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22 Jul, 2014
Budget Vote 2: Parliament
Address by Mr Nqabayomzi Kwankwa, MP in the National Assembly Budget Vote 2: Parliament Madam Speaker, Deputy President and Honourable Members, Parliament derives its power directly from the people. We are therefore all here to implement the will of the people. Once elected, our people therefore expect us to rise above ideological cleavages and narrow partisan interests to build a better South Africa for all, both Black and White. Deputy Speaker, Speaking time is essential for pluralist and representative debates that communicate the will of the people of South Africa and the constituencies the various political parties in this House represent. We are concerned that the current proportional speaking formula in Parliament does not provide us, the so-called smaller opposition parties or other parties as we prefer to call ourselves, enough opportunity to clearly articulate the will of our people and constituencies. Applying the crude principle of proportionality on speaking times does not bode well for both the reputation and image of this august Institution. For example, at times speakers’ times expire before the speakers had managed to put their points across – thus leaving the public questioning the purpose and quality of contribution. It is therefore important for Parliament to look into ways in which speaking times allow all parties to add maximum value to what are often complex parliamentary debates. We are aware that political parties have since the beginning of this term worked together to improve the situation and we appreciate the efforts. However, we believe there is still more room for improvement. Our view is that the minimum speaking time for parliamentary debates should be five minutes. Deputy Speaker, In the last term, there were instances, where people complained about the lack of proper consultation on Bills before this House. There were also a number of cases, where Bills were withdrawn to allow for further consultation. The Info Bill was example where the public consultation process was not done properly. There have also been cases, where Bills were passed by this House only to be declared unconstitutional by the Constitutional Court. We have to work hard to improve the quality of the legislation we pass. We also have a duty to ensure that the public is central to the lawmaking process of Parliament. Our laws should be based on and informed by the will of the people. Put differently, the People Must Govern! Deputy Speaker, We commend support systems that Parliament has been put in place, such as the Budget Office, to shore up the work of individual Members of Parliament (MPs) and the Committees. This will go a long way towards improving the effectiveness of MPs and Parliament in their oversight role and in holding Government accountable for its programmes. The UDM supports Budget Vote 2. Thank you.
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22 Jul, 2014
Budget Vote 5: International Relations and Cooperation
Speech by Mr Bantu Holomisa, MP and UDM President in the National Assembly Honourable Chairperson Minister and Deputy Minister Honourable Members The United Democratic Movement believes that the national interests of South Africa should be defined and pursued strictly according to the norms and principles, expressed in the Constitution of the Republic in the execution of the country’s relations with the outside world. The recent and rapid developments in the global political landscape, demands of the South African Parliament, plays an active and central role in the conduct of foreign policy. The mandate of the Parliamentary portfolio committee for International Relations and Cooperation should stretch beyond oversight on activities of the department to include assessment and evaluation of executive decisions and commitments made in the execution of our foreign policy and actions. In this way, Parliament like in many other countries will be at the centre of foreign relations. Such an approach would allow us an opportunity to present a united front in conflicts such as in the Middle East. In this regard, a radical intervention from South Africa must seek to champion the implementation of the UN Security Council Resolutions on the Middle East. South Africa should engage all other states who tend to undermine the multi lateral decisions on this ongoing conflict. On the 9 September 2013, I penned a letter to the President of the Republic, the then Minister of Public Service and Administration and carbon copied the then and current Minister of International Relations and Cooperation; in which I alerted the President to serious and disturbing information of alleged looting of state resources by Director General of the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO). These concerns were also reported to the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation by the Audit Committee of the department. The audit committee held an opinion “that the management report together with the audit report (for the financial year ended 31 March 2013), are materially misleading, not true reflection of the state of affairs and are not fair presentation of the financial position” of the department. The amounts involved here exceed half a billion rands with allegations of possible executive directives leading to unauthorised and irregular expenditure. More than 10 months since I raised the matter with all the relevant offices, either than empty promises from the office of the Minister, we have no record of what has been done with these serious allegations. It is in the public interest that this matter be disposed of as soon as possible. Until this has been addressed, the United Democratic Movement cannot support budget vote 5. Thank you
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21 Jul, 2014
Budget Vote 10: National Treasury
Chairperson, Honourable Minister and Deputy Minister, Honourable Members, Once more, Budget Vote 10 is delivered against the backdrop of severe economic challenges facing the world today. It takes place at a time when some economies around the world are making a slow economic recovery, while others are still in economic deepfreeze. We acknowledge that appropriate economic policy responses have been undertaken in order to place the country on a path to economic growth and prosperity. However, challenges remain. South Africa is still grappling with a chronic unemployment problem, especially among the youth. The current economic growth rate of approximately 2 per cent per annum is not sufficient to save the poor from the yoke of poverty. The low economic growth does not only negatively affect job creation, but it also means less money for Government to deliver services to our people. Hence the need for the 4 per cent budget deficit to finance the country’s development needs. To make matters worse, big businesses and wealthy individuals devise all manner of strategies to both avoid and evade tax. This needless to say erodes the same tax base from which the revenue for service delivery must come. I am aware that plans are afoot to deal with this problem. We however wish to add our voice in calling for tough sanctions to be imposed on the culprits. Mister Minister, It is going to be difficult to address spatial gaps and inequalities, when State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) seem to lack the capacity to spend funds allocated for infrastructure development. You are aware as I already indicated in the Public Enterprises Budget Vote that over the past two years, SOEs s over the past two years spent approximately 70 per cent of the funds committed to infrastructure development. In addition, in far too many cases the quality of the basic human settlements infrastructure leaves much to be desired. Drastic steps should be taken to improve the capacity of the Departments responsible for implementing Government’s job creation and service delivery. We have to double our efforts to ensure that with increased budget allocations come commensurate rises in our people’s standards of living. Mister Minister, We are concerned that Government’s debt and deficit reduction programme seems to principally depend on optimistic economic growth forecasts. Output growth in South Africa has been sluggish for quite some time and judging by Government’s failure to achieve past targets, we are not convinced that the new targets will be achieved. The UDM believes that output growth forecasts should be realistic so that we can begin the process of setting the country’s finances on a path to fiscal consolidation. The UDM supports Budget Vote 10. Thank you.
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17 Jul, 2014
Budget Vote 11: Public Enterprises
Address by UDM Deputy Secretary General, Mr Nqabayomzi Kwankwa, MP at Committee Room E249 Chairperson, Honourable Minister and Deputy Minister, Honourable Members, For many years, South Africa’s economic growth potential has been shackled by a lack of properly planned infrastructure investment. This resulted in immense disparities in the quality of the infrastructure between rural and urban communities. The poor and rural communities have to make do with inadequate and poor quality infrastructure, which confines them to the margins of economic activity. Through properly planned infrastructure development and rural development programmes, state-owned enterprises (SOEs) have an important role to play to boost economic growth in order to ensure equal opportunity for all people to participate in our country’s economy. However, this objective will be difficult to achieve if drastic steps are not taken to improve the capacity of SOEs to spend their allocated budgets. For instance, over the past two years, SOEs have been spending approximately 70 per cent of the funds committed to infrastructure development. To make matters worse, SOE managers also achieve approximately 70 per cent of their performance agreements. These factors together with the number of times Government has had to bailout some of the SOEs reveals that SOEs are far less productive than private sector companies. How does one then justify the high salaries paid to the executives of the SOEs? The United Democratic Movement (UDM) believes capacity levels at SOEs need to be improved if they (SOEs) are to truly serve as an engine for economic growth and development. We are also of the view that steps should be taken to ensure that the right people are employed into right positions at our SOEs, with clear and strict performance contracts. We believe that in large infrastructure development programmes, the Department needs to rope in the private sector to either invest in or play a part in them. Honourable Minister, We were too happy to hear that the Department has reduced its vacancy rate from 16.7 per cent in 2009 to 11.9 per cent 2013. However, our celebration was short-lived, when we discovered that the use of consultants features prominently in the plans of the Department for the current financial year. We believe that filling vacancies should result in lower usage of consultants, and not the opposite. The UDM supports Budget Vote 11. I thank you.
