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Dlamini-Zuma visit to Marikana – a gimmick

Statement issued by Thandi Nontenja – UDEMWO Secretary General The United Democratic Movement Women’s Organisation (UDEMWO) notes with anger the visit of Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma in Marikana, North West. It was just a gimmick. Her visit was nothing but a campaigning stunt. As the country celebrated women and their role in the month of August, we do not remember her visiting or mentioning anything about the women who lost their relatives during Marikana Massacre. Dlamini Zuma is nothing but an opportunist along with her team. They must stop taking people for a ride to fulfil their mission. The ruling party’s women’s league is quiet on matters relating to women but it is easy for them to use the same vulnerable women so they can be in power. The women’s league seems clueless on its role in the society or it is only in existence to protect corruption and to promote women abuse as they have shown previously. We commend the community of Marikana for not allowing her in the area. That should be a lesson and a message that people are tired of fruitless promises. End

UDEMWO disappointed by SA law on Grace Mugabe

Statement issued by Thandi Nontenja – UDEMWO Secretary General As the country celebrates women, the abuse continues to take place. As the United Democratic Movement Women’s Organisation (UDEMWO), we are disappointed by the reports of Mrs Grace Mugabe who allegedly assaulted a 20 old year old woman in Sandton, just few days after Women’s Day. For someone in her position to behave the way she did is saddening. Mrs Mugabe’s actions cannot be justified and unacceptable. She is supposed to be a beacon of hope. What is more disturbing is the fact that the South African law enforcers had allowed her to get away with her horrific action. It also seems as if they protect outsiders more than the citizens. As the country, we witness the Mr Omar al Bashir scandal repeat itself in our own grounds. We were hoping that the case will not be handled with exception and the hand of justice will take its course but we were wrong. End

Something is seriously wrong: Aviwe Jam Jam is dead and Deputy Minister Manana is out on bail?

Statement issued by Thandi Nontenja – UDEMWO Secretary General The United Democratic Movement Women’s Organisation (UDEMWO) is disturbed by reports of yet another female murder victim: young Capetonian Ms Aviwe Jam-Jam. Her name has been added to the ever-lengthening list of woman victims of violence and crime in South Africa. The fact that her body was found dumped at a sport field, not very far from her home, rubs salt into an already raw national wound. Like most women caught in an abusive cycle, Aviwe had – according to a relative – tried to get away from her allegedly abusive boyfriend who seems to be suspected of her murder. It is alleged that her boyfriend had a reputation for violence and destruction of property, yet nothing was done. The system has failed young Aviwe! On the disgraceful actions of Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Training Mduduzi Manana, UDEMWO believes that neither the response of ruling party, nor Police Ministry, nor the police services, is vaguely commensurate to the nature of what happened. The Women’s League’s lukewarm reaction to the situation is a condemnation of the women at its helm. Ms Bathabile Dlamini and Ms Baleka Mbete, spends all their time protecting their irredeemable Mr Zuma. You are focusing on the wrong man ladies! Have you no backbone? Deputy Minister Manana is a public leader who should be the daily embodiment of the campaign against gender-violence, for when a prominent South African man makes himself guilty of gender violence, it makes it easy for the ordinary man to follow his example. UDEMWO feels that the Honourable Deputy-Minister has been (and still is) accorded special status when he was not cuffed and arrested. It is hogwash to argue that his actions were “not so bad”. No matter how Police Minister Fikile Mbabula tries to spin the situation, his colleague is getting special treatment. We urge the state prosecutors to not spare Deputy Minister Manana because of his status and the magistrate should throw the book at him. UDEMWO believes that gender equality lies in transforming the balance of power between men and women and therefore urges all women to continue to campaign for our rights. Women, shout to the rafters that we are not the convenient punching bags or the sex slaves of some immoral men. Gone are the days where women endured abuse at the hands of their male counterparts, but they had no voice. End

UDM reaction to the DA’s proposed motion for the dissolution of the National Assembly

