Admin
09 Aug, 2020
Women’s Day Celebrations vs GBV
Once again, yesterday the nation saluted our foremothers of 1956, those courageous women who took the initiative and challenged the apartheid regime. We owe the freedom we claim to have today to those heroines. What is missing today is that calibre of women, who held the knife on the sharp side. The year 2020 sadly marks a gloomy picture in this history as we contend with the daily escalation of Gender Based Violence in our country. Gender Based Violence and femicide have taken root and threaten the very fabric of our diverse communities. Reports in media state that with the Covid19 pandemic, the numbers in GBV have increased drastically worse. The question is; why are our male counterparts taking out their frustrations on women? Did the women bring Covid19 in this country? Every parliamentary term, the ruling party appoints a Minister for women however the ministry of women seems to be voiceless. We don’t hear their inputs or condemnation of these heinous incidents. The ruling party prides itself on having a 50-50 representation of women in all their structures, including the Cabinet. Do these women have a voice or input on the formulation of policies and laws that govern this country and women in particular? It would seem the 50-50 represents 50% of spectators or rubber stampers. The missing voice of faith-based institutions is a matter of concern especially when one considers the role of the churches during the liberation struggle. Are the faith-based condoning what is happening at the moment? South Africa used to have formations like PWMSA and SAWID which were representative of various stakeholders. What happened to those formations? What is their role in the new dispensation? GBV is rampant in South Africa; raping and killing young and old on a daily basis. A day before this year’s Women’s Day, a mother, a sister, an aunt, a grandmother, a daughter, a mentor, was buried in Sterkspruit after being brutally killed for being accused with witchcraft. This is not an isolated incident. As a nation we have to commit to justice and gender transformation in all sectors of our society; we need to review our laws which seem to favour the perpetrators at the expense of the victims. South Africa needs to create an enabling environment for meaningful existence and equal opportunities for women. A gender equal society is possible. We must draw strength from the spirit of the generation that marched to Pretoria. UDEMWO calls on all women in South Africa to walk in the footsteps of those women, in fighting the scourge of GBV. We must always remember that those women came from all walks of life; there were no political, religious, race divisions. I would like to quote from Tata Mandela where he said “Freedom cannot be achieved unless the women have been emancipated from all forms of oppression.”
Admin
07 Aug, 2020
SADC must intervene in Zimbabwe
Part of the Southern African Development Community’s (SADC) common agenda is the consolidation and maintenance of democracy, peace and security in the region. The protests, abductions of government critics and the prevailing rhetoric are exacerbating instability in Zimbabwe and its neighbouring countries continue to be affected as Zimbabweans keep on fleeing their country in search of safety and relief from their economic circumstances. As matters stand, the United Democratic Movement (UDM) calls on SADC to intervene and assist Zimbabweans to find a solution to the crisis that is intensifying in their country. In addition, we call on all political leaders in Zimbabwe, who have a responsibility to deescalate the tensions before matters go beyond finding a peaceable solution, to act in a sober manner. There is also no place for intractable stances, and they must be willing to find solutions amongst them all and to act in the best interest of their country and her people. There have also been continued reports of attacks on Zimbabweans, who have fled to neighbouring countries as tensions caused by the scarcity of resources in those countries escalate. The UDM calls for tolerance amongst Africans, especially in these challenging times where we all face the Coronavirus pandemic. Issued by: Mr Bantu Holomisa, MP UDM President
Admin
05 Aug, 2020
R30m PPE scandal: AFU must restrain KZN social development officials’ property
The United Democratic Movement (UDM) in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) calls on the National Prosecuting Authority’s Asset Forfeiture Unit (AFU) to urgently apply for an order of restraint of the property of the high-ranking provincial social development officials who have been accused of contravening the Public Finance Management Act and who face charges of misconduct over the dodgy procurement of personal protective equipment (PPE) as well as blankets. We commend the department’s move to suspend the implicated officials as announced by the KwaZulu-Natal MEC for social development Nonhlanhla Khoza. However, suspending them and opening criminal cases are not enough, the AFU should obtain a restraint order to seize property before their potential conviction to ensure that the property is available to be sold later if needs be to recoup the R30 million. Furthermore, the department must take the public into confidence and indicate whether this is the only filthy transaction that these officials might have been involved in, if there are any other transactions, those too must be made known publicly. It is however an indictment of the department that it only ordered investigation, into what appears to be blatant theft, due to public pressure. Whether public pressure is exerted or not, the government owes it to the South African taxpayer to be transparent in all its dealings, especially where corruption is concerned. The UDM also calls upon the department to name and shame the involved service providers and to blacklist them so that they may not do any further business with the government. Issued by: Mr Boysey Gumede UDM KZN Interim Provincial Secretary
Admin
05 Aug, 2020
Is dissolution of executive, in favour of a caretaker, not the answer to corruption?
