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27 Jun, 2026
Bantu Holomisa Keynote address at 6th National Congress
Keynote Address by Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Bantu Holomisa, MP, President of the United Democratic Movement at the 6th National Congress and Launch of the 2026 Local Government Elections Manifesto - Absa Stadium, East London on 27 June 2026 • Deputy President of the UDM, Nqabayomzi Kwankwa; • Members of the National Executive Committee; • Provincial and Regional Leadership; • Delegates of the Sixth National Congress; • Representatives of civil society, traditional leaders, religious formations and organised labour; • Invited guests; • Members of the media; • Fellow South Africans; • Comrades and friends, 1. Introduction Allow me first to express my sincere gratitude to the delegates of the United Democratic Movement (UDM), our members throughout the country, our supporters, and the general public who have sustained this organisation with their resources, commitment and sacrifices over many years. The UDM did not arrive here because we had the biggest budget. We did not arrive here because we enjoyed access to state resources. We arrived here because ordinary South Africans believed in the values upon which this movement was founded and continued to support us even during the most difficult times. There were those who wrote our political obituary from the very beginning. There were those who predicted that the UDM would disappear after one election, after one leadership contest, after one political challenge or another. Yet here we are today, convening our Sixth National Congress and preparing to celebrate thirty years of existence in September 2027. The fact that we are still here is not an accident. For all this, we extend our appreciation to the National Office Bearers and staff for organising this National Congress, notwithstanding all the challenges we encountered. We also appreciate the volunteers, staff, ABSA Stadium Management, and service providers who have worked tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure that this gathering is a success. Your contribution is noted and valued. Anyone who has followed the history of the UDM and cared to read about our journey will know that our strength has always been our consistency. • Consistency in our messaging. • Consistency in our values. • Consistency in our presence amongst the people. • Consistency in making ourselves available and accountable to South Africans regardless of whether there was an election around the corner or not. We are one party that should be proud of its contribution to South Africa's democracy and proud of the victories we have achieved over the years. It was the UDM that consistently promoted the ethics of good governance long before it became fashionable to speak about corruption. It was the UDM that campaigned relentlessly against floor crossing until it was removed from our statute books. It was the UDM that fought for legislation regulating political party funding. It was the UDM that secured a landmark Constitutional Court victory on the secret ballot matter. Against all odds, it was the UDM that exposed the misuse of workers' pension funds through the Government Employees Pension Fund and the Public Investment Corporation, and many other ongoing battles. These were not popular battles. They were not easy battles. Yet they were necessary battles because they were in the interests of the people of South Africa. The UDM has never confined itself to parliamentary debates and press statements. When disaster struck our people, we were there. During the 2025 floods and disasters in the Eastern Cape, we were on the ground assisting affected communities in Mthatha, Butterworth and surrounding areas where 95 lives were tragically lost. While others were counting statistics, we were helping communities. While others were compiling reports, we were delivering practical assistance. In KwaTshezi near Coffee Bay, we assisted in constructing a bridge that has restored access to Zithulele Hospital and enabled communities to cross safely. To this day, communities continue to wait for permanent intervention from government despite countless promises and assessments. That is the difference between politics as a profession and politics as a calling. The UDM has always believed that leadership requires action. Betting on a wicket of anti-corruption was once regarded as political suicide. It contributed to my own departure from the African National Congress (ANC) because many people did not want to hear uncomfortable truths. Today it is gratifying to see that, what was once dismissed has now been confirmed repeatedly through official investigations and commissions. Those who did not understand the campaign against corruption at the time eventually came forward and reported corrupt activities. Those reports led to the findings of former Public Protector, Advocate Thuli Madonsela. They led to the State Capture Commission. They led to the UDM-sponsored Mpati Commission. They led to the current Madlanga Commission which has taken the nation by storm. It is evident, without a shed of doubt, that corruption has spread its tentacles to state institutions, including the Department of Defence where I serve as Deputy Minister as you have witnessed. Today various allegations and investigations involving senior law enforcement structures continue to reinforce concerns that many of us raised years ago. South Africans have reached their own conclusions. That is why in 2024 voters made a historic decision. They decided that South Africa should no longer be governed through the dominance of a single political party. They opted for a coalition arrangement. They effectively instructed political parties to work together. That is why we now have a Government of National Unity. The voters