Admin
13 Oct, 2025
Heartbreak on South Africa’s roads: safety of passengers should never be overlooked
Statement by Zandile Phiri, Acting Secretary General of the United Democratic Movement The United Democratic Movement (UDM) is deeply saddened by the devastating loss of lives following the shocking bus accident that occurred on the N1 North, near Ingwe Lodge in Limpopo, yesterday, and the taxi accident that left 18 children injured on the N3 highway near the Mariannhill Toll Plaza in KwaZulu-Natal this morning. Our thoughts and sincere condolences go out to the grieving families, survivors, and everyone affected by these painful incidents. These tragedies are a tender reminder of how fragile life is. Moments of national sorrow such as these remind us of the ongoing challenges facing our transport systems. Every journey, whether short or long, depends on a transport network that must be both reliable and safe. Consequently, we must confront the conditions that allow some of these accidents to happen. South Africa’s transport infrastructure and enforcement mechanisms must be strengthened as a matter of urgency. It is imperative to have regular and consistent vehicle inspections to determine the roadworthiness of cars, buses, taxis, and scholar transport vehicles. Equally important is ensuring that drivers transporting passengers, particularly schoolchildren, hold valid Professional Driving Permits (PrDPs) and comply fully with all safety requirements. Regular vehicle inspections and strict adherence to roadworthiness standards are critical in preventing such tragedies. The safety of passengers should never be overlooked. As a country, we must continue to strengthen our transport infrastructure and promote a culture of safety and accountability. These tragic incidents should compel authorities to prioritise transport safety and to reinforce monitoring systems. Such measures are essential to a broader national commitment to safeguarding lives on our roads.
Admin
13 Oct, 2025
No more raw deals: UDM calls for industrialisation through beneficiation
Statement by Nqabayomzi Kwankwa, MP, UDM Deputy President and Leader in Parliament The United Democratic Movement (UDM) welcomes the growing national recognition that South Africa can no longer afford to export its mineral wealth in raw form. Mining expert David van Wyk, senior researcher at the Bench Mark Foundation, has echoed what the UDM has consistently maintained: that sending our raw minerals abroad while importing finished goods back at high prices is economic madness that robs South Africans of jobs, skills, and industrial capacity. We also note that President Ramaphosa and Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy Gwede Mantashe have recently begun echoing the same arguments that the UDM has advanced for decades. It seems that government has at last cottoned onto our long-standing policy vision that beneficiation is not a slogan but the foundation for a self-reliant and inclusive economy. However, beneficiation cannot succeed through rhetoric alone. It requires practical readiness and firm commitment to implementation. South Africa needs affordable and reliable electricity, efficient rail and port systems, well-maintained roads and water infrastructure, sustained investment in research and technology, sound legislative frameworks, and policy certainty that inspires confidence among responsible investors. Without these foundations, talk of industrialisation will remain hollow. These are not new insights; they are the very obstacles the UDM has been raising in Parliament and in public since the late 1990s. In particular, the UDM reiterates that the revival of the national rail network is central to any beneficiation strategy. Rail is the backbone of mineral logistics, yet years of neglect, theft, and mismanagement at Transnet have crippled our ability to move bulk commodities cost-effectively. The UDM calls for an urgent rail recovery plan that includes modernisation of freight corridors, tighter security along strategic lines, and partnerships with the private sector and neighbouring states to open regional export routes. Without a reliable and affordable rail system, the promise of beneficiation will remain out of reach and South Africa will continue to lose billions to inefficiency and road damage. The UDM calls for the following: 1. Compulsory and measurable beneficiation targets that ensure South Africa no longer exports its wealth in raw form. This must be backed by reliable and affordable electricity, functioning transport networks, and a modern rail system capable of carrying bulk commodities and finished products efficiently. 2. A phased and strategic approach to export controls that links any restrictions or taxes to proven domestic readiness. Government must first fix energy, rail, and port infrastructure before introducing policies that could undermine mining operations or investment. 3. Focused public incentives for companies that process minerals locally, including tax relief, concessional financing, and access to industrial zones. These incentives must reward firms that create jobs, invest in new technology, and commit to training South African workers. 4. Concrete benefit-sharing for mining communities through local procurement, infrastructure investment, social facilities, and ownership opportunities. The people living alongside mines must see tangible improvements in their daily lives as part of beneficiation policy. 5. An urgent national rail recovery and modernisation plan to rebuild Transnet’s freight capacity, strengthen security against theft and vandalism, and link mining areas to ports and industrial hubs across the SADC region. Efficient rail transport will reduce road damage, lower logistics costs, and unlock regional trade potential. 6. A coordinated governance structure that brings together the Departments of Mineral Resources and Energy, Trade, Industry and Competition, Public Enterprises, Transport, and Science and Innovation. This structure must track progress, align funding, and report annually to Parliament on beneficiation outcomes. For too long, South Africa’s mineral riches have been a blessing squandered. Beneficiation offers a path to rebuild our industries and restore dignity to our people. The Government of National Unity must now prove that it governs for South Africans, not for exporters and elites.
