers that be. In Nepal, widespread protests by young citizens over corruption, nepotism, and mismanaged policy escalated into the burning of parliament and the homes of prominent politicians, forcing the army to airlift government ministers to safety. South African politicians must take heed: ignoring the cries of communities for basic services risks a similar escalation, where frustration could spill over into chaos and threaten social stability. Experts have already warned that South Africa’s legacy of socio-economic neglect, political disillusionment, and an ineffective justice system has created an environment where violence is seen as the only language government listens to. Communities often exhaust every formal avenue, writing memoranda, petitioning councillors, and pleading with municipal officials, only to be ignored until protests erupt. While the frustration of citizens who live without water, electricity, and safe infrastructure is understandable, the UDM strongly condemns the destruction of property and the loss of life that follow such unrest. Burning municipal buildings, petrol-bombing government offices, and attacking fellow citizens only deepen the crisis, disrupt service delivery further, and strip communities of the very resources they need. Equally, the UDM abhors the excessive and sometimes indiscriminate use of force by the South African Police Service (SAPS), including reports of rubber bullets fired at elderly people and children during recent protests. Heavy-handed policing only hardens anger and deepens mistrust. The UDM calls for: • A comprehensive reform of local governance to restore accountability, transparency, and service delivery. • Stronger and fairer enforcement of the law, so that criminal acts of arson and violence do not go unpunished, while ensuring that policing respects human rights and protects vulnerable community members. • Genuine dialogue between government (especially at local level) and communities before frustrations boil over into unrest. Engagement must be consistent, respectful, and solutions-driven. • National government to urgently intervene in municipalities crippled by corruption, maladministration, and financial collapse, to prevent further violent flashpoints. Many communities exhaust formal channels, such as petitioning ward councillors, municipal officials, and provincial leaders, before resorting to violence. The UDM therefore calls for the agenda of the National Dialogue to address these repeated frustrations. Service delivery challenges, local governance failures, and mechanisms for meaningful citizen participation must be central, with clear commitments and accountability measures to ensure that public grievances do not escalate into unrest. South Africa cannot build a future by burning the present. Violence and destruction must never become acceptable or normalised as a way of forcing government action. At the same time, government must demonstrate through action, not words, that it listens to peaceful demands, honours commitments, and delivers the basic services enshrined in our Constitution. The cycle of neglect, protest, violence, and suppression must be broken. What is at stake is not only community stability but the very fabric of our democracy.
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11 Sep, 2025
Usindiso fire: poverty, governance failures, and the search for truth
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 notes with concern the shocking turn in the Usindiso fire trial, where the accused now claims he falsely confessed to starting the blaze in order to secure food and shelter in prison. This desperate admission speaks volumes about the depth of poverty and despair in South Africa. That someone would rather take responsibility for one of the most heinous crimes in recent memory, a fire that killed 76 people, simply to secure “three meals and a roof over their head” is a harsh illustration of the conditions facing our nation. While the courts must determine the truth of the matter, the UDM in the City of Johannesburg insists that this tragedy cannot be seen only through the lens of one man’s testimony. It also reflects a collapse of governance, social safety nets, and accountability around hijacked and unsafe buildings. The families of the victims deserve clarity, justice, and closure. Every contradictory statement, every delay, and every failure to ensure accountability, whether through arson, negligence, or corruption in the management of municipal properties, deepens the pain of survivors. The UDM in the City of Johannesburg calls for: • A thorough and transparent investigation that goes beyond the individual accused to the broader systemic failures that enabled this tragedy • Accountability from the Johannesburg Property Company (JPC) and city authorities who allowed unsafe and hijacked buildings to become sites of danger. • Urgent action by government to address the crisis of hijacked and unsafe buildings across South Africa before another tragedy occurs. The truth about what happened at Usindiso must not be lost in shifting testimonies. The memory of the 76 lives lost demands nothing less than the full truth, accountability, and justice.