were saying that political parties must work together to address corruption, unemployment, crime and poor governance. By the look of things, coalition politics are here to stay. We must develop a political culture where coalition governments are stable, accountable and focused on service delivery. At national, provincial and local level, coalition governance must be refined because it is increasingly becoming the future of governance in South Africa. Fellow delegates, I am addressing you today at a time where serious questions are being raised about the activities of some Members of the Executive. For instance, many people will ask you, the members of the UDM what happened to the case of former Minister of Defence who was charged for corruption and many other high-profile individuals. The public will further ask you what our position is regarding the impeachment process involving the President, where the Constitutional Court brought the matter back to Parliament for further processing. Our position remains unchanged. The UDM supports the establishment of the Section 89 Impeachment Committee and believes that Constitutional processes must be allowed to run their course. There has been no shift from what we said during the debate on the report of the Independent Panel chaired by Judge Sandile Ngcobo. We maintain that the President, together with all those implicated in the matter, must make use of the opportunity to present their side of the story before the committee. The purpose of the process is to establish the facts, uphold accountability and strengthen our Constitutional democracy. As the UDM, we have always maintained that no individual is above accountability and that Constitutional mechanisms must be respected and allowed to function without fear or favour. Fellow delegates, Once this Congress has elected its leadership, our focus must immediately shift to the 2026 Local Government Elections and the road to 2029. We expect to come out of this National Congress with a dynamic leadership team that reflects a balance between experienced leaders and young people, who will together drive the growth, renewal and strengthening of the party going forward. The new leadership, because of the evident growth of the UDM, will have to hit the ground running by improving coordination and communication within the structures. They must also strive to promote unity, and to see it that the UDM reaches all the corners of South Africa. We have consistently argued that South Africa has entered a new political era. The days of one-party dominance are behind us. The responsibility of the UDM is not merely to participate in this reality, but to shape it. Our structures must emerge from this Congress united, focused and ready for the task ahead. It is going to be important to nominate Councillors who will understand the role they are to play in municipalities in service of our people. Equally, we must strive to depoliticise the government administration. Every branch, region and province must work towards growing the UDM so that it has a stronger voice in the Government of National Unity and a bigger presence in Parliament after 2029. No party can say with certainty who will provide leadership to South Africa after President Cyril Ramaphosa has finished his term. The political landscape is changing, and the UDM must position itself to play a far greater role in influencing the future of our country. Our mission remains unchanged. We must continue to champion ethics, good governance and accountability. There is no one in this country who can doubt the role we are playing in that front. The UDM must be at the forefront of ensuring that those implicated in corruption are charged, that adverse findings by the Auditor-General (AGSA) are acted upon, and that public institutions serve the people rather than politicians. Too often AGSA reports expose the same failures year after year, yet little is done. That culture of impunity must come to an end. As we grow, we must remain clear about the type of partnerships we are prepared to enter. We must work with parties that serve the people, not those that seek to protect politicians caught with their fingers in the till. Our loyalty must always be to the people of South Africa. Mawubuye uMzantsi Afrika esiwuthandayo emaseleni, mawubuye! The evidence emerging from inquiries such as the Madlanga Commission, the collapse of state-owned enterprises, and the corruption repeatedly exposed in the media all point to the same problem: years of ignored warnings, ignored Auditor-General findings and a lack of consequence management. The UDM must continue to be the voice that asks difficult questions, demands accountability and fights for clean governance. That is the role we have played for nearly three decades, and it is the role we must play with even greater determination as we build towards 2026 and 2029. 2. The challenges confronting South Africa Fellow South Africans, As we gather here today, South Africa continues to face serious challenges. At the forefront are unemployment, crime, porous borders, weak immigration systems, unemployment, a stagnant economy and corruption. These challenges continue to undermine confidence in our democracy and deny millions of South Africans opportunities to improve their lives. We must also have an honest discussion about immigration management and national security. The Deputy President of the UDM, the Nqabayomzi Kwankwa, has already outlined the position of the UDM in Parliament, and he was both eloquent and unambiguous in doing so. My role here is simply to add further context and depth to that position. Many of the immigration problems we face today did not arise by accident. There were individuals and networks who positioned themselves to benefit from a weak immigration system and porous borders. South Africans will recall the history