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17 Jul, 2014
Budget Vote 30 – Environmental Affairs (MTEF 2014)
Address by the President of the UDM, Mr BH Holomisa MP, in the National Assembly Honourable Chairperson Minister and Deputy Minister Honourable Members The United Democratic Movement (UDM) supports budget vote 30 – Environmental Affairs.In my limited time I will dedicate this speech to Madiba, the environmentalist. When the President of the republic made a call to all South Africans, to remember and celebrate this years’ birthday of this environmental activist by participating in cleaning activities, it reminded me of the olden days in the former Transkei when the 26th of October each year and as an Independence Day, the government will work together with its people, dedicating the day to a clean and healthy environment. In celebrating the first birthday of Tata Madiba, without him, we can’t but remember his passionate love and care for the nature and the environment, its relation to human kind and the people of South Africa in general. I am reminded of one of the question this icon directly asked me when he returned from his early village walks in Qunu during the early 90s. He asked me: “Bantu what happened to all the birds that used to inhabit this place, their harmonious sounds, their beautiful singing which made them to enjoy the tranquillity and nature of the village”. In response to Madiba, I said: “….due to the high level of poverty in the area, local people were forced to fell trees for use as wood fuel”. Certainly, there is a direct relationship between poverty and environment and unfortunately it is not always a good one. The concern in the question by Madiba exposed us to the need to urgently give an immediate attention to preserve our environment. The reforestation programmes for an example, will one day make it possible to have the pleasure of walking through a forest, listening to the beautiful sounds of nature as Madiba so wished. To realise his wish, the UDM suggests that as part of the much talked about cultural liberation route from Maritzburg should be to consider establishing what we would call Madiba or Nelson Mandela Forests. Such forests would go a long way in responding to the challenges of climate change, biodiversity management, combat desertification, heritage, conservation and facilitate sustainable economic growth and job creation. Given the current questionable infrastructure development map of our country, this proposal would present an opportunity for equitable reconstruction of our country. In one of his encouraging letters to me during the occasion of the tree planting ceremony in Mqanduli in 2010, Madiba said “It is wonderful to think that one day people will again have the pleasure of walking through a forest, listening to the beautiful sounds of nature … these are things no child should be deprived of”. Thank you
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16 Jul, 2014
Budget Vote 7 – Public Works (MTEF 2014)
Contribution made by UDM Member of Parliament, Mr ML Filtane, in the National Assembly Honourable Chairperson Minister and Deputy Minister Honourable Members This department is charged with the custodianship and management of government immovable assets; ancillary thereto, it takes initiatives to develop such infrastructure as may be needed by various government departments, from time to time. It must also reform and radically improve the construction sector of our economy. This is a department that is consistently surrounded by allegations of fraud and corruption on a number of fronts like leasing of buildings and construction of new assets; add to that, a very inadequate mix of staffers to drive its programmes. The staff inadequacy results, specifically in poor service delivery and poor financial controls. It is against this backdrop that the United Democratic Movement (UDM) submits thus: • The filling in of critical and strategic posts must be prioritised by the department so that lease agreements can be efficiently managed. • Incentives need to be offered to enhance the recruitment and retention of appropriately qualified personnel. • Some very experienced building contractors were strategically and cruelly eliminated from the CIDB system when it was established. As has been the case with land claims, the department is urged to re-convene another construction Indaba this financial year so that those who were left out earlier could find an opportunity to enter the system. That will constitute an element of radical change to the CIDB system. This CIDB is just not serving the purpose for which it was established in the first place. African contractors are seldom found in the grades higher than 1 and 2. The R827 billions set aside for this term will be a pie in the sky for them. The reason offered by the board for not effectively improving the qualifications for these African contractors to meet the procurement requirements are not convincing. • The department should develop policy and legislation that supports the cause of improving the qualification levels of the African contractors. • Transfers to provinces and municipalities need close monitoring to ensure in particular, that the EPWP funds and utilised for the development intentions that we intended and this is with specific reference to municipalities. This fund, we propose, should be linked to other socio economic programmes of local government. A policy will have to be developed to guide municipalities in this regard. • We can’t over state the continued failure to pay service providers like contractors as per the generic government policy. In this regard, the department must put an end to this behaviour and toe the line of government. Thank you
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16 Jul, 2014
Budget Vote 2 – Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MTEF 2014)
Contribution made by UDM Member of Parliament, Mr ML Filtane, in the National Assembly Honourable Chairperson Minister and Deputy Minister Honourable Members The United Democratic Movement (UDM) makes the following contribution to this important debate and subject. In the previous term the department achieved very little in so far as its core business is concerned. We are talking about the business of, amongst others. • Ensuring food security for all the citizens of the country especially through agriculture and fisheries and indirectly through forestation. Statistics South Africa reported in August 2013; that 21.5% of people suffered severe inadequate access to food as of 2012. In the Eastern Cape that figure translated to 1.3 million people out of 6.2 million as at that time. 11% or 5.6 million SA citizens actually experience hunger as we speak. The department is mired in institutional operational and policy related problems. To compound the situation, it has a totally new ministry; consequently it is failing to deliver on its mandate. This has left the door wide open for established practitioners in farming, fisheries and forestry to just maintain the status quo. The charters are not being operationalised. Currently more than half of all smallholder households live below the poverty line. How can they produce food for anyone then if they themselves are starving? The department is unable to prevent the exploitation of marine reserves. Rich export markets can only be accessed by those with expert industry knowledge, none of these has been produced yet by the department. Timber products are exported with hardly any consideration for supporting local economic development initiatives, not even those supported by government itself. The Baziya Forests in the EC are a typical example here. In Baziya afforested land is the subject of a validated claim but the claimants are not benefitting in anyway, be it jobs, rent or products and the company running the forest is enjoying a recently renewed lease for another 60 years. This department is folding its arms, helpless in the meantime. The fiasco in fisheries permits is well documented and published, no solution yet, jut plans by the new minister. The department has neither bold/robust nor radical plans to change the situation. The EC has all the potential to be the food basket of South Africa but the Ncera farms programmes has collapsed right under the watchful but ineffective management of the department. It is facing either closure or transformation when either of those happens momentum is sure to be lost. The UDM responds and recommends: • Stop planning too long the past 5 years are enough, start implementing, even bit by bit. Fund communities in afforestation. • Implement your charters and thus create jobs for the surrounding and interested communities. • Fast track partnerships between community-based co-operatives and the well established practitioners and appoint dedicated mentors for at least 2 years, where it is not possible to have partnerships. • Make sure that all your programmes are developmental and food productive in nature otherwise there is no social value for money. • Lastly, ask yourself Hon Minister, Do I have the right mix of entities and do the current one speak with one voice that of addressing the core goal of the department. Thank you
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15 Jul, 2014
Budget Vote 31 – Human Settlement (MTEF 2014)
– Contribution made by UDM Member of Parliament, Ms CN Majeke, in the National Assembly Honourable Chairperson Minister and Deputy Minister Honourable Members The United Democratic Movement (UDM) welcomes the strategic thrust of the policy statement by the Minister as captured in her foreword of the departmental five year strategic annual performance plans 2014/19. We believe that there can be a working relationship between the provision of houses as a basic shelter, quality accommodation and shorter delivery turnaround time. The delivery of houses through community based cooperatives as an option will make a significant intervention in creating job opportunities, transfer skills to communities whilst creating value to property ownership. UDM support community housing building programmes. Housing policy should also be located within the larger economic strategy as one mechanism of creating jobs towards combating and eradicating homelessness and poverty. Ownership of houses without jobs has proven to be unsustainable and sometimes destructive as owners tend to either sell or rent them out in exchange for a short term relief from hunger. The commitment of the Minister to “decent accommodation” is well appreciated, as UDM we believe that houses ought to be a shelter, enough to accommodate a family. This means, future human settlements should enable communities to find and or create jobs and get access to social services within their area so that we can create communities that are economically viable and self-reliant. The performance and service delivery information is raising a number of issues some of which we are concerned with and in this regard, we invite the honourable Minister to take action on those matters. Amongst those is the reported low performance by the Eastern Cape and Limpopo provinces which have high housing backlog both for urban and rural communities. Statistics shows that the backlog on sanitation is largely accounted for by rural areas, in this regard; the department cannot afford to under spend on the Rural Housing Infrastructure Grant. Traditional leaders as role players in the housing sector must be brought closer to this process and avoid repeated under expenditure when services are desperately needed by communities. The municipal human settlement capacity programme should come as a mitigating factor in the increasing substance and travel expenditure. In the same vein, the projected increase on compensation of employees for the financial season 2014/15 to 2016/17 must reverse the increase on consultants and professional expenditure as reported under programme 3. This means the department must as it reduces vacancies, targets technical skills, amongst others, to provide the required technical assistance provided to the 53 municipalities. Programme four expenditure will require dedicated monitoring and evaluation with early warning systems and we hope the Minister will ensure that such transfers are used within a specified financial season for intended purposes. Thank you