Admin
13 Oct, 2025
Growing Minds scandal exposes Western Cape’s education blind spot
Statement by Bulelwa Zondeka, Chairperson of the UDM in the Western Cape The United Democratic Movement (UDM) in the Western Cape is deeply concerned by revelations that the Growing Minds Summerfield campus in Gardens, in the inner-city of Cape Town, has been operating high school grades without proper registration. Parents who enrolled their children in good faith have now discovered that the school’s learners were not recorded on the national Centralised Education Management Information System (CEMIS), and that their children’s matric futures are now in jeopardy. This incident exposes a disturbing failure of governance and oversight within the provincial education system. It is unacceptable that a school could operate for years beyond the grades for which it was registered, without detection or intervention from the Western Cape Education Department (WCED). The WCED’s reactive posture, intervening only after parents raised alarm, shows the dangers of a fragmented and complaint-driven regulatory system. The WCED’s official response, which shifts the responsibility onto parents to verify a school’s registration, is wholly inadequate and deeply misleading. The Department claims it “encourages all parents who are considering an independent school to first ensure that the school is registered for the grades offered.” Yet there is no publicly accessible database through which parents can make such verification. Expecting parents to act as investigators while the state withholds basic information is unreasonable and negligent. The fact that Growing Minds expanded from Grade 7 to Grade 11 as far back as 2022, and that the WCED only “became aware” in 2024, speaks volumes about the Department’s weak inspection systems. Oversight that depends on parental complaints rather than proactive monitoring is not oversight at all; it is abdication of duty. The UDM in the Western Cape reiterates that education is not a private enterprise but a public trust. When schools operate outside the law, it is learners and families who pay the price. This incident should be a wake-up call for the province and the nation to strengthen the integrity of our school registration and monitoring systems. The UDM in the Western Cape therefore calls for: 1. A comprehensive investigation by the WCED into how Growing Minds Summerfield was allowed to expand illegally, and whether departmental officials failed in their duties of inspection and enforcement. 2. The urgent creation by the WCED and the Department of Basic Education (DBE) of a public, online national register of all registered schools, clearly indicating accreditation status, curriculum, and approved grades, so that parents can verify information easily. 3. The DBE, as the custodian of CEMIS, to ensure that learner registration on CEMIS is mandatory and enforced in all provinces, with compliance audits conducted quarterly in collaboration with provincial departments. 4. The DBE, Umalusi and provincial education departments to jointly develop a School Closure and Learner Transfer Protocol to protect learners whenever a school’s registration is withdrawn or discontinued. The UDM in the Western Cape believes that quality education begins with strong oversight, transparency, and accountability. The Western Cape prides itself on high standards, yet incidents such as this one reveal an alarming blind spot in the provincial Education Department’s supervision of independent schools. Oversight must be proactive, not reactive. The UDM in the Western Cape calls on Education MEC David Maynier to take full responsibility for addressing these systemic weaknesses and to present to the Provincial Legislature within 30 days a plan outlining measures to prevent a repeat of this scandal. Learners’ futures cannot depend on parental vigilance alone. Education is a constitutional right, not a commercial experiment. We will continue to monitor this case closely and stand with affected parents in demanding justice and reform.
