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08 Nov, 2017
UDM condemns violent taxi strike
Statement issued by Bongani Msomi – UDM Secretary General The United Democratic Movement (UDM) is concerned by the timing of the protesting taxi industry in many parts of Gauteng. This is a critical time for scholars especially those doing Grade 12 who are busy writing their final exams. We understand the frustration of the taxi industry however we are much concerned with the effects of the protest towards pupils and the innocent commuters. We have received reports of violent attacks as the strike continues, and, we condemn in strongest terms these attacks. It cannot be that every time taxi industry goes to strike we must expect that innocent people are negatively affected by the industrial action. There has to be a better way to pass grievances and to be heard because those affected are just ordinary people and are the ones who support and sustain the industry. The South African National Taxi Council has to find a civil way of doing things. It is everyone’s right to go on strike, but no life must be threatened because of the other. Taxi bosses and all the stakeholders involved must find ways to come up with solutions other than resorting to the victimisation of commuters and other motorists. End
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07 Nov, 2017
Shocking handling of Emfuleni mayor’s WhatsApp “slip”
Media Statement by Thandi Nontenja – UDEMWO Secretary General The United Democratic Movement Women’s Organisation (UDEMWO) is appalled by the way the situation around Emfuleni Mayor Simon Mofokeng (with his so-called “slip up” with a lewd post on an African National Congress (ANC) WhatsApp group) is being handled. It is shocking that, by all accounts, Mr Mofokeng was in a “relationship” with a 14-year-old girl. An adult man cannot be in a “relationship” with a teenage girl; that is not a relationship, it is statutory rape. Mr Mofokeng seems to be a law unto himself, who faces no consequences and no rebuke from his peers – not even for his past transgressions. Seemingly his political clout has cowed his regional and provincial colleagues into silence. Even his national colleagues are mum, with a report that Cabinet Minister Nomvula Mokonyane, who is apparently part of the WhatsApp group, said: “I don’t discuss ANC matters in the media”. Why does a minister, who is a woman, has nothing to say? Why is this an ANC matter Minister Mokonyane? Why is it not a woman and girl-child abuse matter? How do you sleep at night? Suspending Mr Mofokeng is not good enough. Simply waiting for the 28th of November to hear if an interim protection order against him will be granted is not good enough. Why has Mr Mofokeng not been arrested? Where is Police Minister Fikile Mbalula? Where is Women and Children Minister Susan Shabangu? Can the two of you explain why this matter is seemingly being swept under the carpet? Is it because the ANC has only a couple of weeks left before its elective conference? If that is the case, shame on the entire ANC leadership! This girl’s life has been ruined and all you can do is to close ranks like a bunch of immoral zombies for the sake of your political futures. End
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26 Oct, 2017
#FeesMustFall: Students up in arms yet again, when will Government learn?
The United Democratic Movement (UDM) is concerned by the #FeesMustFall protests that have, yet again, forced several institutions of higher learning to grind to a halt, and interrupted exams. The UDM expresses sympathy with our students’ plight and we believe their grievances are real, and their demands, valid. What boggles the mind is that, Government and university managements do not learn from experience. These protests have dragged on for far too long; their poor handling of students’ grievances has already compromised more than two years of academic activities. The UDM supports their call for free education, but we are concerned about the loss of academic time and learning opportunities. The cause of this unhappiness remains the African National Congress’ election promises of free education, which it reneged upon. President Zuma has failed to address the problem in the past. He continues to undermine the people, by fighting his own political battles at the expense of a public waiting for service delivery. The UDM is also doubtful that the new Higher Education Minister, Hlengiwe Mkhize, will be able to handle the current crisis. Only time will tell. As in the past, these protests seem to be hijacked by criminal elements. The UDM condemns any damage to public and private property and call on students to not get carried away in the heat of the moment, or be influenced by opportunists who want to exploit the situation. We urge you to take ownership of your cause in a peaceful and responsible manner. The UDM believes education is a stepping stone for democracy. An educated and healthy citizenry is needed to grow and develop our economy so that we are capacitated to eradicate poverty and inequality, and to generate employment. We therefore call on Government and all stakeholders, to swiftly find sustainable ways to solve the education crisis; for if this does not happen, these protests will remain a yearly occurrence. Statement by: Mr Bongani Msomi UDM Secretary General