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15 Jul, 2014
Vote 15 Basic Education (MTEF 2014)
Contribution made by UDM Member of Parliament, Ms CN Majeke, in the National Assembly Honourable Chairperson Minister and Deputy Minister Honourable Members The United Democratic Movement (UDM) believes that the major intervention if any is to be made in the Basic Education Sector, must mainly be on • School Leadership, Management and Governance; • Teacher content and knowledge – knowledge of the subject matter / content; • School Environment and • Learner discipline – a culture of reading and writing In this regard, we wish to make the following recommendations for further consideration and prioritisation by the Ministry as part of enriching the departmental five year strategic plan as well as the annual performance plan for the financial season 2014 /15. Some of these matters have been raised however; we strongly feel that they deserve to be lifted up in the prioritisation process. In line with the DBE MTEF priorities, the critical activities and targeted outputs for the next five years, the department needs to: • Improve the quality of early childhood education and primary schools including implementation of the foundation for learning campaign emphasising the promotion of language and numeracy. • Conduct external test for all Grade 3 and Grade 6 learners every year and provide results to parents for further engagement and practical role to be played by parents. • Investigate a system of effective evaluation of all learners based on the extent to which learner performance improve, with results influencing occupationally specific dispensation pay for teachers. • Ensure that teacher unions have a formal and funded role in teacher development. • Strengthen management capacity to ensure working districts and schools. This entails bringing in management capacity from the private sector, civil society and elsewhere in the public sector. Phase in a process of measurable improvements through targeting efforts selected education districts and dysfunctional schools. Use of infrastructure budget as an incentive for schools that deliver improved teaching and learning. • We further welcome the decision to improve national – provincial alignment and efficiency of education expenditure, through amongst others, procuring textbooks nationally and allocating resources to improve district capacity and the use of conditional grants to ensure alignment. • Develop a social compact for quality education. This will include a National Consultative Forum dedicated to clarifying the “non-negotiable” and performance targets for key stakeholders and the monitoring thereof. • Mobilisation of communities at all levels should be given priority to raise awareness and participation in education issues. An example includes graduates assisting former/dysfunctional schools, corporate social investment, and party branch campaigns to clean up schools, supporting food gardens and encouraging young graduates to enter teaching. • Implement poverty combating measures that improve the environment for learning and teaching, such as nutrition programmes, basic infrastructure for schools, and social support for children. Thank you
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07 Jul, 2014
Land redistribution in South Africa
Statement in Parliament by Mr LB Gaehler, UDM Member of Parliament Honourable Chair and Honourable Members Land redistribution aims to correct the injustices of the past. The Natives Land Act of 1913, a piece of legislation which ratified and legalized the exclusion of South Africa’s black majority from land ownership in favour of the white minority. This has left behind a legacy of both dispossession and oppression. Citizens however have voiced out their grievances, post 1994, with regard the lack of post-settlement support, creating a situation where some individuals have had to sell back land given to them by government. The United Democratic Movement firmly believes that land should be restored to their rightful owners with support and skills development, so there is no uncertainty and tension. When this is done, we believe that the needs of South African farmers need to be prioritized by developing policies to subsidize farmers that will enable them to fairly compete against their international counterparts. We believe in the creation of the necessary infrastructure that will create jobs and encourage the growth of more employment-creating agricultural-related enterprises to ensure that migration to urban areas is slowed down. Build infrastructure to support agricultural activity, such as irrigation schemes that have been proven to be successful in the past. One stop Agricultural Service Centres should be established in rural areas, where emerging farmers can ask for advice, veterinary services, access the necessary tools and knowledge to run their farms as businesses and also have a market for their produce. I thank you
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02 Jul, 2014
Eastern Cape: UDM response to the State of the Province
Address delivered by Mr Tsengwa in the Provincial Legislature Honorable Speaker and Deputy Speaker Honorable Premier and the Executive Honorable members of the legislature Kings and Chiefs present here Chairperson of the house of the traditional leaders Ladies and Gentlemen Madam Speaker the UDM wishes to welcome the state of the province address as the step in the right direction, we cannot disagree with spirit of the speech especial the need to reactive the economic activities in the rural areas, we welcome the commitment to plough 300 000 hectares of land, we also believe that when the premier refers to ‘’WE’’ in the speech does not necessarily refer to government as actual implementer rather as a facilitator. Our understanding is that late 2009 government had initiated a program in partnership with Prof Raatz from University of Fort Hare that was called Ilima program- this program Madam speaker had the following objectives as outlined in the founding documents Among the key aims of the Programme was therefore to establish and build such community enterprises to rank among government’s preferred quality providers for certain determinate goods and services, in line with guidelines of the state in this regard [1]. This intended bias in government procurement, it is felt, holds significant potential for i) contributing to a community-anchored economic development and growth, ii) the creation and enhancement of local capital, employment creation and attendant multipliers for boosting local investment potential, A societal reorientation towards a more collectively-owned and moral economy, and iii) a deepening and consolidation of the democratic and egalitarian sentiment in the functioning of the political economy in this province and beyond We do not want to assume that this project was abandoned; however the lack of mentioning of this program in the address is worrying us especially when you referred To the support that government wants to give to smallholder farmers because we thought that such program responds to the following issues. 1) Difficulty of accessing markets by small-scale farmers 2) Insufficient scale for meaningful sustainability and growth 3) Lack of necessary integrated support from government and other institutions We shall await Madam Speaker with keen interest for the premier response in this matter. The UDM appreciates the fact that the premier has tasked the MECs concerned to come up with the plan to address government capacity to construct and maintain rural roads within three months and we have begun the count down. The UDM understands this directive from the premier as more than just building the roads, we understand this instruction as saying that there is an urgent need to link rural economy with main stream economy, this has become urgent because the migration of people from rural areas to urban areas is posing a serious threat to social cohesion. We say this because we know that those who go to urban areas with intention to get jobs get disappointed to realise that there aren’t enough job opportunities as perceived and resort to other survival tactics such as crime and some get subjected to different levels of abuse because of vulnerability. We need serious economic activities as a matter of urgency to encourage rural economy to be vibrant through infrastructure development; I’m expanding this point premier deliberately to amplify the urgency of your call. Lastly on this point we wish to appeal to the MECs designated for this task to consider in their planning to broaden participation especially on the maintenance of the roads, that local labourers must be empowered enough to maintain those roads even after the contractors have left. The cost benefit analysis is likely to be in favour of those communities in the medium to long term. UDM welcomes the budget of 70 million that has been allocated for the new milling hubs in Lady Frere and Mbizana, we hope and trust that these will be bankable projects that will have economic spin offs, we shall await on the relevant department to pronounce on the business plan of the project Madam Speaker the UDM wishes to call upon the premier to reintroduce or intensify the services of the Agricultural extension officers who have been of great value in the past with knowledge in this field but we also to propose that a mentorship program must introduced for black farmers, Madam speaker ifarming ayifani nokulima isitiya sakho ekhaya, we need all the support in this regard. We also wish to call upon for the re-introduction of agricultural shows where small farmers are displaying their produce, this gesture Madam Speaker will motivate our people and promote the spirit of Uzenzele as against this phenomenon of food parcels and dependency syndrome. Khulula abantu bakho endlaleni premier weliphondo.
