Admin
13 Aug, 2019
Eastern Cape Legislature: Mr Mncedisi Filtane, MPL’s contribution to the budget debate on economic development
1. Having tried to juxtapose the MEC‘s policy speech with his department’s operational plan driven by such a minute budget, I could only conclude that the Eastern Cape government is going nowhere. When you reduce, by as much as 25%, the budget of Treasury, what do you expect to achieve in the sickly fiscal environment? If the whole province projects a revenue of R6 billion but commits to just R1, 4 billion then psychologically, those tasked during operations with collecting the dream R6bn, will immediately drop their efforts by whopping 80%. Ndokhe ndibone xa kusenzeka umlingo. Poor fiscal management continues to kill our provinces political, social and economic dreams. One suspects that political instability within the ruling party plays a big role in the mismanagement of allocated funds, hence the recurrence of irregular wasteful and non- expenditure of budgets. 2. Treasury should incentivise and reward departments that show great strides in tight fiscal control. Not only had that but even challenge departments in the economic cluster to produce an X number of jobs for every X R3 spent. Treasury should actually have a special internal unit that focuses on two things: ? The constant link between departmental expenditure and jobs created and sustained. ? Fiscus spent which results in enterprise ownership by Eastern Cape citizens. The fiscus continues to be plundered by the people from outside the province. Our fiscus should be used to create equity for the citizens of this province. The development of the invoice-tracking mechanism is much appreciated. It cannot be that it is practically impossible to simply put a stop to civil servants who do business with the state. As things stand there are officials who make sure that their invoices are fast tracked for payment? Surely this can be stopped. We implore Treasury to ensure that there is consequence management for those who plunder state resources. The additional powers conferred on the Auditor General should be utilised not only to deter potential thieves but severely punish the devilish beneficiaries. 3. Despite the policy position declared by the National Minister of Finance that tax collection has to be increased, yet in the Eastern Cape the source and base of an increased tax revenue seems to have be given very shy attention. There are no bold steps within the Economic Cluster to increase the tax base. This assertion is based on the type of projected jobs. Labourers earn low wages; it is the middle and upper class as well as businesses that form a solid tax revenue base. The MEC for Finance in his budget speech puts that emphasis on infrastructure development and agricultural economy. We know the bulk of the infrastructure budget goes to contractors and the goods they procure. Less than 25% goes to professionals. So, we would need to make sure that both the supplies and contractors are locally based in order to drive that budget to local suppliers. Agriculture we all know that this sector contributes just around 2% to the GDP consequently its contribution to our tax base is understandably low. In order for it to improve its contribution to our tax base, the export market would need to be tapped into in, a big way at that. There you talking billions. Another potential revenue base is by creating, at municipal level, to an environment in which professionals like doctors’ consultants, teachers etc. would feel comfortable to live and work. But alas the conditions are just too atrocious in most of these municipalities. Hence the brain and fiscal emigration to other provinces, where there are better living conditions. 4. Did it occur to the executive of the Eastern Cape that you are sending a very negative message to investors, when you reduce the budget of such a strategic department by whole 25%? The UDM takes this opportunity to implore the powers that be to review this situation. Add to that the small change allocated to the department of economic development, then potential investors get a clear message of just, how not serious you are on the economy.
Admin
13 Aug, 2019
Eastern Cape Legislature: Mr Mncedisi Filtane, MPL’s contribution Vote 12: Treasury
1. Having tried to juxtapose the MEC‘s policy speech with his department’s operational plan driven by such a minute budget, I could only conclude that the Eastern Cape government is going nowhere. When you reduce, by as much as 25%, the budget of Treasury, what do you expect to achieve in the sickly fiscal environment? If the whole province projects a revenue of R6 billion but commits to just R1, 4 billion then psychologically, those tasked during operations with collecting the dream R6bn, will immediately drop their efforts by whopping 80%. Ndokhe ndibone xa kusenzeka umlingo. Poor fiscal management continues to kill our provinces political, social and economic dreams. One suspects that political instability within the ruling party plays a big role in the mismanagement of allocated funds, hence the recurrence of irregular wasteful and non- expenditure of budgets. 2. Treasury should incentivise and reward departments that show great strides in tight fiscal control. Not only had that but even challenge departments in the economic cluster to produce an X number of jobs for every X R3 spent. Treasury should actually have a special internal unit that focuses on two things: ? The constant link between departmental expenditure and jobs created and sustained. ? Fiscus spent which results in enterprise ownership by Eastern Cape citizens. The fiscus continues to be plundered by the people from outside the province. Our fiscus should be used to create equity for the citizens of this province. The development of the invoice-tracking mechanism is much appreciated. It cannot be that it is practically impossible to simply put a stop to civil servants who do business with the state. As things stand there are officials who make sure that their invoices are fast tracked for payment? Surely this can be stopped. We implore Treasury to ensure that there is consequence management for those who plunder state resources. The additional powers conferred on the Auditor General should be utilised not only to deter potential thieves but severely punish the devilish beneficiaries. 