Admin
12 Oct, 2025
South Africa’s kidnapping epidemic: it can happen to anyone
Statement by Zandile Phiri, Acting Secretary General of the United Democratic Movement The United Democratic Movement (UDM) is deeply disturbed by the growing wave of kidnappings that continues to grip our country. In the most recent case, a man was rescued on the R80 highway in Tshwane from a vehicle whose occupants were found with blue lights, firearms, and clothing marked with police insignia. This shocking incident shows how criminals now exploit public trust in law enforcement to entrap and terrorise innocent citizens. For the UDM, this crisis is not an abstract statistic. In June last year, our Deputy President, Nqabayomzi Kwankwa, was abducted in Driftsands while on his way to Cape Town. He was tied up, robbed, and released only after a ransom was paid. That experience reminded us that in today’s South Africa, it truly can happen to anyone, public figures and ordinary people alike. Research and police data confirm that only a small fraction of kidnappings involve long-term ransom demands. The overwhelming majority occur during hijackings and armed robberies where victims are restrained, forced to withdraw money, or used to access bank accounts. These short, opportunistic abductions, known as express kidnappings, are now among the most common forms of the crime. It is reported that on average, two such incidents take place in South Africa every day. A particularly cruel development is the growing use of forced ransom calls. Victims are often made at gunpoint to phone their families or employers and demand payment for their own release. What begins as a robbery or hijacking quickly turns into extortion, as kidnappers blend methods to maximise profit and fear. Families are thrown into panic, transferring whatever funds they can while the perpetrators vanish before police can respond. This shows how organised and ruthless these syndicates have become. Women and girls are among the most frequent and vulnerable victims of these crimes. Many are abducted while commuting, working, or attending school, and face the added dangers of sexual assault, trafficking, and gender-based violence. The trauma inflicted on women and children extends beyond the individual, leaving entire families and communities living in fear. Addressing kidnapping therefore also means confronting the broader crisis of violence against women and girls in our society. The rise of blue-light gangs, fake police operations, and express kidnappings paints a grim picture of a country where safety can no longer be taken for granted. This crisis demands urgent and coordinated action. If criminals can so easily impersonate law enforcement, how are South Africans supposed to know who to trust on the road? Citizens should never have to fear that stopping for a flashing light could cost them their lives. Government must urgently review the visibility, identification, and conduct of genuine police officers, including clear roadside verification systems, properly marked vehicles, and public education on how to confirm an officer’s identity without putting oneself in danger. The UDM calls for: 1. A national crackdown on blue-light gangs and police impersonation, with full accountability for anyone found complicit or negligent and stricter control over the sale and use of sirens, uniforms, and police-branded apparel. 2. The strengthening of anti-kidnapping and crime-intelligence task teams in every province, with specialised capacity to respond to express and ransom kidnappings. 3. Comprehensive protection and psychosocial support for victims, especially women and girls, including trauma counselling, safe-house access, and integration with gender-based violence services. 4. Public education and safety-awareness campaigns to inform citizens about express kidnappings, blue-light stops, and what to do if a loved one is abducted or forced to make ransom calls. 5. Partnerships between law-enforcement agencies, banks, and mobile-payment platforms to detect suspicious withdrawals and transfers made under duress, supported by real-time alert systems and panic PIN technology. 6. Faster prosecution and harsher sentencing for kidnapping, extortion, and police impersonation, with dedicated prosecutors and priority dockets in the courts. 7. A national task force on kidnapping and organised crime, coordinated through Parliament and the Justice, Crime Prevention and Security Cluster, to drive reforms in intelligence, data sharing, and victim support. Kidnapping has become a daily threat to South Africans. It is no longer a crime of the few against the wealthy but a reflection of our broader failure to protect citizens and uphold the rule of law. The UDM calls on the Government of National Unity (GNU) to treat crime and public safety as a true national-security emergency. The GNU must show unity in action, not only in words, by restoring faith in policing, strengthening intelligence, and ensuring that every South African can live, work, and travel without fear. Our people deserve a government that makes their safety one of its primary priorities.