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01 Jul, 2014
Eastern Cape: Budget vote SOPA 2014
Speech by Mr Mhlati, leader of the UDM in the Eastern Cape Legislature The Honourable Speaker, Honourable Premier, Honourable Members of the Executive and Honourable Members, the Premier has been a Member of this Legislature for over 12 years as least, which clearly shows that he is well aware of the shortcomings facing the provincial government, he had been pulling the strings of power behind the curtains as chairperson of the ruling party in the Province. The UDM does not expect the premier to re-invent the wheel, government policies are there and no one can fault them, we expect effective and efficient rendering of services to our people which are accompanied by value for money and transparency principles which are enshrined in our Constitution. South Africa is where it is today because of the struggle fought and sacrifices made by the Leaders produced in this province without which we should not be enjoying this freedom we are having, let us not fail them. It is the honourable belief of the UDM that the Eastern Cape should take its rightful place of being the centre of good governance in South Africa. For that to happen we need you as Premier to display a will and commitment to pull the strings in the administration of the departments who are expected to provide quality services to our people on the ground. I for one do not doubt your humility but your position now needs the adoption or cultivation of the strong character to enable you to enforce compliance with the prescripts for good governance. Given the calibre of the Members of the Executive who form nucleus of this administration, the UDM hopes that their elevation is based on merit and nothing else, we do not need tokens but people who will add value to the onerous task lying ahead. When accountability gets hot in Committee Rooms there should be no cry-babies to Calata House. The call for accountability on the Executive is not the sole responsibility of the opposition parties. We are in this Legislature for the same common purpose of providing quality services to our people and to see to the compliance with laws and regulations governing the use of public resources. The failures of your team Honourable Premier in the execution of your responsibilities will compromise our integrity among the communities as we are all painted with the same brush of being Members of the Eastern Cape Legislature. You must deal decisively with issues of maladministration, corruption, incompetence and flouting of supply chain procedures without fear or favour. I can assure you Honourable Premier of our full support in all the endeavours you undertake to uplift the living conditions of the people of the Eastern Cape in all aspects of their needs. Of cause Honourable Premier you will only be able to achieve this if you can devote more attention on the performance of Municipalities which are on the verge of collapse due to corruption and maladministration. To take this crusade of good governance further the Honourable Premier should consider the advisability of getting time slots from the Public Broadcaster on certain days where the people can air their views on issues of service delivery by departments. This will promote transparency and accountability. Honourable Speaker, the Honourable Premier should please indicate to this Legislature what are his short term achievable goals and long term goals in this menu of goals so as to monitor whether the targets are met or not. We are termed a Province of Legends and our performance should commensurate that status. I thank you
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18 Jun, 2014
SONA 2014 – Bantu Holomisa reacts on behalf of UDM
Address by Mr Bantu Holomisa, MP in the National Assembly during the State of the Nation debate (SONA 2014) Chairperson of the NCOP, Mister President and Deputy President, Honourable Members; I wish to thank all the people, who gave us the mandate to once more contribute in building a better South Africa. We will do our best to serve you. Chairperson of the NCOP, To achieve meaningful socio-economic transformation, the United Democratic Movement (UDM) believes that South Africans of all races should engage in a structured debate about our policy direction and priorities. This debate would, in addition to other issues, discuss the need to review the current over reliance on population size as a major determining factor in the allocation of resources. We believe that when allocating resources more emphasis should be placed on the developmental needs and economic disparities of each Province. This will go a long way towards addressing past imbalances and backlogs. Given the increased role the state now plays in the economy, it is important for us to reach some form of consensus about the macroeconomic blue print that will help take the country forward. We call for this because we are of the view that State intervention that results in higher public debt, high inflation and more inefficiency defeats the purpose of the exercise. A discussion on how best Government should pursue our developmental needs and objectives through state intervention would help locate the National Development Plan (NDP) in the right context. It would also ensure that steps are taken to provide the essential policy details necessary for the implementation of the NDP. The recently approved Defence Force Review should also form part of this broader discussion as it together with peacekeeping missions has cost implications for the country. Mister President, We welcome steps Government has taken to ensure sustainable mining and to improve the socio-economic conditions of the mine-workers. We however believe that they do not go far enough. To deal decisively with mining, the UDM calls on Government to set up a Commission on mining to, among others, investigate and advise on the following: a. the socio-economic conditions of the workers and surrounding communities. b. mine-workers’ access, or lack thereof, to a provident fund worth billions of Rands. c. how the workers’ money has been invested, especially in cases where the workers were retrenched, or have retired or passed away. d. the ownership of mines and mineral wealth, the allocation of mining rights, as well as who benefits from these mines and, e. the much talked about beneficiation programme. Finally, to turn around the local government, we believe that Minister Gordhan needs to conduct a proper skills audit to ensure that the right people are employed in the right places. We further call on Minister Gordhan to ensure that politicians are not involved in the awarding of tenders. Nxamalala, we look forward to join you in your cleanup campaign for our environment during Nelson Mandela Day. Thank you.
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06 May, 2014
UDM Siyabulela Rally – address by UDM President, Mr Bantu Holomisa
• UDM Leaders from all across South Africa • UDM public representatives • Citizens of the Eastern Cape • The people of my hometown, Mthatha, and • My fellow South Africans 1.WELCOME AND THANK YOU TO ALL UDM ACTIVISTS Before we get into the politics and issues of Elections 2014, I want to welcome you all and quickly say something about teamwork. Many of you might not be familiar with the name Vince Lombardi. He was a legend in American football and had astounding success as a coach. He was an expert on teamwork. In honour of our election teams, I quote Mr Lombardi: “The achievements of an organisation are the results of the combined effort of each individual.” The United Democratic Movement (UDM) says: thank you, realeboga, dankie, and siyabulela to each individual who: • distributed flyers or hung posters, • represented the UDM on radio and television interviews, • spent weekends spreading the gospel of the UDM, and • dedicated the past months to this organisation we all love. 2. THE PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE 2.1. THE PAST On 15 August 1985, PW Botha gave his infamous “Rubicon” speech. There was much hope pinned on him to announce big changes to the policies of apartheid. To say that he disappointed us, is a colossal understatement. Fortunately we were blessed with people who fought for our freedom. They were principled individuals who never faltered in their cause; who were willing to make an enormous sacrifice for our freedom at their personal expense. [You might want to use fewer examples – names are alphabetically listed according to surname] We think of, amongst others, Helen Joseph, Chris Hani, Albert Luthuli, Govan Mbeki, Raymond Mhlaba, Walter and Albertina Sisulu, Robert Sobukwe, Desmond Tutu and of course in 1990 the Father of our Freedom, Mr Nelson Mandela, walked out of Victor Verster prison a free man. The Eastern Cape takes a proud place in this history. In almost every town and remote rural areas you can find traces of the heroes and heroines who made the ultimate sacrifice in the fight for freedom. FW de Klerk followed Botha’s rule and during the early nineties we at last felt the winds of change. In 1994 we, at last, crossed the “Rubicon”. We recently celebrated 20 years of our new democracy. It is remarkable that we came so far in such a short time. We will never forget the oppression of the past. It serves as a reminder to never allow that history to be repeated. 2.2. THE PRESENT The tragedy of the last years of ANC rule is that this nation is sinking deeper into the quagmire of corruption, poor service delivery, maladministration and no regard for the rule of law. Our hard won liberties are systematically being destroyed with the socio-economic circumstances of our people making it impossible to protect the gains of our freedom. It is even worse that institutionalised corruption has reached the highest office in the country. We are led by a man who refuses to be held accountable and whose vocabulary extends to one phrase: I did not know. In addition, the executives (nationally and provincially) practice corruption as a sport – where one strives to best the other in a game where taxpayers’ money is misused. They are shameless. The ruling elite’s arrogance is a slap in the face of a nation. They cavort around, whilst many people go to bed hungry; our children receive a second-hand education and our townships, as well as villages, belong in a 3rd world country. In particular, the Eastern Cape is heavily under-budgeted. The infrastructure of the two homelands – and the townships in the province – was never brought on par with the developed one we inherited in 1994. A description of the current state of affairs; amongst others, includes: • The people in the province have become accustomed to mediocre schooling and results. • Dilapidated hospitals have become places of death. • Municipal administrations are rife with corruption and tenderpreneurship. • The industrial hubs in Butterworth, Ezibeleni, Dimbaza and Fort Jackson have perished or are following suit. • This province was the granary of Southern Africa, but agriculture was allowed to systematically wane and this threatens food security. • Roads are in disrepair, electrification and water supply are erratic and in some places non-existent. • Respect and power of traditional leaders are almost non-existent. The ANC of today has forgotten the values of the Freedom Charter. They have abandoned the original agenda, which is to improve the lives of all South Africans. 