3. Despite the policy position declared by the National Minister of Finance that tax collection has to be increased, yet in the Eastern Cape the source and base of an increased tax revenue seems to have be given very shy attention. There are no bold steps within the Economic Cluster to increase the tax base. This assertion is based on the type of projected jobs. Labourers earn low wages; it is the middle and upper class as well as businesses that form a solid tax revenue base. The MEC for Finance in his budget speech puts that emphasis on infrastructure development and agricultural economy. We know the bulk of the infrastructure budget goes to contractors and the goods they procure. Less than 25% goes to professionals. So, we would need to make sure that both the supplies and contractors are locally based in order to drive that budget to local suppliers. Agriculture we all know that this sector contributes just around 2% to the GDP consequently its contribution to our tax base is understandably low. In order for it to improve its contribution to our tax base, the export market would need to be tapped into in, a big way at that. There you talking billions. Another potential revenue base is by creating, at municipal level, to an environment in which professionals like doctors’ consultants, teachers etc. would feel comfortable to live and work. But alas the conditions are just too atrocious in most of these municipalities. Hence the brain and fiscal emigration to other provinces, where there are better living conditions. 4. Did it occur to the executive of the Eastern Cape that you are sending a very negative message to investors, when you reduce the budget of such a strategic department by whole 25%? The UDM takes this opportunity to implore the powers that be to review this situation. Add to that the small change allocated to the department of economic development, then potential investors get a clear message of just, how not serious you are on the economy.
Admin
08 Aug, 2019
Women’s Day: 25 years on and women are still under attack
The United Democratic Movement Women’s Organisation would like to wish every woman out there, a good Woman’s Day. We are the mothers and daughters; we are well-able and there is absolutely nothing a woman cannot do. However, how do we celebrate Women’s Month if there is, in fact, nothing to celebrate? Twenty-five years down the line and women in this country still live with a target on their backs; as somehow lesser human beings, only there to be beaten, raped and killed. The ruling party, which should be leading the women’s cause, has done nothing much to change women’s lives when it comes to addressing the scourge of abuse. Paying lip-service is simply not enough and having a useless ministry of women is a waste of time. For instance, in our rural villages, women accused of witchcraft are made to face mobs of killers and our government sits with its arms folded. Where are government’s far-reaching programmes needed to stem the tide of women abuse? Women are the thread that hold our societies together and the ruling party government does not seem to care about their wellbeing, their livelihood or their safety. This is unacceptable and we cannot tolerate this any longer.
Admin
01 Aug, 2019
Bantu Holomisa, MP and UDM President’s address at the BPI Foundation’s 2019 Summit
Bantu Holomisa, MP and UDM President’s address at the BPI Foundation’s 2019 Summit on 1 and 2 August 2019 at the Midrand Conference Centre Topic of discussion: “The oneness and shared success we seek and should aspire to as a new nation and developing country, while battling with deep wounds of our historical atrocities” • Our hosts at the BPI Foundation • Fellow speakers • Ladies and gentlemen 1. Thank you Thank you to the BPI Foundation for allowing me to talk to you today and share the stage with a variety of great minds discussing an interesting array of topics. It’s an honour. 2. Talking about history To say that South Africa still bears the scars of colonialization and Apartheid is obvious; but it still bears saying. To nay-say this history and its impact on the South Africa of today is denialist and foolish. Some say history is just that; history. But good or bad, history keeps us aware of what should never be repeated and what worked. It also teaches us what our priorities should be. I mention this specifically, because if we had – for instance – tackled the land issue timeously, we could have avoided the entire drama that is playing out at the moment. It could have gone a long way in addressing some of the economic ills of our time. If we keep history at the back of our minds, we know where we come from so that we can know where we are going. The reason I make these points is that we need to think constructively about creating a prosperous country. Yes, we must be sensitive, but we can make an active choice to not wallow in our past. We can decide to roll up our sleeves and work towards making South Africa a winning nation. I say this, because our children and future generations will hold us responsible for the decisions we make. Each of us alive today must make the best choices possible for a prosperous South Africa. 