Admin
13 May, 2025
UDESMO mourns the tragic loss of Banoyolo Krakra
Statement by Lucia Matomane, UDESMO Eastern Cape Provincial Chairperson The United Democratic Students’ Movement (UDESMO) expresses deep sorrow and outrage at the murder of Banoyolo Krakra, a beloved student at Lovedale TVET College and a proud member of our student community. Banoyolo was a committed young woman who was pursuing an NCV Level 2 qualification in Generic Management. She showed remarkable responsibility and compassion by using her NSFAS funds to support her family before returning to her studies. Her brutal killing is a cruel and senseless act that has robbed her family, community, and our country of a promising life and future leader. We send our heartfelt condolences to the Krakra family and to all who knew and loved Banoyolo. Their pain is also our pain. UDESMO stands in solidarity with them during this time of unimaginable grief and we will support their call for justice every step of the way. This tragedy is yet another painful reminder of the Gender-Based Violence and Femicide crisis that continues to destroy lives, particularly those of young women. We call on the South African Police Service to leave no stone unturned in their investigation and to ensure that those responsible are swiftly brought to justice. UDESMO also calls on Lovedale TVET College to prioritise student safety and to ensure that adequate trauma counselling is made available to Banoyolo’s classmates who are reeling from this devastating loss. Although Banoyolo was not found on campus, her body was discovered on Cambridge Street in Qonce, near a local tavern, by a patrolling security officer. She had suffered stab wounds to her upper body. This tragic incident highlights the broader safety concerns affecting students beyond campus boundaries and demands urgent attention from institutions and law enforcement alike. Banoyolo’s life mattered. Her memory will live on in our commitment to fight for safer campuses and communities. May her soul rest in peace. We will never forget her.
Admin
12 May, 2025
International Nurses Day: honouring Florence Nightingale’s legacy by standing with South Africa’s nurses
Statement by Zandile Phiri, Acting Secretary General of the United Democratic Movement The United Democratic Movement (UDM) joins the world in observing International Nurses Day, a moment to recognise, celebrate, and reflect on the indispensable role nurses play in society. This year’s theme, “Our Nurses. Our Future. The Economic Power of Care”, calls us to reimagine not only healthcare but how we value care work itself, materially, morally, and structurally. As we pay tribute to nurses across our country, we pause to reflect on the enduring legacy of Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing. Nightingale’s unwavering dedication to treating wounded soldiers in the Crimean War, often by candlelight, gave birth to a profession rooted in selfless service and scientific excellence. But beyond her famed lamp, Nightingale carried a radical belief: that care is not charity, but justice. That nurses are not assistants, but leaders in health. That public health must be based on evidence, empathy, and equity. It is precisely this vision that guides the UDM in its unwavering support for nurses in South Africa, and our rejection of the injustices they continue to face. Solidarity with UNTU-SA: pay the promised rural allowance The UDM stands in resolute solidarity with the United Nurses Trade Union of South Africa (UNTU-SA) in their ongoing campaign to secure the rural allowance that was promised, but still not delivered, to frontline workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is unacceptable that the same nurses who held the nation together in its most fragile moment are now being failed by the very institutions that applauded them. The UDM demands: • Immediate payment of outstanding rural allowances to qualifying nurses. • Full transparency from the Department of Health on outstanding cases, timelines, and accountability. • Structural embedding of rural and hardship allowances in all healthcare worker contracts moving forward. Urban struggle: nurses in informal settlements under siege Nightingale once said, “The very first requirement in a hospital is that it should do the sick no harm.” Yet in clinics across South Africa’s informal settlements, from KwaMashu to Alexandra, from Khayelitsha to Ivory Park, harm is the order of the day. Nurses in these facilities operate under: • Dangerous working conditions marked by overcrowding, failing infrastructure, and lack of basic medical supplies. • Rampant insecurity, where nurses are forced to serve in areas plagued by crime and insufficient law enforcement. • Unmanageable patient loads, with too few staff to meet the growing health needs of sprawling communities. These nurses embody Nightingale’s values every day — not through candles, but through courage. The UDM calls for: 1. A national infrastructure and safety plan for clinics in informal settlements and rural areas. 2. Urgent increase in healthcare staffing and nurse-to-patient ratios across high-pressure zones. 3. Incentives, psychosocial support, and professional development pathways for nurses working in marginalised communities. A country’s character is revealed in how it treats its healers Nursing is not a cost to the state; it is the spine of our healthcare system. If we are to honour Florence Nightingale’s legacy in any meaningful way, we must begin by honouring our nurses not just with words, but with policy, protection, and pay. On this International Nurses Day, the UDM recommits to championing the rights, dignity, and voice of every nurse in South Africa, in Parliament, in Councils, and on the ground. To the nurses of South Africa: your fight is our fight. You carry not only the lamp, but the light.