of Dyambu Holdings, a company established through ANC Women's League structures and was awarded an exclusive contract relating to the detention and deportation of illegal immigrants through Lindela. That company was later acquired by BOSASA, whose role in the looting of state resources has been extensively documented. The lines between political influence, government contracts and private enrichment became increasingly blurred. When South Africans ask how we arrived at a situation where Home Affairs is under such pressure, where border management has been compromised and where questions are being asked about the integrity of documentation systems, they are entitled to examine this history fully. The state's failure over many years to exercise effective control over its borders did not only create governance challenges; it also created opportunities for those who sought to profit from dysfunction. It is difficult to escape the conclusion that some people saw immigration management not as a national security responsibility, but as a business opportunity, hence we find ourselves sitting with porous borders. For many years South Africa did not maintain an appropriate balance between social expenditure and investment in national security institutions. While enormous resources were directed towards social support programmes, many strategic institutions responsible for securing the country gradually experienced declining capacity. The consequences are now visible. o Border management challenges have increased. o Criminal syndicates have exploited weaknesses in the system. o Drug trafficking networks have become more sophisticated. o Human trafficking syndicates continue to operate. o Counterfeit goods continue to enter the country. Communities are increasingly concerned about illegal migration, undocumented persons and the impact these challenges have on public services, employment opportunities and community safety. These concerns are not new. South Africans have been raising these issues for years. Unfortunately, many of these concerns were ignored until they reached crisis proportions. Today government is spending millions combating drug syndicates, tracing undocumented persons and addressing problems that should have been confronted much earlier. What South Africans want now is not arguments about who raised these concerns first. They want solutions. The security cluster must therefore become a national priority. The lesson for us today is simple. We must fix the system. We must strengthen border management, restore integrity at Home Affairs, eliminate corruption wherever it exists, and ensure that immigration policy serves the interests of the country and the rule of law. This is not about hostility towards anyone. It is about ensuring that South Africa has an immigration system that is lawful, fair, efficient and properly administered. If, as is now being alleged through investigations by the SIU, there were officials within Home Affairs who fraudulently issued identity documents, permits and other official records, then South Africans deserve answers. We need to know which documents were issued lawfully and which were obtained through fraud and corruption. We need to know who benefited, who authorised it, and what corrective measures will be taken. South Africans have a right to confidence in the integrity of the country's documentation systems. Restoring that confidence must be a national priority. Home Affairs, Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO), South African Police Service (SAPS), State Security and Defence must intensify their working relations to stabilise the situation. We may have to engage the African Union and the United Nations and ask for understanding and patience as South Africa undertakes the difficult task of restoring order to systems that have been neglected for many years. As a result of this neglect, South Africa is still fighting grey listings from international rating agencies, a phenomenon that continues to affect the lives of many South Africans daily. One of the major concerns highlighted by these agencies is the high level of corruption, South Africa's suspected use as a conduit for illicit activities, the prevalence of money laundering, weaknesses in visa and immigration processes, and a range of other governance and security-related challenges. In the same vein, we may need to strengthen dialogue with the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region to ensure a coordinated and cooperative approach to migration management, including joint frameworks and mechanisms to address cross-border movement in a structured and lawful manner. The government of South Africa, together with civil society and other stakeholders, should seriously consider a temporary moratorium of between six and twelve months to clean up an immigration system that has been plagued by challenges for decades. During this period, district-level immigration verification committees, chaired by district magistrates and comprising members of the security cluster and relevant government departments, should be established to determine who is in the country, under what status, and whether the documentation they possess is valid. Given the allegations of fraud and corruption that continue to emerge, South Africa can no longer rely solely on existing Home Affairs databases without verification. These committees should establish clear timeframes for permit holders and other documented foreign nationals to verify the authenticity of their documentation, with a view to identifying and removing fraudulent records from the system. This exercise must be lawful, fair and non-discriminatory. It must have no colour, no nationality and no political agenda. Those who are lawfully in South Africa should have nothing to fear; the objective is simply to restore integrity to the system