Admin
20 May, 1998
Government must first get its own house in order
Statement by Co-leader of the UDM The call by Thabo Mbeki for financial aid from the world community can only be considered legitimate and serious when South Africa gets its own house in order. The announcement that the low-cost housing projects will loose its momentum due to an insufficient national housing budget is a serious charge against the ANC led government’s ability to address national priorities. Not only will government fail in targets it setout for itself, but also is it failing dismally in addressing the plight of the poor. The most important point on the Government agenda, the Presidential Job summit is not getting of the ground. Again, a meeting between the ANC alliance partners to debate an employment strategy was postponed indefinitely. The creation of employment opportunities is the single most important challenge facing South Africa. While housing projects, health services and education is tumbling in like a house of cards all around us, government is also failing in empowering people to provide their own services. Instead, the ANC government and its alliance partners still find time to bicker amongst each other instead of concentrating on the mammoth task ahead. The UDM believes that the creation of employment opportunities is the most important challenge facing South Africa and its citizens. We cannot continue to have 400 000 new entries in the job market every year and not create one single new job opportunity. If South Africa fails in addressing this issue we will have a revolution on our hands. It is for this reason that the UDM identified the creation of employment as its main focus in policy development. The UDM will soon make public its plans for addressing unemployment.
Admin
05 May, 1998
Rugby must be the winner
Statement UDM Co-leader The involvement of government structures and specifically of Member of Parliament, Muleleki George, in the SARFU/NSC battle for the soul of rugby, clearly indicates a political involvement. Following the court decision there can be no doubt that SARFU is occupying the moral high ground. This can and must however not be seen as the last word spoken in solving the problems of rugby. The UDM believes that the only dignified option remaining for the parties involved, government, the National Sports Council and the South African Football Union, is to swallow their pride, sit around a table and come up with an amicable solution in the interest of the game of rugby. The UDM calls on those involved to consider appointing a neutral facilitator to ensure progress. Such a move would definitely discourage those who want to bat on the racism wicket.
Admin
30 Apr, 1998
Acquittal of Nkabinde
Statement by the Co-leaders of the UDM The acquittal of Sifiso Nkabinde by the court is a personal victory for him and for the independence of the judicial system in South Africa. Right from the beginning, the UDM stated that law must take its course in this case. The political interference in this case was a major concern and threat to the independence of the judicial system in South Africa. The UDM would like to urge all parties in Richmond to use this opportunity to work together in the greater interest of the residents of Richmond and place peace and stability in that area as the highest priority on the agenda. Though Mr. Nkabinde was never a member of the UDM (since the party was not yet launched at the start of the trial and according to provisions in the UDM’s constitution), the UDM welcomes Mr. Nkabinde to further his political career in the UDM.
Admin
29 Apr, 1998
Racial polarisation and political intolerance at an all time high
Statement by National Deputy-Secretary The racial polarisation and political intolerance demonstrated during the past few weeks are of grave concern to the UDM. Not only was it demonstrated in the irresponsible remarks of Peter Mokaba but also in the Vryburg incident, the death of baby Angelina and the racial emotions surrounding murders. It seems no longer important that a life has been taken, but rather what race that victim came from. Racial polarisation is the symptom, the cause lies much deeper. Political parties UDM in its comments before the opening of parliament warned that in this, the pre-election year, political parties would have to guard against electioneering instead of concentrating on the very important issues at hand. Electioneering, racial polarisation and political intolerance is now already.
Admin
29 Apr, 1998
Appointment of Nyanda welcomed
Statement issued by the Co-leaders of the UDM The UDM congratulates Lt. Gen. Nyanda with his appointment as chief of the South African National Defense Force. The UDM believes that his appointment will enhance the completion of the transformation process in the SANDF. We call on Lt. Gen. Nyanda to build a united military core, able to fulfill its changed role and ready to serve the people of South Africa.
