Admin
04 Nov, 2014
Debate: Development Bank of Southern Africa Amendment Bill (DBSA)
Speaker and Honourable Members, The UDM supports the Bill. We support the extension of the mandate of the Development Bank of Southern Africa to provide infrastructure development finance to key infrastructure sectors, such as water and sanitation, energy, transport, education, health and ICT beyond the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC), that is, to the rest of the African continent. This step will in our view go a long way towards enhancing trade, economic growth and development on the continent. There are however several areas of concern to consider. First, there have been many instances in the past, where the work of the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) and the Land Bank clashed with the mandate of DBSA. As already indicated earlier, there is potential for the mandate of DBSA to clash and overlap with that of the African Development Bank. Therefore, more effort needs to be put into refocusing the mandate of all these institutions in order to ensure value for money and to prevent a wastage of government resources that results from duplication of work. Second, a large chunk of DBSA’s disbursements go to municipalities. It therefore follows that, while it is prudent not to amend the Act in order to allow for representation of local government or other “interest group” – as the Committee aptly put it, we cannot overemphasise the importance of DBSA forging close relationships with municipalities, as they are its biggest clients. Third, the increase in authorised share capital is welcome. We however hope that by not identifying certain areas of focus on the continent, we are not stretching ourselves too thin. By biting more than we can chew we run the risk of DBSA not being effective in its infrastructure development programme in South Africa and the continent. Even worse it might find itself encountering financial difficulties in future. Thank you
Admin
18 Sep, 2014
Motion of no confidence in the Speaker of the National Assembly: Baleka Mbete
by Bantu Holomisa in the National Assembly Honourable Deputy-Chairperson Honourable Deputy President Honourable Ministers and Deputy-Ministers Honourable Members The United Democratic Movement (UDM) endorses the motion of no confidence in the current Speaker, Baleka Mbete, on grounds already presented in this house. Before she was elected into office, the Speaker is on record distorting and attacking outcomes of the Public Protector’s investigations on Nkandla. This distortion and attack has since been sustained by the organisation she presides over as its National Chairperson. In this regard, her objectivity on the work of the parliamentary committee considering this matter is highly questionable and may compromise the independence of this house. Irrespective of the outcome of this process, today, surely we can all agree that there is a great and urgent need to evaluate whether parliament has been discharging its mandate over the last 20 years in accordance with the principles of inclusive participatory democracy. Where so required, make such necessary changes to give effect to a democratically managed people’s parliament. Accordingly, the UDM will write to the Ethics Committee of this house to cause the current speaker to explain her alleged involvement and role in the Goldfields saga. In the same vein, we will seek to get clarity on whether the current speaker is remunerated in accordance with the package she got when she resigned as the Deputy President of the Republic or whether in addition to the package granted, she further enjoys speaker’s package. I thank you
Admin
16 Sep, 2014
Motion without Notice: Toddler Dies In Drain
Motion without Notice in the National Assembly by CN Majeke, MP Subject: Toddler Dies In Drain I move without notice on behalf of the Chief Whip of the United Democratic Movement (UDM): that the house: (1) notes that on Saturday, 13 September of 2014, a toddler in Uitenhage died after falling into an uncovered storm water drain; (2) further notes that the residents in the community are reported to have frequently complained to the municipality that the storm water drain was a safety hazard, until the 17-month-old Joslynn Olifant drowned in it; (3) extends our deepest condolences to Joslynn Olifant’s family; and (4) calls on the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs to investigate the circumstances leading to the untimely death of the toddler, and ensure that appropriate remedial action is taken. I thank you
Admin
16 Sep, 2014
Motion without notice on Ward 45, Buffalo City Municipality Councillor’s burnt home