Admin
10 May, 2025
UDM Gauteng condemns Gauteng government's return of R1.8 billion amid service delivery failures
Statement by Andile Jabavu, Provincial Secretary of the United Democratic Movement in Gauteng The United Democratic Movement (UDM) in Gauteng expresses grave concern and outrage following reports that the Gauteng Provincial Government has returned R1.8 billion to the National Treasury due to underspending - a scandalous act of negligence in a province plagued by failing infrastructure, under-resourced clinics, crumbling schools, and social decay. It is both unethical and unconscionable that a government entrusted with public resources could fail to spend funds allocated to improve the lives of its people — especially in a climate of growing poverty, youth unemployment, and community instability. Healthcare and human suffering ignored The revelation that the Department of Health alone failed to spend R1.1 billion is particularly damning. Our public hospitals and clinics remain overcrowded, understaffed, and chronically under-resourced. Lives are lost daily, and yet the provincial government could not spend what was budgeted. This is not just mismanagement - it borders on criminal neglect. Abandonment of NPOs and the most vulnerable Even more disgraceful is the fact that funding for Non-Profit Organisations (NPOs) has shrunk dramatically, with over R1.7 billion unspent between 2014 and 2025. As a result, the number of funded NPOs has dropped from 2,061 to 1,328, cutting lifelines to orphans, persons with disabilities, survivors of gender-based violence, and the elderly. These are the silent casualties of an administration that has lost its moral compass. Collapse of ethical governance Recent findings that 37% of Gauteng’s senior officials failed lifestyle audits conducted by the Special Investigating Unit further confirm what the UDM has long warned - that ethical rot and political patronage are corroding governance in this province. Public service is no longer about the people but about protecting cadres, connections, and comfort zones. The UDM in Gauteng demands accountability and systemic reform and calls for: 1. An immediate independent forensic investigation into the causes of the underspending. 2. Accountability for heads of departments and MECs who presided over this failure. 3. The reinstatement of lapsed NPO contracts and full disbursement of funds to social support programmes. 4. A full audit of unspent funds in all departments across provinces to prevent repeat offenses. Returning unspent money is not a sign of prudence - it is an admission of failed leadership. While the Premier and his executive dither, the people of Gauteng continue to suffer. The UDM in Gauteng stands with the people and calls for a new era of ethical, people-centred governance - not bureaucratic betrayal.
Admin
10 May, 2025
UDM Gauteng decries ethical failures in Gauteng government as 37% of senior officials fail lifestyle audits
Statement by Andile Jabavu, Provincial Secretary of the United Democratic Movement in Gauteng The United Democratic Movement (UDM) in Gauteng is deeply disturbed by revelations that nearly 40% of senior officials within the Gauteng Provincial Government have failed their lifestyle audits. This includes high-ranking departmental heads, CEOs of provincial entities, and procurement officials. This staggering figure, 37%, is not just a statistical red flag, but a moral crisis. It reveals a culture of impunity that continues to thrive under Premier Panyaza Lesufi’s administration, despite repeated promises of clean governance and ethical leadership. Lifestyle audits are designed to uphold public trust by ensuring that those entrusted with state resources live within their means and maintain integrity. Yet, when such a significant portion of senior leadership fails to meet this standard, and faces no consequence, the very credibility of government is called into question. The UDM in Gauteng demands: 1. Immediate disciplinary and legal action against all implicated officials, including suspension and criminal investigation where warranted; 2. Full transparency, with the Gauteng Government releasing the audit findings to the public; 3. Establishment of an independent oversight body to monitor corruption risks and procurement processes; 4. Institutionalisation of lifestyle audits across all provinces, with enforcement mechanisms built into performance agreements. It is unacceptable that while communities in Gauteng continue to suffer from poor service delivery, crumbling infrastructure, and under-resourced public services, senior officials abuse their positions without consequence. The UDM in Gauteng remains committed to championing a clean, accountable, and people-centred government. We will escalate this matter through the relevant oversight committees, and we urge the Public Protector and the Auditor-General to intervene and uphold constitutional principles of transparency and good governance.