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10 Sep, 2025
UDM BCMM on the Metro’s collapsing water and sanitation infrastructure
Statement by Anele Skoti, United Democratic Movement Councillor and Whip in Buffalo City Metropolitan Council The United Democratic Movement (UDM) in the Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality (BCMM) is gravely alarmed by the recent revelations that only four of the Metro’s fifteen wastewater treatment plants are fully operational, with the rest either vandalised, unlicensed, or out of service. The disclosure by the municipal manager that more than R10 billion will be needed over the next six years to rescue the metro’s failing water and sanitation systems confirms what residents have known and lived with for years: decades of neglect, poor maintenance, and mismanagement have pushed the metro into a full-blown crisis. The UDM in the BCMM will not ignore the devastating reality confronting communities. Raw sewage running through streets and homes, foul odours in the air, and persistent health risks have become an everyday experience in many neighbourhoods. This is not only a humanitarian and environmental disaster but also a direct violation of the constitutional right to access clean water and a healthy environment. The UDM in the BCMM notes the municipal manager’s proposal to seek private sector investment and public-private partnerships (PPPs). While innovative financing models must be considered, PPPs must not become a back door to privatisation or a mechanism for elites to enrich themselves while residents continue to suffer. Any partnership must be transparent, carefully structured, and rooted in protecting water and sanitation as a public good accessible to all. The truth is that Buffalo City cannot solve this crisis on its own. National and provincial government must intervene decisively with financial, technical, and security support. Without this, the city risks further collapse, with dire consequences for residents, businesses, and future investment. The UDM in the BCMM calls for: • An immediate emergency plan to repair and secure wastewater treatment plants and sewage pump stations. • The ringfencing of infrastructure budgets to ensure that money allocated is spent only on water and sanitation. • Clear accountability for the decades of mismanagement and neglect that led to this collapse. • Transparent and inclusive public engagement on any proposed PPP arrangements. Buffalo City deserves better than this steady decline into dysfunction. The UDM in the BCMM will continue to hold the municipality and national government accountable until residents enjoy safe, reliable, and dignified water and sanitation services.
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09 Sep, 2025
JMPD recruitment fatalities are unacceptable
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 notes with deep shock and sadness the tragic deaths of two young South Africans, Mr Marvellous Michael Nyambi and Mr Zwelethu Tekete, during the recent Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) recruitment programme at Ruimsig Stadium. These deaths are not only heartbreaking for their families and communities, but they also raise serious concerns about the safety, fairness, and integrity of the City’s recruitment processes. The youth of our country continue to struggle with unemployment and limited opportunities. For many, the chance to serve as JMPD officers represented hope and dignity. To have such hope end in tragedy is devastating and unacceptable. The UDM in the City of Johannesburg is further disturbed by allegations that hundreds of young applicants were turned away on the basis of proof of residence letters allegedly sourced only through councillors. If true, this points to unacceptable gatekeeping practices that undermine fairness, transparency, and equitable access to opportunities. As a Councillor in the City of Johannesburg and Chairperson of the Section 79 Oversight Committee on Gender, Youth, and People with Disabilities (GEYODI), I have formally written to the Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) for Public Safety, Cllr M Tshwaku, requesting a comprehensive report on the circumstances surrounding these deaths, the absence of medical and emergency readiness on site, the suitability of instructors, risk management protocols, and the measures being taken to prevent such tragedies from recurring. The Speaker of Council, Cllr M Arnolds, has also been copied in this correspondence. The UDM in the City of Johannesburg calls for: 1. Immediate transparency from the City of Johannesburg on the events that led to these fatalities. 2. Accountability for the failures in planning, oversight, and risk management. 3. Fair and inclusive recruitment practices that do not discriminate or impose unfair barriers on applicants. 4. Support and compensation for the families of the deceased candidates. The lives of young people cannot be treated carelessly in the pursuit of building law enforcement capacity. These incidents must serve as a turning point for how the City approaches youth recruitment, safety standards, and public trust. The UDM in the City of Johannesburg will continue to raise these matters until satisfactory answers and corrective measures are put in place.
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05 Sep, 2025
SCA ruling against Nelson Mandela Bay Metro over toddler’s death
Statement by Zandile Phiri, Acting Secretary General of the United Democratic Movement The United Democratic Movement (UDM) notes with sadness the tragic case in which the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) has held the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality liable for the death of a 17-month-old toddler who drowned in an open stormwater drain in Uitenhage in 2014. This heartbreaking incident is a stark reminder of the human cost of municipal neglect. For years, the UDM has consistently raised alarm over the collapse of infrastructure maintenance across municipalities in South Africa. The failure to maintain, secure, and inspect basic public infrastructure such as stormwater drains, sewerage systems, and roads has created daily hazards for our communities. In this case, evidence before the courts confirmed that residents had repeatedly reported the danger posed by the uncovered drain. The municipality’s failure to act, despite being warned, directly resulted in the needless death of an innocent child. No parent should have to bury their child because of government negligence. The UDM therefore calls on: 1. All municipalities to urgently audit their infrastructure, particularly stormwater systems, manholes, and open drains, and to secure or repair them without delay. 2. The Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) to strengthen oversight over municipalities and ensure consequences for negligent officials who ignore community warnings. 3. The South African Local Government Association (SALGA) to guide municipalities in implementing proactive maintenance systems to prevent further tragedies. The UDM further insists that municipalities must stop treating infrastructure maintenance as a secondary matter. It is a matter of life and death, and the SCA judgment has reaffirmed that municipalities have a legal and moral duty to protect the public. Our deepest condolences go to the family of the child who lost her life under such tragic circumstances. The UDM will continue to hold municipalities accountable until such preventable tragedies become a thing of the past.