Admin
11 Oct, 2025
From protectors to perpetrators: robbery of foreign illicit cigarette traders
Statement by Stanley Manaka, Provincial Chairperson of the United Democratic Movement in Limpopo The United Democratic Movement (UDM) in Limpopo adds its voice to our national leadership’s growing alarm over the spread of illicit trade and criminal collusion within the state. The recent arrest of four police officers and a civilian for allegedly robbing an Ethiopian family in Mashishing (Lydenburg) of almost R1 million in cash and illicit cigarettes worth R1.5 million further illustrates the depth of this crisis. Limpopo shares multiple border gates with neighbouring countries, including Beitbridge, Groblersbrug, and Pontdrift; all of which remain vulnerable to cross-border smuggling, corruption, and organised criminal activity. The involvement of police officers in this crime shows how these syndicates are being enabled from within, eroding public trust and compromising national security. Reports confirm that the suspects used both marked and private vehicles, including a South African Police Service (SAPS) Flying Squad VW Golf, during the robbery. Investigators later recovered SAPS-issued firearms, ammunition, and a bulletproof vest, as well as tampered vehicle number plates and hidden cash. Such conduct by officers sworn to protect the public represents a grave betrayal of duty and a reflection of systemic failure in law enforcement oversight. At the same time, the incident exposes how South Africans and foreign nationals have become intertwined in criminal networks trading in illicit cigarettes, alcohol, and other contraband. While foreign nationals are often visible in these operations, local enablers, including corrupt officials, play an equally destructive role in sustaining this criminal economy. The UDM in Limpopo calls for urgent action. 1. The Department of Home Affairs and the Border Management Authority, under Minister Leon Schreiber, must reinforce all border points in Limpopo with well-trained and properly resourced border management units. 2. The Ministry of Defence and Military Veterans and the Ministry of Police must root out corruption within the ranks of the South African National Defence Force and the SAPS through transparent investigations, swift prosecutions, and the dismissal of all those found guilty of collusion or criminality. 3. The Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (the Hawks), the South African Police Service, the South African National Defence Force, and the South African Revenue Service must coordinate operations under the oversight of the Ministry of Justice and Correctional Services to effectively dismantle cross-border criminal networks. 4. Parliament’s Portfolio Committees on Defence, Police, Home Affairs, and Finance, together with the Limpopo Provincial Legislature, must intensify oversight of border management and defence operations to ensure transparency and accountability. 5. The Department of Communications and Digital Technologies, in partnership with local municipalities and civil society organisations, must launch community vigilance and awareness campaigns to expose smuggling networks and promote lawful, safe economic activity. This incident is not isolated. It forms part of a wider pattern that undermines the rule of law and endangers honest officers who continue to serve with integrity. Limpopo’s strategic position at the country’s northern gateway demands decisive action and visible leadership to restore order and credibility. The UDM in Limpopo aligns itself with the call made by the UDM at national level for stronger border control, anti-corruption reforms, and a coordinated fight against the criminal syndicates weakening South Africa’s governance and economy.
Admin
11 Oct, 2025
Scholar transport chaos a legacy of decades of ANC failure
Scholar transport chaos a legacy of decades of ANC failure Statement by Bulelani Bobotyane, Provincial Secretary of the UDM in the Eastern Cape Years of poor planning and neglect have turned the Eastern Cape’s scholar transport programme into a crisis that now threatens thousands of learners. The decision by the South African National Taxi Council (SANTACO) to suspend scholar transport from 13 October is the direct consequence of the Eastern Cape government’s continued failure to manage and fund this vital programme. This is not an isolated incident but the cumulative outcome of years of mismanagement under African National Congress (ANC) administrations that have consistently failed to prioritise education in this province. For more than a decade, provincial administration has ignored every warning about late payments, corruption, and systemic underfunding. The situation has now reached breaking point. Between 2022 and 2025 alone, the same problems have repeated year after year: • Operators go unpaid for months, leaving them bankrupt while learners are stranded. • In 2024 alone, 50 000 qualifying pupils were excluded from the programme because of budget shortfalls. • The Makhanda High Court ruled in December 2024 that the Departments of Education and Transport acted unconstitutionally by failing to provide scholar transport to all qualifying learners. • The 2025/2026 provincial budget of R800 million has already collapsed under pressure, with funds exhausted by October and scholar transport once again paralysed. • Investigations have revealed millions wasted on “ghost scholar” contracts