Admin
10 May, 2025
UDEMWO welcomes Timothy Omotoso’s arrest
Media Statement by Thandi Nontenja, MP and UDEMWO Secretary General The United Democratic Movement Women’s Organisation (UDEMWO) welcomes the arrest of controversial pastor Timothy Omotoso on immigration-related charges. We sincerely hope that this time, the law will take its full and proper course and that the arrest will not become another example of impunity disguised as religious expression. Women and girls across South Africa watched in disbelief as Omotoso, who was recently acquitted on serious charges of sexual assault and human trafficking, returned to public life with astonishing speed. That acquittal, which came after a seven-year detention, was not the result of his exoneration but rather a consequence of poor prosecution and a failure to present key evidence. His highly publicised return to preaching through the so-called New Dawn Crusade has been deeply distressing to survivors of gender-based violence and to all those who believe in justice and accountability. UDEMWO calls on the Department of Home Affairs and the South African Police Service to pursue this matter with diligence and transparency. The public deserves to know the legal basis for Omotoso’s continued presence in the country, and all actions taken must reflect the seriousness of the charges and circumstances. Far too often, South Africa has become a refuge for foreign religious leaders who exploit their positions of influence to prey on the vulnerable. Figures like Shepherd Bushiri and Timothy Omotoso, both of whom have faced serious allegations of rape and sexual abuse, are emblematic of a dangerous trend where charismatic authority is used to shield criminal behaviour. These individuals manipulate faith to gain trust, silence victims, and avoid accountability. South Africa must tighten its immigration and regulatory frameworks to ensure that those who claim to lead in faith do not use our hospitality as a cover for predation and impunity. The pulpit must never become a hiding place for perpetrators. Furthermore, gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) has reached crisis levels in our country. The fact that a woman is murdered every three hours is not merely a statistic. It is a national shame and a painful indictment of our collective failure to protect the most vulnerable members of our society. This crisis demands urgent, coordinated, and uncompromising action from all sectors of government and civil society. South Africa cannot claim to be a free and just society while women live in fear, suffer in silence, or are silenced by violence. In the end, no person is above the law, regardless of their religious title or popularity. South Africa must not allow religious platforms to become sanctuaries for those accused of abuse. We hope that this arrest marks a turning point. Let justice be done, and this time, let it be done without fear, favour or interference. No backroom deals, favours or corrupt acts must allow Mr Omotoso to escape the full might of the law.
Admin
07 May, 2025
Malicious fake news circulating on social media regarding UDM Deputy President
Statement by Zandile Phiri, Acting Secretary General of the United Democratic Movement The United Democratic Movement (UDM) strongly condemns the patently fake and defamatory post currently circulating on Facebook targeting our Deputy President, Mr Nqabayomzi Kwankwa. The fabricated image and accompanying sensationalist headline are a disgraceful attempt at character assassination, and a clear example of the dangers posed by misinformation and political trolling in the digital age. We want to make it categorically clear: Mr Kwankwa is in good health, continues to execute his duties with the integrity and diligence he is known for, and was not involved in any incident remotely resembling what is falsely depicted. The post also falsely associates this nonsense with eNCA by superimposing its logo and branding onto a fabricated image to create a false sense of legitimacy. This is a gross and unlawful misrepresentation that disrespects both Mr Kwankwa and the media fraternity. We trust that eNCA will join us in denouncing this blatant misuse of its brand. Ironically, this malicious stunt only affirms what many already know i.e. that Mr Kwankwa’s voice carries weight, and his leadership poses a real threat to those clinging to power through deceit and distraction. It is a twisted badge of honour that someone went to such elaborate and dishonest lengths to try discredit him. It means he has arrived as a credible and principled leader on the national stage. The creators and distributors of this vile content have not only shown contempt for the truth, but they have also insulted the intelligence of the South African public. To those responsible for this cowardly smear campaign, we say: shame on you. You will not derail the work of principled leaders through lies and cheap tricks. We urge members of the public and the media to verify facts through credible sources and to report harmful content of this nature to platform administrators.
