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01 Oct, 2025
Respect the dead, protect the living: UDM on Gauteng cemeteries
Statement by Andile Jabavu, Gauteng Provincial Secretary of the United Democratic Movement The United Democratic Movement (UDM) in Gauteng notes with deep concern the worsening pattern of neglect, vandalism, illegal dumping, informal settlements and more tarnishing cemeteries across the province which are sites of dignity, memory and community — not just plots of land. Despite repeated outcries from communities who have voiced their anger and frustration over these issues, the matter has only worsened. From Bredell Cemetery (Kempton Park), Kromvlei and Alberton Cemeteries (City of Ekurhuleni) to Pretoria East Cemetery and Zenzele Cemetery in the West Rand, multiple reports in Gauteng have highlighted growing incidents of uncontrolled waste dumping, safety risks and concerns such as damaged infrastructure and overgrown vegetation as well as people establishing unlawful occupation within burial grounds. It is deeply concerning that families arrive to find their loved ones’ graves desecrated, memorials stolen, tombstones broken or burial grounds overtaken by litter and informal settlements further eroding these cemeteries. Meant to offer dignity in death and solace to the living, burial grounds are being reduced to habitats of decay and disregard. What is most disheartening is that these same grievances have been emphasised from one community to the next. In particular, the absence of visible law enforcement or municipal maintenance, overgrown grass, broken fences and even shacks erected over graves have turned cemeteries into unsafe and unhealthy spaces. The erection of informal dwellings on burial sites is not only disrespectful but also poses serious health risks and reflects shocking failures in town planning and land use management. As symbols of respect, tradition, community and history, this is a matter that is affecting different communities and religious backgrounds. Communities should no longer be left to fend for themselves in these concerning circumstances with little to no meaningful intervention from local authorities. Protection, restoration and proper management of cemeteries needs to be prioritised quickly and urgently which includes dedicated funding for infrastructure, security personnel and ongoing maintenance while enforcing existing municipal bylaws. What should be places of remembrance and peace should remain so to give communities and families a place of reflection, dignity and connection to their loved ones and heritage.
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01 Oct, 2025
UDM responds to Ngizwe Mchunu’s anti-LGBTQIA+ rant
Statement by Zandile Phiri, Acting Secretary General of the United Democratic Movement The United Democratic Movement (UDM) is outraged and disturbed by the appalling remarks made by Ngizwe Mchunu on his TikTok platform, Ngizwe Mchunu Online, where he launched into a hate-filled tirade targeting the LGBTQIA+ community. This was not a moment of ignorance, it was a deliberate, calculated expression of discrimination and what appears to be no less than incitement. Mr Mchunu even declared his intention to use his platform to promote prejudice, a statement as chilling as it is dangerous. These remarks come at a time when South Africa and the global community are marking Pride Month; a period dedicated to celebrating inclusion, dignity, and equality for LGBTQIA+ people. Instead of advancing unity, Mchunu’s words attempt to drag us backwards into division and hate. We must say this clearly: These remarks amount to prima facie hate speech. They appear to constitute incitement and an abuse of influence. For too long, Ngizwe Mchunu has acted with impunity, a man who believes his charisma can shield him from consequences. But what he is doing now is not entertainment. It is not culture. It is not “just an opinion.” It is a threat to lives. South Africa is gripped by a crisis of violence. Every day, LGBTQIA+ people, women, and children live with the fear of being attacked simply for existing. Every day, we bury people whose only crime was living authentically and openly. Mr Mchunu’s bigotry adds fuel to this fire. It emboldens those who already believe that difference is something to be punished. The Constitution of our beloved country guarantees dignity, equality, and freedom for all. We will not allow hate to masquerade as free speech. We will not allow platforms to become pulpits of intolerance. The UDM calls on: • The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) to investigate Mr. Mchunu’s statements with the seriousness they demand. • Law enforcement agencies to determine whether this incitement qualifies as a prosecutable offence under our hate speech and anti-discrimination laws. • Online platforms and broadcasters to enforce community standards and take action against accounts that spread hate, violence, or discrimination. We also call on all South Africans, artists, leaders, traditional leaders, influencers, everyday citizens to stand up. Silence is complicity. Neutrality in the face of hate is siding with the oppressor. To the LGBTQIA+ community: You are seen. You are valued. You belong. Your existence is not up for debate. Your right to live free from fear is non-negotiable. And we, the United Democratic Movement, stand beside you without hesitation or condition. This Pride Month, in South Africa and across the world, we recommit ourselves to building societies where diversity is celebrated, dignity is defended, and hate has no home. Ngizwe Mchunu’s voice may be loud, but it is hollow. It echoes a past we refuse to return to. South Africa’s future is one of inclusion, of justice, of unity in diversity. The UDM will defend that future with every tool at our disposal.
