Admin
10 Jul, 2017
Safe child abandonment” Is a sensitive issue”
Statement issued by Thandi Nontenja – UDEMWO Secretary General The United Democratic Movement Women’s Organisation (UDEMWO) believes that the publication and circulation of pictures of a woman leaving a new born baby at the premises of a safe house in Goodwood, Cape Town, is not the correct way of handling this situation. It is quite possible that the Pink Ladies’ poster, and the subsequent sharing thereof, could put the woman in the photograph in danger. Vigilantism has to be considered and this woman may be good Samaritan, who will be persecuted. Even if it’s her baby, exposing her in this fashion makes a delicate situation untenable. Far too often, women behave in this manner when they feel that they don’t have any options and there are a variety of reasons; extreme poverty, teenage pregnancy, violent homes, rape, societal ridicule and shame, a patriarchal society, ignorance, as well as psychological considerations such as postnatal depression; amongst others. Societal inequalities unfortunately sometimes drive women to do desperate things and they require support, not condemnation. Also, if a safe haven’s trust with a community is broken, as would be the case with Ubuntu House, many women could feel forced to rather throw their new-borns in dustbins and pit toilets. The Department of Social Development should do more to address this scourge in our society. In the same breath, the bigger picture should be addressed and Government has a responsibility to help our people to live safe and responsible lives in an environment that is conducive to economic independence and stability of each and every household. End
Admin
03 Jul, 2017
No real justice for victims: Punishment for sexual offenders is simply not to tough enough
Statement issued by Bongani Msomi – UDM Secretary General The United Democratic Movement (UDM) reiterates its call for harsher punishment of those found guilty of abusing and murdering women and children. There also has to be stricter bail conditions, before such criminals are set loose on society. In these regards, the justice system has been failing women and children for years and years. It is said far too often, that criminals have more rights in South Africa, than the victims of crime do. In the case of gender-based violence and sexual offenses, the damage victims suffer is permanent and the offenders more or less walk away scot-free, or are not punished hard enough. There is a perception that the reoffending rate of rapists and murderers is high and one wonders if the reform and rehabilitation these offenders undergo in prison is really effective in preventing future crimes. The recent incident where scantily dressed women all but stripped for the inmates of the Johannesburg B prison is utterly shocking. Many of these men are said to be guilty of violent crime and are murderers and rapists. Our correctional services are definitely not correcting anything in this fashion. In addition, the efficacy of the National Register of Sex Offenders is questionable. Having limited public access to the register is not good enough. Although some would argue that citizens might become vigilantes and persecute sexual offenders if the register was freely available, there must be a balance between their right to privacy and citizens’ rights to be safe; we need to know whether we live amongst murderers and rapists. End
Admin
27 Jun, 2017
Having a royal time in South African prisons
Statement issued by Bongani Msomi – UDM Secretary General The Department of Correctional Service does not cease to amaze. In February this year, the Gauteng Community Safety MEC Sizakele Nkosi-Malobane splurged more than R60 000 of taxpayers’ money treating prisoners at Leeuwkop (Midrand) to a KFC meal. A week ago, Tourism Minister Tokozile Xasa caused an uproar when she presented 30 laptops to inmates of the Kgosi Mampuru II prison in Pretoria (with 70 more laptops to be handed over to incarcerated criminals in future). What does tourism have to do with corrections? Besides, why give laptops and not stationary, locked-down computers in a laboratory setting? One wonders what the insurance payment for these laptops are, or does the Minister consider it a write-off? The worst of these examples of a dysfunction correctional system, is the publicly available photos of what can only be described as a salacious strip show, that inmates at the Johannesburg’s Medium B prison had the pleasure to participate in – and that in the name of Youth Day! This is wrong on so many levels, one does not know where to start. We hope that the Department of Corrections’ investigation gets to the bottom of this inappropriate event and that the organisers (especially if prison officials were involved) suffer some punitive consequences. The UDM believes that imprisonment is not supposed to be a joy-ride. Yes, inmates should be given an opportunity to rehabilitate themselves, but such incongruent Government interventions do not make any sense. Instead of imprisonment being a crime deterrent, potential offenders will see these as perks of imprisonment; not only do you get a roof over your head and three meals a day, but you can eat take-aways, keep your Facebook profile updated and watch scantily clad women dance. This clearly shows that the ANC-led government, with its departments, continue to dismally fail citizens. End
Admin
23 Jun, 2017
AG’s findings on local government audit remains cause for concern
Regarding the Auditor-general’s latest report on the local government audit, the United Democratic Movement (UDM) notes that there were only marginal improvements in local government audit results. We are however concerned that 14 municipalities lost their clean audit status, while only 9 cleaned up their acts. It simply means that good governance at local level, and effective municipal management, is moving in the wrong direction. It is heartening that the Auditor-general’s office, as a Chapter 9 institution, seems to be doing its job without fear or favour and does not shy away from fulfilling its Constitutional mandate. Statement issued by Mr Bongani Msomi – UDM Secretary General The UDM is on record regarding Government’s over-reliance on consultants and it is discouraging to hear that consultancy fees for financial reporting services increased to R838 million. The greatest worrying factors are that: 1) Municipalities spend more than they have, their current liabilities exceed current assets at year-end, debtors are not paying or delay payment, as well as late payment of creditors. 2) There has been no improvement on the perennial concerns of the Auditor-general about contracts awarded to employees, councillors, their families and other state officials. 3) Even though fruitless and wasteful expenditure is down 21%, irregular expenditure has increased by just over 50%, which the Auditor-general said was “the highest since we started tracking the values”. Given the yearly damning observations, the UDM doubts if councils and municipal administrations take the Auditor-general seriously. The Auditor-general is simply ignored and the powers-that-be go about their merry ways without caring about the implications of their looting of State coffers and failing management. There are no repercussions for failing municipal administrations, and the UDM believes it might be necessary to have an Auditor-general with teeth. The UDM also notes an interesting trend regarding fruitless, wasteful and irregular expenditure by the Government; in particular at local sphere. This trend is mostly expressed during a year of general elections (national, provincial and local) as well as in a year of the conferences of the African National Congress (ANC) and its Alliance Partners. This trend is manifested in this year’s report, with the year preceding being Municipal Elections. We will not be surprised to notice a spike in expenses when, this time next year, another report is issued after the conferences of the ANC and its Alliance partners. The UDM will consider investigating this trend to establish whether public monies are not being used to fund internal political party programmes. If this is the case, it will be proof of yet another thievery. It is easy to look at the figures presented by the Auditor-general as list of amounts, but one must never forget that there are billions of Rands involved each year, which should be spent on bettering the lives of South Africans and not lining the pockets of the few.