3. Leadership in post-Apartheid South Africa I think we started off with this project we called “The New South Africa” on the right track. But we got lost or waylaid, especially in the past ten years or so. But let me quickly add, in all fairness, that 25 years is not a long time in terms of what established, modern democracies look like. We might lay the blame for this ambushed project at several possible doors, but to my mind being a politician, much of the blame can be apportioned to weak and/or corrupt leadership – starting at the highest level, right down to local government. You will agree with me that, if the commander of the army is directionless and corrupt, the lower command and troops will follow instructions; or worse, follow suit. We see evidence of this mind-set and institutionalised corruption in the testimony we hear at both the Zondo and the Mpati Commissions. Our newspapers are flooded with tales of people in positions of power who have succumbed to wrongdoing, including those in the private sector. Given that greediness, reward and compensation were the prime policies of past 25 years, you will find that the poor are progressively more agitated by empty promises. In some corners these policies are called deployment and patronage, but it not only ransacked government coffers in the process, it also elbowed-out people with skills and experience. However, this behaviour has not escaped the notice of the poor. One cannot deny that, in simple terms, the poor of today is different from the poor of the past who were easily manipulated. I think this is evidenced by the sheer number of satellite dishes one sees in the villages, townships and informal settlements. Gone are the days where the poor’s only source of information is party propaganda. They are now more informed and better educated about their rights and the basic services they are entitled to. Even if you watch their interviews on television, you can hear that people are articulating themselves well. South Africa has been burning for some years now, with people more aggressively protesting about service delivery. It is worrying though that once they start resisting law enforcement, and we have already seen this happen, it looks as if we are entering the second stage of the revolution. More often than not, anger and frustration boil over with private and government buildings and property being damaged or destroyed. In all seriousness, we are staring anarchy and lawlessness in the face. This is where one starts to ask whether the centre is holding. Do the people who have been given a mandate to run this country, know what they are doing? I think that South Africans are not going to wait another 30 years to read through the lies and recognise that they are being led by clueless and corrupt leaders. One thing that is certain, when the ANC was given power in 1994, they might have been politically ready, but not in terms of technocracy and the civil service. They were caught off guard. We know this, because some of those people, who hail from the same political party, are now subject to the commissions of inquiry. 4. Eradicating corruption If one likens corruption to a boil, it is best to lance it, as soon as possible… even if it’s painful. It is therefore better that we have the Zondo and Mpati Commissions at this point in time – let all the pus be drained, so that we can start afresh. The only wish I would have had, is that this process should have started sooner. Having said that, I would also wish that these commissions be given enough time to get to the bottom of the rot and that no-one should be spared. The next important step, to my mind, is that the guilty must be brought to book. I made a suggestion to the President (in the recent Budget Vote on the Presidency) to have a meeting with the commissions, to assist in what I called “Phase 2” of the process. In this proposed meeting, I suggested that the President discuss with the commissions, how law enforcement agencies and the auditor general, could be involved in giving them some bite to their bark. The final, long-lasting outcomes of these commissions could be: 1) upping the checks and balances to deter the would-be corrupt and 2) creating special instruments, like dedicated courts that only deal with corruption. 5. Is it possible to build a nation? I want to quote a translation of an academic article that I was recently shown, written by one H.O. Terblanche about Port Elizabeth in the 1920’s and 1930’s. “Two factors were mainly responsible for the impoverished rural Afrikaner’s trek to the city, namely rural impoverishment and urban industrialisation. Most of the poor whites were unskilled or semi-skilled workers. White unemployment was rife in Port Elizabeth during the 1920’s and 1930’s. Only a small percentage of the whites owned their own homes. Overcrowding was a common phenomenon. Korsten and Sidwell was in actual fact one big slum. The health conditions were shocking. Community poverty also adversely affected the urban Afrikaner as regards education. Many impoverished Afrikaners in the city thus developed a feeling of inferiority.” Without trying to be controversial, does this description not sound familiar? It is as if this article describes modern day South Africa, almost a century later, for blacks. There is a lesson to be drawn from this part of the history of the Afrikaner i.e. how they managed to pull themselves up by their socks and actively did something about their problems. They had their own Marshal Plan and implemented it with great success. They did this without fear or shame; so why is our government shy of doing the same and on the same scale? Maybe corruption is too much of a debilitating factor, but the past has proven that transforming a nation, in a relatively short space of time, is doable. 6. Hosting an Economic Indaba One of the problems we have, in the running of our economy, is that many family owned companies have either fled our shores or have closed down, because government withdrew incentives or because their owners left because of our high crime levels. Some did not agree with the political changes after 1994. These companies were responsible for generating and sustaining thousands and thousands of jobs. If we expect our population of 57 million people to be sustained through companies currently on the playing field, we are wasting our time. The situation is also aggravated by the brain-drain, which, these days has no colour. We are losing far too many South Africans to other economies in the world. These are the kind of matters which should pressurise government into taking the lead in organising an economic indaba, where all stakeholders can meet, to emerge with a Marshall Plan for the South Africa of today. 7. Conclusion The desire to live in an equal, peaceful and prosperous South Africa is undoubtfully universal, irrespective of which political party one votes for. The question is how do we get there. Maybe, with the few ideas I’ve mentioned, we can achieve this. I thank you
