Admin
29 Jan, 1998
Inquiry into Shaw affair
Statement by Media and Marketing Director The sordid contract by the Central Energy Fund (CEF) with Emmanuel Shaw II will now, to the relief of taxpayers and proponents of clean, corruption-free government, hopefully be terminated. The UDM urges the Minister of Mineral and Energy Affairs to immediately implement the recommendations of the departmental investigation. Terminating Mr Shaw’s contract immediately, investigating possibilities of recovering expenses related to the contract and terminating the CEF’s board’s term not later than March 31, seem to be the first steps needed to be taken in this regard. Minister Penuell Maduna will do well to scrutinise his department to rid it of all irregularities like these. He will also benefit from not listening to bad advice. His accusations against the Auditor-General is very much still in the public eye, an event which has since not been brought to finality. In the spirit of transparency and good governance, this matter still needs to be settled publicly. The UDM awaits developments in this department and ministry.
Admin
26 Jan, 1998
Provinces need to heed national schools policy
Statement by Media and Marketing Director In these times of transformation, special care has to be taken by the national education department to communicate policy effectively and efficiently, and by the provincial departments to implement it accordingly. In this way, much frustration and unnecessary incidents can be prevented. In our schools, policies should be implemented in the best interest of existing pupils and school communities, but also towards potential pupils who sometimes have few options as to available schools. Language policy in itself is an extremely sensitive issue with implications towards nation-building and the accommodation of diverse communities in our nation. Although the national language policy in our schools seems reasonable and pragmatic, care has to be taken when implementing it, especially by our provincial education departments, in order to respect both the letter and the spirit of the policy. This has been lacking when dealing, for example, with the situation in Rob Ferreira School in Witrivier.
Admin
26 Jan, 1998
Opposisie politiek: onwelkom of verkeerd aangebied?
verklaring deur Media en Bemarkings Direkteur Tim du Plessis raak in sy artikel “Opposisie is uit” reeds in die eerste paragraaf ook aan die ooglopende antwoord. Die UDM glo dat net so min as wat die “redding en heil” vir Suid Afrika in die “klasieke liberale demokrasie” lê, net so min is die rol van opposisiepartye en opposisie – politiek in die klassieke liberale rol van opposisiepartye gesetel. Die vraag is nie watter groeperinge in die land vir- sterk opposisie en watter daarteen is nie, maar veel eerder die herdefiniëring van opposisiepartye se rol in die Suid Afrikaanse politiek. Alle onafhanklike meningsopnames sedert die begin van 1997 het getoon dat die ANC as meerderheidsparty steun verloor. Dit het verder aangedui dat geen van die bestaande parlementêre politieke partye by hierdie verlies van steun baat nie. Die stemme swerf dus nog rond. Hierin lê daar twee boodskappe : Ondersteuners van die ANC is wel bereid om hul affiliasie met die ANC te beëindig, en geen van die huidige parlementêre partye bied ‘n alternatief vir hierdie swewende stem nie. Wanneer die DP en die NP mekaar dus die stryd aansê oor wie nou werklik die effektiefste (lees luidrugtigste) opposisieparty is, verander dit weining aan die werklike politieke prentjie nie. Ja, die DP mag dalk in die proses ‘n paar stemme van die NP wegneem maar die meerderheid kiesers van die land sien steeds nie vir hulself ‘n sielkundige tuiste by enige een van die twee partye nie. Hoe dan ook anders as opposisiepartye hulself as effektief beskou wanneer hulle Nelson Mandela beledig, stem teen wetgewing wat die lewenskwaliteit van die meerderheid van Suid Afrikaners verbeter, en al hul parlementêre aksies daarop dui dat hulle hul huidige (wit) magsbasis probeer konsolideer. Die UDM, anders as die NP en die DP, het nie nodig om te probeer swart steun trek om as geloofwaardig beskou te word nie. Die meerderheid van die UDM steun is swart, mense wat reeds weg van die ANC vir hulself ‘n politieke tuiste by die UDM gevind het. Die UDM bied aan