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21 May, 2025
NMB MPAC Chair Luxolo Namette’s first session as chair shows integrity of leadership
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.
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19 May, 2025
UDM welcomes the launch of the white paper review on local government
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.
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03 May, 2025
UDM questions ACDP's silence on MPAC Chairperson's failures in Mtubatuba
Statement by Remington Mazibuko, Councillor in the Inkosi Mtubatuba Local Municipality and UDM KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Chairperson The United Democratic Movement (UDM) in Inkosi Mtubatuba Local Municipality calls on the African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP) in KwaZulu-Natal to urgently account for the failures of its member, Cllr Nonhlanhla Ncube, who currently chairs the Municipal Public Accounts Committee (MPAC). The MPAC, under Cllr Ncube’s leadership, has failed to exercise its critical oversight role, as confirmed by Council reports highlighting ongoing irregular expenditure and financial mismanagement in the Municipality. Despite these serious failings, Cllr Ncube has faced no consequences and attempts by the UDM to table a Motion of No Confidence in her leadership have been deliberately blocked. It is deeply disappointing that the ACDP, a party that claims to champion accountability and ethical leadership, has thus far remained silent on this matter. Their inaction raises serious questions about their commitment to clean governance. We ask: Will the ACDP continue to shield Cllr Ncube, or will it stand with the people of Mtubatuba who are suffering the consequences of failed oversight and collapsing service delivery? We therefore call on the ACDP to take the public into its confidence and clarify whether it supports accountability in local government, or whether it is content to ignore the dereliction of duty by one of its own. The residents of Mtubatuba deserve answers, not silence.
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03 May, 2025
UDM condemns medical negligence towards JMPD officer and calls for systemic accountability
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 is appalled and disturbed by the inhumane and unethical treatment of a Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) officer who was reportedly denied emergency medical care after being shot in the line of duty. We have noted with grave concern that Milpark Hospital allegedly refused to treat the officer - who had sustained two gunshot wounds to the upper body - citing an alleged municipal debt of R35 million. The City has since clarified that the actual outstanding amount is R3.9 million, with ongoing weekly payments being made. This discrepancy between fact and conduct highlights a systemic failure in both communication and healthcare ethics. This is not merely an administrative dispute. It is a gross violation of the constitutional right to life and access to emergency healthcare. That a frontline officer - injured while protecting residents of Johannesburg - could be subjected to such neglect is unacceptable and reprehensible. As the UDM, we firmly support the City's intention to lodge a formal complaint with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA). We further urge that this incident be treated not only as an ethical breach, but also as a test case for accountability in the private healthcare sector. No financial ledger should take precedence over a human life - especially the life of one who serves and protects the public. We also call on the Speaker of Council and relevant authorities to ensure that councillors refrain from issuing statements that are not grounded in verified facts. In moments of crisis, our collective responsibility is to provide clarity, not contribute to chaos. The UDM acknowledges the ongoing investigation by Group Forensic and Investigation Services (GFIS) and encourages full transparency in determining any possible administrative failings within the municipality. To the injured officer and their family, we extend our heartfelt prayers and unwavering support. Your service and sacrifice are valued. We trust that justice—both medical and moral—will be pursued with the urgency this matter demands. The UDM remains committed to upholding ethical governance, compassionate leadership, and unwavering respect for those who serve on the frontlines.
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02 May, 2025
Ongoing salary crisis in North West municipalities
Statement by Namhla Notshaya, Provincial Secretary of the UDM in North West The United Democratic Movement (UDM) in North West expresses its deep concern regarding the ongoing salary crisis affecting municipal workers across municipalities in the province. Recent reports indicate that many workers have faced significant delays in receiving their salaries. It has come to our attention that municipalities such as Ditsobotla, Mamusa, Maquassi Hills, and Lekwa-Teemane have consistently failed to meet their salary obligations, with some workers experiencing delays of more than two months. We stand in solidarity with the affected workers who have borne the consequences of these failures. While we recognise the importance of paying service providers, it is unacceptable to expect municipal workers to continue providing their labour without compensation. It is particularly troubling to hear accounts of workers being forced to borrow from loan sharks, leading them into a vicious cycle of debt. This crisis is a clear indication of poor financial management and governance at the municipal level, which must be addressed urgently. We urge the North West provincial government and municipal leadership to rectify this situation. Responsible governance should prioritise the welfare of municipal workers and ensure that their salaries are paid on time. The UDM in North West calls upon the provincial government to intervene in this crisis, ensuring that municipal workers receive their due salaries without further delay. The dignity and rights of workers must be upheld.