while real children are left to walk dangerous distances to school. The right to basic education is immediately realisable under the Constitution. The Eastern Cape provincial government has a direct legal duty to provide safe and reliable transport to learners and cannot hide behind excuses of limited funds or administrative delay. Its repeated failure to comply with court orders and to budget adequately for scholar transport places it in clear violation of the Constitution and in potential contempt of the Makhanda High Court judgment. This ongoing neglect is a betrayal of the province’s learners and a breach of the public trust. The UDM in the Eastern Cape demands decisive provincial implementation to restore this critical programme: 1. The Premier must establish a dedicated Provincial Task Team to oversee full implementation of the Makhanda High Court judgment. 2. The MEC for Finance, Economic Development, Environmental Affairs and Tourism, the MEC for Transport and Community Safety, and the MEC for Education must table an emergency adjustment budget to close funding shortfalls and ensure that all payments are made within 30 days. 3. The Department of Transport must publish a transparent list of all verified operators, payment schedules, and outstanding invoices, and must immediately investigate and eliminate the so-called “ghost scholar” contracts that have drained millions from the programme. 4. The Provincial Treasury must ring-fence all scholar transport funds and prevent diversion to other programmes. 5. The Provincial Legislature’s Education and Transport Committees must conduct monthly oversight visits to monitor compliance, investigate allegations of fraud and mismanagement, and report publicly on progress. There can be no excuse for the Eastern Cape provincial government that once again fails its most vulnerable citizens. The children of the Eastern Cape deserve leadership that plans, pays, and delivers. The UDM in the Eastern Cape will continue to hold the provincial administration accountable until every qualifying learner has safe and reliable transport to school, not as a favour but as a right. This crisis is the direct legacy of the ANC’s decades of neglect and poor governance, which have left the province trapped in a cycle of underfunding, corruption, and administrative failure. As a partner in the Government of National Unity (GNU), the UDM in the Eastern Cape calls on Minister of Basic Education, Ms Gwarube, to intervene decisively. The Minister must ensure that the Eastern Cape government complies with the Makhanda High Court judgment and delivers on its obligations to learners and communities. The GNU cannot allow provincial failures to undermine national commitments to education. Minister Gwarube must demand accountability, enforce compliance with court orders, and ensure that public funds allocated for scholar transport are used transparently and efficiently to restore faith in government and uphold the constitutional right to education.
Admin
06 Oct, 2025
Urgent Inquiry into the expenditure and delays of the Upper and Lower uMkhomazi Water Projects
Mr Songezo Zibi, MP Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts PO Box 15 Cape Town 8000 Dear Chairperson and Members of SCOPA Urgent Inquiry into the expenditure and delays of the Upper and Lower uMkhomazi Water Projects 1. Introduction 1.1. The United Democratic Movement (UDM) writes to formally request that the Standing Committee on Public Accounts (SCOPA) institute a full inquiry into the expenditure, procurement processes and governance failures associated with the Upper and Lower uMkhomazi Water Projects. 1.2. In my understanding, the uMkhomazi development has always been envisaged as two complementary projects with distinct roles. The Upper uMkhomazi Water Project centres on the construction of the Smithfield Dam and a transfer tunnel into the uMngeni system, designed to secure bulk raw water for Durban, Pietermaritzburg and inland communities. The total costing reportedly R28 billion. By contrast, the Lower uMkhomazi Water Project is focused on potable water delivery, with a balancing dam, treatment works, and bulk pipelines intended to serve an estimated 50,000 households in southern eThekwini and the Ugu District, including Amanzimtoti, Umkomaas, Scottburgh and Hibberdene. 1.3. The Upper project is therefore about storage and transfer to the metropolitan supply, while the Lower project is about immediate, treated water supply to households along the coast. The latter project is valued at over R20 billion. The UDM did note the recent statement by Water and Sanitation Minister Pemmy Majodina that the Lower uMkhomazi scheme has reached over 60% completion, with key components such as the Ngwadini Dam, bulk pipelines and treatment works underway. 1.4. These projects, with a combined estimated value of R48 billion, are meant to secure water supply for both inland and coastal communities in KwaZulu-Natal . Instead, they have become emblematic of delays, disputes and dysfunction, leaving thousands of households without access to their constitutional right to water. 2. Problems and delays 2.1. The Upper uMkhomazi scheme, was originally projected to be completed by 2018. It has now been pushed back to 2032, a 14-year delay . Communities such as Tafelkop , west of Durban, have already lived with dry taps for more than 15 years and now face the prospect of another generation without water. 