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01 Oct, 2025
The R26 billion question: where is the uMkhomazi water?
Statement by Thandi Nontenja, MP, UDM Member of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts LISTEN: Ms Nontenja on the subject of the uMkhomazi projects The United Democratic Movement (UDM) is gravely concerned about the continuing delays and disputes in the Upper and Lower uMkhomazi Water Projects, which have left communities without water despite billions of rands being committed. The Upper and Lower uMkhomazi Water Projects were meant to secure supply for both inland and coastal communities. The Upper scheme, centred on the Smithfield Dam and transfer tunnel, was designed to boost the uMngeni system and bring long-awaited relief to Durban and surrounding areas. The Lower scheme, with its storage dam and treatment works, was intended to serve southern eThekwini and the Ugu District, benefiting an estimated 50,000 households in towns like Amanzimtoti, Umkomaas, Scottburgh and Hibberdene. The Upper uMkhomazi scheme was originally projected to be completed in 2018. Instead, it has been dogged by funding shortfalls, procurement disputes and legal wrangles. Its completion date has now been pushed to 2032. This means that communities such as Tafelkop, west of Durban, have lived with dry taps for over 15 years and will wait another generation for what their constitutional right is. The UDM is disturbed that public money continues to flow, but public benefit does not. Government admitted as far back as 2015 that affordability concerns had stalled the project. In 2025, a R7 billion tender for the Lower uMkhomazi scheme was interdicted in court over disputes about the adjudication process. These are not small technical glitches — they are signs of systemic weaknesses in financial governance and procurement. The promises made to resuscitate and fast-track the project, including those by Senzo Mchunu during his tenure as Minister of Water and Sanitation, have not been honoured. Now the urgent question is what the incumbent Minister, Pemmy Majodina, and Deputy President Paul Mashatile, who oversees infrastructure coordination in the Government of National Unity, are doing to prevent billions more from being wasted while people still fetch water from streams. It is unacceptable that a R26 billion investment can be committed to schemes that deliver ribbon cuttings, contracts and disputes, but not water. The UDM therefore demands: 1. A full Standing Committee on Public Accounts (SCOPA) inquiry into the expenditure on the uMkhomazi projects to date, with disclosure of every contract and payment. The UDM will formally write to SCOPA to request that such an inquiry be initiated as a matter of urgency. 2. A halt to further waste until there is assurance that the money is translating into water for households. 3. Quarterly reporting to the Portfolio Committee on Water and Sanitation on progress, costs and delays. 4. Accountability from both current leaders and former ministers who presided over these failures, including appearances before Parliament and referrals to law enforcement where misconduct is proven. 5. Transparency and expedited resolution of procurement disputes that have landed in court, so that communities are not held hostage to years of litigation, with interim measures put in place to ensure access to water in the meantime. The UDM is serious about infrastructure development as the backbone of service delivery and economic growth. We have long argued for investment in dams and water storage schemes to secure supply for households, agriculture and industry. Projects like the uMkhomazi Water Scheme are urgently needed and should be welcomed, but they must be delivered on time, on budget and free of corruption. South Africans cannot drink blueprints and promises - they need functioning infrastructure that works Water is life, and public money is sacred. It is SCOPA’s duty to ensure that every rand spent on infrastructure, including water, translates into services that work, not empty promises and endless delays.
