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06 Oct, 2025
Time to end the tavern killings and restore public safety
Statement by Zandile Phiri, Acting Secretary General of the United Democratic Movement The United Democratic Movement (UDM) is deeply disturbed by the latest mass shooting at a tavern in Zithobeni, Bronkhorstspruit, where five people were killed and six others injured on Saturday night. According to police reports, armed men stormed the establishment, disarmed a patron, and opened fire indiscriminately as people tried to flee for their lives. Over the past year, South Africa has witnessed a wave of similar tragedies that have turned ordinary social spaces into crime scenes. These include mass shootings in Mokokotlong informal settlement in Orange Farm, Pienaar outside Mbombela, TK's Tavern in Sebokeng in the Vaal, the Bloemfontein CBD, Umlazi township of Durban, and the Choba informal settlement in Tshwane. In each of these incidents, lives were lost in cold blood while families were left to grieve and communities to live in fear. This growing pattern of violence shows a country under siege, where heavily armed criminals act without restraint and the state appears powerless to stop them. Communities have every reason to feel abandoned. The right to safety and security enshrined in the Constitution has become meaningless when gunmen can walk into a tavern, home, or taxi rank and slaughter innocent people without fear of arrest or prosecution. The social fabric of our nation is being torn apart by unchecked criminality, poor policing, and the proliferation of illegal firearms. The UDM believes this is not merely a policing issue but a symptom of deeper systemic failure i.e. the collapse of local intelligence networks, the erosion of visible policing, and the absence of proactive crime prevention in vulnerable communities. South Africa urgently needs a coordinated national audit of firearms in circulation, including a focused review of lost, stolen, and unaccounted-for weapons from police, military, and private security stockpiles. This audit must be supported by forensic tracing of ballistic evidence, tighter control of firearm licensing systems, and an intelligence-driven effort to dismantle illegal gun trafficking networks. The goal is not to count weapons in criminal hands, but to close the loopholes that allow them to get there. The UDM calls for: 1. A national audit of illegal firearms and a comprehensive crackdown on gun smuggling and trafficking networks feeding this violence. 2. Dedicated tavern safety and compliance units within the SAPS to monitor and protect high-risk venues, working with local business and community policing forums. 3. Immediate deployment of intelligence-led operations to disrupt organised criminal networks that use taverns and shebeens as targets or recruitment hubs. 4. A cross-departmental safety strategy led by the Ministers of Police, Small Business Development, and Social Development to strengthen community resilience and ensure responsible management of social spaces. 5. Swift justice for the victims of these massacres through fast-tracked investigations and specialised prosecution teams. As a partner in the Government of National Unity, the UDM will continue to push for urgent and coordinated reforms in policing, intelligence, and firearm control. The safety of South Africans must be treated as a national priority, and every arm of the state must be mobilised to end this cycle of violence once and for all.
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05 Oct, 2025
UDM concludes successful two-day public representatives’ workshop
Statement by Zandile Phiri, Acting Secretary General of the United Democratic Movement and Bulelani Bobotyane, Provincial Secretary of the UDM in the Eastern Cape The United Democratic Movement (UDM) in the Eastern Cape successfully hosted a two-day capacity building workshop and engagement session for public representatives from across South Africa in Mthatha on 4 and 5 October 2025. The workshop brought together UDM public representatives from across the country, serving at national, provincial, and local levels of government, to strengthen their capacity to serve communities with excellence, accountability, and integrity. It was an opportunity to reflect on the responsibilities entrusted to those who hold public office, and to renew the shared commitment to ethical leadership and responsive governance. The programme was made possible through the generous support and partnership of the Education and Training Unit for Democracy and Development (ETU). The UDM extends its sincere gratitude for this valuable collaboration, which enriched the workshop and contributed meaningfully to building the capacity of our public representatives. The sessions were highly informative, engaging, and practical, focusing on good governance, effective representation, and improved service delivery. Participants engaged in robust discussions on coalition management within the Government of National Unity, the separation of powers, fiscal responsibility, and strategies to rebuild public trust in institutions. They also explored ways to deepen community engagement, strengthen oversight at all levels, and ensure that public resources are managed in the best interest of citizens. The UDM and its public representatives emerge from this workshop united and energised in their mission to promote honest, accountable governance and to serve the people effectively. Our leaders are now better equipped to translate the UDM’s vision and values into tangible results for the benefit of our people. As the nation moves toward the 2026 Local Government Elections, the UDM stands ready to play its part in advancing South Africa through principled leadership, transparency, and an unwavering commitment to the service of our people. The workshop reaffirmed the UDM’s conviction that ethical governance, grounded in accountability and compassion, is the cornerstone of meaningful transformation.