2.3. THE FUTURE The obvious question is: Are things so bad that we might as well throw in the towel? The UDM emphatically says NO! We believe that it is not too late to turn the situation around. 3. THE FUTURE – WHAT ARE THE UDM’s PLANS FOR THE EASTERN CAPE? Should I, as the UDM’s candidate for premiership in the Eastern Cape, be given the opportunity to govern, the following critical objectives shall be on the agenda for change: 3.1. Addressing the democracy dividend deficiency in the Eastern Cape so that it becomes a model province in terms of all development goals. 3.2. Turning the province into a key economic growth area so that it becomes the 4th fastest growing economy in South Africa by 2019. 3.3. Bringing essential services closer to the people and increasing the capacity the institutions that provide those services such as healthcare and education, as well as programmes that ensure food security and local employment. 3.4. Turning around the performance of provincial government – in particular the departments of health and education. 3.5. Providing effective governance by employing the right people, with the right skills, in the right places. Ensuring proper short and long-term planning, the appropriate use of resources as well as managing performance and monitoring. 3.6. A zero tolerance for corruption and not employing people for political reasons and/or their association to our party. 4. THE FUTURE – OUR PLANS FOR SOUTH AFRICA 4.1. We will promote good governance and the separation of the powers of government, legislatures and the judiciary. 4.2. A UDM government will do more and invest in our economy. We will: • implement checks and balances to ensure that taxpayers’ money is not wasted and take speedy action against corrupt government officials. • ensure that our people, especially in rural areas, have access to passable roads, electricity, irrigation and reticulation as well as a functioning railway network. • provide a conducive environment for our people, especially the youth, to become entrepreneurs and creators of wealth. 4.3. The UDM will ensure quality education and • go back to the basics i.e. teachers must teach and learners must learn. • translate the large education budget into quality education that produces school-leavers and graduates that are equipped with job related and life skills. 4.4. One of our main priorities is food security and rural development. The UDM will: • use agriculture as a tool to expand our economy, to create jobs and generate wealth. • prioritise the needs of farmers, emerging and commercial alike, by developing policies that enable them to compete against their international counterparts. 4.5. A UDM government will make quality health care a priority and bring services closer to communities, improve on emergency response; provide necessary supplies and equipment, as well as maintain hospitals and clinics. 4.6. Regarding safety and security, a UDM government will: • restore civil order and develop a doctrine for the police service to function in line with our constitution’s values. • enhance coordination between the ministries and departments of justice, the police and correctional services, as well as defence and national intelligence. • We will champion the environment and teach our people of climate change, water scarcity and energy, so that they – and future generations – become partners of a UDM government in protecting our natural heritage. 4.7. The UDM will bring about electoral reform by: • introducing a mix of a constituency and proportional representation system where politicians are accountable to the people. • changing electoral laws so that we elect our president directly – instead of a ruling party foisting a president on the people. 5. CONCLUSION An annual South African Social Attitudes Survey, done by the Human Sciences Research Council, showed that 66% of South Africans believe that the country is heading in the wrong direction. Why then do people want to again vote for the ANC? Open your eyes and punish the ANC for its cavalier attitude and callously risking our futures and the prosperity South Africa. It is time for us to cross another “Rubicon”. This Wednesday will give voters the opportunity to affect such a change. This is your country. Take charge and vote UDM! Thank you
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01 May, 2014
Address by UDM President, Mr Bantu Holomisa at a Nactu Workers’ Day Celebration in eMalahleni (Witbank), Mpumalanga
• Programme Director • Nactu Leadership • Nactu Members • My fellow South Africans THANK YOU On behalf of the United Democratic Movement (UDM), I thank you for the opportunity to share the stage with the National Council of Trade Unions on this very important day. RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN GOVERNMENT AND WORKERS The past few years has seen a new dynamic in our political discourse that harks back to the time before our new democracy. The Marikana Massacre on 16 August 2012, was an incident of the most use of lethal force by South African security forces against civilians since the Sharpeville Massacre in 1960. Twenty one months hence, the ruling party adds further insult to this egregious injury. First Minister Fikile Mbalula tried to ply the African National Congress’ (ANC) pretense of caring and then President Zuma’s scheduled outing was cancelled due to “violence in the area”. Instead of visiting the area when it mattered, and listening to workers’ concerns, the ruling party sent their police to harshly suppress the masses – a blatant use of state resources to defend the ruling elite’s interests in the mining industry. It is impossible to comprehend the arrogance with which the ruling party treats our people. Where were government’s leaders when the danger signs showed? Where were they during the aftermath? The words of the ruling party’s North West provincial chairman Supra Mahumapelo illustrates the ANC’s disdain. He said: “We do not want to draw unnecessary attention… We do not want to give anarchists a platform to advance their agenda.” What kind of leadership provokes violence and then calls our people “anarchists”? Do you even recognise this ANC anymore? Would you judge these so-called leaders to be of the same cloth as the leaders of the struggle? They seem to be nothing more than impostors who masquerade in the name of the people. The original agenda, which is to improve the lives of all South Africans, is a carcass from which these hyenas has grown fat and then left it to rot. GOVERNMENT’S RELUCTANCE TO INVEST IN THE ECONOMY TO CREATE JOBS The irony of celebrating Workers’ Day is that most of our people don’t have work. The rest of the 364 days of the year should each be called: “Jobless Day”. The paradox of the South African economy since 1994 has been jobless growth, even when this country has had a sustained growth for ten years. The ruling party’s policies have failed to grow our economy at the rate required to create jobs. After a careful analysis of South Africa’s economic challenges and opportunities, reinforced by comparative analysis of successful policies in other countries, the UDM has a practical realisable plan. The basic philosophy of the UDM is that “Government Must Do More”. While the UDM recognises the valuable role that markets should play, it is of the firm belief that government must play a key role in creating a stable policy environment and developing the economy for the benefit of our people. “Government Must Do More” means that a responsible government: • cannot depend on market forces alone. • cannot fail to decisively intervene in the economy whilst the quality of life of its citizens deteriorates, South Africans cannot find decent work, millions live in abject poverty and suffer because of underdevelopment. • has to ensure that our political freedom translates into economic emancipation. CLOSURE It is time for change. May the 7th, can be the catalyst for that change, but this cannot happen if you don’t take action. The ANC has failed abysmally to unite South Africans and make nation building the priority. The UDM remains committed to creating a political home for all South Africans, a place where we can all share our freedom together. Thank you
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28 Apr, 2014
UDM Election Rally in Port Elizabeth Address by UDM President, Mr Bantu Holomisa
• UDM Leaders at all levels of Eastern Cape • UDM public representatives • My fellow South Africans WELCOME Ladies and gentlemen, the United Democratic Movement (UDM) says “thank you” for making the time and effort to attend this rally and listen to our message. To our election teams that have worked themselves to a standstill to make a success of this event – thank you for the hard work guys. CELEBRATING 20 YEARS OF FREEDOM – A VIEW OF THE PAST We yesterday celebrated 20 years of our new democracy. It is quite extraordinary that we have come so far as a nation in a relatively short time. We will never forget the tyranny and human rights abuses of the past, because it serves as a reminder of what should never happen again. Our deepest gratitude to the struggle icons, many of whom hailed from the Eastern Cape, for their selfless efforts and sacrifices. CORRUPTION DESTROYS THE GAINS OF OUR FREEDOM At the moment our nation is going nowhere slowly – corruption has become a hallmark of how government operates. Maladministration and ineptitude are at the order of the day. Abuse of state resources have become a way for the ruling elite to line their pocket at your expense. This is true of the ruling party’s government at national, provincial and local levels. We can no longer pussyfoot around these issues… it is a fact that corruption, maladministration and incompetence destroy the gains of our freedom. STATE OF THE EASTERN CAPE This province is heavily under budgeted given the two homelands and townships’ infrastructure that had to be integrated into in the developed infrastructure we inherited in 1994. This has not happened. The infrastructure of the former homelands and townships in the Eastern Cape are in total disrepair. When one enters the townships of Port Elizabeth you might think you have entered a 3rd world country. This is a travesty. Voters should open their eyes and punish the ANC for putting the future of this province and its people on the back burner. THE STATE OF THIS MUNICIPALITY The UDM salutes the struggle leaders who hail from this city. Their contribution to the liberation of our people is well documented and history teaches us that they lead from the front and put the needs of our people before their own. As citizens of this metro, you must take over the good work of your grandmothers and fathers, and your parents. You must take the ruling party’s comrades in corruption of Port Elizabeth to task. These so called public servants spend more time fighting each other, than fighting for the people. The youth of PE must take responsibility for the future of this city; apply your abundant energy to turn the situation around – apply your minds to how we should ensure economic emancipation, good education and health care as well as promoting the check and balances to eradicating corruption. Harness your verve and vitality to erase the damage the ruling party’s cronies have done. Go back to the foundation the forerunners of old left and expose corruption, breathe life into the local economy and leave your own legacy to those who come after you. WHAT ARE THE UDM’s PLANS? Should I, as the UDM’s candidate for the premiership, be given the opportunity to govern, the following critical objectives shall be on the agenda for change: 1. Address the democracy dividend deficiency in the Eastern Cape, so that it becomes a model province in terms of all development goals. 