Admin
18 Oct, 2013
The questionable conduct of the intelligence services: IEC lease agreements
Open letter to Siyabonga Cwele, Minister of Intelligence about the questionable conduct of the intelligence services: IEC lease agreements from Mr Bantu Holomisa, MP (UDM President) (8 March 2013) The above mentioned matter has reference. On the 3rd of October 2011, I wrote a letter to the office of the Public Protector requesting it to investigate suspected irregularities in the lease agreements of the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC). Afterwards I had a few meetings with the Public Protector, Advocate Thuli Madonsela to discuss progress. She sensitised us about her workload, but undertook to expedite the process. While still awaiting feedback from the Public Protector’s office, on the 27th of November 2012, I received an unclassified letter from Ms N.G. Bam, the Acting Director of the Domestic Branch of the State Security Agency of South Africa stating that: “Pursuant to media reports regarding alleged irregularities at the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), the state Security Agency (SSA) hereby requests a meeting with you to further discuss the matter at your earliest convenience. The State Security Agency views media reports surrounding the IEC in a serious light hence we request to engage with you.” I did not respond to Ms Bam’s letter due to reasons outlined below. Yesterday two officials from your Department, Mr Sello Motaung and Mr Mphuthumi Jekem, visited my office in Pretoria and asked for feedback on Ms Bam’s letter. Unfortunately, I was busy with Parliamentary work at the time of their visit. This morning I phoned Mr Jekem to follow-up on their visit. He told me that they had discussions with IEC Chairperson, Advocate Pansy Tlakula about my complaint to the Public Protector and are now interested to hear my side of the story. I refused to discuss the matter with him because it is still under investigation. There is something about this meeting request that does not sit well with me. Firstly, on what basis does your Department want conduct a parallel investigation? Secondly, if you “view matters surrounding the IEC on a serious light”, why do you not approach the institution that is busy investigating the matter for information? I am wondering whether this is not a precursor of how Government is going to operate once the Information Bill becomes law. I therefore call on your office to investigate this questionable conduct. Yours sincerely, Bantu Holomisa, MP UDM President
Admin
18 Oct, 2013
Follow-up letter on suspected irregularities: IEC lease agreements
Open letter to the Public Protector, Adv T Madonsela, from Mr Bantu Holomisa, MP (UDM President), regarding: Follow-up letter on suspected irregularities: IEC lease agreements (21 February 2012) Dear Advocate Madonsela The abovementioned matter has reference. On the 3rd of October 2011, I wrote a letter requesting the office of the Public Protector to investigate suspected irregularities in the lease agreements of the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC). I again wrote on 14 March 2012, almost a year ago, to make follow on the request. Some time thereafter we met at your offices in Pretoria, on 9 July 2012, to discuss progress. You sensitised us about your workload, but had undertaken to expedite the process. On 8 October 2012 you wrote to explain that your investigation team had been in the process of verifying information and investigating matters with other relevant role-players. The report was not ready. The delays in finalising this investigation raises concern; as it stands the matter has been with the Public Protector’s office for more than a year. Would you please give an indication of when you expect to finalise this investigation and publish your report. Yours sincerely Banmtu Holomisa, MP President of the United Democratic Movement
Admin
18 Oct, 2013
Lonmin Mine’s September 2012 salary increase agreement
Open letter to Mr Simon Scott, CEO of Lonmin Mine about Lonmin Mine’s September 2012 salary increase agreement from Mr Bantu Holomisa, MP (UDM President) (4 February 2013) The abovementioned matter has reference. In September last year the Management of Lonmin’s Marikana mine reportedly promises a pay rise offer of 22% to its mineworkers, ending six weeks of violent labour unrest that had devastating effects on the South African economy. However, nearly four months since this agreement was reached, I am inundated with calls from the mineworkers complaining about the fact the 22% salary increase is yet to reflect on their payslips. Mineworkers claim that they are still paid in accordance with the old salary agreement. It is common knowledge that respecting contractual agreements brings about trust and mutual respect in the workplace. However, the fact that the mineworkers already feel that the Management of Lonmin Mine does not respect their agreement increases the danger that the mineworkers could go on another wildcat strike, which would be more difficult to resolve because trust between the two parties would have broken down irrevocably. The United Democratic Movement (UDM) therefore calls on the Management of Lonmin Mine to look into and address the concerns of the mineworkers at its Marikana mine. Regards, Bantu Holomisa, MP UDM President
Admin
18 Oct, 2013
Calling on the SACC to intervene in the looming mining sector crisis
Open letter to Reverend Mautjie Pataki Secretary of the South African Council of churches (SACC) calling on the SACC to intervene in the looming mining sector crisis from Mr Bantu Holomisa, MP (UDM President) (17 January 2013) I write this letter to ask for the South African Council of Churches’s (SACC’s) intervention in Anglo American’s plan to restructure its platinum mines, which will result in the retrenchment of thousands of mineworkers. I have over the past few days said that this will have devastating consequences for our people and the South African economy at large. There is widespread belief that these retrenchments are nothing other than a calculated strategy to get rid of the mineworkers who were involved in the wildcat strikes in the mining sector last year. There is also belief that this is an attempt to purge all the workers who have left the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) for rival unions. Apparently, this is to reward NUM for its docility and pliant conduct by protecting its status as the biggest union in the mining sector. The South African