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05 Oct, 2025
Post Office mismanagement: a wake-up call for real reform
Statement by Nqabayomzi Kwankwa, MP, UDM Deputy President and Leader in Parliament The United Democratic Movement (UDM) notes with grave concern the Auditor-General’s latest findings exposing widespread financial mismanagement at the South African Post Office (SAPO). The report paints a disturbing picture of an institution crippled by irregular expenditure, poor governance, and an almost total breakdown of accountability. This confirms what the UDM has been warning for years, which is that the collapse of SAPO is not the result of underfunding, but of deep-seated mismanagement and lack of strategic direction. The figures laid bare by the Auditor-General reveal an institution that continues to haemorrhage public funds while failing to deliver even the most basic of services to South Africans. The Post Office remains insolvent, unmodernised, and incapable of performing its core mandate. Worse still, the same management failures that bankrupted SAPO are now being rewarded with additional bailouts, while thousands of workers have been retrenched or left unpaid. Treasury confirmed that SAPO will not receive any new financial rescue packages beyond the R381 million allocated through the Unemployment Insurance Fund’s (UIF) Temporary Employee Relief Scheme. The UDM has repeatedly cautioned that using the UIF to bail out failing state entities is a dangerous precedent that places workers’ hard-earned contributions at risk. The UDM reiterates the position we took as early as 2023 and 2024: that the Post Office’s crisis cannot be solved through bailouts and business rescue plans that merely reshuffle management and cut jobs. Instead, SAPO must redefine its role as a modern public utility that meets the needs of the people it serves. The UDM again calls for: 1. SAPO to diversify its services by expanding into insurance, microfinance and other community-based financial services that cater to rural and low-income customers. 2. A strong focus on digital transformation by embracing e-commerce logistics, secure digital postal services and providing public internet access to ensure competitiveness in the 21st century. 3. Greater accountability and oversight, with the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies ensuring that bailout funds are used transparently and that management failures result in real consequences rather than rewards. 4. The protection of workers, as retrenchments cannot be viewed as a genuine reform strategy. Government must instead explore alternatives such as redeployment and retraining through institutions like Productivity South Africa. Like Alexkor, Denel, Eskom, Transnet, Land Bank, Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa, South African Airways, South African Broadcasting Corporation, SAPO has become a symbol of failed oversight, where billions in taxpayer funds are poured into institutions that cannot deliver sustainable or efficient public service SAPO was once a cornerstone of community life; a bridge between people and government. Today, it has become a symbol of failure. The Auditor-General’s report must serve as a wake-up call that the time for patchwork solutions has long passed.
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05 Oct, 2025
World Teachers Day: UDM salutes South Africa’s teachers
Statement by Zandile Phiri, Acting Secretary General of the United Democratic Movement As the world marks World Teachers’ Day, the United Democratic Movement (UDM) pays heartfelt tribute to the men and women who dedicate their lives to the noble task of educating our nation. Teachers are not only transmitters of knowledge; they are the architects of our collective future. In every classroom, whether in a rural village, township or city, teachers shape South Africa’s destiny by nurturing the minds that will build tomorrow’s economy, democracy and leadership. They are mentors, counsellors and protectors who work under increasingly difficult conditions, yet continue to give of themselves with patience and purpose. Today, we must also confront the hard truth that many of our teachers operate in overcrowded classrooms, without adequate support or resources, and face safety and morale challenges that no professional should endure. It is unacceptable that educators are expected to inspire hope while they themselves feel neglected and undervalued. The UDM believes that education remains the single most powerful equaliser in our society, and that investing in teachers is investing in the nation’s stability and growth. We therefore call for the urgent improvement of working conditions and remuneration for educators, particularly in rural and under-resourced schools. We further call for the reintroduction of teacher training and mentorship programmes to restore the professionalism and discipline that once defined the teaching vocation. Stronger partnerships between schools, communities and government are essential to ensure that every learner studies in an environment that is safe, supportive and conducive to growth. Happy World Teachers’ Day.