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30 Sep, 2025
Bantu Holomisa on the passing of Ambassador Nathi Mthethwa
Statement by President of the United Democratic Movement, Deputy Minister Bantu Holomisa, MP I am deeply saddened by the passing of His Excellency, Ambassador Nathi Mthethwa, and I extend my heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, and colleagues. Ambassador Mthethwa served our nation with distinction, demonstrating unwavering dedication to advancing South Africa’s diplomatic and strategic interests. His professionalism, wisdom, and commitment earned him the respect and admiration of colleagues and international partners alike. During my recent visit to the French Republic for the IHEDN Forum on the African Continent (FICA) and related bilateral defence engagements in June 2025, Ambassador Mthethwa, through the Embassy, provided vital logistical support, mobility arrangements, and a comprehensive briefing to our delegation prior to departure. His guidance and insights were invaluable in ensuring that our engagements were well-prepared, strategically aligned, and impactful in representing South Africa’s interests. The meticulous support he provided, including coordinating transportation, scheduling, and access to key stakeholders, significantly contributed to the success of our working visit to France, making the trip smooth, effective, and productive. One thing Ambassador Mthethwa always never forgot to mention whenever we were in the same room, to audiences who cared to listen, is that he received his early military training under the supervision of the Transkei Defence Force officers, where he completed a special military training course in Port St. Johns for ANC liberation movement operatives during the struggle. That formative period helped shape his disciplined approach to service and his deep understanding of strategic defence matters. This early experience informed the wisdom, perspective, and professionalism he later brought to his distinguished diplomatic career. The United Democratic Movement mourns the loss of a devoted public servant and a true patriot. Ambassador Mthethwa’s contributions to strengthening South Africa’s bilateral relations and advancing defence diplomacy will leave a lasting legacy. I extend my prayers and deepest sympathies to his family, loved ones, and colleagues. South Africa has lost a remarkable diplomat and a servant of the people. May his soul rest in eternal peace.
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30 Sep, 2025
Bafana Bafana betrayed by the boardroom
Statement by Nqabayomzi Kwankwa, MP, UDM Deputy President and Leader in Parliament The United Democratic Movement (UDM) notes with concern the admission by the South African Football Association (SAFA) of the administrative blunder that has led to Bafana Bafana losing valuable World Cup qualifying points and being fined by Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA). While SAFA has taken responsibility and apologised, this is not enough. An apology does not repair the damage done to the team’s qualification campaign, nor does it address the deeper governance weaknesses that allowed such an avoidable error to occur in the first place. Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture Gayton McKenzie has himself described this incident as an embarrassment and has promised a probe. The UDM supports this call. However, it must not end with another report gathering dust. We need genuine reform that ensures accountability at leadership level and the strengthening of administrative and compliance systems within SAFA. Football is the passion of millions of South Africans. The players on the field have given their all to carry the hopes of a nation. They should never have to see their efforts undermined by failures in administration. The UDM therefore calls for urgent reforms at SAFA, accountability measures for those responsible, and stronger oversight mechanisms to safeguard the integrity of our sporting institutions. South African football deserves leadership that is competent, transparent and worthy of the people’s trust.