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29 Apr, 2025
UDM Nelson Mandela Bay condemns the brazen theft of municipal property in Deal Party
Statement by Luxolo Namette, UDM councillor in the Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality and Deputy Chairperson of the UDM in the Eastern Cape The United Democratic Movement (UDM) Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality condemns the shocking robbery that took place at a municipal depot in Deal Party, where armed criminals stole a truckload of tyres intended for public service vehicles. This audacious act of criminality, which occurred on Sunday night, is a clear sign of the growing lawlessness and the alarming deterioration of security measures at municipal facilities. It is unacceptable that public assets, which are meant to serve our communities, can be so easily stolen while the authorities fail to ensure their protection. The UDM wishes to commend the security guards who, despite being held at gunpoint, managed to promptly report the incident. However, this robbery raises serious questions about the effectiveness of the security arrangements at the depot. The municipality must explain what preventative measures were in place to protect these valuable assets, how armed criminals were able to access the premises so easily, and what immediate steps are being taken to recover the stolen goods and apprehend the perpetrators. We further demand that a full audit of municipal assets across all storage facilities be conducted to determine whether there have been other unreported incidents of theft. The public has a right to know the full extent of the losses and what actions are being taken to prevent any further incidents. The UDM calls on the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality to urgently review and strengthen its security protocols across all its facilities. Stronger safeguards must be implemented without delay to protect public property. We also call on the police to prioritise this investigation and bring the culprits to justice swiftly. The theft of public resources cannot become the norm. Municipal leaders must act decisively to restore public confidence and to ensure that the facilities and resources meant for the service of the people are not turned into easy targets for criminal elements.
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01 Apr, 2025
UDM victory: Buffalo City exposed over
Statement by Anele Skoti, United Democratic Movement Councillor and Whip in Buffalo City Metropolitan Council The United Democratic Movement (UDM) in the Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality (BCMM) welcomes the long-overdue accountability being demanded from BCMM bosses over the shocking mismanagement of public funds in the Mdantsane Swimming Pool project, which we have dubbed the "money pool". For years, the UDM has been at the forefront of exposing this scandal. Our party has conducted multiple site visits, raised concerns over the wasteful expenditure and consistently pushed for transparency. The recent grilling of BCMM officials by Parliament’s Standing Committee on Public Accounts (Scopa) confirms what we have been saying all along that millions of Rands have been looted while the community remains without a functioning swimming pool. The forensic report, which BCMM leaders attempted to suppress, reveals shocking details: • Over R56.9 million spent on the project between 2012 and 2024 with little progress. • An additional R14.5 million proposed for rehabilitation and completion, bringing the total to over R71 million. • More than 60 companies, some linked to BCMM officials, received payments. • R13.7 million paid to 46 service providers who were not involved in the project. Despite this damning evidence, BCMM leaders, including Mayor Princess Faku, have failed to take responsibility. The decision to withhold the forensic report under the pretext of an ongoing Hawks (Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation) investigation was a blatant attempt to protect those implicated in corruption. The UDM applauds Scopa’s demand that the report be tabled urgently and handed over to both the Hawks and the Special Investigating Unit. The UDM will not rest until those responsible for this financial disaster are held accountable. We demand immediate action against corrupt officials, full disclosure of the forensic report to the public, and an end to the culture of looting that has crippled service delivery in BCMM. Mdantsane. Buffalo City residents deserve better.
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05 Aug, 2020
Is dissolution of executive, in favour of a caretaker, not the answer to corruption?
