Admin
09 Mar, 1999
Murder of UDM members in the Western Cape
Statement by the National Deputy Secretary The UDM is deeply disturbed by the killing of three of its members in the Western Cape, during the past 24 hours. The President of the UDM together with all UDM leaders and members of the party would like to express its deepest sympathy to the families of the deceased, the wounded and the community. The political intolerance that is demonstrated through these kind of brutal actions is unacceptable in a young, fragile developing democracy like our own. The systematic killings of UDM leaders remind one of the assassinations of IFP leaders in KwaZulu Natal before the 1994 elections. All political parties and role players in democracy must condemn political connected incidents such as these in the strongest possible terms. The ANC as governing party must be careful to point fingers and allocate blame like they did yesterday morning after the killing of an ANC councillor. All political parties, including the governing party, should display maturity and responsibility in dealing with such sensitive matters. By making wild and unsubstantiated allegations, the lives of innocent people are put in danger. The UDM is perturbed by the threat that these type of actions so early in the campaign holds for the possibility of running free and democratic elections. The UDM calls on all political parties, the Independent Electoral Commission and institutions of civil society, committed to democracy, to speak out against these kinds of actions. The UDM asks that you add your voice to ours in calling for an independent investigation into these and other related incidents. Every victim is a reminder of our failure as democrats to act decisively with these matters, failing our responsibility to develop and protect democracy in South Africa. The UDM will work tirelessly in achieving free democratic activity in our country. We will not fail the electorate. Tomorrow, Wednesday 10 March, the President of the UDM, Bantu Holomisa will visit the families of the victims and address the community. He will meet with the police investigating these brutal killings and will raise with them the community and our concern of bias actions by the police.
Admin
03 Mar, 1999
UDM’s response to election announcement
Statement by Bantu Holomisa UDM President The UDM welcomes the announcement of the election date. It gives certainty, allows for proper planning, and gives parties time to inform the electorate about their policies. We hope the elections will be free and fair and that tolerance will be practiced, in the run up to the elections, on Election Day and after the results have been made public. The UDM calls on the IEC to stick to their timetable to ensure that the elections are run properly. All role players, (i.e.) political parties, IEC, Government, and the media should go into the election realising our democracy is still young and fragile and must be handled with care. The elections and the run up to the elections will contribute to the development of our young democracy.
Admin
03 Mar, 1999
Independent commission of inquiry: KwaZulu-Natal
Statement by Bantu Holomisa UDM President The announcement by Minister for Safety and Security that he is requesting Minister of Justice, Dullah Omar to appoint an Independent judicial Commission of Inquiry into the violence in KZN is welcomed by the UDM. Since July 1998, the UDM has been calling for an Independent Judicial Commission of Inquiry into the root causes of the violence in KZN. The life of the late Secretary General of the UDM, Sifiso Nkabinde and many other innocent victims could have been saved did the ANC then adhered to this call. Though it is late in the day, we are glad that reason at last prevails in the governing party regarding this very sad situation. The scope of work of this commission should not be limited to come up with preventative measures. It should definitely investigate and provide answers to the question of who were behind this spiral of violence. We need to have a full picture of the situation in KZN in order to understand it completely. Preventative measures will not succeed unless the perpetrators of these horrendous crimes and their ruthless masters are brought to book. Not investigating the past cycle of violence and who were behind it raises questions about who it is that government would like to protect?
Admin
25 Feb, 1999
Statement by Sipo Mzimela upon expulsion from the IFP
As you already know, yesterday I was expelled from the IFP and all its organs with immediate effect. My expulsion was prompted by my insistence that party matters must be handled in free and open discussion. The IFP culture is one of blindly following whatever Chief Gatsha Buthelezi says. The so-called disciplinary hearing lasted approximately 30 minutes. My accusers were not the normal disciplinary committee. They were a specially assembled panel of seven Buthelezi henchmen who made up their minds to expel me before the hearing. As a result I saw no reason to contest their decision. There are some who feel I should have rejoined the ANC. Such a step would prove untenable since the IFP will most likely become a surrogate of the ANC after the elections. After due consultation with my family, friends, and advisors I have decided to join the United Democratic Movement, convinced that this is the party that represents a NEW BEGINNING. The majority of South Africans still need to be liberated from various forms of oppression – violence, intolerance, poverty, ignorance, etc. South Africa needs a new value system to guide her into the 21st century and beyond. In my view, the UDM is well placed to create and lead the new South Africa.
Admin
25 Feb, 1999
NIA involvement in PAGAD
Statement by Bantu Holomisa UDM President The revelations of the involvement of a NIA agent in PAGAD is shocking and alarming. It requires immediate explanation and independent investigation. The sudden rush by government to come up with laws against urban terrorism becomes under these circumstances very suspicious. From this incident, it appears as if NIA as a security arm of government is actually sponsors of incidents of urban terrorism. The question that needs answering, if one looks at the bigger picture is in whose interest is NIA working? Did they have prior knowledge of attacks of urban terror? Did they know about the threats against the lives of police personnel? In the fight against crime we should have one law enforcement agency and that agency should be working in the interest of South Africa as a whole and not in the interest of one group. Allegations of drug trafficking by certain members of government has been leveled – and inconceivable in the light of NIA involvement with PAGAD one can not but wonder who is threatened and who is protected. Under the ANC government the line between personal interest and the interest of the state and its people, became blurred. Is there any difference between the previous government’s third force activities and what is happening now? The ANC government must come clean on this issue and the only way is through an independent and transparent commission of inquiry.