2. Turn the province into key economic growth area in the country, so that it becomes the 4th fastest growing economy in South Africa by 2019. 3. Improve the quality of life of the poorest by bringing essential public services closer to the people and to increase the capacity of all institutions that provide those services, such as healthcare, educational opportunities, food production and security and local employment opportunities. 4. Turn around the performance of provincial government, but in particular the departments of health and education. 5. Provide effective local governance by employing qualified people, with the right skills-sets, in the right places. Proper planning, the appropriate use of resources and performance management and monitoring are key issues. 6. The celebration of corruption, which has somehow developed in a competition to see who outsmarts whom, must be brought to an end. We will therefore implement policies that ensure that the best talented, properly trained and competent persons are appointed; in other words, political deployment will become a thing of the past. CONCLUSION It is true that history tells us where we come from, but it is time for us to focus on the future; it is time for us to clearly identify where we are going. It is time for change. May the 7th, can be the catalyst for that change, but this cannot happen if you don’t take action. The people of this beautiful city, especially our young people, must be the agents of that change and the UDM the vehicle. Vote UDM! Thank you
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27 Apr, 2014
Freedom Day message and address at Elections 2014 Rally in Fochville
• National Office Bearers of the UDM • UDM Gauteng Provincial, Regional and Branch Leaders • UDM members and supporters • My fellow South Africans THANK YOU AND WELCOME I would not be standing here, if not for the hard work of the election teams of the United Democratic Movement (UDM) in the province. You should feel proud of your efforts. Enkosi. Today we celebrate the first 20 years of our democracy. The United Democratic Movement (UDM) is proud to be part of this history. We have made a tangible difference in steering this nation in the right direction; consistently exposing corruption and advocating for honest, conscientious and transparent government. We sometimes forget that it is extraordinary that we have come so far in such a short time. Although we will never forget how oppressive this society was, we also need to focus on the next 20 years and the 20 years thereafter and so on. LOOKING FORWARD TO THE NEXT PHASE OF OUR DEMOCRACY Today marks the first day of the next phase of that democracy. It would not be an overstatement to say that 7 May 2014 is nearly as important as the 27 April 1994. We again stand at the precipice of change and we must not lie to ourselves – it is time for change. We cannot allow the country to slide further down this slippery slope of corruption, maladministration and ineptitude. We can choose to continue on this path or have the sense and moral fortitude to take our responsibility as voters seriously. Poverty and corruption destroys the gains of our freedom. Disrespect for the rule of law destroys the gains of our freedom. There is no getting around these facts. The ANC is to blame and you should hold it accountable. GOOD GOVERNANCE AND RESPECT FOR THE RULE OF LAW Disrespect for the rule of law, as exhibited by our executive, as well as institutionalised corruption have a direct bearing on South Africa’s downgrading on international ratings, which in turn negatively impacts investor confidence – so the vicious cycle continues. In this regard the UDM commits itself to promote a culture of good governance and respect of the separation of powers of government, the legislatures and the judiciary. THE ECONOMY – A BETTER FUTURE FOR ALL The UDM believes that meaningful government intervention is needed to ensure economic growth. This means that we need good roads; an efficient rail network; electrification, provision of water, irrigation and reticulation in areas where people live and businesses operate. There has been much talk about the nationalisation of mines. Tensions raised to a boiling point, which resulted in great instability, not only amongst mineworkers and their employers, but it also negatively impacted on South Africa as an investment destination. A UDM government commits itself to: • Use a manageable budget deficit and government debt to create jobs and stimulate the economy. • Implement checks and balances to ensure that taxpayer’s money is not wasted and action is taken against corrupt government employees. • Ensure that our people, especially in rural areas, have access to passable roads, electricity, water and a fully-fledged railway network. • Initiate opportunities for young South Africans by radically reducing the red-tape that stifles entrepreneurship. • Make mining one of the major points of discussion at the Economic Indaba which the UDM proposes. EDUCATION AS THE STEPPING STONE OF DEMOCRACY An educated citizen is a national asset. In order for our education system to produce graduates with the necessary expertise for the job market, a UDM government commits itself to invest the education budget into the improvement of infrastructure, training of teachers and their career growth. Further, our policy and curriculum will be consistent and always in synch with the socio-economic imperatives of the country. FEEDING A NATION It is unimaginable that we, in this day and age, have people who go to sleep hungry and wake up hungry. South Africa was once the bread basket of this region, but the incumbent government has let our rural economy slide into the abyss. A UDM government commits itself to: • Use agriculture as a tool to expand our economy, create jobs and generate wealth – especially in rural areas. • Prioritise the needs of commercial and emerging farmers by developing policies that will level the playing field, to allow them to compete against their international counterparts. KEEPING OUR PEOPLE IN A GOOD STATE OF HEALTH A healthy citizen is a productive citizen and, therefore, a vehicle for economic development. Unfortunately, our public healthcare is in the I.C.U. and cannot deliver. A UDM government commits itself to improving the country’s national healthcare system by building more clinics and hospitals. We shall improve facilities, services, ensure availability of medicines and medical supplies. We shall ensure that the system responds effectively to communicable diseases and substance abuse. Medical practitioners shall be well trained and compensated. CRIME PREVENTION For many years the ruling party has refused to acknowledge the magnitude of the crime crisis facing South Africa. There is no synergy between the various partners in the justice cluster i.e. intelligence, police, the courts and correctional services. A world-class nation can only exist in a productive and safe environment that encourages enterprises to flourish whilst attracting local and foreign investments. A UDM government commits itself to: • Restore civil order and develop a doctrine to ensure that the police functions in line with our constitutional values. • Enhance coordination between the departments of justice, police, correctional service, defence and national intelligence. WHAT DOES THE FUTURE HOLD FOR YOU? The choice is yours – you can allow our country to continue on the same downward path or… you must do something different. Simple. Should you make your mark for the UDM, you can be assured that we will send a team of people to government that have your concerns at heart. CONCLUSION In ten days we will go to the polling stations to make our mark in favour of the political party of our choice. You have an opportunity to bring change to your lives. To bring that change, vote UDM! Thank you
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26 Apr, 2014
North West address by UDM President, Mr Bantu Holomisa
• National Office Bearers of the UDM • UDM Provincial, Regional and Branch Leaders • UDM members and supporters • My fellow South Africans THANK YOU AND WELCOME We are in the home straight of Elections 2014. To the election teams of the United Democratic Movement (UDM), who have worked tirelessly to make this event a success, thank you for the hard work. You have made us proud. As this will be my last visit to this area before 7 May, I wish to thank you, the people of the surrounding communities, for always welcoming the UDM in your midst. Despite the mountainous challenges you face on a daily basis, you still came to listen to us. You have shown your willingness to walk this road with the UDM; to walk this road to economic freedom and a better life for all. THE FALLACY OF WEALTH AND PROSPERITY – THE PAST 20 YEARS The UDM acknowledges the impact of the colonial and apartheid legacy on the South African economy. However, some time down the line, we must be realistic and take stock of what went wrong in these past two decades. It is a bitter irony that our radios and televisions are filled these days with the poorly veiled ANC propaganda, which is served up as the success stories of government. But let me ask you this, have you actually seen any of these “wonderful changes” in your lives here on the platinum belt? If one thinks of the promise of a good life, that Madiba and his peers paved the way for, one is left with a bad taste in your mouth. The unfortunate reality is that people, like yourselves, are forced to leave and go further-and-further away from your places of birth in a desperate search for a decent income and therefor a decent life. The brutal socio-economic circumstances that South Africans face, make it impossible to safeguard the gains of our freedom. Poverty makes a laughing stock of our struggle icons’ legacy. What is the use of being free, if you are unable to do something as basic as putting food on the table? What is the answer to the silent question in your children’s eyes? Sorry my child, I can’t provide for you, because I can’t even provide for myself. You find yourselves in this undignified situation because of the poor policy choices, economic mismanagement and the unmitigated corruption of the ruling elite. The ANC cannot dodge the fact that they made this mess. Whilst the denialist comrades sit in their cosy houses in Sandton, you are made to suffer in the cold, dusty shanty towns with no hope of that wealth ever reaching your