Motion without notice on Ward 45, Buffalo City Municipality Councillor’s burnt home by CN Filtane (MP) I move without notice on behalf of the Chief Whip of the United Democratic Movement (UDM): that the house: (1) Notes that on the evening of Tuesday the 9th of September 2014, Buffalo City Ward Councillor, Gideon Norexe’s house was allegedly burnt into ashes by angry residents. (2) Further notes that incidence took place just two weeks after the alleged assault of Mr Norexe by two residents. (3) Acknowledge the right of citizens to demand speedy services delivery without damage to human life and properties. (4) Condemn this act as illegal and uncalled for. Thank you
Admin
13 Sep, 2014
Holomisa: “Cut a deal! Go Home” President Zuma
Holomisa: “Cut a deal! Go Home” President Zuma Instead of a nation preoccupied with the scandals surrounding President Zuma, the United Democratic Movement (UDM) advises that we should rather deliberate his exit strategy. Since the advent of democracy, we have never been faced with a crisis of this magnitude i.e. allegations of corruption at the highest level. The African National Congress (ANC) has completely misinterpreted their mandate. They are clearly using their majority to do their utmost to protect President Zuma at all cost. People must understand that the president and his executive are not subject to the Labour Relations Act. It is therefore not necessary to prove his culpability beyond reasonable doubt, but the balance of probability shows that President Zuma must be relieved of his duties. We cannot allow a person to perpetually spend taxpayers’ millions and in the process flout the rule of law with impunity. It is clear that our system is flawed and the holes must be stoppered. We are at a stalemate; to name but two, the image of the country is dented and our economy is in shambles. Under Zuma’s leadership, there is an unrelenting charge against any body doing their work and maintains the rule of law. Politicians in the ruling party and some of their political partners, ministers and deputy ministers downward, protect President Zuma. They do not care how much damage they inflict. The UDM believes that South Africans cannot take lightly the unrelenting onslaught on public institutions, like the public protector, or quashing of any attempt to point out Zuma’s mistakes. With all the noise generated in his defence, Zuma keeps silent and yet he is the accounting officer of this country. The UDM suggests that we, as a people, must find an amicable way to relieve Mr Zuma of his duties. However such a package must be conditional so that we do not have another Zuma disguised in the system. He must go home and we will exonerate him, however such a package should include three things: A change in the Electoral Act that allows South Africans to directly elect their president in the 2019 elections. In terms of the executive, candidates for cabinet must first be vetted in public hearings to ascertain whether they are fit for office. In addition, the speaker, as the presiding officer of parliament, must come from outside politics and be a career professional. With the storm around the President, as well as the controversy around Belaka Mbete, regarding the R25 million stake she received from the granting of a licence to Goldfields mining company which constituted a bribe, is a toxic combination. Unfortunately South Africans gave the ANC the green light in the 2014 election thus endorsing this corruption. Something has to change, and it must happen soon. We remind South Africans of the history and controversy surrounding President Zuma. ARMS DEAL SCANDAL – SCHABIR SHAIK AND TONY YENGENI President Zuma fought a long legal battle over allegations of racketeering and corruption, resulting from his financial advisor Schabir Shaik’s conviction for corruption and fraud. Bulelani Ngcuka, the national director of Public Prosecutions at the time, investigated both President Zuma and the Mr Tony Yengeni after allegations of abuse of power. While Yengeni was found guilty, the case was dropped against Zuma, with Ngcuka stating, “…that there was prima facie evidence of corruption, but insufficient to win the case in court”. When Judge Squires delivering his verdict, Shaik was found guilty on two counts of corruption and one count of fraud. Judge Squires stated that there had been “overwhelming” evidence of a corrupt relationship between Shaik and Zuma. 2005: THE SUCCESSION BATTLE WITH FORMER PRESIDENT THABO MBEKI In June 2005, former President Thabo Mbeki removed Zuma from his post as Deputy President due to allegations of corruption and fraud related to the $5-billion weapons acquisition deal in 1999. 2005: ALLEGATIONS OF RAPE AND THE INFAMOUS SHOWER COMMENT In 2005 Zuma was charged for rape, but was acquitted. The trial generated political controversy when he, as head of the National AIDS Council, admitted that he had not used a condom when having sex with the woman who had him accuses him of rape. He did this, despite knowing that she was HIV-positive and said in court that he took a shower afterwards to “cut the risk of contracting HIV”. 