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04 Oct, 2025
Reform parole, protect victims: UDEMWO’s call for action
Media Statement by Thandi Nontenja, MP and UDEMWO Secretary General The United Democratic Movement Women’s Organisation (UDEMWO) has consistently raised the alarm about South Africa’s broken parole system. Time and again, we have argued that the safety of women, children, and communities cannot be compromised by releasing offenders who remain a clear danger to society. Recent figures provided in Parliament are nothing short of devastating. In just three years, 18 052 parolees reoffended including 493 murders and 624 rapes. The most common crimes committed while on parole were theft and housebreaking, compounding the daily fear ordinary families already live with. Between 2022 and 2025, a staggering 46 627 inmates were released on parole, yet parole violations reached over 28 000 in five years, mostly due to reoffending. These are not just numbers, they represent destroyed lives, families left in pain, and communities stripped of their sense of safety. We note that Correctional Services Minister Pieter Groenewald convened the National Parole Review Summit in September 2025, where he committed to reforms that place public safety and victim justice at the centre of parole decisions. He acknowledged the shocking reality that parole must never be used as a tool simply to ease overcrowding in prisons, and that only those genuinely rehabilitated and posing no risk to the public should be considered. UDEMWO welcomes this shift in tone, but we stress that words and summits are not enough. What is needed is decisive, transparent reform that prioritises: 1. The Department of Correctional Services and parole boards must ensure that the voices and safety of victims and their families weigh heavily in all parole decisions. 2. Parliament and the Ministry of Justice must hold parole boards accountable when offenders they release commit violent crimes. 3. Offenders must demonstrate readiness for parole through meaningful participation in skills training, education, and reintegration programmes under the supervision of the Department of Correctional Services. 4. The Department of Correctional Services must publish regular reports on parole approvals, reoffending, and violations, and these reports must be tabled before Parliament for public scrutiny. The South African public is tired of empty promises. Every rape, every murder committed by someone released too soon, is a failure of the system and an insult to victims. UDEMWO will continue to speak out until a parole system exists that truly protects the living while respecting the memory of those we have lost. Communities must also take responsibility by reporting such crimes, rather than concealing them due to stigma, fear, or misplaced loyalty.
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04 Oct, 2025
Cape Town cannot hide behind spin while billions go missing
Statement by Bongani Maqungwana, UDM Councillor in the City of Cape Town The United Democratic Movement (UDM) in the City of Cape Town notes with grave concern the large-scale police raids conducted across Cape Town this week in connection with alleged fraud and corruption involving R1.6 billion worth of municipal contracts. Reports indicate that 26 properties, including the private residences of municipal officials and businesses linked to tenders, were searched with documents and electronic devices seized as part of the ongoing investigation by the South African Police Services (SAPS). While we recognise the importance of law enforcement acting on credible whistle-blower information, it is deeply troubling that once again the City of Cape Town finds itself at the centre of allegations of corruption, maladministration and questionable procurement practices. These scandals come at the direct expense of ordinary residents who rely on municipal services and who expect that every rand of public money is spent on service delivery, not siphoned off through shady contracts. The UDM is particularly concerned that the spectre of “tenders for cash” has become a recurring theme in Cape Town’s governance. Allegations of links to underworld figures and repeat instances of unlawful contracting erode public confidence and reinforce the perception that corruption is entrenched rather than being rooted out. We caution against premature self-congratulation by the City for “cooperating” with SAPS. True accountability does not come from spin but from transparent investigations, full disclosure and holding individuals, no matter how senior, personally liable if they are found complicit. The UDM therefore calls for: • The immediate suspension of any officials under suspicion to prevent interference with evidence. • Law enforcement to ensure prosecutions follow swiftly so that whistle-blowers and the public see justice done. Cape Town’s residents deserve a municipality that prioritises clean governance and service delivery, not one mired in allegations of corruption worth billions. The UDM will continue to monitor these developments closely, engage relevant oversight bodies and demand accountability at every level.
