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07 Aug, 2017
MONC secret ballot: UDM reaction to speaker’s decision
Statement by Bantu Holomisa, MP and UDM President The United Democratic Movement (UDM) welcomes the Speaker’s decision to grant the request for a secret ballot when the National Assembly tomorrow votes on the motion of no-confidence in Mr Zuma. When the UDM made this request in April, we knew very well that she not only has the right, but also the responsibility to act; and act responsibly. We hope that all 400 members of the National Assembly will put South Africa first and vote in favour of the motion. We must also stress that tomorrow’s vote is not about a regime change but about saving South Africa from an irredeemably compromised President. Any Member who is threatened, either by his/her party or any other person, is now protected both in terms of the voting method and in law. It is time for public representatives to be true to their oaths of office, and South Africa, irrespective from which political party they come.
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07 Aug, 2017
Women-slapping minister: gender-based violence at the highest level
Statement issued by Thandi Nontenja – UDEMWO Secretary General The United Democratic Movement Women’s Organisation (UDEMWO) is furious and shocked by the incident where the Education Deputy-Minister Mduduzi Manana assaulted two women at a night club at the weekend. He has apparently admitted that he has done so and UDEMWO believes that his actions cannot be justified under any circumstance. This incident not only happens in Women’s Month, but against the background of the increase in gender-based violence in South Africa. A man at Deputy-Minister Manana’s level should live by example. Police Minister Fikile Mbalula must also not be tempted to protect his colleague abusing his position. Deputy-Minister Manana cannot get away with this. No one is above law; least of all a minister and he must face the consequences of his actions. We also hope that the witnesses will not be intimidated during the investigation. Does the ANC Women’s League approve of this behaviour? The same as they did with Kwezi? We in addition call upon the ruling party itself to urgently subject Minister Manana to a disciplinary process. Should there be no consequences for Deputy-Minister Manana, it will be a clear indication that the ruling party and its male ministers do not have time for strong women; we cannot be led by people who don’t respect us. End
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04 Aug, 2017
UDM President Bantu Holomisa, MP – The motion of no confidence debate and the secret ballot
Speaking notes for UDM President Bantu Holomisa, MP The motion of no confidence debate and the secret ballot on 4 August 2017 at the Cape Town Press Club, Grill Room, Kelvin Grove, Cape Town, at 13:00 Programme Director Ladies and gentlemen Introduction South Africans have long agreed that Mr Zuma is no longer a legitimate President of the Country. The damning Constitutional Court judgment which found that he failed to respect, uphold and defend the Constitution, sealed his fate. The rest of the daily revelations, on the ills of his presidency, are a vindication of the point that he has completely lost the plot. This is a man who will, in the next four days, face the eighth motion of no confidence in him. This means that on average Mr Zuma has faced at least one motion of no confidence for every year of his presidency. I make this point to simply illustrate that there is overwhelming consensus that Mr Zuma should urgently vacate this honourable office, because he is no longer honourable. The Constitutional Court expressed itself again when it confirmed, on the 22nd of June, that the Speaker has the discretionary power to determine the voting method for a no-confidence motion. It also counselled her on how to discharge that power, in the interest of the Constitution and the citizens of South African, and confirmed public representatives’ obligations to our constitutional democracy. The Secret Ballot The call for a secret ballot is no longer a United Democratic Movement matter, but one for each and every South African. The Conference for the Future of South Africa (held on 18 July), which was attended by no less than 130 civil society organisations, confirmed the need for Mr Zuma’s immediate departure, as well as that of a secret ballot. Every day the ruling party – through its Secretary General (SG), its Chief Whip or any other member – vindicates the citizens’ call for a secret ballot. We all know that the Speaker is heavily conflicted and is unlikely to take her cue from the Constitution or listen to the guidance of the Constitutional Court. As always, her decision will be a Luthuli House decision. The fact that she is delaying her decision speaks volumes. Scenarios If the Speaker grants a secret ballot, the debate will follow and the vote will take place as planned. We can only hope that all 400 members of the National Assembly (NA) will listen to the Constitutional Court’s guidance and put South Africa first by voting in favour of the motion. If the motion succeeds, the Constitution provides for