Admin
05 Dec, 2019
Call to keep South Africa rubbish-free over the Festive Season
As we approach the annual exodus where most South Africans return to their homes in the rural areas, and travel to holiday destinations, to take a rest period and celebrate the Festive Season, we are confronted with the usual littering along our roads. Travelers tend to throw garbage out of car and taxi windows, and this makes for an ugly sight, especially along our coastlines and heavily travelled routes e.g. Viedgesville to Coffee Bay/Hole in the Wall and Mthatha to Port St. John’s. Not only is this bad for our environment, but it negatively affects tourism. The United Democratic Movement (UDM) therefore call on all passengers and drivers alike to keep a container in their vehicles to dispose of rubbish inside the vehicles and then, to throw that away at the first bin marked for refuse at a rest stop. We call on people to not dispose of rubbish and building material at random spots along the roads at the outskirts of towns, but to take such rubble and waste to sites allocated for such disposal. Please go the extra mile and do the right thing. There is also a tendency of shop owners and businesses to dump packaging material, like cardboard boxes, on the pavements next to their premises. This must practice must come to an end. It is imperative that municipalities step-up their cleaning and waste disposal regime and double their efforts to keep our towns and cities clean over December and January. On 18 December, the UDM will drive a clean-up exercise in the King Sabata Dalindyebo (KSD) and Nyandeni municipalities and we invite all and sundry to take part. We have been in communication with the mayors, speakers and city managers of KSD and Nyandeni and call upon them to champion this initiative. We therefore ask that the managements in these municipalities make refuse bags and trucks available to assist in the cleaning process. Donations of bags and other cleaning materials are most welcome and shop owners and any private individuals are encouraged to contact us. We also appeal to truck and bakkie owners to take part in this clean-up drive. We call on councillors and the local communities to avail themselves and participate actively in this cleaning exercise. Released by: Mr Bantu Holomisa, MP
Admin
04 Dec, 2019
Gender-based violence: enough is enough!
The United Democratic Movement Women’s Organisation is disheartened about how these brutal killings are becoming a norm in our communities. Another young life lost, another bright future deprived. We cannot afford to have yet another hashtag with no action taken by the Police and other relevant departments including the Presidency. It is sad that women cannot live freely within our communities throughout South Africa, every day we read/hear of women being killed because men see women as sex objects. This behaviour is utterly disgusting. The UDEMWO calls on President Ramaphosa to take its call seriously by calling referendum on death penalty. Clearly the life sentences that being handed by the Courts, are not deterrent to these heinous crimes. Gomolemo Legae killed on the 1st of December, 2019 was just a young, innocent girl, a bright future awaited her, and right now she is no more. Kgaugelo Tshawe was also brutally killed few days just before the so-called 16 days of activism. Being a woman at this point in time in South Africa, you are just waiting to be a next victim. Why can’t we have 365 days of activism against women and children? What will it take for Government to act? How many more women must die before the government can act? Enough is Enough! The UDEMWO has written an open letter to President Ramaphosa on the 09-September-2019. We were hoping Mr President would speedily act on this, as women are under attack, the time for speeches and dialogues around this issue is over. We would like to see a government that implements change and not just talk about it. -end- Issued by: Ms Thandi Nontenja UDEMWO Secretary General
Admin
26 Nov, 2019
Member’s statement: Holomisa on United Kingdom visas
Honourable Speaker, For some time now the United Kingdom (UK) has required South Africans to apply for visas to visit the UK, because of that country’s security concerns. This includes the tedious requirement to obtain a transit visa to connect with flights to other countries. Yet, South Africa is still committed to freely welcome UK travellers and business-people to our shores. Rightly or wrongly, there seem to have been a taint of distrust of South Africans that arose around 2008/9. Much has changed since then, and one would argue that the time has come for the British and South African governments to reassess, and to alleviate a situation that by design unfairly penalises South Africans and virtually, still brands us (as a nation) as potential terrorists. The United Democratic Movement calls upon the South African government to sit down with their British counterparts to re-evaluate and to ascertain whether the reasons for their decision still stand. Also, the British government must please be requested to publish the details on where we are still failing. I thank you.
