UDM News & Events Calendar - United Democratic Movement

Admin

27 Aug, 1998

Funding of political parties – explain control

Statement by National Deputy-Secretary The notion that the money in the “Funding of Political Parties Act” may not be used for electioneering is a myth. There are no controls in place to assure that that will not happen. Already the monthly allowance of R4 489,00 per member is not used for that that it was intended. Political parties are not opening constituency offices with that money but rather use it to cover their running costs and even pay the salaries of personnel from that amount. An astonishing amount of R100 349 972,00 per year (excluding the salaries of public representatives) is already paid by the taxpayer to the coffers of political parties. The Minister responsible should lay down clear guidelines on how he intends to assure that this money does not end up being used for the 1999 elections. It is in any case almost impossible, especially so close to the election to differentiate between the normal functions and duties of a political party and its office bearers and that of electioneering. Let us also not loose sight of the fact that money from the R53 million that are now used to cover running costs is money saved by these parties and that savings will contribute to the election fund of each party. This in itself contributes to an uneven playing field for the 1999 elections. The fact that polls also indicate that the ANC and the NP have lost substantial support and that other parties in parliament like the DP and the PAC have increased their support makes the distribution of that fund also questionable. The NP is still receiving 23% of the fund while it is currently only representing 10% of the electorate.

Admin

26 Aug, 1998

Mpumalanga Legislature’s call for funds borders on the ridiculous

Statement by National Deputy-Secretary The call by the Mpumalanga Legislature to National Government for assistance in recovering the estimated R1.1 million embezzled by the ANC former deputy speaker in the legislature is not only absurd, but also ridiculous. As if it is not bad enough that corrupt ANC office bearers steal money which in the end is taxpayers money, now the ANC expects of the taxpayer to refund them for their own people’s corruption! Surely, the ANC understands, even in the Mpumalanga Legislature, that the money they are now requesting from the National Legislature is not money falling from the sky or printed on request by the Reserve Bank. Even they should realise that that money is actually hard earned honestly deserved and paid, as taxes, money belonging to the citizens of South Africa. The citizens pay these taxes and expect government to use this to efficiently run the country, provide services and not to enrich themselves. To expect the taxpayer now to pay the penalty for ANC corruption is both absurd and ridiculous. What will be next? A special tax levy to try to get back those funds that were lost with the Sarafina debacle?

Admin

26 Aug, 1998

Senior ANC official resigns and joins the UDM

Statement by National Spokesperson Mr. Mbulelo Lokwe, who was a National Organiser for the ANC since 1993 and who during the 1994 elections served under Steve Tshwete, resigned from the ANC and joined the United Democratic Movement. Mbulelo, who joined the ANC as a member in 1964 and was part of the underground movement before he became a National Organiser in 1993 under Steve Tshwete. During his period as serving as official in Shell House, he was responsible for the implementation of policies, membership and political education during the period to the run-up to the 1994 elections up to 1996. Mbulelo said that he was fed up with the ANC’s approach of favouratism, not only within the organisation, but also as it is clearly reflected in the way they run the country. He joins the UDM because the policies of the UDM appeals to him, he has confidence in the integrity and ability of the leadership and the UDM is a clear reflection of the total population of South Africa – that Rainbow that the ANC fails to establish. Mbulelo will immediately get actively involved in the UDM and will work as a volunteer in the National Office assisting with organisation.

Admin

26 Aug, 1998

Attack at Waterfront condemned

Statement by UDM President The horrific bomb explosion at the Cape Town Waterfront is condemned in the strongest possible terms by the UDM. The UDM would like to express its condolences and deepest sympathy to the victims and families of victims of the explosion. The political chess game that we have witnessed between the ANC and the NP after the explosion can not be tolerated and is an insult to those affected by the bombing. Urban terrorism in the Western Cape is a reality and very little seems to be done in this regard. The National Party as government in the Western Cape, together with the ANC National Government needs to put aside their political agendas and cheap point scoring and concentrate on the problem at hand. More than 400 similar incidents have taken place in the same region with no arrests or prosecutions following. The National Party can not shed its responsibility as Provincial Government and they need to find a solution and not merely attempt to distribute and attribute blame.