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30 Sep, 2025
The R2 billion warning: reform procurement or repeat Tembisa everywhere
Statement by Thandi Nontenja, MP, UDM Member of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts The United Democratic Movement (UDM) has note with alarm the interim report of the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) into the looting of Tembisa Hospital. The SIU has confirmed what many South Africans feared: more than R2 billion was siphoned away through coordinated syndicates that exploited procurement loopholes. The report reveals that 2 207 procurement bundles, 4 501 purchase orders and 207 service providers are under scrutiny. Three criminal networks alone are linked to nearly R1.7 billion. At least 15 officials have been implicated, while R122 million in corrupt payments have been traced to insiders. Services were invoiced and paid for but never delivered. Even losing bidders were paid. The sophistication of these schemes, including fake supply chain documents, front companies and manipulation of three quote rules, proves that this was not opportunism but organised criminality within the state. The assassination of whistle-blower Babita Deokaran is a tragic reminder of how dangerous it has become to expose corruption in our country. Her murder was not in vain; the SIU findings vindicate her warnings. But South Africans cannot be expected to rely on martyrs to defend public money. The UDM is clear: Tembisa is not an outlier. It is a mirror of how corruption has hollowed out our state. The same patterns can be seen in housing projects, water schemes, municipal contracts, state owned enterprises and schools. This case must be treated as a wakeup call for comprehensive reform across all sectors, not only in health. We therefore call for: 1. Swift prosecution of all implicated individuals with clear timelines for referrals from the SIU to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), and public updates on progress in the courts. 2. End to end digital procurement across government with full transparency and audit trails. 3. Whistle-blower protection as a matter of urgency, with the state ensuring that the next Babita is not left vulnerable. 4. A specialised anti-corruption task team combining the SIU, NPA, Auditor General and SAPS commercial crimes units, with quarterly public reporting. 5. Swift recovery of assets so that mansions, cars and bank accounts bought with stolen funds are seized and redirected to service delivery. 6. Political accountability so that senior officials and politicians who presided over these failures must answer, not hide behind process. South Africa cannot afford another decade of commissions and reports gathering dust while syndicates loot unchecked. Every stolen rand is a bed without linen, a clinic without medicine and a community without water. The Tembisa heist is not only about one hospital. It is the clearest example yet of a state where corruption has become a parallel system of government. Unless procurement is reformed from top to bottom, we will see Tembisa repeated in every department and municipality. The UDM stands ready to fight for reforms that restore dignity to our public finances, protect whistle-blowers, and return stolen resources to the people they were meant to serve.
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28 Sep, 2025
Restore our teachers’ dignity: support them, pay them, protect them
Statement by Zandile Phiri, Acting Secretary General of the United Democratic Movement The United Democratic Movement (UDM) is deeply alarmed by the growing crisis in South Africa’s education system, as mounting evidence shows that thousands of teachers are either leaving the profession or contemplating resignation. Reports this year confirm that nearly half of South Africa’s teachers want to quit, citing unbearable stress, excessive administrative duties, intimidation by learners and parents, poor pay, and lack of meaningful support. Teaching is one of the most critical professions in South Africa’s economy. Yet teachers are being demoralised, overburdened, and driven from classrooms at the very moment our country most needs stability and quality in education. This is not only an education crisis but a national crisis, directly affecting the learning outcomes of millions of children. The UDM’s position is clear: we must restore dignity, respect, and proper support to the teaching profession. We therefore call for: • Reducing administrative burdens by investing in support staff and digital systems so teachers can teach rather than drown in paperwork. • Strengthening teacher well-being through counselling services, professional development, and programmes to address burnout. • Improving safety and discipline in schools by addressing disruptive and violent behaviour from learners and parents. • Fair and competitive remuneration that recognises the value of teachers and secures their role as central to national development. • Investment in infrastructure and resources so that classrooms are fit for learning. The UDM also believes reforms to teacher training must be urgent and far-reaching. Closing teachers’ colleges was a case of throwing the baby out with the bathwater. The UDM has long argued for their reopening, with reformed curricula to meet modern needs. In addition, we call for: • Proper orientation and induction for new teachers so that they are supported rather than burned out in their first years. • Stronger inclusion of early childhood development (ECD) practitioners in teacher training to build the pipeline from the earliest stages of learning. • Comprehensive language training to help teachers manage the difficult transition from mother tongue instruction to English in early grades. • Modern, evidence-based pedagogical tools and continuous professional development to ensure teachers remain prepared for the classrooms of the future. • Compulsory training and awareness on professional ethics and abuse prevention, to ensure that the rare but devastating cases of sexual misconduct by teachers are never repeated and that the integrity of the profession is protected. This crisis is further compounded by reports of job losses in early 2025 due to budget cuts in provincial education departments. No teacher should be jobless because of government failures. Teachers deserve a living wage, stability, and job security, not retrenchment notices. It is unacceptable that those tasked with shaping the nation’s future are the first to face the axe when budgets are squeezed. The root cause is plain: wasteful spending and corruption are bleeding provincial budgets dry. Funds meant to pay teachers and fix schools are stolen by inflated contracts, ghost workers, luxury perks for officials, and failed projects. Every rand looted is a teacher not paid, a school left to crumble, or a child robbed of education. Until this rot is confronted head-on, it is our teachers and learners who will keep paying the price for provincial government’s failures. We call on Minister of Basic Education Siviwe Gwarube and the Government of National Unity to act with urgency, and for basic education reform to be placed firmly on the National Dialogue agenda as a collective national priority The UDM believes that teachers are central to the success of our basic education system. Without them, the future of our children and of our nation itself is at risk.