Media release by Mr Bantu Holomisa, MP and UDM President To put things in perspective the start of South Africa’s steady descent into the depths of dishonesty and exploitation was Sarafina II, what followed was the Arms Deal, Oilgate, Travelgate, as well as the Chancellor House/Hitachi deal. Then it was Transnet, Prasa, VBS, PIC, relationships with the Gupta family, to name but a few headliners and most recently, the alleged corruption involving the R500 billion Covid-19 relief fund, which took an already despicable practice to new moral lows. How can the people of this country believe Ace Magashule when he says his party is “outraged and deeply embarrassed” by acts of corruption allegedly committed by some of its members and leaders in Covid-19 procurement across the country? Tenderpreneurship, (ab)using ties with family and/or friends, is certainly not new. South Africa has reeled from one scandal to another and the African National Congress (ANC) National Executive Committee (NEC) saw nothing wrong, and has, for years, allowed the comrades in corruption to perfect their craft. Now, suddenly, the ANC NEC woke up to the idea that, even if its legal to benefit at a suffering people’s expense, which has been its primary defence in the past, it is unethical. If it had not been for the Covid-19 experience, things would have merrily continued… as it turns out, some corruption are worse than others. Cadre deployment, as well as factional infighting, have paralyzed the state completely. That said, after a quarter of a century’s worth of corruption, the truth of the matter is that the governing party is incapable of rooting out corruption. Not only because of a lack of political will, but mainly because its entire leadership is tainted, and it is impossible for the accused to preside over the investigation, trial and punishment. Maybe the time is ripe for South Africans to consider, and debate, something a little more drastic i.e. should they not demand that the executive arm of government be dissolved and be replaced by a caretaker administration until the 2024 National and Provincial Elections? Such a structure could be comprised of representatives from civil society and the judiciary; with no political component. Parliament must be kept in place to play its crucial oversight role. Part of its mandate should be to develop legislation to specifically, and definitively, deal with corruption and the recovery of taxpayers’ stolen monies, as well as drafting a white paper on what kind of local government system this country requires as our current system is failing the people. Resuscitating our economy should be at the top of such a caretaker government’s agenda, as well as a review of the Chapter 9 institutions and addressing our collapsing infrastructure and waste management (our country is dirty). Issued by: Mr Bantu Holomisa, MP UDM President
Admin
29 Jul, 2020
Billion-dollar loans and budget adjustments are relegating our children to economic misery
No matter at which statistic or projection one looks, South Africa’s economy is in acute trouble and is being effectively paralyzed by government, despite their promises to the contrary. Our economy was standing with one foot in the grave before Covid-19 and the around US$10 billion South Africa borrowed from the World Bank, the BRICS New Development Bank, the African Development Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), in the name of fighting the Coronavirus, is going to dig us, but mostly our children, into a deeper economical grave. To place things in perspective, it is reported that, South Africa’s debt levels will exceed 100% of gross domestic product by 2024/25. Have we not sold our souls to these banks, and for what? In the letter of intent to the IMF, government committed to introduce debt sustainability measures yet the United Democratic Movement (UDM) has been calling on government to introduce fiscal rules (debt management) since the end of 2018. The UDM furthermore believes that borrowing US$10 billion is one thing, and that seeing that this vast amount of money is spent in the right way, is another… especially given that government’s pre-Coronavirus modus operandi has been marred by rising levels of corruption and endemic wasteful expenditure. We must remember that the combined fruitless and wasteful expenditure for both completed and outstanding audits at municipalities was R3.12 billion, just for the 2018/19 financial year, and irregular expenditure had increased to R32.06 billion. When counting this with