Council of Churches played a leading role in the resolution of the industrial dispute in the mining sector last year. We are therefore calling on the SACC to again intervene in the looming retrenchments in the platinum sector We further call on you to request a meeting with President Zuma to ask him to put an end to the crisis in the mining sector, as the threats of mineworker retrenchments were brought to the attention of Government as early as last year. The SACC should request the South African Chamber of Mines to share with the public the extent of the losses the mines incurred during the wildcat strikes. A committee of experts should then be tasked to scrutinise and verify the figures for the public in order to dispel any suspicion of hidden agendas. In the event that the mines incurred losses during the period in question, we should propose that Government gives bailout packages to the sector. However, the sector should be expected to pay back these packages as soon as its financial position improves. Kind Regards, Bantu Holomisa, MP UDM President
Admin
17 Oct, 2013
Dirco DG Matjila on special leave; multi-faceted forensic audit required
Dirco DG Matjila on special leave; multi-faceted forensic audit required statement Mr Bantu Holomisa (UDM President) (20 September 2013) We welcome the news that the Director General (DG) of the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO), Mr Jerry Matjila, has been placed on special leave following the United Democratic Movement’s (UDM) exposure of alleged irregular expenditure to the tune of half a billion rand of the African Renaissance and International Co-Operation Fund (ARF). Apparently the DIRCO DG, who is the accounting officer for the ARF, acted with the blessing of the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ms Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, as well that of President Zuma. The only way to get to the bottom of this mess is for a forensic audit to be instituted; it cannot merely be a departmental investigation which, we hear, has been mooted by the Minister. The UDM believes that an audit team consisting of National Treasury, the Auditor General, the Hawks, the National Intelligence Agency and Interpol must be constituted to do justice to any investigation of the alleged irregular expenditure. The Public Service Commission, whose task it is to investigate, monitor, and evaluate the organisation and administration of the Public Service, should also be involved in determining the DG’s fate.
Admin
17 Oct, 2013
UDM calls for McCord rescue
UDM calls for McCord rescue – statement by Mr Bongani Msomi (UDM Secretary General) on 19 September 2013 The news that a prominent hospital in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) will be closing its doors soon is very saddening news. The McCord Hospital has an excellent track of sterling service, and has a pivot role to play in the fight against the HIV/AID epidemic and related diseases, due to its strategic location. KZN can ill afford to lose such a credited health facility, which is still so relevant to the health of our nation. The closure will also result in workers losing their jobs, with many of them having special skills and expertise, thus making it even more challenging for them to find employment, and on the flip side of that coin, making the loss of their services an incredible blow to the communities they serve. It will be worse to those who are just general workers. They are all breadwinners. The UDM makes a clarion call to the board of McCord Hospital and the KZN government to make an eleventh hour rescue in service of the people.
Admin
17 Oct, 2013
Minister Nzimande’s failure to address problems at the Walter Sisulu University
Member’s Statement by Mr Nqabayomzi Kwankwa, MP and UDM Deputy Secretary General, in the National Assembly regarding Minister Nzimande’s failure to address problems at the Walter Sisulu University is jeopardising futures of Eastern Cape youth The United Democratic Movement (UDM) is very concerned about the manner in which Government and the Minister of Higher Education are handling the crises at Walter Sisulu University (WSU). If not for the intervention of civil society, under the leadership of the South African Council of Churches, the current crisis would have escalated beyond the point of no return. It is an indictment of Minister Nzimande that our President had to dispatch Minister Chabane to clean up his colleague’s backyard. However, after an agreement was reached to end the seven-week long strike, we hear that classes are disrupted yet again. The allegations are that Government is negotiating in bad faith and has reneged on its promises. The UDM is of the view that the Minister Nzimande has failed to attend to the WSU challenges, which include, but are not limited to: Not intervening in the labour dispute timeously; Not reporting on his Departments’ turn-around strategy for the university; Whether its budget allocation is adequate; Whether the salaries of academics and workers are competitive; Allegations are that local companies are overlooked for university business; Whether the merger of various institutions has delivered the desired results. The UDM calls on Government to urgently resolve the crises at WSU, because a day lost in a student’s learning, is a day too many.
Admin
17 Oct, 2013
Time is now for Tripartite Alliance to be disbanded
Time is now for Tripartite Alliance to be disbanded – statement by Mr Bongani Msomi (UDM Secretary General) on 18 September 2013 The UDM cannot but state the obvious, which is that the foundation of the Tripartite alliance is visibly shaking, and partners are feeling uncomfortable with this marriage of convenience. The common enemy, Apartheid, has been defeated, leading to a situation where the alliance is no longer relevant. The ANC’s appointment of their deputy president, Cyril Ramaphosa is a clear indication that the ANC is nonchalant about this alliance. Ramaphosa himself shows his true colours, through actions such as purchasing a buffalo for a staggering R12.5mil, when there was a problem at Lonmin. He is also the wrong man for this job as he does not care about the workers. The bottom line is that Cosatu is suffering at the hands of the ANC, the latter has weakened Cosatu by absorbing its leaders to government departments or institutions. This must stop. The UDM reiterates is call that the time is now for the tripartite alliance to be disbanded.
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