Media release by Mr Bantu Holomisa, MP and UDM President To put things in perspective the start of South Africa’s steady descent into the depths of dishonesty and exploitation was Sarafina II, what followed was the Arms Deal, Oilgate, Travelgate, as well as the Chancellor House/Hitachi deal. Then it was Transnet, Prasa, VBS, PIC, relationships with the Gupta family, to name but a few headliners and most recently, the alleged corruption involving the R500 billion Covid-19 relief fund, which took an already despicable practice to new moral lows. How can the people of this country believe Ace Magashule when he says his party is “outraged and deeply embarrassed” by acts of corruption allegedly committed by some of its members and leaders in Covid-19 procurement across the country? Tenderpreneurship, (ab)using ties with family and/or friends, is certainly not new. South Africa has reeled from one scandal to another and the African National Congress (ANC) National Executive Committee (NEC) saw nothing wrong, and has, for years, allowed the comrades in corruption to perfect their craft. Now, suddenly, the ANC NEC woke up to the idea that, even if its legal to benefit at a suffering people’s expense, which has been its primary defence in the past, it is unethical. If it had not been for the Covid-19 experience, things would have merrily continued… as it turns out, some corruption are worse than others. Cadre deployment, as well as factional infighting, have paralyzed the state completely. That said, after a quarter of a century’s worth of corruption, the truth of the matter is that the governing party is incapable of rooting out corruption. Not only because of a lack of political will, but mainly because its entire leadership is tainted, and it is impossible for the accused to preside over the investigation, trial and punishment. Maybe the time is ripe for South Africans to consider, and debate, something a little more drastic i.e. should they not demand that the executive arm of government be dissolved and be replaced by a caretaker administration until the 2024 National and Provincial Elections? Such a structure could be comprised of representatives from civil society and the judiciary; with no political component. Parliament must be kept in place to play its crucial oversight role. Part of its mandate should be to develop legislation to specifically, and definitively, deal with corruption and the recovery of taxpayers’ stolen monies, as well as drafting a white paper on what kind of local government system this country requires as our current system is failing the people. Resuscitating our economy should be at the top of such a caretaker government’s agenda, as well as a review of the Chapter 9 institutions and addressing our collapsing infrastructure and waste management (our country is dirty). Issued by: Mr Bantu Holomisa, MP UDM President
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10 Feb, 2020
Dissent voices on SOEs by top leadership is disheartening!
The United Democratic Movement takes note on contradicting statements issued over the weekend by the President of the ruling party and his National Person on the ailing state-owned entity the South African airways. The President, Mr Cyril Ramaphosa insisted that SAA will not be sold or shut down and within hours the chairperson, Mr Gwede Mantashe told the nation that this entity should be shut down if it does not make profit. The ANC recently had a lekgotla, and they had promised the nation that the issue at SAA was going to be discussed, but from these statements one may conclude that there was no discussion, if there was, no agreement was reached as to how this important would be made viable. If it is like this at SAA, what about the other SOE’s? Seemingly the ruling party does not have a strategy to make these SOE’s to operate as companies that sustain themselves. The ANC is in the about what needs to be done to save these SOEs. This might be the reason why the rescuing practitioners of SAA are now dictating terms on how the entity should operate hence certain domestic and international routes had to be abruptly stopped without the approval government. This has turned South Africa a banana republic. The State Owned Enterprises need a decisive leadership and intervention not what it is being heard, that is, dissenting voices of the senior leaders of the ruling party and the government. The majority if not all SOEs are currently in the Intensive-care unit (ICU), they are not making any profit. These SOEs are supposed to be contributing to the GDP of the country yet they are a liability. This is a biggest shame. How long will the hard-earned money of taxpayer’s money keep saving these SOEs? The problem with ruling party is for it to admit that cadre deployment is killing these SOEs and it is afraid to take drastic actions as it does not want to lose support from their comrades who are somehow being compensated for failing to make it to parliament or provincial legislatures. This must stop if South Africa is be made a winning nation. Issued by: Bongani Msomi UDM Secretary General
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06 Apr, 2019
#ShutAlexandraDown civil protests is the ANC’s legacy
The United Democratic Movement (UDM) has noted the volatile situation in Alexandra, Johannesburg. Much of this unhappiness stems from the African National Congress’ (ANC) misuse of billions of Rands allocated to the Alexandra renewal project during the era of former President Thabo Mbeki. RDP houses in Alexandra Extension 7, were apparently sold to non-South Africans and this explosive situation has the potential to spill over to xenophobic attacks. In addition, the ANC had relegated hundreds of families to live in shacks in the informal settlements, depriving them from living a life of dignity and prosperity. The irony is that the ANC is leading this protest, using it for electioneering at the expense of the poor residents. The ruling party has done this country immeasurable damage with its don’t care attitude. Come 8 May 2019, the electorate must make an enlightened decision and should not vote for it. Issued by: Cllr Thandi Nontenja UDM Councillor in the City of Johannesburg