the provincial and national governments’ sins, we annually lose about R80 billion due to government failures. Also, let us remind ourselves, that President Ramaphosa is on record saying that State Capture cost South Africa R500 billion, and there are those who argue this is a conservative estimation. South Africans have already coined a new term, “coronapreneurship” and as much as President Cyril Ramaphosa talked tough about fighting corruption, we are of the view that a leopard does not change its spots, and to abuse another saying, the proof will be in the pudding. The UDM is extremely worried for South Africa’s socio-economic future and the impact this omnishambles will have on our people, but especially on the lives of the formerly disadvantaged and poor South Africans. The reality is this, if South Africa had managed its operations and money properly, we would not have needed to borrow any money from anyone. That we are in this position is the African National Congress government’s fault. Furthermore, the UDM is of the view that the Adjustments Appropriations Bill is nothing but a case of robbing Peter to pay Paul and the repercussions of reducing the ten currently affected departments’ budgets will be felt for years to come. The reduction of income across the various departments “due to restricted economic activity imposed by the Covid-19 pandemic” is cause for serious concern. However, using language which states that a virus had imposed restrictions on economic activity is a bit of a reach, as these are surely the decisions of the Ramaphosa administration. The main areas of concern for the UDM (both for the immediate future and on the long term) is the reduction in various infrastructure development and maintenance grants and provincial road maintenance, the non-filling of vacant posts across various departments, the reduction in the Integrated National Electrification Programme and large reductions in the urban and human settlements grants. Specifically, the R2.4 billion reduction in the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development budget baseline is a problem as this will surely impact on food security and the UDM believes that agriculture, as a main driver of the economy, should not be targeted. Tourism, which the UDM argues is one of South Africa’s main economic contributors and job-generating industries, is already vanishing and will suffer even more with the R1 billion (40.3%) cut to its budget. The massive reallocations in the education budgets are mindboggling, especially the proposed delay in the funding of the Historically Disadvantaged Institutions Development Programmes and Generation of Academic Programme and Technical, and impact on the Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges by delaying the operationalisation of new colleges and deferring the intake of the Centres of Specialisation Programme. The reduction on the Education Infrastructure Grant of R2 billon for infrastructure maintenance at schools, the eradication of mud schools, etc. is totally unacceptable. Once more, it is the poor and formerly disadvantaged that are paying the price. The proposed downward adjustment of the Department of Small Business Development’s 2020/21 main appropriation by R67 million, even if it is justified as being “non-essential goods and services”, is a case of a government shooting itself in the foot. Taking away R39 million from the Township Entrepreneurship Fund makes no sense either. The UDM is concerned that the adjustment budget shows the suspension of R257 million at the Department of Water and Sanitation. We also noted that, in terms of the department’s non-financial performance, 26% of its targets were not achieved as at the end of the fourth quarter of the 2019/20 financial year. This is a patent indication that a key service is not being delivered and it will be negatively affected by the proposed adjustment. Considering this turn of events, it is ironic that we must wash our hands as a tool to combat the spread of Covid-19. We noted that R3 billion has been earmarked for the recapitalisation of the Land Bank, but the UDM is of the view that the perennial bail-outs of the ailing, corruption-ridden, State Owned Enterprises (SOEs) has a knock-on effect on service delivery and that their reforms are long overdue. The Ramaphosa administration must find the political will to definitively deal with corruption and maladministration to bring SOEs back on course, streamlining and even possibly privatising them. The UDM appreciates that the Coronavirus pandemic has become the government’s central priority, but it cannot make sacrifices – on behalf of the nation – that are short-sighted and might end up being a case of throwing the baby away with the bathwater where long-term projects are concerned. Issued by: Mr Bantu Holomisa, MP UDM President