2007: ARMS DEAL SCANDAL CONTINUED: THE NATIONAL PROSECUTING AUTHORITY INDICT PRESIDENT ZUMA In late 2007, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) indicted Zuma to stand trial on various counts of racketeering, money laundering, corruption and fraud. A conviction and sentence to a term of imprisonment of more than 1-year would have rendered Zuma ineligible for election to parliament and consequently would not have been eligible to serve as president. In 2008, Judge Nicholson held that Zuma’s corruption charges were unlawful on procedural grounds in that the National Directorate of Public Prosecutions did not give Zuma a chance to make representations before deciding to charge him, a requirement of the Constitution, and directed the state to pay legal costs. In 2009, the NPA dropped all charges against Zuma and co-accused French arms company Thint in light of new revelations about serious flaws in the prosecution. 2013 – SOUTH AFRICA’S RELATIONSHIP WITH THE CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC Central African Republic dictator François Bozizé, sent his son Jean Francis Bozizé, then the CAR’s defence minister, to Pretoria to cut a deal with Zuma to send enough South African troops and weapons to halt the Seleka rebel advance on the capital, Bangui – but far fewer than promised arrived. Long frantic talks were held with Zuma, just three days before Bangui fell, to remind the the president to honour a back-room deal. 2013 – GUPTAGATE President Zuma was reportedly directly implicated in the so-called Guptagate scandal, but he denied having prior knowledge or involvement in the landing of the Gupta wedding jet at the Waterkloof Air Force Base. 2013 –NKANDLA… SECURITY OF THE PRESIDENT President Zuma was accused of having used taxpayer funds to make improvements to his private home in Nkandla. He was accused of deceiving parliament about the use of funds for his security, instead of using them largely for personal expenses. Zuma and his cabinet protested the allegations, claiming that the expenditures were for necessary security facilities of the head of state. 2014 – THE “SPY TAPES” – ARMS DEAL DEBACLE WILL NOT GO AWAY Speculation flourished that the Zuma team resisted releasing the so-called “spy tapes” at every turn, when supposedly the contents show the more than 700 corruption charges against him were part of a plot to nip his presidential ambitions in the bud. Yet, in announcing his decision to drop the charges in 2009, then-acting National Director of Public Prosecutions Mokotedi Mpshe made it plain that there was nothing on the tapes that would have fatally damaged the prosecution’s case. Instead, Mpshe argued there had been an abuse of process. The timing of the charges had been manipulated for ends other than the legitimate purpose of a prosecution, which was to secure a conviction. He alleged the former head of the Scorpions, Leonard McCarthy, and his NPA counterpart, Bulelani Ngcuka, had discussed when to charge Zuma with the aim of maximising damage to his campaign for leadership of the ANC. President Zuma and his protectors milked the delay in handing over of the “spy- tapes”. It was never Zuma’s intention to produce the spy-tapes. Instead he opted to use public funds to fight a legal battle from start to finish. THE BLURRED LINE BETWEEN STATE AND PARTY There is a disturbing trend that reared its ugly head over the past years. The ANC will stop at nothing to protect President Zuma. They disrespect the judiciary and laws of this country. They hurl insults at the public protector tha has done a proper job of making transgressors face the music. THE ANC OF YESTER YEAR AND THAT OF THE PAST FIVE YEARS. There is marked difference between the style of late former president Nelson Mandela and that of former president Thabo Mbeki, versus that of President Zuma. In fact, Zuma has forgotten what the ANC values yesteryear were . The best way of putting it, is to say that his actions are un-Mandela, un-Mbeki and un-ANC. TO THE DETRIMENT OF SOUTH AFRICANS One cannot help but think that President Jacob Zuma is the proverbial cat with nine lives. The past five years have exposed that the Zuma-regime is not serious about alleviating poverty. The millions of rands spent on President Zuma’s legal fees is an insult to South Africans who are forced to pay for his ever-increasing legal bill. President Zuma is using the public purse as a slush fund to protect him and his family. One wonders how much money slipped into Mr Michael Hulley, President Zuma’s attorney, own pocket. He is after all a business partner of the Zuma family. Maybe President Zuma’s style is not that far from quiet diplomacy. However his idea of quiet diplomacy is literally staying mum, or he pleading that he did not know. It is time for the president to stop wasting taxpayers’ time and money and face the music especially amidst the noises about his health.