Admin
25 Feb, 1999
University of Durban Westville – demonstrations on campus
Statement by UDM KwaZulu-Natal Acting Chairperson It is the democratic right of students to demonstrate peacefully, they must not disrupt classes or fellow students who want to attend lectures. For students to demonstrate, they must have a strong reason. If they have failed their exams, and if they have not paid their fees, there is no place for so called “students” at higher tertiary institutions. They are wasting tax payer’s money. We encourage students to continue their studies and empower themselves with knowledge for the future. It is the responsibility of each student to pay their university fees, and they must study hard to pass their exam. We would like the Vice Chancellor of the University of Westville to tell the public: How many students are demonstrating? What are their reasons for demonstrating? What the University plans to do about the demonstrating students? How is the University going to protect students who want to attend classes?
Admin
17 Feb, 1999
Evidence regarding the assassination of Sifiso Nkabinde
Statement by the National Deputy Secretary Following speculations of arrests and evidence received regarding the assassination of Sifiso Nkabinde, the UDM would like to put forward the following information. A man came to the UDM offices in Pietersburg claiming that he was involved in the assassination of Sifiso Nkabinde. A Videotape of his evidence as well as a sworn affidavit was taken down from the individual. In his evidence, he also said that attacks were planned against other leaders of the UDM. The UDM views this in a serious light. The video together with the sworn affidavit were handed over to Advocate MacAdams, the head of the special investigating team appointed to investigate the assassination of Sifiso Nkabinde. The individual who came forward with the evidence was also cross-questioned by the investigating team. The UDM expects of the police to deal with this and all other leads in a serious manner. All evidence that can lead to the arrest of the perpetrators of this crime must be followed up. We will accept nothing less from the investigating team and the police. The UDM refers all enquiries regarding the evidence back to Advocate MacAdams of the Attorney General’s Office in KwaZulu Natal. It remains in the end the responsibility of the Criminal justice System and all its components to see to it that justice are done.
Admin
17 Feb, 1999
Budget 1999/2000
Statement by Bantu Holomisa UDM President There are no surprises in the Budget presented to Parliament today. It is however a positive sign that the Minister has not deviated from the economic policy embodied in GEAR, which will promote economic confidence in South Africa. Regarding economic growth projections, we are moving in the right direction, but at too slow a pace. The projected economic growth rate of 1,8% for 1999 is simply not high enough to reach the levels of growth we need to create wealth for all South Africans. The UDM welcomes the reduction in company tax from 35% to 30%. This is a positive step towards creating an improved climate for investment. We regard the announcement on tax relief for individuals on the lower income group, as insufficient. The UDM is of the opinion that all tax on income of individuals up to R4 000 per month should be abolished. Only such a bold step will really benefit the poor in our society. The announced tax relief must be put into perspective. Any salary increase will push individuals in a higher bracket. This means that the effective tax burden continues to increase. The tax to income ratio for individuals has increased to record levels. It will therefore be an illusion to indicate that tax reductions are substantial, or that this ratio has decreased. The government expects an increase of 8.2% from individual income tax in the 1999/2000 financial year. Where will they get this revenue, other than from individual taxpayers? A significant announcement by the Minister is the loss by the South African Reserve Bank of R13,3 billion. This loss was incurred in attempts by the SARB to protect the currency, and is for the account of the Government. The question is where is the Government going to find this money and how are they going to pay? This incurred loss emphasises the fact that an urgent reconsideration of our exchange rate management is needed. We urgently need a new approach in this regard. The announced Budget deficit of 3,5% of Gross Domestic Product is twice as high as the average for the emerging world. The UDM is of the opinion that the Budget deficit should be abolished immediately, by way of ruthless cut backs on all unproductive government activities. The Budget deficit currently equates to 12% of total state spending. It therefore will mean to terminate the least essential 12% of government activity. A range of other measures can be considered to support such a step. The UDM is surprised that the Minister has failed to address an accelerated privatisation programme, which can also be used to reduce government debt. We are disappointed that no new and imaginative ideas were produced by the Minister to assist small businesses in South Africa. The UDM believes that enterprise development is the one important factor that can empower South African and that can build our economy. The Minister has failed to announce anything in addition to combat crime, or to restore civil order in South Africa. The impression is created that the Government has no sense of urgency to tackle this most serious problem in our society. In conclusion: the Government has a dismal economic performance over the last 5 years regarding job creation. Today’s Budget showed little evidence that they have the political will to be serious about our most serious socio-economic problem in South Africa.
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