the resignation of the President, the Deputy President and all members of the Executive. The Speaker would then act as President and, within 30 days, an election of the new President must take place. The UDM will respect the electorate’s 2014-choice of voting the African National Congress (ANC) into power. The removal of Mr Zuma is not about regime change but about a clean and responsive governance. If the Speaker does not grant the secret ballot, there are two possibilities: Firstly, and depending on her grounds for refusal, the Speaker’s decision may be referred for judicial review. In this case, the parties that moved the motion may have to withdraw pending such a review. This applies whether the Speaker announces her decision on the eve, or on the day, of the debate. Secondly, the debate may continue as planned and an open vote takes place. In this case, our interest (and those of South Africans) will be focussed on the ANC-benches. We would want to see whether the ANC members are: loyal to their personal financial interests, their ANC factional interests or the interests of the Country and its citizens. It is equally important to see who, amongst the 400 NA members, are loyal to the Constitution and the Country, as opposed to those who want to defend the indefensible. We know, that the “other faction” of the ANC would wish to kick the ball into touch and prevent this debate from taking place in 2017. They intend to wait until Mr Zuma is no longer ANC President so that they can ask him to step down or move the same motion from their own quarters. The ANC SG is on record saying that it is not easy to remove a sitting ANC president from the Union Buildings. On August the 8th We call on all UDM members and citizens in general to join the national wide protests and those who can, march to parliament on the day. Beyond the 8th of August Irrespective of the outcome of the debate and the vote on Tuesday, South Africa will still need to function. The UDM will continue betting on a wicket of anti-corruption and clean governance. In this regard, we will prevail on whoever is the head of government to: Ensure that the revelations found in the popular “Gupta emails”, are acted upon, by, amongst others, ensuring that the relevant state institutions are doing their work. Police must investigate and arrest, the Prosecution Authority must prosecute and secure convictions. Suspend all Ministers and state officials who are alleged to have done wrong, pending the investigations. Ensure that all contracts suspected of been wrongly awarded, must be suspended. Provide support and security for all public servants and members of the public who are exposing corruption and wrong doing in state institutions. Provide full support to all Chapter Nine Institutions and clean the State Owned Enterprises of corrupt individuals. Rid the Country of lawlessness that seem to be the order of the day under Mr Zuma’s presidency. We will also support the criminal cases opened by citizens and organisations against all the people who are alleged to be guilty of corruption and fraudulent activities. We will continue to mobilise society against all forms of corruption, and in support of clean governance, and the respect of law and the Constitution. The struggle against state capture is not over and it will need all of us to work collectively and tirelessly against it. Conclusion Whatever the Speaker’s decision, we remain resolved to rid South Africa of a president whose primary occupation is the total collapse of the Country. Unlike the ANC, we are impatient with his continued stay in office and we will work hard to ensure that the Country is saved from him and his cronies. South Africans should seriously consider an electoral method that puts the power into their hands. The UDM champions the reform of our current electoral system in favour of the citizens, rather than the self-interested political parties. Twenty-three years of ANC abuse of power has taught us an expensive, but valuable lesson. I thank you
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03 Aug, 2017
Johannesburg: UDM commends Mayor Mashaba’s action regarding Cllr Peetz
Statement issued by Thandi Nontenja – UDM Councillor in the City of Johannesburg The United Democratic Movement (UDM) commends Johannesburg Mayor Herman Mashaba for the swift action regarding allegations of corruption by MMC for Economic Development Cllr Sharon Peetz. Corruption has no colour or political affiliation and this administration of the City of Johannesburg is here to root out corruption regardless of who commits it. It must be made clear that no one is above the law; irrespective of a person’s high office. Justice must take its course. The UDM is also interested to see what actions the Democratic Alliance will take regarding their councillor’s alleged misconduct. End
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31 Jul, 2017
UDEMWO commends swift rescue of SA woman from human trafficking operation
