Admin
21 Jan, 2014
UDEMWO statement: Child rape: war on children
By Mrs Thandi Nontenja – UDEMWO Secretary General Child rape is totally out of hand. Following the recent reports of child rape cases across the country, another nine-year old girl was badly burnt, raped and left for dead in the Cape Flats. Earlier this month a 37-year old father was arrested and charged for raping his 17-year old daughter. These reports are shocking and serious measures must be taken to protect our children. The United Democratic Movement Women’s Organisation (UDEMWO) advocates a zero tolerance system to punish, deter and rehabilitate offenders while supporting and restoring dignity and justice to victims. Just a month ago South Africa participated in the campaign 16 days of Activism, such launches hosted by the government are exorbitantly expensive, but there is no evidence that projects programme produces the results we would like to see, which is awareness, and change of attitude, that results in the protection of children and women Law enforcement, together with community leaders need to meet and devise strategies to fight these demons that haunts our communities and causing pain and grief to many South Africans.
Admin
08 Jan, 2014
UDMYV reaction matric 2013
by Teddy Thwala, UDM Youth Vanguard President The United Democratic Movement Youth Vanguard (UDMYV) congratulates all learners who have successfully completed their matric examinations as a result of hard work and dedication throughout the 2013 academic year. For those who have not succeeded, the UDMYV also wants to encourage you to try again and not give up. It does not end here! It is however disconcerting that in South Africa to pass some subjects with 30% or 40% is acceptable. Our school system promotes mediocrity it bestows favour of those who scrape through rather than rewarding those who work hard. A pass of 30% means that you are clueless about 70% of the work. The UDMYV welcomes the phasing out of Outcome Based Education (OBE), but the Department and the Minister must stop chopping and changing the curriculum at whim. This is confusing for the teachers and learners because they have to adapt every time this happens which is unfair to both parties.
Admin
31 Dec, 2013
2014 – An opportunity for change
This past year has shown evidence that our Nation is on a slippery slope to becoming a third class nation with its citizens relegated to poverty and struggle. 2013 was littered by far too many corruption scandals, miscarriages of justice and a government that seems hell bent on staying this course. We witnessed the shocking verdict in the Andries Tatane case; the fiasco with the deployment of South African soldiers in the Central African Republic and the scandalous handling of hearings into the Marikana Massacre. Government’s indiscriminate use of its security agencies to quell service delivery protests; the Independent Electoral Commission’s lease agreement scandal and the International Relations Director General’s doubtful spending of half-a-billion Rand in the name of the African Renaissance Fund. The corruption and maladministration at the Universal Service and Access Agency of SA (USAASA). Government’s bungling of the Walter Sisulu University strike; the Tripartite Alliance’s internal strife and petty politics negatively affecting service delivery; the imposition of the e-Tolling system in Gauteng and then of course, Nkandlagate. 2014 brings with it an opportunity for us to recommit to the original agenda: to improve the lives of all South Africans. With the pending national and provincial elections, we hope that South Africans will have opened their eyes and see that the party they have trusted since 1994 have, as time has gone by, abused that trust and used them as voting fodder to enrich the few. To each person in our Rainbow Nation, we hope that 2014 brings with it prosperity and opportunities to better your life and those of your children. Happy New Year
Admin
31 Dec, 2013
Tribute to the late Lieutenant General (Ret) Lambert Moloi
Tribute to the late Lieutenant General (Ret) Lambert Moloi by Major General (Ret) Bantu Holomisa, MP, Deputy Chairperson National Defence Force Service Commission We mourn the loss of the late Lieutenant General (Ret) Lambert Moloi; a former commander of Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK) – an outstanding man and a disciplined soldier. As an MK Commander, General Moloi worked closely with then Transkei Defence Force (TDF) officers and as a result he was assigned “Comrade A” as his code and nickname. We worked with General Moloi for many years; first when he was an MK Commander during the struggle. He and I again crossed paths in September 2009 when the South African Ministry of Defence established the interim National Defence Force Service Commission (NDFSC). Our work in the interim NDFSC was to, amongst others, advise on the remuneration and service conditions of the members of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF). When the Commission started its work, General Moloi campaigned hard for the improvement of the conditions of service of the SANDF personnel. His military background, together with the crucial role he played in overseeing the integration of the different armed forces in 1994 enabled him to anticipate and understand the needs of the SANDF members. General Moloi’s institutional memory contributed immensely towards the realisation of the Commission’s objectives. This quality came in very handy when the Commission conducted benchmarking studies in various countries around the world. He was a man who paid attention to detail and could at times be extremely pedantic and he interrogated all the recommendations of the Commission. No tribute to General Moloi is complete without acknowledging his monumental contribution to the struggle for liberation. We successfully handled many operations with him long before former President FW de Klerk unbanned the liberation movements. Comrade A therefore was a frequent visitor to our shores and he demonstrated a great deal of humility and empathy – he would take the time to engage TDF officers about every issue under the sun. He organised and oversaw many training projects, including the training of MK cadres, by the TDF, in Transkei and Uganda with a specific focus on conventional warfare. TDF General Mandela managed this project and it was a great success. During our joint operations he proved to be a very disciplined and focused individual who prized the liberation of our people above all else. These events and programmes culminated in a strong relationship and mutual trust between the ANC, its military and the Transkei Military Government. It was against this backdrop that the Transkei Military Government embraced change long before 1994 and agreed to be integrated into the new South Africa without resistance, unlike other homelands. The other rarely mentioned benefit of this relationship was that, by the time the senior MK commanders came back from exile, Comrade A’s relationship with TDF had laid a solid foundation for the relatively smooth integration of these two armed forces into a single national defence force. I express my heartfelt condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of Lieutenant General (Ret) Moloi. It is never easy to get used to the passing of a loved one especially that of a person of his calibre. He will be sorely missed. May His Soul Rest in Peace.