Admin
24 Jul, 2020
UDEMWO welcomes the President’s intervention on schools
After numerous calls and press statements from various organisations, including the United Democratic Movement (UDEMWO), as well as frustrations from parents, sundry teachers’ unions and those who care for the younger generation and the nation at large, the President of South Africa finally took the brave and courageous decision to close schools for some time. UDEMWO welcomes President Ramaphosa’s intervention to close schools for four weeks, Looking from a climatological view, as the country, we will be seeing the back-side of the winter season so the young pupils being Grade R will go back to classroom when it is a little warmer. The Department of Basic Education should use this time to clean up schools, procure the required personal protective equipment (PPE) and monitor the infections, death and recoveries, no blanket opening of schools, our children are not weapons to fight coronavirus, they must be protected at all cost. UDEMWO also accepts the extension of the current academic year into 2021, should the community transmission of Covid-19 continue to increase, the nation must be prepared to sacrifice this school year. Our schools, students and teachers need all the support and compassion during this time. Issued by: Ms Thandi Nontenja UDEMWO Secretary General
Admin
22 Jul, 2020
A farewell to Andrew Mlangeni
I first met struggle stalwart, Andrew Mlangeni in 1989, when we welcomed him and his colleagues, in Mthatha (then Umtata), after their recent release from jail. Thereafter we saw each other at other functions and meetings at Shell House. But one meeting I will never forget occurred in 1990, in Enkululekweni in Umtata, when Ahmed Kathrada, Nelson Mandela, Govan Mbeki, Raymond Mhlaba, Wilton Mkwayi, Elias Motsoaledi, John ‘Joe’ Nkadimeng, Walter Sisulu and OR Tambo met with Generals Matanzima, Mgwebi and I to discuss the so-called black-on-black violence. We were extremely impressed with their thinking and their line of questioning. One thing we agreed upon was that the plan was clear that De Klerk’s government wanted to discredit these leaders who did not have the tools necessary to defend themselves. The Andrew Mlangeni I knew was very humble and it always made an impression on me that he decided to stay in his original home in Soweto. When we played golf together with him and he beat us, I always jokingly asked him why he played so well as there was no golf course on Robben Island for him to have practiced and that this must be investigated. I last saw uTata uMlangeni earlier this month to present him with a gift for his birthday and wish him well, little did I know it would be the last time we would see each other. To his family, and particular his son Sello, his friends, and the African National Congress, our deepest condolences. He will live on in our memories. May his soul rest in peace. Issued by: Mr Bantu Holomisa, MP UDM President
Admin
20 Jul, 2020
Alleged looting of state resources, through the DBSA, by some of the same people who have been fingered in the Public Investment Corporation investigation
Mr CM Ramaphosa President of the Republic of South Africa Private Bag X1000 Pretoria 0001 Dear Mr President RE: Alleged looting of state resources, through the DBSA, by some of the same people who have been fingered in the Public Investment Corporation investigation 1. I wrote to you a little more than a month ago, on 17 June 2020, regarding my grave concerns over the apparent looting of state resources by some of the very same individuals who were found to have had an enhanced ability to secure easy access to Public Investment Corporation (PIC) funds, as well as some new characters, who have now seemingly set their sights on looting from the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA). 2. In the 17 June-letter I also suggested that Treasury intervene and cause the DBSA to urgently stop the Crede Power and Infrastructure funding, via a vehicle called Poseidon, and that investigation be made into the allegations of impropriety. 