The United Democratic Movement (UDM) does not support the Democratic Alliance (DA) sponsored motion for the dissolution of the National Assembly. We respect the DA’s right to propose motions like any other political party represented in the National Assembly. Of immediate importance to the UDM, is the state of readiness of the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) for the 2019 National and Provincial Elections. The IEC reportedly needs R300 million, as well as access to municipalities’ databases to capture voters’ addresses before the Constitutional Court deadline of June next year. The IEC must move with speed to ensure that the voters’ roll is cleaned and that correct addresses of the electorate are factored in. To this end, we call on Government to ensure that the IEC is provided with the money they need to comply with the ruling. The mandate of the current Government comes to an end in 2019, and we are working towards that end. We want to make sure that the 2019 Elections are credible, free and fair.

UDM reaction to outcome of MONC in Mr Zuma

The United Democratic Movement (UDM) accepts the result of today’s vote on the motion of no-confidence in Mr Zuma. We are however perturbed by the choice of the African National Congress (ANC) Members of the National Assembly who sided with an irreparably corrupt President. The people of South Africa have been shown the middle-finger for the eight time. We however welcome and are happy with the almost thirty ANC Members who voted against thievery and Mr Zuma. The battle to save South Africa is not over though. The UDM will join the Economic Freedom Fighters’ court proceedings for Mr Zuma’s impeachment. We shall also intensify our campaigns on the streets, in Parliament, and everywhere, for as long as Mr Zuma remains in office. South Africans can now see the difference between those who stand for the truth and those who stand for the looting of their Country’s resources meant to alleviate poverty and erase unemployment. The ANC regards our people as mere fodder, used to vote it into power every five years, but in return its leaders continue to steal from them. Statement issued by Mr Bantu Holomisa,MP and UDM President

Subject for discussion: vote of no confidence in President Zuma – address by Mr B Holomisa, MP (UDM President) in the national assembly of the Republic of South Africa

Honourable Speaker, Honourable Members, Fellow South Africans. Following the success of the United Democratic Movement (UDM), by creating a safety net for all members of parliament, through voting by secret ballot, we have to seize the opportunity to put the people and the country first. In this regard, let us vote against the abuse of power, the infamous bogus intelligence report, and the abuse of the resources of our people. Let us vote against the threats to our sovereignty, and the Constitutional order. Let us vote against Mr Zuma, the Chief Architect of State Capture. As if that is not enough, Mr Zuma had a courage to mislead the house, about a bond to his private house. Later on, he goes to the National Council of Provinces (NCOP), to mislead that house too. He said the Public Protector never gave him a fair chance respond to allegation against him yet he was given no less than 4 hours. In years to come, the history we are writing today, shall not only be read and taught, but it will also determine the socio-economic and political future of our country. Whatever we do this afternoon, it must be for and about South Africa. The electorate has bestowed upon us a responsibility to collectively stay true to the vision, the mission and the goals of our country, as espoused in our Constitution. We are also called upon, to live up to the values and ideals of those who came before us and founded the Constitutional Democracy, we now enjoy and must defend at all costs. Accordingly, these challenges must propel us to do everything within the confines of the law, and redirect the downward trajectory that has visited our country under the leadership of Mr Zuma, into an opportunity to recapture the historic mission of our nation and the constitution. In order to succeed, we need an unwavering loyalty and allegiance to the collective people of South Africa who by numbers, far exceed the collective totality of our party membership. Fellow South Africans, the urgent task of defeating poverty, unemployment, inequality and corruption, cannot be achieved under the conditions of perpetual thievery and lawlessness that continue to characterise the leadership of Mr Zuma. Today, I repeat, is not about regime change but restoration of hope that our country can still be saved from the brink of collapse. We must inspire this hope to all South Africans who as we debate, are in front of this parliament, in streets of our country and some watching at their homes. Let South Africa be a winner. I thank you.

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.

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