Admin
22 Jun, 2017
Serious concern over provision of health services, especially in KwaZulu-Natal
Statement issued by Bongani Msomi – UDM Secretary General The United Democratic Movement (UDM) is saddened by the dire situation of the shortage of healthcare practitioners especially the medical practitioners and material resources at public or state hospitals in KwaZulu-Natal. We have heard too many stories of specialists, general practitioners and nurses who leave public service in search of greener pastures in the private sector and outside the country. What is more disturbing is the failure of the Department of Health to absorb doctors after completing their internship/community service in the state health facilities. We have doctors who are sitting at home because the government led by the ANC continues to fail in performing. This government seemed to be failing to understand that doctors provide essential service. To make matters worse, the Department of Health prefers to waste taxpayers’ money by paying agencies or labour brokers which hire temporary nurses. Government is also hiring on ad-hoc basis oncologists and radiotherapists from the service providers. The nation is sick and tired of the excuses made by the Department of Health for its poor performance whilst patients are dying. It is also disturbing that the KZN Health MEC Dr Sbongiseni Dlomo has credentials for the liberation struggle but he seemed to be failing to service his people and the nation. One would expect a better performance from him. He must resign and accept that he has failed. Patients deserve better.
Admin
22 Jun, 2017
#Concourt: Nqabayomzi Kwankwa writes to the Speaker on secret ballot
Dear Madam Speaker CONSTITUTIONAL COURT RULING ON SECRET BALLOT AND THE MOTION OF NO CONFIDENCE IN THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC We refer to our letter, that was subsequently withdrawn, sent on 3 April 2017 wherein we lodged a motion of no-confidence in the President of the Republic of South Africa, Mr JG Zuma. In light of today’s ruling of the Constitutional Court regarding your discretionary power to allow for a secret vote in the motion of no-confidence, we again lodge a motion of no-confidence in the President in terms of Section 102, subsection 2 of the South African Constitution and Section 129 of the Rules of the National Assembly. We call on you to do the right thing and grant an urgent debate, and allow for a secret ballot for a vote of no-confidence in President Zuma. We therefore request an urgent meeting with you to discuss the matter. Yours sincerely Mr Nqabayomzi Kwankwa, MP UDM Chief Whip
Admin
22 Jun, 2017
Victory for SA! Constitutional Court ruling on secret ballot
Statement issued by Mr Bantu Holomisa – UDM President The United Democratic Movement (UDM) has been vindicated with the Constitutional Court’s ruling that the Speaker of the National Assembly could facilitate a secret ballot in a no-confidence motion in President Zuma. We thank our legal team, as well as political parties and civil society organisations who supported us all the way. The risk of Members of Parliament (MPs) being victimised if they don’t vote according the Party-line is very real. In fact, the President has unequivocally stated that ruling party MPs who vote for his removal will do so at their own peril. The Constitutional Court has today recognised the seriousness of this threat and have made it possible for MPs to vote according to their conscience. The ball is now in the Speaker’s court and Ms Baleka Mbete is obliged to uphold her oath of office and prove that she’s not a ruling party toady. We therefore call on the Speaker, irrespective of her political affiliation, to do the right thing and grant a secret ballot for a vote of no-confidence in President Zuma. The proof is however in the pudding and the mettle of MPs will be tested in a vote of no-confidence. The UDM hopes that those ruling party MPs, who recognise that their party and president have lost the plot, will help us to take the first step to free the Country from “state capture”. End
Admin
20 Jun, 2017
Precautionary measures for initiation must be made a priority
Statement issued by Bongani Msomi – UDM Secretary General It is that time of the year where thousands of boys from many communities across South Africa will be taking the life changing journey to the mountains to become men. This time-honoured rite of passage to manhood should be respected by all stakeholders and it cannot be at the expense of young lives. At this very important time for initiation practising communities, the United Democratic Movement (UDM) calls on the traditional surgeons and nurses to take every precaution to ensure that no lives are lost this season. One life lost is too many. The Circumcision Act must be enforced and in this regard, we have noted that the police arrested several alleged bogus circumcision practitioners in the Eastern Cape at the weekend. The UDM also calls on parents and community leaders to not allow their under age boys to undergo this rigorous process if they are not yet ready. Parents must also make it a point that they satisfy themselves with the credentials of the circumcision practitioners. The traditional leaders must also make sure that initiation schools are registered in their areas. End
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