lives. Does that sound right to you? Is this freedom? WHAT DOES THE FUTURE HOLD FOR YOU? You have a choice. You can continue on this same path or… you must do something different. Should you make your mark for the UDM, you can be assured of sending a team of people to government that have your concerns at heart. There are many solid ideas, plans and strategies contained in the UDM manifesto, that talks to education, safety, health, good governance, the environment and other important matters. However, given the unique distresses of this community, I want to focus on an issues that are particular to your lives. The UDM commits itself to make mining topic one of the major points of discussion at the Economic Indaba which the UDM proposes. Some of the matters to be discussed are: • the question of ownership of land, mines and mineral wealth. • the allocation of mining rights to the ruling elite and its implications. • socio-economic conditions of the workers and the communities that settle close to where the jobs are. • the controversial issue of mineworkers’ access, or lack thereof, to a provident fund worth billions of rands. • the unions’ investment arms and the pay-out of dividends to workers who have contributed to the fund. • the appointment of an independent commission of inquiry to investigate how these workers’ monies had been invested, especially in cases where the workers were retrenched, had retired or passed away. CONCLUSION In eleven days we will go to the voting stations to make our mark in favour of the political party of our choice. South Africans must take charge of the future of our country. We must take charge of our futures. We can no longer afford to sit with our arms folded whilst the majority of our people live in abject poverty – future generations will judge us harshly, because we let things slide on our watch. Punish the ANC for their failures. On the 7th of May, you will have an opportunity to bring change to your lives. To bring that change, vote UDM! Thank you
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16 Apr, 2014
Holomisa contributes to The Daily Dispatch – Great Election Debate
• Moderator/Programme Director • The leaders of other political parties • Members of the audience • My fellow South Africans INTRODUCTION Thank you to the Daily Dispatch for giving the United Democratic Movement (UDM) the opportunity to discuss our points of view regarding our plans to transform South Africa into a Winning Nation. CORRUPTION FROM TOP TO BOTTOM Although some progress has been made over the past five years, corruption sticks out like a sore thumb. It is undeniable that South Africa finds itself on the slippery slope of more regular incidents of serious corruption. We have become a jaded nation where we only notice the misappropriation of funds if there are billions of Rands involved. We are witnessing a government that more and more resembles the dreaded apartheid regime. Here we think of the dissolution of the Scorpions, the introduction of the Information Bill, undermining press freedom, attacking Chapter 9 institutions and abuse of State Owned Enterprises (such as the SABC). The other alarming reality is that we have a president that does not know how state moneys were used to build his private residence… also, what happened to the so-called “spy tapes”? We are talking about a government that does not have the word “accountability” in their vocabulary. AN UNHEALTHY DEMOCRACY IN ACTION Our democratic constitution seeks to guarantee our freedom, but this can only be achieved if the socio-economic environment allows the Bill of Rights to be manifested i.e. a return to the original agenda to better the lives of all South Africans. As a result of the high rate of unemployment and poverty, our people have taken to the streets to voice their dissatisfaction. Sadly, government does not even bother to listen to their desperate plight and instead dispatches the police to silence them. IS THE PICTURE SO BLEAK THAT WE MIGHT AS WELL THROW IN THE TOWEL? The main question that a voter should ask of him/herself is this: “Do I want to suffer another five years at the hand of a party that loots state resources and celebrates corruption?”. The UDM believes the answer should be “no” and that we can still salvage the situation. WHAT WILL THE UDM DO IF GIVEN THE MANDATED TO GOVERN The UDM fundamentally believes that job creation is the ultimate weapon to combat poverty, but that the economy must be managed properly to achieve this goal. Strong government intervention is required to ensure that we have, amongst others, functioning roads, electrification, water irrigation and reticulation, and an efficient rail network, which are required to ensure economic growth. There are more details on what the UDM offers the nation in our 2014 Election manifesto, which is available on www.udm.org.za, but I would like to raise some salient points: A UDM government commits, amongst others, to: Good governance: a) Restore respect for the rule of law. b) Put in place the necessary checks and balances to ensure that government money is not wasted. c) Instil respect for the separation of powers of government, legislatures and the judiciary. d) Introduce courts dedicated to handle cases of corruption; to swiftly eradicate corruption. The economy and job creation: e) Remove the red-tape that prevent small businesses from flourishing so that our citizens become wealth creators rather than employment seekers. f) Invest in the economy with a properly planned “map of infrastructure development” with emphasis on transparency and cooperation between government and the people. g) To defuse the tensions between the government, labour and the private sector in an effort to harmonise relationships in an open and transparent manner. h) Treat all provinces the same way, instead of the current tendency where budget allocations are biased towards provinces from where powerful individuals hail. Feeding SA – food security and rural development i) Use agriculture as a tool to expand our economy, create jobs and generate wealth, especially in rural areas. j) Prioritise the needs of our commercial and emerging farmers by developing policies that will enable them to fairly compete against their international counterparts. k) Restore the respect due to traditional leaders and create space for them to constructively interact with councillors and involve them in the decision-making processes, especially where development projects are concerned. Education: l) Involve all the relevant stakeholders in curriculum development. m) Translate the large education budget into quality education by developing and maintaining an education system that produces school-leavers and graduates that are equipped with job related and life skills. Health care: n) Bring health care infrastructure and services closer to the poor. o) Ensure that the budget allocation is spent on the services for which it is intended and no “savings” or rollovers will be tolerated. THE EASTERN CAPE IN PARTICULAR It is common knowledge that the Eastern Cape is heavily under budgeted given the two homelands and townships’ infrastructure that had to be integrated into in the developed infrastructure that was inherited in 1994. This has not happened. The UDM has identified the following key objectives for this province: a) Address the democracy dividend deficiency so that it becomes a model province in terms of all development goals. b) Make the Eastern Cape one of the key economic growth areas in the country, so that it becomes the 4th fastest growing economy in South Africa by 2019. c) Improve on the quality of life of the poorest in the province, by bringing essential public services closer to the people and increase the capacity of the institutions that provide those services e.g. healthcare, education, food security and local employment opportunities. d) In particular, turn around the performance of the departments of health and education. e) Provide effective local governance through appropriate personnel employment, proper planning and utilisation of resources as well as performance management. f) Restore the correct relationships between politicians and officials. g) This province is endowed with the most spectacular and under-utilised resource in the form of our environment. Our environment is a priceless asset; and yes, development is necessary, but not at the expense of our natural heritage. Our environment can be preserved and also be used as a tool to create jobs through tourism. CONCLUSION We cannot afford to sit with our arms folded whilst the majority of our people live in abject poverty – future generations will judge us harshly, because we let things slide on our watch. The UDM election campaign is inspired by hope, and the certainty, that this nation can overcome its challenges and deliver a better future for all South Africans. 7 May is around the corner! Make your vote count! Vote UDM Thank you
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13 Apr, 2014
Address: by Bantu Holomisa at a UDM Elections Rally Community Hall, Seeisoville, Kroonstad
Address: by Bantu Holomisa at a UDM Elections Rally Community Hall, Seeisoville, Kroonstad • Mr Mbhazima Shilowa • Leaders of the UDM in the Free State • My fellow South Africans WELCOME This is the third rally, which the United Democratic Movement (UDM) organised this weekend. We yesterday moved from the Western Cape to the Eastern Cape and today we are here in the Free State. The previous weekend we hosted rallies in Limpopo, the North West and in Mpumalanga. The reason I mention this, is to prove to the doubting thomases that the UDM does not only exist in the Eastern Cape – we indeed have a national footprint. To all of you, I say “thank you” for welcoming the UDM in your midst. It is heartening to see so many citizens who share the ideal of transforming South Africa into a Winning Nation. STATE THE NATION Although some progress has been made over the past five years, corruption has become a hallmark of how the incumbent government conducts its business. We can no longer beat around the bush… it is a fact that corruption destroys the gains of our freedom. Simple. Once voters recognise the direct link between 1) the looting of state resources and poor service delivery and 2) a government that sees nothing wrong with corruption, it makes their decision so much easier. We cannot allow the same hyenas to stay in power for another five years. These people seem to live in a parallel universe where the poor can be ignored or made fools of. What we witnessed, when Youth League bash in Thembisa on 22 February, it was quite astounding to see their Mini Cooper and big bike brigade in action. If one considers, for example, that a 2014 Harley Davidson VRod Muscle motorcycle costs nearly R220,00 and that an entry level Mini Cooper sell at around R300,00, it gives one some perspective of what the future holds should they become the next generation of leaders in the African National Congress (ANC). This lurid and garish display of their fat wallets was totally discordant with what the ANC states as its priorities. Instead it just rubs salt in the wounds of the poor and jobless masses. On a side note, one cannot help but wonder where