Admin
01 Aug, 2019
Special message to Minister of Police re murder of Senzo Meyiwa
As the nation still mourns the passing away of Mr Sam Meyiwa, the father of the treasured footballer Senzo Meyiwa, the United Democratic Movement (UDM) has a special message for Minister of Police Bheki Cele to do whatever is needed to bring to book Senzo’s murderers. The UDM notes that the minister assured the Meyiwa family that the killers would be apprehended. Minister Cele must realise that the family and the nation are sick and tired of the lip service, since he, when he was appointed in this portfolio during the fifth parliament, was very vocal about his intention to resolve this murder case and nothing has happened. All the UDM is asking for, as the late Sam Meyiwa would be laid to rest this coming weekend, is for a good send-off that will be befitting, which is the arrest of the killers of this son of the soil. Once that has happened, both Sam and Senzo will surely rest in peace Issued by: Bongani Msomi UDM Secretary General
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31 Jul, 2019
Bantu Holomisa reacts to ANC’s Jesse Duarte statement
Ms Jesse Duarte took the opportunity to make scornful remarks about leaders who have left the African National Congress (ANC), and casting aspersion on their integrity, in an SABC “documentary”. Clearly, the SABC is still run as a subsidiary of the ANC and it still uses the public broadcaster as a publicity tool, hiding its propaganda in the guise of so-called documentaries. Ms Duarte in a recent “documentary” attacked me by calling me a dictator. I answered the volley and now the ANC is defending Ms Duarte by conveniently playing the gender card. We have, over the years, noted that Ms Duarte has a tendency of even undermining her own leaders in the media. Now, when she experiences vehement resistance and someone calls her out, she (and the ANC) cries foul. The time for the ANC of just attacking anybody in this country without expecting a comeback is over; they must go find someone else to bully. Issued by: Mr Bantu Holomisa UDM President
Admin
30 Jul, 2019
Youth unemployment can only be solved at an Economic Indaba
Second quarter stats have shown that youth unemployment has risen significantly and President Cyril Ramaphosa has cautioned the citizens of this country to prepare themselves for more job losses. These pronouncements come just after the President’s famous promise of the creation of two million jobs in ten years’ time. President Ramaphosa cannot make beautiful statements in his SONA and budget speech address to only come to us a little later, saying things are not going to work out as he promised. Surely the President knew of the likelihood of job losses whilst he was making his speeches? Is this some form of warped reverse psychology? We, in part, suffer this fate because of the African National Congress’ selfish factional battles at play in the public discourse. We have our President battling the Public Protector, and ministers and prominent public figures slinging mud at each other. It is the country that suffers because of this public posturing and ugly spats. Young people of South Africa, we are in a crisis and we need to stand up against pretence and empty promises. If we stand idly by, we will go straight to the pit holes of poverty that will take many more years to overcome. We cannot allow this any further. The United Democratic Movement Youth Vanguard reiterates the call that the United Democratic Movement made in its manifesto that an urgent Economic Indaba is needed to find ways to stop this country from degenerating any further. If the incumbent leadership is serious about taking South Africa forward, we need a New Era Codesa (Economic Indaba) and soon. Issued by: Mr Yongama Zigebe Gauteng Provincial Secretary, UDM Youth Vanguard
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25 Jul, 2019
Butterworth school closure threatens children’s future
The United Democratic Movement is aware of the shutdown of Zanokhanyo Junior Secondary School in Butterworth because of dilapidation. This illustrates the failure by the Eastern Cape and National Department of Education. On a daily basis, the ANC-led government emphasizes how important education is, but the condition of schools in the villages leaves a lot to be desired. Government does not walk the talk. The Eastern Cape is one of the provinces that still have mud classrooms, in some instances teaching and learning take place under the trees. The pupils are exposed to adverse weather conditions and puts them at a learning disadvantage. President Ramaphosa has promised that his government will improve conditions in our schools but nothing has been done thus far. Instead Minister of Basic Education Angie Motshekga is busy introducing new subjects like Swahili or Mandarin into our curriculum as if all is normal. We understand that the government means well by this gesture, but it demonstrates that its priorities are skewed. The UDM believes in a government that is proactive, that does not wait until something terrible happens before it acts. We want a government that focuses on basic necessities such as teaching material and the development or maintenance of school infrastructure. This will be enough to boost the morale and motivate educators to do their job and learners to concentrate on their work. The United Democratic Movement urges the provincial government to do all in its power to get Zanokhanya Junior School renovated with the R1.5bn that is available; and reopen it with immediate effect as the future of 471 pupils is at stake. Mr Bongani Msomi UDM Secretary General
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