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26 Sep, 2025
Children must be protected, not burned: UDMYV on murder of 12-year-old Centane boy
Statement by Zintombi Sododile, Chairperson of United Democratic Movement Youth Vanguard in the Eastern Cape The United Democratic Movement Youth Vanguard (UDM Youth Vanguard) in the Eastern Cape is horrified by the recent gruesome death of a 12-year-old boy who was allegedly beaten and set alight by three suspects, aged between 30 and 41. The incident occurred at Nkondwane Location in Centane in the Eastern Cape. The suspects were reportedly arrested and have already appeared in the Centane Magistrate’s Court where they were remanded in custody. It is alleged that the 12-year-old boy was not the only victim of this horrendous crime, as another boy was also assaulted. According to police reports, the children were playing football when a male came and grabbed the boy, slapped and kicked him, and accused him of stealing money. The boys were then forcefully taken to a homestead where they were assaulted and set alight. One of the boys managed to extinguish the flames and escaped, but the other was unable to escape. He was rushed to Butterworth Hospital and later to Frere Hospital where he sadly succumbed to his injuries. This horror cannot be normalised. While the frustration of communities who live under constant crime is real and understood, taking the law into our own hands cannot and must not be condoned. No amount of anger or desperation can justify the murder of a child. The UDM Youth Vanguard in the Eastern Cape demands that the suspects who took the life of this innocent boy should be imprisoned for life and never see the light of day again. They are a danger to society and must be treated as such. We call on the National Prosecuting Authority to build a watertight case to ensure that justice is not delayed and that no technicality allows these men to escape accountability. The UDMYV also calls for urgent psychosocial and material support to be provided to the grieving family of the deceased and to the surviving child and his family. No parent should have to endure such a devastating loss, and no child should have to carry the trauma of such violence without care and support. We further call on communities to work to ensure the safety of children and to report any kind of abuse or violence to the police rather than resorting to vigilante justice. The UDM Youth Vanguard in the Eastern Cape believes that this tragedy must galvanise all of us to confront violence and crime with unity and lawful action. Our message is clear: children must never again be left unprotected against such cruelty. It is in this context that we must remind ourselves that South Africa has strong legal protections for children, yet violent crimes against them remain shockingly high. Section 28 of the Constitution explicitly safeguards the rights of every child to be protected from maltreatment, neglect, abuse, and degradation. These rights cannot remain words on paper while children continue to be brutalised in our communities. We are further disturbed by other recent reports of children being burned, beaten, and killed in South Africa, incidents widely covered by the media and condemned by child rights activists. Police dockets and advocacy groups like the Khula Community Development Project have repeatedly highlighted the scale of this scourge. This appalling pattern deepens the urgency for action, as no society that tolerates such cruelty can claim to value its future.
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