alle Suid Afrikaners wat wil deel wees van vooruitgang, wat konstruktief wil help bou aan die nuwe Suid Afrika, so ‘n politieke tuiste. Die UDM sien sy rol na die 1999 – verkiesing verder ook, nie as die van opposisie nie, maar as deel van die regering. Daar is sekere uitdagings wat die land nou in die gesig staar, uitdagings wat suksesvol opgelos moet word in die breër belang van Suid Afrika en sy mense. Landsbelang moet nou bo kleinlike, party – politieke belang gestel word. Dit is hoe die UDM ook sy politiek in die komende jaar en as deel van regering na 1999 sal bedryf. Dit beteken nie dat ons nie krities sal wees wanneer nodig nie, maar dat kritiek so gelewer sal word dat die finale besluit steeds positief beïnvloed kan word. Waar die regering in landsbelang programme implementeer, sal die UDM hul steun en samewerking in die verband gee. Sou die regering egter in partybelang eerder as landsbelang optree, sal die UDM deur sy deelname dit uitwys en alternatiewe verskaf. Die feit dat die NP uit die Regering van Nasionale Eenheid onttrek het, beteken nie dat opposisiepartye nie ‘n konstruktiewe rol het om te speel nie. Dit dui slegs op ‘n onvermoë van die NP se kant om die rol te kon vervul. Die uitdaging vir opposisiepartye is dus nie om net te skree en raas nie. Dit is veel eerder om die regering in die opstel van sy nasionale prioriteite te beïnvloed en toe te sien dat die ooreengekome prioriteite die nodige aandag ontvang. Indien opposisiepartye nie instaat is om dit te doen nie, dan is die skrif werklik aan die muur en kan die kieser tereg vra oor wat die doel en nut daarvan is om te stem. Wanneer hy stem verkies die landsburger nie net partye as opposisiepartye nie, maar kies hy hulle ook as deel van die regering. Suid Afrikaanse politieke partye loop die risiko dat die kieser hom kan agterlaat. Die grootste uitdaging in 1999 mag dalk juis wees om die kieser by die stembus te kry – dit moet verhoed word. Dieselfde geld vir die rol van die media. Terwyl ons in ‘n stadium in ons land se geskiedenis is waar dit gaan oor die vestiging en ontwikkeling van die demokrasie behoort die media ook deel van die opleidingsproses te wees. Die boodskap moet ook van die media kom in die daarstelling en bepaling van prioriteite. Die media het ook ‘n rol om te prys waar nodig en te kritiseer waar gefaal word. Die media, in die beskerming en ontwikkeling van ons brose demokrasie, het ook nodig om die alternatief vir die kieser te stel: alternatiewe menings, standpunte en alternatiewe oplossings. Alles gedoen op ‘n regverdige, objektiewe wyse, ten doel om ‘n ingeligte kieser daar te stel. Sou dit die benadering van almal betrokke wees dan sien ek nie dieselfde donker prentjie as wat Tim skets nie. In die UDM glo ons, dat ons saam die oplossings kan vind – gesetel in Suid Afrika se ryk verskeidenheid.
Admin
21 Jan, 1998
PW Botha: racial polarisation
Statement by Media and Marketing Director The UDM is disturbed by the irresponsible manner in which political parties are dealing with the court appearance of Mr PW Botha on Friday. The ANC’s planned protest action outside the courtroom and the call by rightwing political parties and groupings for supporters of Mr Botha to mobilise can only be described as polarising. We have also witnessed during the past week that the NP together with the Freedom Front and the Conservative Party have made themselves guilty of irresponsible and inflammatory remarks. Political parties, especially, need to be sensitive when dealing with and commenting on issues that can be a threat to our fragile democracy. Support for Mr Botha has been coming from some very strange corners. People, who previously would not have granted him the light of day, are now his most loyal supporters. The UDM calls on South Africans to realise this for what it is, and not to let them get drawn in this game of political opportunism. Political parties and the media must handle the court case in a responsible manner. We cannot allow emotions to run wild. The law must now take its course. Let us not forget what the TRC is all about and let us embrace that spirit of reconciliation in our actions, also in attending the court case. Political parties will have to take full responsibility for the actions of their supporters. The UDM will monitor the proceedings carefully.