do they get the money to maintain their lavish lifestyles. Therefore, when you have your ballot papers in in hand, ask yourself this: “Do I want to again place my trust in a party that have made a total mockery of their promise to better the lives of our people. THE AGRICULTURAL SECTOR The Free State holds great promise, with over 30,000 farms, which produce over 70% of the country’s grain. It is therefore quite clear that agriculture is of paramount importance in the Free State. We don’t call it the breadbasket of our country for mahala. A UDM government will: • prioritise the needs of our farmers by developing policies to subsidise farmers that will enable them to fairly compete against their international counterparts. • protect the South African market from the dumping of subsidised products. • promote agriculture as a tool to expand our economy, create jobs and generate wealth. • put in place the necessary infrastructure that will create jobs and encourage the growth of more employment-creating agricultural-related enterprises, to slow down migration to urban areas i.e. we will bring decent jobs and financial emancipation closer to the people. The UDM believes that more opportunities should be created for emerging farmers and that they should be equipped with the right knowledge, skills, tools and infrastructure to make a make a commercial success of their farming activities. Aside from the obvious need to provide education and training to emerging farmers, a UDM government would establish a sectoral bank where they can apply for financing. Another creative solution that a UDM government would implement is “One-Stop Agricultural Service Centres” where farmers can: • ask for advice, • access to veterinary services. • find the tools and knowledge that are necessary to run their farms as businesses and also to have a market to sell their produce. RURAL SAFETY The safety and security of those who live in rural areas is of great concern, In addition the Free State is quite vulnerable when it comes to cross-border stock theft. A UDM government will introduce special units specifically involved in rural safety through the deployment of reserve forces and other government security agencies to provide safety and enhance border control to curb stock-theft and smuggling. LAND REFORM The matter of land reform still is a thorny issue that has to be addressed sooner rather than later. A UDM government will streamline the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform to speed up the processes and restore land to their rightful owners, because the delays causes uncertainty and tension. THE MINING SECTOR The Free State has plentiful mineral deposits, with gold and diamonds being of particular importance. A UDM government shall make mining one of the major points of discussion at the Economic Indaba that the UDM has long advocated for. In our view, some of the matters to be discussed are the: • question of mines and mineral wealth. • allocation of mining rights to the ruling elite and the implication thereof. • dealing with the socio-economic conditions of workers and the communities that settle close to where the jobs are. • controversial issue of mineworkers’ access, or lack thereof, to a provident fund worth billions of rands. • the unions’ investment arms and the pay-out of dividends to workers who have contributed to the fund. • the appointment of an independent commission of inquiry to investigate how these workers’ monies had been invested, especially in cases where the workers were retrenched, had retired or passed away. THE UNDERLYING RACISM IN THE FREE STATE Racism at the Free State University is of great concern. Every now and again this cauldron boils over. There are far too many incidents where white students humiliated and physically attacked black students. I do however think that the incident that shocked the nation to its core, was what happened when the so-called ‘Reitz Four” debased the dignity of some of the university’s staff to the point where I feel uncomfortable to describe what the victims had to endure. The UDM is of the view that there must be harsher punishment for South Africans who make themselves guilty of hate crime in the hope that it will prevent future incidents. CONCLUSION South Africans must take charge of the future of our country. Each citizen has a number of basic human rights as described our Bill of Rights. What we should however remember is that those rights comes with concomitant responsibilities. On the 7th of May, the people will have an opportunity to bring change to South Africa and the only way this can be successful is that voters much punish the ANC for their failures. To the UDM teams who have worked tirelessly to make this event a success, thank you for your hard work. Seven (7) May is right around the corner and we have to work tirelessly to persuade our fellow South Africans that the UDM is a viable alternative. Good luck in your campaigning. Thank you
Admin
12 Apr, 2014
Holomisa speaks at UDM Rally at Gompo Community Hall, Duncan Village, East London
• Leaders of the UDM in the Eastern Cape • UDM public representatives • My fellow South Africans WELCOME The 2014 elections campaign of the United Democratic Movement (UDM) is gaining momentum. Just this morning I addressed a full-hall in Khayelitsha. Tomorrow Mhbazima Shilowa and I will be in Kroonstad in the Free State. I want to take this opportunity to thank you for making the time to listen to what the UDM would do if it was given the opportunity to govern the Eastern Cape. STATE THE NATION Let’s however discuss the state of the nation first. Every five years, South Africans brave the long queues at voting stations to exercise their right to choose the political party which they think will best govern their province and this country. Although some progress has been made over the past five years, corruption sticks out like a sore thumb. It of course has many negative implications for our citizens, but it also results in the South Africa’s downgrading on international ratings indexes and this in turn negatively impacts on direct foreign investment. The main question that voters should ask themselves is this: “Do I want to suffer for another five years at the hand of a party that loots state resources and celebrate corruption?”. It is astounding that the African National Congress (ANC) had the audacity to “reroute” millions of taxpayers’ money into building a lodge for President Zuma; and they go into defence-mode and try to justify ridiculous things, such as the need to have a swimming pool, just in case one of the thatched roofs catches fire. Who are they kidding? President Zuma, is an ANC deployee; in other words the citizen of South Africa did not elect him to power. The next question that springs to mind is: “Why are they treating him differently?” – especially given how they unceremoniously got rid of President Mbeki, albeit for different reasons. Many South Africans are sickened by the flagrant arrogance of the president and his party. They hold the Public Protector in blatant contempt and, without any shame, hurl personal insults at Advocate Madonsela. Seven (7) May is around the corner, and voters should take a critical look at the way the ANC has left our people in the dirt and dust of an inequitable society. We will probably also be in agreement that the various provinces are not treated equally. If you doubt this statement, just compare the budget allocations and distribution of resources in the nine provinces. STATE OF THE EASTERN CAPE It is common knowledge that this province is heavily under budgeted given the two homelands and townships’ infrastructure that had to be integrated into in the developed infrastructure that was passed on in 1994. This has not happened. To mention but a few of the problems: the roads in the Eastern Cape are impassable; there is a shortage of water; no fencing of graze lands and mealie fields, etc. The infrastructure of the former homelands and in townships are in a shocking state of disrepair. When you travel the Transkei, the Ciskei and places like here in Duncan Village, Mdantsane and the townships of Port Elizabeth you might think you have entered a 3rd world country. It boggles the mind that the very organisation that purports to have the best interest of our people at heart, has failed them so spectacularly – it has almost leaves you with the perception that our people are worse off than when they were under the apartheid government. This is a travesty, and the voters should punish the ANC for putting the future of the poor masses on the back burner or they simply stick their heads in the ground and practice ostrich politics. Only the few have struck it lucky sit in the pound seats when it comes dishing out money. It is very ironic that the Comrades in Corruption in government have to hire consultants to do their jobs… and of course many of those consultants are linked in the chain of corruption in that spills over into the private sector. BUT WHAT WILL THE UDM DO DIFFERENTLY? A UDM government shall take the necessary steps to ensure that the following six, critical objectives should be met to turn this province around, they are to: 1. Address the democracy dividend deficiency in the Eastern Cape, so that it becomes a model province in terms of all development goals. 2. Make the Eastern Cape one of the key economic growth areas in the country, so that it becomes the 4th fastest growing economy in South Africa by 2019. 3. Improve the quality of life of the poorest in the province, by bringing essential public services closer to the people and; Also to increase the capacity of all institutions that provide those services, such as healthcare, educational opportunities, food production and security and local employment opportunities. 4. Turn around the performance of provincial government, but in particular the departments of health and education. 5. Provide effective local governance by employing qualified people, with the right skills-sets, in the right places. Proper planning, the appropriate use of resources and performance management and monitoring are key issues. 6. The celebration of corruption, which has somehow developed in a competition to see who outsmarts whom, must be brought to an end. We will therefore implement policies that ensure that the best talented, properly trained and competent persons are appointed; in other words, political deployment will become a thing of the past. Should you be interested, we will make the detailed information on how we will go about reaching these six goals. CONCLUSION We cannot afford to sit with our arms folded whilst the majority of our people live in abject poverty – future generations will judge us harshly, because we let things slide on our watch. The UDM members and supporters must hit the ground running. Go out there, paint the Eastern Cape in UDM yellow! Speak to the people and spread the gospel of the UDM. To all of the leaders, party members and people who form part of our campaign teams across the length and breadth of the Eastern Cape, thank you for your commitment thus far. We must now change gears because time is running out! 7 May is around the corner! Good luck in your campaigning. Thank you