2.2. In 2022, the then Minister of Water and Sanitation noted that the Department is making efforts to deal with abandoned projects by resuscitating them and accelerating those that have been slow to implement. He admitted that in the past the Department struggled with weak project management, premature announcements of projects without proper planning or budgets, and failures to complete essential processes such as procurement. He added that steps are currently being taken to resolve these shortcomings. 2.3. The Lower uMkhomazi scheme, has a R7 billion tender was interdicted in court due to disputes about the adjudication process . This is not a minor administrative hiccup but a sign of systemic weaknesses in procurement governance. 3. Governance and procurement failures 3.1. The UDM is gravely concerned that: 3.1.1. Funding shortfalls have been allowed to derail timelines repeatedly, even though public money continues to flow into the projects. 3.1.2. Procurement disputes have resulted in costly litigation, effectively freezing delivery while contractors and departments fight in court. 3.1.3. Former Minister Senzo Mchunu made explicit commitments to resuscitate and fast-track these projects, commitments that have not been honoured. 3.1.4. Current leadership — Minister Pemmy Majodina and Deputy President Paul Mashatile — have yet to provide the public with clear milestones or an accountability framework for delivery on both projects. 3.2. Recent media reports highlight troubling governance lapses at uMngeni-uThukela Water (UUW), the implementing institution for the uMkhomazi schemes. A forensic probe by Strauss Daly found that Mr Khanyisani Stanley Shandu, Chairperson of UUW’s subsidiary, uMngeni Water Services (UWS), failed to fully declare his and his spouse’s interests in several companies, including one doing business with UUW. Following these findings, the UUW board removed Shandu from his roles as chairperson of UWS and member of its Capital Projects and Fixed Assets Committee. However, he remains a member of the main UUW board. Reports also note that Minister of Water and Sanitation Pemmy Majodina considered his removal in July 2024 but did not proceed. These red flags go beyond individual failings. They highlight systemic weaknesses in conflict-of-interest controls, related-party disclosures, procurement integrity, and executive oversight in the water sector. The fact that a senior figure implicated in such governance failures remains on the board of a critical water utility undermines public confidence in the stewardship of multi-billion-rand projects such as the Upper and Lower uMkhomazi schemes. For this reason, SCOPA’s potential inquiry cannot be limited to tracing financial flows alone. It must also scrutinise the fitness of governance structures and leadership at implementing institutions and assess whether ministerial oversight has been exercised effectively to protect the public interest. 4. Financial oversight concerns 4.1. The scale of investment is staggering: R48 billion committed, yet the tangible benefit for communities remains minimal. Parliament has no transparent breakdown of: 4.1.1. How much of this money has already been spent. 4.1.2. Which contracts have been signed and honoured. 4.1.3. The cost implications of court interdicts and legal wrangles. 4.1.4. The extent of waste, irregular expenditure, or overpayments over the years. 4.2. Without this clarity, the risk is that billions will continue to be consumed without producing a single drop of water for households. 5. Variations in project costs 5.1. Over the past decade, the projected cost of the Upper uMkhomazi project has escalated dramatically. As far back as 2015 and 2016, government admitted “affordability concerns”, with early estimates for project climbing into the range of R19 billion . In 2023 it was estimated to cost R23 billion by 2028 . In the most recent reporting from 2024 and 2025, figures as high as R26 billion have been cited. In her 100-days performance report, Minister Pemmy Majodina confirmed that the Department is pursuing the R28 billion Upper uMkhomazi project, including a new dam and transfer tunnel intended to supply eThekwini and surrounding municipalities. 6. Human impact 6.1. At the heart of this crisis are people. Communities west of Durban such as Tafelkop, and along the coast from Amanzimtoti to Hibberdene, remain without safe, reliable water despite living next to multi-billion-rand projects. 6.2. Families are forced to fetch water from rivers and streams. Children go to school without the guarantee of clean water at home. Clinics and local businesses operate under extreme constraints. The constitutional promise of access to sufficient water is being violated. 6.3. This is not simply a technical or financial issue. It is a matter of human dignity and social justice. 7. Request to SCOPA 7.1. The UDM therefore requests that SCOPA: 7.1.1. Launch a full inquiry into the expenditure on the Upper and Lower uMkhomazi Water Projects, with disclosure of every contract, payment, and variation order to date. 7.1.2. Summon former and current Ministers of Water and Sanitation, including Mr Senzo Mchunu, as well as the incumbent Minister Pemmy Majodina, to account for promises made, delays, and failures of oversight. 7.1.3. Call Deputy President Paul Mashatile to outline the role of the Infrastructure Fund and coordination mechanisms in preventing further waste. 