Admin
28 Apr, 1998
UDM North West elects their leadership at first congress
Statement by National Deputy-Secretary The first democratically elected provincial chairperson of the UDM issued a serious challenge to the ANC in the Province. Mr. Leonard Brown, UDM chairperson in the North West Province during his acceptance speech said that the people of the North West have had enough of the mismanagement and incompetence of the ANC led government. The UDM in preparation for the 1999 elections in this province will aim at launching at least one branch in every local government structure in the province. Mr. Brown was elected at The First Provincial Congress of the UDM in the North West Province. The rest of the executive committee is: Deputy chair: Mr. Sam Mafoko Secretary: Mr. J de Wit Deputy Secretary: Mrs. Mdjaje Treasurer: Mr. H Schoeman Organiser: Rev. MO Motshegoa Additional Members: Mr. W Motsatsi, Ms C van der Westhuizen, Mr. W Mahamba, Rev. W Molefe
Admin
26 Apr, 1998
UDM on opposition alliances
Statement by Co-leaders of the UDM With possible alliance pacts between the opposition parties strongly back on the political agenda, certain basic principles regarding alliances need to be revisited. The mere forming of an alliance between the opposition parties (DP/NP, NP/IFP, DP/IFP or DP/NP/IFP) will not change the political landscape of the country. Such an alliance, whether it is a “loose alliance” (each party with its own structure and lists) or a more “formal alliance” (one manifesto and candidate list), it will not attract one single vote from the ANC constituency. All that it would mean is that one will pool all the current votes of opposition parties. That will not erode the power base of the ANC. The UDM indicated even before its launch that it believes that South Africans are looking for something new, that all the current political parties as they are represented in parliament reflects in one way or the other apartheid. The UDM in working on grassroots level experience a need by South Africans to break loose from the current racial divides of South African politics. South Africans are looking towards the future, they need a vision, and they want to build this country. What is even more evident is the fact that they want to do this together, as one nation. A recent Markinor survey indicated that the UDM is growing and that it is growing at the expense of the ANC majority. The UDM truly reflects the South African nation, 72% black, 16% white, 8% coloured and 4% Indian. Analysts indicated that they believe the only real threat to the ANC is the UDM. The UDM will gain nothing by getting into bed with any of the current opposition political parties. The UDM, in national interest, would however invite opposition parties who are serious about the realignment of South African politics to disband themselves. This should take place at an opposition party convention where new leadership should be elected for the new formation. This should be done with all parties taking on an equal role and placing national interest first and personal or party agendas should not determine the agenda of such a convention. The UDM, though the fastest growing party in the country, in the interest of the real realignment of South African politics, would be willing to be part of such an exercise. The UDM remains firm in its belief that that would be the only, lasting way to truly redefine South African politics.
Admin
26 Apr, 1998
Kriel se uitlatings getuig van ongemak
Statement by Co-leader of the UDM Die uitlatings van Hernus Kriel dat die Nasionale Party deur “kinders” verteenwoordig is gedurende die onderhandeling, is nie veel meer as ‘n bittere laaste salvo nie. Die feit is dat Hernus Kriel te alle tye deel van die onderhandelings was net soos alle ander kabinetslede. Hy het ‘n gesamentlike verantwoordlikheid gehad oor dit wat onderhandel is, nie net wat sy eie portefulje betref nie, maar ook wat betref die portefeuljes van ander kabinetsministers. Wie die “kinders” is waarna Hernus verwys is ook onduidelik. Die Nasionale Party is deurgaans verteenwoordig deur senior kabinetslede soos Dawie de Villiers, Leon Wessels en myself. Ons is staatkundig bygestaan deur Fanie van der Merwe en Neil Barnard, tans Direkteur-Generaal van die Wes-Kaap en deur Hernus Kriel in sy huidige posisie aangestel. Die onderhandelingspan het op ‘n weeklikse basis aan die kabinet terug gerapporteer. Nie een enkele besluit is deur die onderhandelingspan geneem voor die kabinet daartoe ingestem het nie. Hernus Kriel het nooit, hetsy in die kabinet of in Nasionale Party strukture, enige besware geopper nie. Dit opsigself diskwalifiseer hom om nou sulke aantygings te maak. Die inhoud van die Grondwet spreek ook tot die teendeel. Dit blyk dat mense soos Kriel en andere wat hierdie besware het, nog nooit die Grondwet behoorlik gelees het nie. Die Suid-Afrikaanse Grondwet word deur grondwetlike deskundiges regoor die wêreld bestempel as ‘n model grondwet. Ek is trots om deel daarvan te kon wees. Daar moet egter wel onderskei word tussen die bepalings in die Grondwet en die wyse waarop die land regeer word. Die feit dat die ANC ‘n swak regering is en die NP ‘n onvermoë het om ‘n behoorlike opposisie te wees het niks te doen met die bepalings in die grondwet nie. Die oplossing daarvoor, en dit is waarmee ek my steeds besig hou, terwyl Kriel en andere die politieke toneel en hul eie sinkende skip verlaat, is om ‘n alternatief vir die ANC regering te skep. Die vordering wat die UDM maak, en die aanklank wat die UDM onder alle Suid Afrikaners het, bevestig dat Suid Afrikaners ‘n diepliggende behoefte het na ‘n nuwe alternatief wat weer die hoop in die harte kan aanvuur.
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