Admin

23 Aug, 1998

Elections 1999: democracy threatened by ANC fears

Statement by UDM Deputy National Secretary The insistence of the ANC to only use the Green Bar-coded South African Identity Document for the purpose of the 1999 elections, is a sure sign of ANC efforts to manipulate the elections. The UDM finds it especially interesting that the ANC who in 1994 insisted that every breathing person in South Africa should have the opportunity to vote, now thinks nothing of alienating at least 20% of the voters in bringing out their democratic choice. It is clear that the ANC is threatened by its own lack of delivery and of the wrath that it would experience from its previous supporters in this regard. In the interest of a free and fair election, the UDM is making a submission to the portfolio committee on Home Affairs in this regard. Find that proposal attached.

Admin

19 Aug, 1998

UDM submission on the Electoral Bill Standing Committee of Home Affairs

Statement by National Deputy-Secretary (19 August 1998) INTRODUCTION Following the insistence by the ANC that only Green Bar-coded SA Identity Documents (GBSAID) be used for the purpose of the 1999 elections, the UDM wishes to make the following submission: HSRC SURVEY AND REPORT The IEC and the Department of Home Affairs commissioned the HSRC to conduct a study into the extent to which eligible voters are in possession of SA ID documents. From this study, it is clear that an alarming number of potential voters are not in possession of SA ID documents. This number is of such great proportion that it calls into question the participation in and the fairness of conducting fair democratic elections in 1999. Between 4.7 and 5.3 million (at least 20% of the total voter population!) voters do not have the GBSAID. One in ten (± 2.4 million) potential voters do not have any ID. More than two thirds of those without ID documents are first time voters. The greatest shortage exists in rural areas. 80% of voters without GBSAID have not yet applied for new ID documents. A third of the voters who have applied for ID documents have been waiting for more than 3 months while 21% have been waiting for more than 5 months. 60% of the voters indicated that they were unaware of the need for GBSAID in order to vote in the 1999 elections. From this figures it is obvious that it would be impossible to declare the 1999 General Elections free and fair if such a huge number of voters could not participate in the elections because of government’s inability to fulfill its task of issuing ID documents to the voter. It is also beyond comprehension why government would commission such a study at a huge cost for the taxpayer and then ignores the findings thereof. THE UDM’s VIEW While acknowledging and supporting measures to limit election fraud to an absolute minimum limiting voting to those with GBSAID documents is clearly not the route to take. The UDM strongly believes that in order to conduct a free and fair election every eligible voter must be offered an equal opportunity to participate in the elections. With the risk of 20% of voters, not being able to participate this is obviously not the case. How can the ANC blatantly disregard the democratic choice of 20% of the electorate? UDM SUGGESTIONS BARCODE EXISTING ID DOCUMENTS The UDM proposes that all ID documents be used to register and to vote. We further suggest that a barcode be paste in the ID document during the registration process. The barcode can be part of the process of control and of starting to compile a proper voters roll for the 2004 elections. The UDM further urge government and the IEC to intensify its efforts in making the voters aware of the need to acquire GBSAID documents, also for future elections. No awareness campaigns in this regard exist. Every effort must be made to increase the productivity and delivery of GBSAID documents up to the elections, and in this regard, the UDM suggests the following: Mobile Home Affairs offices be established and that they service specifically those areas identified in the report as crisis areas and in the rural community. Home Affairs employ casual workers as to increase productivity, delivery and address the backlog and current shortfall. Home Affairs open their offices outside normal business hours. Though it is argued that specifically in the case of TBVC states voters may be in possession of more than one ID document, claims by the ANC government that they have eliminated in most of the affected provinces these “ghost identities” operating fraudulent activities, should put to rest this concern. The major concern and driving force for the UDM remains the democratic right of every single voter to participate in the democratic processes of the country. This basic constitutional right must be respected and maintained. It can not be violated through government’s own inability. It is said that the people get the government that they deserve. It would be ironic if because of that same government’s failure people are deprived of the opportunity to remove that government. Twenty percent of the electorate can determine that swing.