Admin
06 May, 2025
UDM Eastern Cape mourns the loss of UDM Cllr Thobile Gidigidi
Statement by Bulelani Bobotyane, Provincial Secretary of the UDM in the Eastern Cape It is with profound sorrow that we have learned of the untimely passing of our comrade and leader, Councillor Thobile Benjamin Gidigidi, affectionately known to many as Sir Gidz. On behalf of the United Democratic Movement (UDM) in the Eastern Cape, I extend our deepest condolences to the Gidigidi family, friends, and the broader community of Mnquma. Councillor Gidigidi served the people of Mnquma Local Municipality with unwavering dedication and principled leadership as the UDM’s Chief Whip in Council. His passion for justice, his fearless voice in defence of the marginalised, and his enduring commitment to clean and ethical governance have left an indelible mark on all who had the privilege of working alongside him. Sir Gidz was more than a colleague. He was a brother, a mentor, and a true servant of the people. He brought not only discipline and integrity into Council chambers but also a unique warmth and humour. Who could forget his famous phrase during meetings when trying to keep order and bring focus: “ninganukiselwa yi barbecue sauce.” It was a light-hearted yet firm reminder not to get distracted or prolong debates unnecessarily. It was in these moments that his rare ability to lead with both authority and humanity shone through. As we mourn, we also celebrate a life lived in service of the greater good. May his spirit continue to inspire us to carry forward the ideals he stood for, which include humility, service, and unwavering commitment to the people.
Admin
04 May, 2025
Role and pressures faced by the South African Police Service: criminals are out of control
Statement by Zandile Phiri, Acting Secretary General of the United Democratic Movement The United Democratic Movement (UDM) is concerned by the ongoing violence targeting members of the South African Police Service (SAPS). We extend our heartfelt condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of the 31-year-old off-duty officer who was gunned down in Langa, Cape Town. Our police officers play an essential role in maintaining law and order in a country plagued by high levels of violent crime. They are on the front lines every day, responding to emergencies, investigating serious crimes, and confronting dangerous criminal networks, often with limited resources and support. In a society grappling with crime and social instability, their service is not only courageous but indispensable. The murder of police officers, particularly while off duty, reveals the deeply rooted and brazen nature of criminality in South Africa. According to reports, seventeen officers were killed between July and September 2024 alone, with thirteen of those attacks occurring while the victims were off duty. This week, yet another officer was found dead in her police vehicle in Camps Bay under suspicious circumstances, and foul play has not been ruled out. Also of grave concern are the tragic deaths of Constable Cebekhulu Linda, Constable Keamogetswe Buys and Constable Boipelo Senoge, who were reportedly kidnapped and hijacked on 23 April 2025 and later found dead. This deeply unsettling incident raises serious questions about the safety and wellbeing of our police officers. They also highlight the urgent need for transparent, thorough investigations that leave no stone unturned in uncovering the truth. The UDM conveys its deepest condolences to the families, friends, and colleagues of the three constables. We call upon the SAPS leadership to urgently strengthen internal protection measures for officers both on and off duty. The government must increase investment in training, mental health support and the resourcing of police stations, particularly in communities that face severe levels of violent crime. We further call upon civil society to work hand in hand with law enforcement and to foster an environment where the dignity of policing is restored. Criminals must know that our officers are not soft targets and that harming them will bring swift and serious consequences. As a member of the Government of National Unity, the UDM remains committed to strengthening the capacity and safety of the SAPS. We cannot afford to lose more lives, nor can we tolerate a breakdown in the relationship between the public and those who serve them in uniform. Lastly, these incidents underscore a disturbing reality; if SAPS members, who are meant to uphold the law and protect citizens, are themselves targeted and killed with such apparent ease, it sends a chilling message about the state of lawlessness in our country. When police officers become fair game for criminals, it places every ordinary citizen in an even more vulnerable position. The erosion of safety within the ranks of law enforcement reflects a broader crisis of public security that must be urgently addressed.
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