Bantu Holomisa on Freedom Day 2026
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Speech by the President of the United Democratic Movement and Deputy Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Bantu Holomisa at the UDM Qonce (King William’s Town) Rally
27 April 2026
Fellow South Africans, Leaders of our communities, Members of the United Democratic Movement, And to our new members who have made a conscious decision to walk this journey with us.
I greet you all on this historic and meaningful day.
Today, as we gather here in Qonce, we do so on the occasion of Freedom Day, a day that represents one of the greatest turning points in the history of our country.
On this day, 30 years ago, millions of South Africans stood in long queues under the sun, united not by language, not by tribe, not by political party, but by a shared hope.
A hope for freedom. A hope for dignity. A hope for a better life.
It was the culmination of generations of struggle. A struggle carried by heroes and heroines. A struggle carried by the unknown and the ordinary. A struggle carried by those who paid the ultimate price so that we may stand here today and call ourselves free.
But today, as we commemorate Freedom Day, we must do more than celebrate.
We must reflect.
We must ask ourselves, as a nation, whether we have honoured that freedom or whether we have played with it.
Because the truth, fellow South Africans, is uncomfortable.
We have, in many ways, played with our freedom.
We inherited a country full of possibility. We inherited institutions designed to serve the people. We inherited a democratic system meant to uplift all.
But instead of building on that foundation with discipline and integrity, we allowed corruption to creep in. We allowed greed to replace service. We allowed the state to be weakened. We allowed communities, especially rural communities like those we are visiting in iMidushane, to be forgotten.
Freedom became something we celebrate once a year instead of something we protect every day.
And today we are confronted with painful realities. Young people with qualifications but no opportunities. Families living without basic services. Crime that robs communities of peace. A widening gap between the rich and the poor. A state that too often fails the very people it was meant to serve.
This is not what Freedom Day was meant to deliver. This is not what our people voted for.
But fellow South Africans, this is not the end of the story.
Today is not only about reflection. It is also about renewal.
And that is why your presence here today matters.
To those who are joining the United Democratic Movement, you are not just joining a political party.
You are joining a movement born out of principle. A movement that refused to compromise on integrity. A movement that has, from its formation, stood firm against corruption, against abuse of power, and against the betrayal of the South African people.
The United Democratic Movement was not built on convenience. It was built on conviction.
Conviction that leadership must be accountable. Conviction that government must serve the people. Conviction that freedom must translate into real change in people’s lives.
And today, more than ever, that conviction is needed.
To our new members, you are joining at a critical time in our country’s history.
A time when South Africans are beginning to question. A time when South Africans are beginning to demand better. A time when South Africans are no longer willing to accept excuses.
In 2024, the voters of this country sent a clear and unmistakable message. They said never again will they put all their eggs in one basket. They rejected the idea that one party alone can carry the hopes of an entire nation without accountability. They chose balance. They chose oversight. They chose to open a new chapter in our democracy.
As the UDM, we approach a historic milestone. Next year, we celebrate 30 years of our existence. For three decades, we have contributed immensely to the project of democracy in South Africa. We have been a consistent voice for accountability, a defender of constitutional values, and a watchdog against corruption and abuse of power. We are not approaching this anniversary as a ceremonial event, but as a moment of strategic repositioning. In September next year, we will use our 30th anniversary as a launching pad for our 2029 manifesto.
We are clear that the practice of issuing manifestos just three months before elections may suit parties with deep pockets and access to resources, but we are not that kind of party and we will not follow that strategy. We will hit the ground running. We will engage communities early, build our programme from the ground up, and ensure that by the time we reach 2029, the people of South Africa already know what the UDM stands for, what it plans to do, and how it will change their lives.
You are joining a generation that must correct the mistakes of the past 30 years.
Because the next 30 years cannot be a repetition of the last.
We cannot continue to play with freedom.
We must work with it.
We must rebuild the culture of accountability. We must restore the dignity of public service. We must prioritise development, especially in rural areas. We must create real economic opportunities for our people.
And we must do so with urgency.
As the UDM, we are clear.
Freedom must mean something tangible.
It must mean jobs for the unemployed. Safety in our communities. Functioning schools and clinics. Roads, water, and infrastructure in every village. Respect for traditional leadership and local governance. Opportunities for young people to build and not to beg.
We cannot speak about freedom while our people are still trapped in poverty.
We cannot celebrate freedom while our youth are trapped in unemployment.
We cannot honour freedom while corruption continues to steal from the future.
That is why we say the time for playing is over. The time for rebuilding has begun.
To the people of Qonce, to the people of the Eastern Cape, this province has given so much to the struggle for freedom. It has produced leaders. It has produced thinkers. It has produced resilience.
Now it must also produce renewal.
And that renewal starts with you.
It starts with the choices you make. It starts with the leadership you support. It starts with your willingness to stand up and say we deserve better.
As the UDM, we are not here to make empty promises.
We are here to build a new culture of governance.
A culture rooted in discipline, integrity, accountability, and service to the people.
That is the freedom we must now fight for.
Not freedom from oppression, but freedom from dysfunction. Not freedom from laws, but freedom from corruption and inequality.
Let this Freedom Day mark a turning point.
Let it be remembered not just as a celebration of what was achieved, but as a commitment to what must still be done.
To our new members, welcome to the struggle of rebuilding South Africa. Welcome to the responsibility of protecting our freedom. Welcome to the United Democratic Movement.
Together, let us ensure that future generations will not say we played with freedom, but that we honoured it, protected it, and used it to build a better South Africa for all.
I thank you.