Admin
24 Dec, 2013
Tribute to the late former President Nelson Mandela
Tribute to the late former President Nelson Mandela delivered on behalf of the UDM in the Joint Sitting of Parliament on 9 December 2013 by Mr Nqabayomzi Kwankwa, MP Mister Speaker, Deputy President, Honourable Members, Distinguished Guests and Fellow South Africans, From the outset, let me apologise for the absence of my President, Mr Bantu Holomisa in today’s joint sitting. Mr Holomisa was unable to make it due to being busy with the funeral arrangements of our late former President Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela. On behalf of the United Democratic Movement (UDM), I wish to join the millions here at home and abroad in extending our heartfelt condolences to the family, the African National Congress (ANC) and friends of the late former President Mandela. Our thoughts and prayers are with you during this time of grief. In fact, words seem inadequate to express how sorry we are for your loss. Fellow South Africans, We are gathered here to undertake the sad duty of bidding farewell to an outstanding leader of the 20th century, the father of our Nation, our struggle icon and the first democratically elected President of the Republic of South Africa, the late Dr Nelson Mandela. Tata Madiba – as he was affectionately known – spent 27 years in prison fighting gallantly in order to ensure that you and I can enjoy the freedom and democracy that he and his generation of heroes and heroines did not enjoy. To Tata and his generation, no price was too high for the liberation of the peoples of Africa. This turned him into a repository for all the hopes and aspirations of our people- a duty he discharged with distinction. When Tata came out of prison, he displayed an amazingly high capacity for forgiveness, which at times brought a look of complete incredulity in the faces of those who believed that we did not have it in ourselves to transcend our divisive political past. Tata was however undeterred by this. He continued to epitomise the values of non-racialism, reconciliation and service to the people. Under his sterling leadership, we demonstrated to the whole world that we too were capable of building a winning Nation, united in our diversity. In the words of former President Thabo Mbeki and I quote: “Madiba pre-eminently represented a generation of the Titans that pulled us out of the abyss and placed us on a pedestal of hope on which we continue to rest.” End quote. Mister Speaker, Madiba was a man of integrity, whose humanity and compassion inspires us greatly and will continue to inspire us, and future generations, for many years to come. John Maxwell’s apt description of integrity, in his book, The Four Pillars of Leadership, captures the essence of the values that Tata Madiba espoused during his lifetime, when he says and I quote: “Integrity commits itself to character over personal gain, to people over things, to service over power, to principle over convenience, to the long view over the immediate.” The outpouring of grief after Tata’s passing, the likes of which are rarely seen, bears testimony to this and also clearly demonstrates that he was not only thought of as just the father of our Nation, but as one of the greatest leaders and outstanding heroes of the 20th century. Honourable Members, One of Tata’s facets of leadership which also deserves mention here today was his willingness to listen and learn from people from all walks of life. Growing up in deep rural parts of the Eastern Cape during Tata term and watching him in action, I was always inspired by his ability to listen to opposing views and his courage to admit when he was wrong. We should learn these important values of tolerance and humility from Tata, as they will help us in our efforts to revive his and Bishop Tutu’s vision of building a Rainbow Nation. Fellow South Africans, The passing of Tata, sad as it is, provides us yet another opportunity to reflect on the progress made and the distance we have come. It should remind us that our hard-won liberty is built on a contrasting tale of men at their most evil and most heroic, and where like everything else in life, the good emerged victorious over the bad. This is one victory that we must never betray or squander. In this regard, the best present we can give to Tata Madiba is to preserve his legacy by espousing his values and ensuring that the torch of freedom and democracy, for which he courageously fought, continues to burn. In his eloquent words, we should ensure that: “The sun never sets on so glorious a human achievement.” Lala ngoxolo Yem-yem, Ngqolomsila, Sophitsho, Vela Bembhentsele, Madib’ iindonga. Ugqatso lwakho ulifezile. Aaah, Dalibhunga! Aaah, Dalibunga! I thank you.