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03 Oct, 2025
Open letter to the Financial Sector Conduct Authority, National Treasury and the government of South Africa on pension arrears
Mr Enoch Godongwana, MP Minister of Finance Private Bag X115 Pretoria 0001 and Mr Velenkosini Hlabisa, MP Minister of the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Private Bag X802 Pretoria 0001 and Commissioner Unathi Kamlana Financial Sector Conduct Authority PO Box 35655 Menlo Park 0102 Dear Minister Godongwana, Minister Hlabisa and Commissioner Kamlana An open letter to the Financial Sector Conduct Authority, National Treasury and the government of South Africa on pension arrears 1. The United Democratic Movement (UDM) writes with grave concern about the worsening crisis of unpaid pension contributions, recently highlighted by the Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA). According to the FSCA, employers across South Africa owe more than R7.29 billion in pension arrears, affecting nearly 600,000 workers. 2. This is not only a financial scandal; it is a betrayal of trust. Pensions are not perks; they are deferred wages. For thousands of workers, the discovery that contributions deducted from their salaries were never paid over to pension funds has caused shock and despair. Many only became aware of this painful truth when attempting to access their savings under the two-pot retirement system in September 2024. 3. The introduction of the two-pot retirement system was meant to improve financial security by splitting new contributions into a savings pot, from which one withdrawal can be made each year, and a retirement pot, which remains locked until retirement. Instead of providing relief, the system has exposed the depth of the arrears crisis. When workers tried to make their first withdrawals, many discovered that their contributions had never been transferred to their funds. What should have been a safety net has become proof of betrayal, leaving workers with empty accounts where their savings should have been. 4. Families who are already struggling with rising costs of living now face the indignity of poverty in their old age because of the failures of their employers and the weakness of the regulatory framework. 5. As a party within the Government of National Unity (GNU), the UDM sees it as our duty to exercise firm oversight from within, ensuring that government does not turn a blind eye to failures that harm workers and their families 6. The scale of the crisis 6.1. The arrears problem is no longer marginal; it is systemic. Arrears surged by 40% in one year to reach over R7 billion. Nearly 600,000 workers are affected, with many still in employment and others already retired. Over 1,000 cases have been referred to the South African Police Service, and more than 8,000 instances of legal action have been initiated by retirement funds. Yet, prosecutions remain limited and recoveries slow. 6.2. This problem is not confined to small businesses. Large provident funds such as the Auto Workers Provident Fund and the Motor Industry Provident Fund account for the bulk of legal actions, and government itself has emerged as one of the biggest culprits. 7. Accuracy and transparency of data 7.1. While the scale of the arrears is shocking, there are also concerns about the accuracy of FSCA data. Reports have shown that some employers named in arrears lists insist they had made payments, but that the arrears were still reflected because of delays in updating data, incomplete reporting by funds, or administrative errors. 7.2. Such inaccuracies undermine trust in the regulatory system, cause reputational harm to compliant employers, and create confusion for workers. Transparency only has value if the information is accurate and up to date. Workers and Parliament need figures they can rely on. 8. The systemic weaknesses 8.1. The UDM acknowledges steps the FSCA has taken, including publishing arrears lists, collaborating with Treasury and the Hawks, recovering R39 million and R50 million from municipalities through withheld transfers, and securing court orders against delinquent municipalities and company directors. These are important interventions. 8.2. However, they remain insufficient. The FSCA itself admits that it lacks full powers over employers until the Conduct of Financial Institutions (COFI) Bill is passed into law. Enforcement is slow, arrears continue to grow, and some retirement fund trustees are failing to act decisively against non-compliant employers. In the meantime, workers continue to suffer while billions in deferred wages are withheld. 9. Accountability and governance 9.1. It is especially alarming that government itself (through national and provincial departments and municipalities) is among the biggest culprits, owing an estimated R1.5 billion despite Treasury interventions. Municipalities in particular are repeat offenders, often defaulting again even after arrears are recovered through withheld equitable share transfers. National and provincial departments are not immune either. 