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25 Oct, 2017
#MTBSP2017 Mini-budget: Minister Gigaba is reaping what he sowed
Finance Minister Malusi Gigaba’s maiden Medium-Term Budget Policy speech was unimpressive. In fact, it seemed a mere rehash of his predecessors’ old proposals. He was so non-committal, that there is very little hope that we will soon see agencies rate South Africa higher than ‘junk status’. The reaction of the Rand, to his speech, might be a sign of worse things to come. The United Democratic Movement (UDM) notes that South Africa’s current debt stands at R2.32 trillion, whilst the 2020/21 forecast is at a chilling R3,4 trillion. Our debt service cost stands at R146.5 billion per annum, with the projected cost (in just three years’ time) at R223.4 billion. This is cause for serious concern. Minister Gigaba’s lukewarm proposals and vague statements did not speak to this existing, nor the looming – even bigger – financial crisis. The reality of the situation is that Minister Gigaba, and therefore the Country, has become the victim of the mess he created whilst he was still Minister of Public Enterprises. The calamitous management of many State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs), like Eskom and SAA, happened on his watch. Might Minister Gigaba have been non-committal in today’s speech, because he is walking on egg shells, trying to appease both factions of the African National Congress going to their elective congress in December? The UDM however does commend Minister Gigaba on the steps he has taken to improve governance at SAA. We hope that things change for the better. Regarding SOEs, the UDM had warned in the past that Government’s over-commitment in terms of contingent liabilities is a recipe for disaster. Those warnings were laughed off and we see Minister Gigaba and his department scrambling and wanting to channel funds away from service delivery. What’s the use of doing a people-driven budget, if you don’t stick to it? Minister Gigaba’s commitment, to combat corruption and curb wasteful expenditure, has the credibility of a cat conducting a commission of inquiry into the disappearance of mice. Statement by: Mr Nqabayomzi Kwankwa, MP UDM Deputy President and Chief Whip
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20 Oct, 2017
Danny Jordaan: rape accused
The United Democratic Movement Women’s Organisation (UDEMWO) notes with shock, the rape allegations levelled against Mr Danny Jordaan. Since Ms Jennifer Ferguson’s allegations have become public, the South African Football Association (SAFA) boss has not uttered a word… to us it seems that, if there is smoke, there is fire? For someone in Jordaan’s position to even have a whiff of women abuse associated with him, is an indication of the male dominated thinking in South Africa. His name now joins an ever-lengthening list of powerful men accused of women abuse such as: President Jacob Zuma; former Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Training Mduduzi Manana; Sipho ‘Brickz’ Ndlovu (who has been found guilty); Molemo ‘Jub Jub’ Maarohanye and DJ Khombela “DJ Khomza” Nthleko. It shows that we live in a country subjugated by hypocritical misogynists, who continue taking advantage of women. All the aforementioned men, are role models to boys and other men, who emulate their every move. If these men in positions of public trust and power, display bad behaviour, boys will think that cruelty towards women is acceptable and normal. UDEMWO calls on SAFA to act; the Association cannot let this one pass, unless they support such seemingly dubious characters? We commend Jennifer Ferguson for her boldness in standing up and exposing the treatment she alleges to have endured at the hands of Mr Jordaan. It is clear that there is much happening in the halls of power that the Nation is unaware of. To all women (those who have suffered abuse and those who have not) continue being the Imbokodos that you are! Let us expose these jackals for what they are.
