Admin
04 Jun, 1998
Suspend all rationalisation in government until criteria is agreed upon
Statement by UDM Co-leaders The UDM calls on all the relevant parties involved in the pending education crisis to, in the interest of education, work towards finding a solution. The frustration within the education community is understandable and well founded. Minister Bengu can not merely ignore what are realistic and profound concerns. Education forms the basis of the development of the human resource in South Africa. Attention must be given when professionals in that domain indicate that planned steps by government will influence negatively on the professional service. The arrogance of the Minister of Education will not contribute towards finding a solution. What is happening in education is a reflection of what is happening in all other spheres of government where transformation through rationalization, without proper consultation and agreed upon criteria takes place. This results in a very high uncertainty amongst government officials and contributes to very low productivity. The UDM calls on government to suspend all further retrenchments within the civil service and to work towards agreed criteria after proper consultation with the interested parties. Retrenchment on its own is not transformation and the one sided, arrogant approach with which it is conducted by government only leads to distrust and low moral. The absence of a contingency plan to assist those who are retrenched contribute to further impoverishment. Government should address the issue of retrenchment in a far more sensitive and co-ordinated way.
Admin
21 May, 1998
Appointment of president for the Reserve Bank must be handled cautiously
Statement by UDM Co-leaders The Government must announce as soon as possible a successor for Dr. Chris Stalls as President for the Reserve Bank. The announcement by Dr. Stalls that he will not be available again once his contract expires in July 1999 coupled with the change in government just before Stalls vacates his position might bring too much uncertainty to the financial markets. The UDM believes that government would act responsible if it sends out a clear message on who will take over. The timely announcement of a successor would provide the financial markets the opportunity to settle down and would reduce the effect it would have when the actual changeover takes place.
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
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