7.1.4. Require National Treasury to provide a detailed account of funding allocations, affordability assessments and interventions since the start of the projects. 7.1.5. Examine the impact of court interdicts on the Lower scheme and recommend measures for expediting the resolution of procurement disputes, including interim service delivery arrangements so that communities are not left hostage to litigation. 7.1.6. Assess the human cost of these delays by inviting submissions from affected communities, civil society, and municipalities in eThekwini and Ugu. 7.1.7. Report quarterly to Parliament and the public on the progress of the inquiry and recommendations for corrective action. 7.1.8. Assess the fitness of leadership at uMngeni-uThukela Water and its subsidiaries, including the conduct of board members and the adequacy of ministerial oversight, to ensure that governance failures do not derail multi-billion-rand water projects 8. Conclusion 8.1. The Upper and Lower uMkhomazi schemes were meant to represent hope for communities long denied water. Instead, they have become symbols of how governance failures, procurement disputes and weak financial oversight can hollow out even the most important infrastructure projects. 8.2. SCOPA has a constitutional duty to ensure that every rand spent produces results. Water is life, and public money is sacred. The UDM urges SCOPA to take up this inquiry without delay, as a test of Parliament’s commitment to accountability and the protection of the rights of ordinary South Africans. Yours sincerely Ms Thandi Nontenja, MP United Democratic Movement Member of SCOPA
Admin
11 Oct, 2025
For ALL Women and Girls: equality cannot wait
Media Statement by Thandi Nontenja, MP and UDEMWO Secretary General The United Democratic Movement Women’s Organisation (UDEMWO) joins the global community in marking the International Day of the Girl under the theme For ALL Women and Girls. This year’s observance reminds us that genuine gender equality requires inclusion across class, race, geography, and generation. Across South Africa, girls continue to live between promise and prejudice. Women make up 51% of the population and head 42% of households, yet they remain underrepresented in the economy and leadership. Female unemployment stands at 33.9%, rising to 38% among Black African women, and women occupy less than a third of senior management positions. These figures reveal not a lack of talent but a failure of opportunity. Gender-based violence and femicide remain the most devastating expression of inequality in our country. South Africa continues to record some of the highest levels of violence against women and girls, turning homes and communities into unsafe spaces. This brutality reflects a deep moral and social crisis that demands urgent action. Laws alone are not enough; we need a justice system that acts swiftly, police who protect survivors with compassion, and communities that refuse to normalise abuse. UDEMWO continues to advocate for the denial of parole to those convicted of rape and the murder of women and girls, as a clear message that such cruelty will not be tolerated. Every woman and girl deserves to live without fear, and every act of violence must be met with justice. Cultural and social norms continue to hold girls back. Faith and culture are important sources of identity and guidance, but they should never be used to justify the subordination of women and girls. A recent study shows that seven in ten men believe women should obey their husbands, demonstrating the urgent need to reinterpret cultural norms in ways that promote equality and dignity for all. From villages to boardrooms, transformation must reach tradition. Traditional and religious leaders, families, men, and boys must work together to dismantle harmful stereotypes and build communities where girls’ dreams are nurtured and respected. UDEMWO believes that empowering girls begins with economic freedom, quality education, and bodily autonomy. Economic inclusion, from equal pay to access to finance for women-owned enterprises, is not charity; it is justice. It is also smart economics because when women and girls thrive, entire communities benefit. UDEMWO therefore calls for: 1. Equal investment in girls’ education, especially in rural and low-income communities. 2. Gender-responsive budgeting at all levels of government to fund programmes that directly improve the lives of women and girls. 3. Zero tolerance for gender-based violence and femicide, including the denial of parole for rapists and murderers of women and girls, and better support for survivors through policing, prosecution, and psychosocial care. 4. Partnerships with faith and traditional leaders to reinterpret cultural practices in ways that affirm equality and human dignity. 5. Economic inclusion and empowerment through equal pay, targeted support for women-owned enterprises, and access to credit and land. 6. Mentorship and leadership pathways for girls to enter science, politics, business, and community leadership. As we commemorate the International Day of the Girl, UDEMWO honours the courage of girls who, despite obstacles, refuse to be silenced. Their struggle is not separate from that of women; it forms its foundation. Our collective task is to ensure that every girl in every community can live and lead freely, safely, and equally. For ALL Women and Girls. Our future depends on it.
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