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18 Oct, 2017
#NMBCoalition – DA admitted mistakes were made, Bantu Holomisa writes to DA Leader Mmusi Maimane
Dear Mr Maimane NELSON MANDELA BAY COALITION: MISTAKES WERE MADE REGARDING THE MANNER IN WHICH THE SPEAKER OF COUNCIL CONDUCTED THE NMBMM COUNCIL MEETING OF 24 AUGUST 2017 1. I refer to matter of the Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality (NMBMM) Council meeting of 24 August 2017 at which a motion of no confidence was instituted by the Patriotic Alliance (PA), against our Deputy Executive Mayor, Cllr Mongameli Bobani. 2. The United Democratic Movement’s (UDM) lawyers have secured the closed-circuit television recording (available at https://drive.google.com/file/d/0Bzwt1-3KK09fRElhN0kzblVtT2s/view?usp=drive_web) of the aforementioned meeting from the Municipality. 3. I now wish to draw your attention to the meeting we had on 17 September 2017 when we talked about the state of the coalition. During our conversation, you conceded that the Democratic Alliance (DA) had made mistakes in dealing with the coalition partners and you had committed to set right such mistakes. 4. After having watched the recording today, I wonder if, when you referred to mistakes the DA had made, did you include the way the DA had handled the ousting of Cllr Bobani? 5. The UDM would like to understand how the Speaker of Council (as seen in the recording), in the very first instance only allowed one person of each political party to speak on the item and then ignored speaker, after speaker, who protested this decision. The DA professes to be proponents of democracy, but we fail to understand how, what happened on that fateful day, could be considered democracy. 6. When a councillor asked that the proposer of the motion, Cllr Marlon Daniels of the PA, explain what he meant by Cllr Bobani’s “erratic behaviour”, he never did. It appears as if this matter was just steamrolled through Council to suit a hidden agenda. We now know what that agenda had been, after we heard why the PA withdrew from your separate and bilateral “coalition agreement”. 7. Sir, do you consider the handling of the Council meeting as one of the mistakes the DA had made? Are you prepared to rectify this mistake by immediately reinstating Cllr Bobani as Deputy Executive Mayor? Yours truly Mr Bantu Holomisa, MP President of the United Democratic Movement Copied to: Rev Kenneth Meshoe, MPPresident, African Christian Democratic Party Mr Mosiuoa Lekota, MPPresident, Congress of the People Dr Pieter Groenewald, MPLeader, Freedom Front Plus
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17 Oct, 2017
UDEMWO pleased by Brickz verdict
The United Democratic Movement Women’s Organisation (UDEMWO) welcomes the fifteen-year jail sentence given to Sipho Ndlovu, popularly known as Brickz in the music entertainment business. This outcome gives hope that no rapist, not even a male celebrity, is above law. It is also good that the justice system made an example of him; for he had been a role model for young male fans, who might have thought it “cool” to emulate his behaviour. Raping a woman or a girl-child is not acceptable by any standard. It is a vicious, immoral crime. UDEMWO again calls for greater punitive measures against those men and boys who victimise women and children. Although fifteen years may seem like a long time, punishing Sipho Ndlovu can however never undo what he did to his teenage niece, but at least society has said: “No, we will not tolerate this behaviour and have been punished for breaking the law”. Nothing can ever take away the pain she felt and continues to feel; even after the ordeal. We commend her for staying strong and speaking out; especially since her rapist had been a family member. We urge women and girl-children to come forward and report abuse. We hope that the justice system will continue to deal with such lawbreakers effectively and never-ever be lenient. Issued by: Ms Thandi Nontenja UDEMWO Secretary General
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16 Oct, 2017
Nationwide school violence crisis needs swift intervention
The United Democratic Movement Women’s Organisation (UDEMWO) is concerned by the continued crime and violence that are prevalent in many schools throughout the country. There seems to be an increase of criminal activities in our schools that puts our pupils’ safety and lives at risk. This is a threat to education and jeopardises our children’s basic rights as entrenched in the Constitution. Not a day passes without reports of shootouts, stabbings and even rapes in full view of pupils; under the noses of teachers and principals. Firearms brought to school and shootouts on school premises have become somewhat of a norm. In most cases children are the victims. These kinds of crimes are happening in the Western Cape, Gauteng and in KwaZulu-Natal – to name a few. UDEMWO also notes with sadness reports of parents that assault teachers at some schools, especially in Gauteng. We condemn this behaviour in the strongest terms. What kind of society is this? Clearly there is something very wrong with our schooling system, where learners are not safe to learn and teachers are not safe to teach. Minister of Basic Education Angie Motshekga’s silence is deafening. She is only a minister by title. So much has happened under her leadership. We however note the interventions made by the Gauteng Education MEC Panyaza Lesufi but it is not enough. This situation is unacceptable, and all stakeholders involved cannot allow this crisis in our schools to continue. It is time to for them have an urgent meeting and find permanent solutions to these problems which affect our children’s and our country’s futures. Statement issued by Ms Thandi Nontenja, UDEMWO Secretary General.
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