9.2. This is unacceptable. When the state itself is in breach, it weakens public confidence in the entire system and sets a terrible example for private employers. The UDM cannot remain silent while the state itself is one of the worst offenders. We will use every platform in Parliament, including SCOPA, to hold both our partners and ourselves to account. Leadership cannot demand compliance from others while defaulting on its own workers’ pensions. 10. In light of the above, the United Democratic Movement calls for urgent action on the following: 10.1. The Minister of Finance to prioritise the Conduct of Financial Institutions Bill and for the Portfolio Committee on Finance to fast-track its passage through Parliament, so that the FSCA is fully empowered to act against defaulting employers. 10.2. The FSCA, working with National Treasury, the Hawks and the National Prosecuting Authority, to enforce the law through criminal charges, asset seizures and by holding directors, officers and municipal managers personally liable. 10.3. The FSCA to continue publishing arrears lists, but to strengthen them by ensuring accuracy, providing sectoral breakdowns, and reporting not only on arrears but also on recoveries and enforcement actions, so that workers, Parliament and the public can track real progress transparently 10.4. National Treasury and Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa, in his role as Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, to intervene firmly in delinquent municipalities and government departments, with SCOPA exercising oversight to ensure that such failures do not repeat. 10.5. The FSCA to act against trustees who neglect their duty to recover contributions from defaulting employers. 10.6. National Treasury to put in place interim protection measures so that workers making use of the two-pot system are not left destitute because of employer failures. 11. Conclusion 11.1. South Africa cannot tolerate a situation where nearly R7.3 billion in pensions is left unpaid while workers go hungry and pensioners live in indignity. Pensions are deferred wages earned through years of labour and withholding them is nothing short of theft from the future. 11.2. Being part of the GNU does not mean turning a blind eye. It means doubling our vigilance. The UDM will continue to play its role by exercising firm oversight inside government to safeguard the rights of workers and ensure public money is used with integrity. Yours sincerely Mr NLS Kwankwa, MP Deputy President of the United Democratic Movement Party Leader in Parliament Copied to: Ms Nomakhosazana Meth, MP - Minister of Employment and Labour Mr Songezo Zibi, MP - Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts Dr Mkhacani Maswanganyi – Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Finance Mr Makhosonke Maneli – Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Employment and Labour Dr Zwelini Mkhize – Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Ms Thandi Nontenja, MP - UDM Member on the Standing Committee on Public Accounts
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03 Oct, 2025
Set humanitarian activists free; let aid reach Gaza
Statement by Nqabayomzi Kwankwa, MP, UDM Deputy President and Leader in Parliament The United Democratic Movement (UDM) joins the global outcry over the abduction of the Global Sumud Flotilla activists, including South Africans who were on a humanitarian mission to deliver aid and solidarity to the people of Gaza. We demand their immediate and unconditional release. These South Africans, alongside others from around the world, embarked on a mission of compassion. Their detention is not only a violation of their rights, but also an attack on the principle of humanitarian action itself. No one should be punished for carrying food, medicine, and hope to people in desperate need. The International Court of Justice ordered Israel to halt military operations in Rafah, to allow unimpeded humanitarian access, to prevent acts that could constitute genocide, and to preserve evidence of violations. Israel’s failure to comply with these binding measures defies international law, undermines the authority of the world’s highest court, and pushes the prospects of peace even further out of reach. The UDM has consistently called for peace in the Middle East. But peace cannot exist while humanitarian aid is blocked, and human rights are trampled underfoot. South Africa, given our own history of apartheid and liberation, has a moral responsibility to stand with the oppressed and to advocate for peaceful resolution. Our position is clear: the killing of civilians, the destruction of communities, and the obstruction of humanitarian aid are indefensible. The UDM reiterates its view that the long-term solution to this conflict lies not in violence or exclusion, but in inclusive dialogue and a just peace that upholds the rights and dignity of both Palestinians and Israelis. We reaffirm our support for Palestinian statehood and peaceful coexistence in the region. The abduction of humanitarian activists must be a wake-up call to the international community: inaction emboldens lawlessness.
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