Admin
11 Sep, 2014
High incidence of violence and abuse against women and children
Address by Ms CN Majeke MP in the National Assembly regarding the high incidence of violence and abuse against women and children Hon Speaker, and Honourable Members Twenty years into our democracy, our women and children continue to be victims of gender and child abuse. We still need a radical social paradigm shift about gender – equality that should usher in a new generation of women and men working together to create a human world order that is safe for our children. The numbers reported daily through the media of the various forms of violence against children and women; continue to escalate even during campaigns when the nation is giving specific focus to these vulnerable groups in society. Despite successful battles by women, securing many basic rights, many of which have since been legislated including the rights of children yet in the private sphere of women and children, in their homes, abuse and inequality remains a battle to be fought collectively. Research by a non-government organisation Community Agency for Social Enquiry states that causes for this situation can range from “personal experiences of abuse and the impact of dysfunctional families, to broader social factors such as high levels of poverty, the acceptance of violence in society, unequal gender relations, the disintegration of family life, certain cultural traditions and substance abuse”. Whilst efforts to educate women and society at large about the rights of women and children and the responsibility of all citizens with respect to ensuring that such rights and legislations are respected and adhered to, many women remain unaware of their rights. Some women are afraid of further and increased violence from perpetrators if they were to report to the SAPS their situation they find themselves in their private homes. There are institutions created by the Constitution and various other legislations to attend to violence against women and children, however, the geographic locations limits physical access to them and their programmes for rural women and children who are hit hard by violence. Some of these do not have free call centres or lines that run 24 hours a day and seven days a week. Certainly, as a nation, we have a responsibility and duty, to unite against the violence and abuse of women and children. We also need to pay more and special attention to the women and children in villages, farms and informal settlements. We must as well give sufficient attention to women and children with handicapped, because they suffer double jeopardy. The fight against violence and abuse of women and children demands that a zero-tolerance system to punish, deter and rehabilitate offenders whilst supporting and restoring dignity and justice to victims. We must move with speed to eliminate all obstacles that limit women’s access to wealth creation, Thank you
Admin
11 Sep, 2014
Motion without notice on Bryan Habana in the National Assembly
I move without notice on behalf the Chief Whip of the United Democratic Movement (UDM) move without notice: That the house (1) Notes that Brayan Habana, who was born on the 12 June 1983 in Benoni, Johannesburg, Gauteng has contributed significantly on the field of play, Rugby. (2) Habana has proved without reasonable doubts his talent when in 2007 Rugby World Cup was named one of the best players and at the time he was 24 years old. (3) We recall one his best moments during the final 2007 World Cup tournament where he intercepted the ball from the centre of the field to score a try that took South Africa to the second World Cup victory. (4) The house and the country should note that Habana has played 99 games for South Africa; the match between South Africa and Australia marked 100 games for Habana. (5) This outstanding achievement for Habana should be celebrated by all patriots and continue to unite South Africa as a sporting nation. (6) His contribution to South African Rugby is a shining example to be emulated by generation and generation to come. Thank you
Admin
11 Sep, 2014
Incident which unfolded at the Umtata High Court 10 September 2014
Motion without notice in the National Assembly on 11 September 2014 by ML Filtane, MP Motion without notice on the incident which unfolded at the Umtata High Court yesterday, 10 September 2014 I hereby move, on behalf of the Chief Whip of the United Democratic Movement (UDM) move without notice, that the house; (1) Notes the incident which unfolded at the Mthatha High Court yesterday where two dangerous suspects died on the scene and one official was reported wounded, following a fierce exchange of gunfire with members of the National Intervention Unit (NIU – police), and correctional services officers (DC). (2) The two suspects; Sakhumzi Mvoko (30) and Yandisa Bila 32, jointly faced 17 counts of murder, armed robbery and rape. (3) They had allegedly terrorised the former Transkei area for many years. (4) Further Notes that, one suspect accessed a fire arm from a dustbin situated within the precinct of a court of law, thus raising serious questions about the state of safety of our justice officials and institutions. (5) Notes that in December 2013, two police officers were stabbed at the same Mthatha High Court by prisoners. (6) Further wish the injured officer a speedy recovery and hope that the investigation into the person who hid the fire arm in the dustbin could be concluded speedily with consequences. (7) The house commends the NIU and DCS officers for the swift reaction to a potentially disastrous situation. Thank you
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