3. Much water has flown under this bridge and, since then, the individuals who I had named in my letter, first tried to bully me via a lawyers’ letter and had ultimately run to the courts in an attempt to, what appears to me, intimidate and of course gag me. Their first volley failed as the court removed their application from the urgent court roll and they were ordered to pay the wasted costs occasioned by the set-down on the urgent court roll. 4. I had also made a Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA) application to the DBSA to obtain all the information pertaining to the Crede Power and Infrastructure/Poseidon water project but was unsuccessful because the DBSA relied on frivolous technicalities to refuse my request. I am of the view that this was a gambit to play for time. Speculating about the real reason why they acted in this manner, leads me to think someone was up to no good. 5. The DBSA’s chief executive officer and managing director, Mr Patrick Dlamini, had also decided to engage with me in letter-warfare, which I believed to be yet another effort to intimidate me. But, knowing what I know now, I suspect it might also have been a play for time to cook the books. 6. I was quite disturbed, last week, to learn that there had been alleged interference with the DBSA’s computer systems, where electronic documentation and records on the Crede Power and Infrastructure/Poseidon water project had been made to vanish at the time of my PAIA application, thus frustrating a good cause, whilst aiding and abetting those suspected of ill deeds. 7. Up to now, there have been far too many coincidences, that point to a massive cover-up. For instance, Crede Power and Infrastructure’s website being unavailable, just after my complaint to you and a threat from some lawyers, when I wanted to double-check my researched information. Then the DBSA spitefully refused my PAIA application and Mr Dlamini inadvertently confirmed, in writing, that the information at my disposal was accurate. Now we have an alleged sudden clean-up and wipe-out of critical information on the DBSA’s funding of the Crede Power and Infrastructure/Poseidon water project. 8. This brings another serious matter into focus and that is whether there are any other current funding deals at the DBSA, involving the same parties, of which we are unaware and whilst the grass is growing underneath your feet, evidence of such are also disappearing. 9. Given the information I have imparted to you in this writ, I wonder whether you and/or Minister of Finance Tito Mboweni can rely on any information provided to you by, who in my view are, potentially discredited DBSA executives. 10. I submit to you that there is a clear need for an independent forensic investigation to review the entire matter and in particular the alleged tampering with the DBSA’s computer records. Forensic investigators will be able to validate which files and what information have been tampered with and/or have been deleted. Computer experts will also be able to ensure that any restored information is legitimate. 11. The other matter that I had raised in my 17-June letter had been that PIC board member, Ms Irene Charnley, had allegedly received a USD 20 million loan from the DBSA and that she has yet to pay that back. It might behove you to also have investigation made of the DBSA’s loan practices and whether those loans are serviced, and who the culprits are that do not pay their instalments as per the agreement with the bank and why. 12. I remain at your disposal to discuss these matters and I reiterate my request that a forensic audit is urgently needed to get to the bottom of what seems to be the machinations of the greedy and the looting of state resources. Yours sincerely Mr Bantu Holomisa, MP President of the United Democratic Movement Copied to: Minister of Finance, Mr Tito Mboweni DBSA Chairperson, Mr Enoch Godongwana DBSA Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, Mr Patrick K Dlamini
- 01
- 02
- 03
- 04
- 05
- 06
- 07
- 08
- 09
- 10
- 11
- 12
- 13
- 14
- 15
- 16
- 17
- 18
- 19
- 20
- 21
- 22
- 23
- 24
- 25
- 26
- 27
- 28
- 29
- 30
- 31
- 32
- 33
- 34
- 35
- 36
- 37
- 38
- 39
- 40
- 41
- 42
- 43
- 44
- 45
- 46
- 47
- 48
- 49
- 50
- 51
- 52
- 53
- 54
- 55
- 56
- 57
- 58
- 59
- 60
- 61
- 62
- 63
- 64
- 65
- 66
- 67
- 68
- 69
- 70
- 71
- 72
- 73
- 74
- 75
- 76
- 77
- 78
- 79
- 80
- 81
- 82
- 83
- 84
- 85
- 86
- 87
- 88
- 89
- 90
- 91
- 92
- 93
- 94
- 95
- 96
- 97
- 98
- 99
- 100
- 101
- 102
- 103
- 104
- 105
- 106
- 107
- 108
- 109
- 110
- 111
- 112
- 113
- 114
- 115
- 116
- 117
- 118
- 119
- 120
- 121
- 122
- 123
- 124
- 125
- 126
- 127
- 128
- 129
- 130
- 131
- 132