Admin
15 Nov, 2019
KwaZulu-Natal precarious weather
The United Democratic Movement would like to extend its heartfelt condolences to the families who had lost their loved ones in the past 3 days, due to the severe and dreich weather in the Province of KwaZulu-Natal. The Party also sympathises with the members of different communities that their properties were destroyed by adverse weather. Some of the havoc that has been witnessed like the over flooding along the N2 near the old International Airport can be blamed to the poor performance and negligence of the Department of Transport or SANRAL and eThekwini Municipality for failing to curb this from happening. This has been a problem from time immemorial whenever there are heavy rains. One does not need to be an engineer to realize that the drainage system that is there is not working The UDM calls on the Minister of Human Settlements, Lindiwe Sisulu and the KZN Provincial Government to give this matter an urgent attention and do whatever in their power to provide shelter and basic necessities to the communities that are affected by these hazardous weather conditions. All the victims that deserve to be helped must be assisted irrespective of their political affiliations as it has been happening in the past. A special plea is also made to all the motorists to be extra cautious on the roads by not putting their lives and of the passengers on danger, as seen on the videos that are circulating on Social Media. They must not dare the over flooded low bridges. It is dangerous. Lastly, the UDM proposes that the President of the Republic of South Africa, Mr Cyril Ramaphosa to declare State of Emergency to the ravaged districts in the Province. — end — Issued by: Mr Bongani Msomi UDM Secretary General
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14 Nov, 2019
Condolences with passing of Xhosa King Zwelonke Sigcawu
We have learnt with shock of the untimely passing of the AmaXhosa King Mpendulo Zwelonke Sigcawu. His death is a terrible loss for the Xhosa Nation and South Africa. King Zwelonke was an outspoken and independent individual who did not shy away from expressing his opinions – especially when things were not right in our country. On behalf of the United Democratic Movement and myself, I express our condolences with his family and the Xhosa people. May his soul rest in peace. Statement by: Mr Bantu Holomisa UDM President
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12 Nov, 2019
KZN provincial government is extravagant
The United Democratic Movement is perturbed by the news that the MEC for Education in the Province is using a hired motor vehicle for his official business that is costing taxpayers a whooping R100 000 per month. This is unbelievable if one considers that the ANC claims to be the government of the people and which represent the poorest of the poor. This is an illustration that the ANC led government does not practice what it teaches. The same government has made a lot of noise that it is going to do everything to save but look at this. This country is a now replica of Animal Farm. In five months’, time with this money a big luxurious motor vehicle in the range of a Toyota Fortuner can be easily bought. The big question that the UDM is asking, is this procurement of this hired motor vehicle in question a result of gross negligence or incompetence of officials or the department itself? Does this mean the motor vehicles of the state are not insured with a benefit of a provision of hired vehicles if it happened that they are booked for service or repairs? Courtesy cars should be available, This raises so much concern. The UDM KZN calls upon the Office of the Premier to do a proper investigation on this matter that will among other things find those involved who did not do their work. Whoever found wanting must pay back the money that has been spent unwisely. This is pure wasteful expenditure. End// Issued by: Boysey Gumede UDM-KZN Interim Provincial Secretary
Admin
06 Nov, 2019
A teacher dies: Keiskammahoek tragedy
The United Democratic Movement is disheartened by the sad news of the passing of an educator at Sivuyile Primary School in Keiskammahoek, Eastern Cape. The video of a heated argument between an Educator and a learner started circulating on social media late last week. The UDM is truly disappointed by this behaviour of the learner which is rapidly becoming a norm in our schools. The parents are to blame for allowing their children to take mobile phones to schools and the Department of Basic Education as well for failing to come to the rescue of the teachers who are subjected to the trauma of being abused by the learners. The teachers are not safe in schools and there is very little that they can do to instill discipline to rude learners. As a result of this emotional abuse they are exposed to, they end up being victims of depression. As of now, there are quite a number of educators whose attendance is regular because of the depression. The learners know it is not acceptable to bring phones in school premises but they continue to bring them because they are aware that the educators irrespective of whatever provocation there is very little that they can do. The learners have rights. An educator cannot confiscate a mobile phone from a learner in a classroom without being chastised. The UDM calls on the Eastern Cape Education MEC, Fundile Gade to take educators into confidence on his plan that he has that will prevent this from happening again. The death of this educator must be really a wake-up call for the education stakeholders and the Country as a whole. Many Educators are experiencing depression due to the conditions they undergo whilst on duty. May the Soul of the late Educator rest in eternal peace. Issued by: Mr Bongani Msomi UDM Secretary General
Admin
23 Oct, 2019
UDM reaction to Mmusi Maimane’s resignation
The past few days has certainly been interesting in terms of changes to the South African political landscape. Not only has senior leader, Herman Mashaba, announced that he can no longer remain a member of the Democratic Alliance (DA), now its federal leader Mmusi Maimane has resigned. The pressure brought on by Ryan Coetzee, Tony Leon and Michiel le Roux’s scathing report deprives the DA’s branches of an opinion on the matter. The tail seems to be wagging the dog. It seems as if the DA is showing its true colours; the project to transform the DA has taken a serious knock and I dare say, could now come to a grinding halt. Issued by: Mr Bantu Holomisa UDM President
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