Statement issued by Thandi Nontenja – UDEMWO Secretary General The United Democratic Movement Women’s Organisation (UDEMWO) is pleased with the result of the joint operation that led to the swift rescue of Princess Mahlangu who fell victim, alongside women from various other countries, to a human trafficking operation. This incident adds to the widespread pandemic of exploitation of women in South Africa. Her story is one of many South African women who become victims of crime while in search of better life. This case is also a harsh lesson about the impact of social media on our society. Although social media can have a positive effect on people’s interconnectedness and their access to information, more should be done to educate our people – especially young South Africans – about the dangerous and criminal elements who use social media to abuse vulnerable people. We commend Police Minister Fikile Mbalula for asking for the intervention of Interpol and the Hawks, which led to the exposure of this criminal enterprise. End
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26 Jul, 2017
Concern as Eastern Cape Emergency Services down tools
Statement issued by Bongani Msomi – UDM Secretary General United Democratic Movement (UDM) is concerned about the current strike of Emergency Medical Services officials in various parts of the Eastern Cape. Even though we understand workers’ grievances over financial issues, our biggest concern is that patients are adversely affected by this strike. The Department of Health has a responsibility to our people and it should swiftly intervene. All stakeholders must act decisively and find a solution before lives are lost. The Eastern Cape battles with poor health service delivery and we cannot afford more disruption of the little they get from the Department. The Eastern Cape Health MEC, Dr Phumza Dyantyi, must address this situation before things get out of hand. End
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20 Jul, 2017
Gender Violence: Is Yvonne just another statistic
Statement issued by Thandi Nontenja – UDEMWO Secretary General There seems to be a heart-wrenching answer to the question of the whereabouts of Yvonne Mbekwa. The United Democratic Movement Women’s Organisation (UDEMWO) is saddened to hear that a burnt body, with her documentation, was found fairly close to where she and her baby had disappeared. Reports do not indicate the fate of her child, but we have come to expect the worst. “Yvonne Mbekwa” is yet another name to add to the growing list of victims of gender-based violence in South Africa. Government is simply not taking this matter seriously. The responsible ministers can’t get away with making a few pacifying noises in the media and leading us in celebrating Women’s Month in a few weeks’ time. 16 Days of Activism does not cut it anymore. What are you doing to drastically better the lives of women in this Country? There is another dynamic to this tragic situation which adds extra discomfort. It has come to light that the main suspect, Yvonne’s boyfriend and father of her child, is a police officer in the Port St Johns area. If he is found to be her murderer; the irony would be too thick to swallow; because the very person who was supposed to give protection, instead took life. We call on the South African Police Service to make a swift arrest, especially since there have been allegations that the suspect has issued threats to Yvonne’s family and community. We also call upon police to speedily investigate the whereabouts of the infant. We keep her family and friends in our prayers. May her soul rest in peace. End
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18 Jul, 2017
Illegal and immoral death threats on prominent South Africans
Statement issued by Bongani Msomi – UDM Secretary General The United Democratic Movement (UDM) is extremely concerned over reports of continued and growing intimidation of anyone who dares to dissent from the ruling party; or maybe just from certain elements within its ranks? This seems to be the go-to response, these days, when any unfortunate soul ventures to point out any wrong-doing in Government. It has been reported that South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) Chief Executive Officer who has since resigned, Thokozani Magwaza, allegedly received death threats because of the Sassa/SA Post Office contract which is to replace disgraced Cash Paymaster Services. This blackmail culture means that government employees, who does their jobs properly, or who refuses to be coerced, runs the risk of (at the least) losing their jobs or (at the most) losing their lives. This phenomenon speaks of a Nation held at ransom and the UDM condemns this illegal and immoral trend in no uncertain terms. Whether some people believe that their power or pockets are to be affected, there is no justification for issuing death threats. The South Africa Constitution states clearly that “everyone has the right to freedom and security of the person” and that we shall be “free from all forms of violence from either public or private sources”. What makes matters worse is that authorities seem to be turning a blind eye. No-one, irrespective of political affiliation or standing, is above the law. These alleged threats cannot be ignored and law enforcement must be proactive by investigating each threat and finding the culprits. End
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