Admin
18 Jan, 1998
Political agenda for 1998
Statement by Media and Marketing Director During 1997 the UDM made a start in restructuring South African politics away from the racial mould it has been stuck in. In 1998, the UDM aims to intensify its reaching out to all South Africans. The UDM believes that the end of the road for exclusive white or black politics in South Africa has been reached. South Africans are tired of being pigeonholed into racial categories. As a party for all South Africans, we aim at providing a political home to all our citizens. The two leaders of the UDM, Bantu Holomisa and Roelf Meyer, leave today for a 10-day visit to the United States. The purpose is to introduce the UDM as a political party to the White House staff, representatives of Congress, business people and members of the media. Reaction on requests by the UDM for interviews and discussions was extremely positive, and 27 appointments with leading opinion formers have been made. It seems as if Americans are specifically interested in the South African brand of black/white relations, with emphasis on the cooperation that the UDM stands for.
Admin
13 Jan, 1998
A new school year; where a good matric starts
Statement by statement by Director Media and Marketing The new school year has started. On the positive side, it is a time of optimism and of hope, with new challenges waiting to be realised. The grade ones start a new school career and a new curriculum whilst the matric class of 1998 has 300 days ahead to prepare for their entrance into the adult world of employment and responsibilities; millions of parents are prepared to make huge sacrifices to offer their children the best possible education; thousands of teachers are able and willing to teach those in their care to the best of their capabilities. The UDM supports the Minister of Education’s urgent call for a culture of teaching and good administration by teachers and principals, and a culture of learning and of discipline by school children. This has always been the basic formulae for successful education, and needs to be implemented now. The countrywide decisions to put the sacking of temporary teachers on the ice, are also supported. On the negative side, reports of schools not being able to open because of the lack of teachers, of handbooks not being delivered or in some instances not even been ordered, of the low morale amongst many teachers because of the uncertainty of their job future, and of the apparent lack of funds to provide the basic necessities for a decent education, are disheartening. These are the things that the Minister and Department of Education need to square up to. These issues need to be tackled creatively and urgently, because the matric class of 1998 only has 10 months before reckoning day. The UDM calls on the Minister to make 1998 the year of delivery in our schools, not a year of threats and hollow promises. It is now time to start making it work. As a party, the UDM will positively support all measures aimed at educating our children to the level where our country, our parents, our employers – and our children – can really take pride.
Admin
08 Jan, 1998
Appointment of Chief Executive Officer for the UDM
Statement by Director Media and Marketing Acting on the mandate of the Interim Management Committee the leadership of the UDM appointed Mr. Danie du Plessis, former managing director of the Institute for Political Leadership, as the Chief Executive Officer of the United Democratic Movement. Mr. du Plessis will commence office on January 12 1998. The UDM believes that in order to operate effectively, professional managers should run its administration and management. In cultivating this believe a decision was taken to appoint a professional manager. The UDM is positive that the appointment of Mr. du Plessis will contribute to the growth and success of the UDM.
Admin
08 Jan, 1998
The pension crisis in the Eastern Cape
Statement by Bantu Holomisa The crisis in the Eastern Cape regarding the payment of thousands of pensioners is symptomatic of the collapse of government systems across the country. The real problem is that the government has, quite rightly, identified transformation of the civil service as a chief priority, but has never adequately planned for this transformation. It was seen not as a process, but as a programme of replacement. A system of packages, sometimes enforced, led to a replacement of the experienced with the inexperienced and the unqualified, often the friends of those making the appointments. There is no evidence that any intensive training programme, to also act as a screening process, has ever been implemented. It is indeed not strange that government is experiencing this collapse of systems, as highlighted by the insensitive gamble in the Eastern Cape with the lives of the poorest of people. It may be a solution for government to appoint a non-political caretaker administrator in the Eastern Cape as well as in other provinces in a similar predicament, until the next election. This administrator, together with a team of qualified people, will at least help towards normalising the situation, granted that no quick-fix is possible. It is time that the actions of government are dictated by the real needs of the people.
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