Admin
09 Dec, 2013
Mandela was born to lead: Holomisa
Congress of Traditional Leaders of South Africa (Contralesa) President, Chief Phathekile Holomisa says former president Nelson Mandela was born to lead. Holomisa says Madiba’s elders from the Abathembu Tribe, never anticipated that he would lead the country one day. Madiba passed away on Thursday night at his house, Houghton, Johannesburg. Holomisa says: “As an adviser, councillor to the Kings he was playing a critical role in the royal councils of Abathembu and I am sure the elders never anticipated that he will be a leader beyond that stature, so he fulfilled their hopes and expectations more than they had held then. He was born to lead. In fact when he went away from the Mthembuland to the City of Johannesburg, he naturally became a leader.” On Sunday, different prayer services were held for former statesman in South Africa and in other parts of the world. United Democratic Movement leader and Mandela family member Bantu Holomisa attended a prayer service at Regina Mundi in Soweto. Holomisa described Madiba as a man who fought for the country and encouraged South Africans to continue to embrace his legacy. Holomisa also made it clear that there won’t be any violence after Madiba’s funeral. “South Africans have proven wrong the international world that there will be violence in the country. There won’t be any violence in South Africa.” An official memorial service for Madiba will be held at FNB stadium on Tuesday and he will be buried in Qunu, Eastern Cape on Sunday.
Admin
24 Oct, 2013
Speech: Annual Black Management Forum conference Debate: Can Good Governance increase trust amongst Government, Civil Society, Labour and Business?
by Mr Bantu Holomisa at Gallagher Convention Centre Ladies and Gentlemen, Thank you for the opportunity to interact with you today; I’m honoured to address this forum on the importance of good governance in engendering trust among the various stakeholders in society. Let me state from the outset that the answer to this question is an emphatic YES! Yesterday the Public Protector, Thuli Madonsela in this conference gave a candid and concise assessment of poor state of governance in the public sector in South Africa. She called on people to refrain from using their connections as a means to access tenders. Even though much has been said and written about corruption in South Africa and many laws have been passed to fight corruption, corruption remains a serious problem in our country. Far too often, many top government officials and politicians have been caught with their hands in the cookie jar. In addition, when allegations of corruption engulf once revered institutions, such as the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) and the Presidency, they weaken our ability to successfully crackdown on corruption. In the process they affect our international ratings. It would, however, be mischievous and dishonest to suggest that corruption in government only started during the Zuma regime. Many of you will recall that some of the most devastating corruption scandals go back as far as the Sarafina-2, Arms Deal, Oil Gate, Travel Gate, Chancellor House/Hitachi and Eskom Deal. The latter deal being a classical example of an institutionalised corruption. Efforts have been made to determine the possible causes of corruption in South Africa. While we admit that there are many possible causes of corruption, we believe that at the heart of the problem is the tender system. In particular, it is the usurpation of the powers of accounting officers by politicians in this system. Since the advent of democracy we have seen an increasing number of political directives given to accounting officers on how to allocate tenders and to whom. To make matters worse, in many instances tenders are awarded to incompetent people, who either do shoddy work or leave it unfinished. A case in point, not long ago former Human Settlements Minister, Tokyo Sexwale stated publicly that his Department was planning to demolish thousands of RDP houses that were not built properly and are a health hazard. The Medupi tender was awarded to the ruling party investment arm without being subjected to an open to tender system. This means that in this deal the ruling party became both player and referee. After this scandal was revealed they had the nerve to tell the public that they have a right to do this. These occur despite people being aware that they go against the principles of good governance. We need to reverse this trend, Ladies and Gentlemen. We need to restore the power to make administrative decisions back to the accounting officers, and that politicians should confine themselves to do oversight work. What is also of grave concern is that when the media and the Public Protector expose incidents of corruption, nothing serious is done about it. Instead, the culprits get rewarded with redeployments and or promotions, which firmly entrenches the culture of corruption and impunity. For examples one has to look no further than former Minister of Communications, Dina Pule and those who were found guilty in the Travel Gate scandal. This altogether necessitates a review of the programs and some of the governance systems we have been using. Put more accurately, we need to change the software. We need to move towards a mixed electoral system that draws from the strengths of both the proportional and constituency based electoral systems. In addition, our people should be allowed to directly elect their president. In addition the cabinet which has been nominated by that president should be a subject of scrutiny by the Parliament’s Ethics Committee before they are sworn in. Such a system will among other things make sure that the cabinet represents the population or at least the geographical spread of South Africa and that such individuals understand the field they are to enter. A directly elected president would have no motivation to fill the cabinet with people from his/her home province, as is currently the case. This is a recipe for prompting ethnicity and unfair distribution of resources. These steps would, among others, help improve accountability. If the civil society and the public in general is going to fold their arms while these hyenas and predators continue to loot this country’s resources with impunity, they must know that our children will inherit an empty shell in the future. I thank you.
Admin
18 Oct, 2013
President Zuma’s office responded to complaints regarding service delivery in Limpopo
President Zuma’s office responded to complaints regarding service delivery in Limpopo (Presidency’s Response + Memorandum + List of Complaints) and Eastern Cape (Presidency’s Response + Memorandum + List of Complaints)(OR Tambo and Chris Hani Regions). We will follow-up on some areas that have not been covered e.g. roads in Lusikisiki, Flagstaff and Bizana in particular.
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