Admin

19 Aug, 1998

Electoral Bill 1988

Statement by UDM Deputy Secretary The United Democratic Movement has been asked to forward comments in writing with regard to the proposed amendments to the Electoral Bill in particular and we would like to comment on certain aspects with regard to party funding. The proposal in this regard does not do anything to address the fundamental inequality that is created by act 103 of 1996, the Funding of Political Parties Represented in Parliament Act. (state funds, at present budgeted somewhere in the vicinity of R53 million).The funds can be allocated to practically any political purpose, with the only real restriction that it should not be used to pay parliamentarians. Therefore, quite clearly, these funds can be used for election purposes, and is in fact intended to be used as such. Although couched in terms which created the impression that it should be used for administrative purposes, such uses frees other donations and funds of such parties for use in election campaigning. In any event, there is no limitation on these funds being directly allocated to campaigns. If this act had to be in position during the 1994 election. It would have meant that practically all the money would have been allocated to the National Party and no funds allocated to the African National Congress, which was then not represented in Parliament. If a similar provision had been in place prior to the last election in the United Kingdom, it would have meant the bulk of the funds would have been allocated to the Conservative Party, which then had the majority in Parliament, and much less to the Labour Party, which won by a landslide, and result might have been different if the ruling party had access to the state funds in proportion to the representation that it had before the election. In cases where there is a delicate balance between the parties, especially in relation to a sensitive issue such as the two thirds majority, the availability of funds might make a substantial difference in the eventual outcome of the election and consequently also to the manner in which the country is governed. Thus to provide funds to those parties represented in Parliament as is presently enacted, substantially affects the operation of multi-party democracy in South Africa. According to opinion polls the United Democratic Movement already can rely on support equivalent to, and surpassing that of, parties already represented in parliament. It would therefore be a fundamental disadvantage if a party like the DP, with 5% support should receive funds from the fund created by Act 103, and a party like the UDM, also with at least 5% support, receives nothing. Similarly it would be unfair if the DP, with 5% current support, received 1% of the funds based on its support 5 years ago, and a party with 1% current support received 20% of the fund, based on its support 5 years ago. The funding could thus lead to fundamental distortions in parties’ capacity to campaign. The proposed allocation of election funds to all parties does nothing to redress this imbalance. According to the proposal it would mean that parties represented in Parliament would then receive monies twice: Once through Act 103 (and probably a substantial amount at that), and then again in terms of the proposed clause 106, whereas parties are not represented would only receive monies in terms of clause 106 . The only way in which a free and fair election can be possible, accepting the existence of act 103 of 1996, is if the election act makes provision for the further funding of parties that are not represented in Parliament, with reference to the monies already allocated to parties represented in Parliament. Thus it should be a balancing provision. In the absence of this, the IEC cannot certify that a fair election has taken place. It might be free, but it cannot be a fair election if some parties are benefiting from state funds where other parties have no access to similar funding. A further objection that the UDM has to this clause, is that it is of no practical assistance to anybody. In the first place the 5% seems to be intended to cover the required deposits, and it makes absolutely no sense for the state to require money as a deposit and also to provide for it in this manner. The rest of the (95%) fund that will be available after election will be of no use for election purposes if it cannot be accessed during the campaign. It will also not serve as any leverage for the purposes of obtaining finance as nobody is likely to advance monies against the future uncertainty as the possible outcome of an election, no matter what the predictions and polls might indicate. The only situation that will alleviate the present imbalance is if Parliament allocated funds to the parties not represented in Parliament with reference to the support that a particular party has: both those represented and those not represented, and that the second fund thereafter is applied in such a manner as to ensure that parties are funded, as nearly as possible, proportional to their current support.

Admin

13 Aug, 1998

Closure of Richmond police station

Statement by National Secretary The UDM has learned with shock about the closure of the Richmond Police Station and the redeployment of the personnel of the station. The UDM finds it strange that these police officers were accused by the Minister of Safety and Security, Sidney Mufamadi, of involvement in the happenings in Richmond. When these police officers then call for evidence to these allegations, they are being redeployed. They are now redeployed and expected to continue to do their work with allegations of involvement in Richmond violence still surrounding them. To the UDM, this appears yet another attempt by President Mandela and the ANC government to manipulate the security forces and use them as political tools. The UDM would like to know whether the newly deployed police officers were former MK members. We doubt also whether the provincial government of KwaZulu-Natal was consulted on this move. The UDM as a peaceful organization working towards true multi-party democracy reiterates our call for an Independent Judicial Commission of Inquiry into the violence in Richmond and other parts of KwaZulu-Natal.

+27 (0)12 321 0010

info@udm.org.za

About > News & Events

News