and ensure that the rule of law prevails. When South Africa calls for the implementation of its laws, particularly on matters relating to illegal immigration, that should not automatically be interpreted as xenophobia. Every sovereign state has a responsibility to uphold its laws and protect its national interests. We ask for understanding from those who are quick to label South Africans when legitimate concerns are raised. South Africa requires breathing space to address challenges that have accumulated over decades. National security must remain a priority. At the same time, we call upon all migrants who are legally in South Africa to cooperate with authorities as government undertakes the necessary work of restoring integrity to the system. We remain a peaceful nation. We remain committed to human dignity. But we must also restore confidence in the rule of law. 3. What has gone wrong in our municipalities? Fellow South Africans, Wherever one travels in South Africa today, whether in villages, townships, suburbs, informal settlements or rural communities, the signs of municipal decline are impossible to ignore. People are living with dry taps while billions are allocated for water infrastructure. Sewage flows through streets and into rivers while municipalities speak of plans and strategies. Roads remain unrepaired for years while communities are told to be patient. Streetlights do not work. Refuse remains uncollected. Parks and public facilities are neglected. Billing systems are broken. Municipal debt continues to grow while service delivery continues to decline. The people of South Africa are asking a simple question: where is the money going? The truth is that municipalities have not failed because communities are impossible to serve. They have failed because the basic principles of governance have been abandoned. Too many municipalities have become centres of patronage rather than centres of service delivery. Political loyalty has been rewarded ahead of competence. Public funds have been diverted away from the needs of communities. Infrastructure has been neglected until it collapses completely. Audit findings have been ignored. Corruption has gone unpunished. Councillors have disappeared from communities and resurfaced only when elections approach. The result is that ordinary residents are paying more and receiving less. Businesses are struggling to survive because municipalities cannot provide reliable services. Young people are trapped in communities where there are few opportunities and little economic activity. Poor households are expected to pay for services that often do not work. This is not what local government was intended to be. Municipalities exist to serve communities. They exist to maintain infrastructure, provide services, create conditions for economic growth, protect public resources and improve the quality of life of residents. The UDM therefore says enough is enough. Local government must return to its core purpose. That is why today we are launching a manifesto that is practical, realistic and rooted in the daily experiences of South Africans. 4. The UDM's 12 pillars for local government that works Our manifesto is built around twelve pillars that together provide a comprehensive programme for rebuilding municipalities and restoring public confidence in local government. 1) The first pillar is Reliable Basic Services and Maintenance because no municipality can succeed if residents do not have reliable access to water, sanitation, electricity, roads, refuse removal and functioning public infrastructure. 2) The second pillar is Clean Governance and Financial Discipline because corruption, maladministration and wasteful expenditure are stealing resources that should be improving the lives of our people. 3) The third pillar is Fair Tariffs, Responsible Revenue and Protection of Indigent Households because municipalities must collect revenue fairly while protecting vulnerable households and ensuring residents receive value for money. 4) The fourth pillar is Local Economic Development, Opportunity and Dignity because municipalities must become engines of growth that support small businesses, cooperatives, informal traders, township enterprises and local job creation. 5) The fifth pillar is Housing, Land Use and Integrated Human Settlements because people deserve housing developments that are planned properly, connected to services and linked to economic opportunity. 6) The sixth pillar is Rural Revitalisation and Urban Renewal because rural villages, townships, towns and cities face different challenges and require targeted interventions. 7) The seventh pillar is Safe, Liveable and Climate-Resilient Communities because communities cannot thrive in environments characterised by crime, neglect, environmental degradation and poor disaster preparedness. 8) The eighth pillar is Public Health, Clean Communities and Environmental Health because clean water, functioning sanitation, refuse removal and environmental management are fundamental to human dignity. 9) The ninth pillar is Youth, Sport, Culture and Social Development because young people deserve opportunities to develop their talents, access facilities and participate in community life. 10) The tenth pillar is Participatory Democracy and Accountable Councillors because communities must be partners in governance and councillors must remain visible, accessible and accountable. 11) The eleventh pillar is Traditional Leaders and Community Governance because development works best when municipalities and traditional leadership structures cooperate in the interests of communities. 12) The twelfth pillar is Responsible Coalitions and Cooperative Governance because coalition politics is now a reality in South Africa and must be guided by principles, stability and service delivery rather than political opportunism. These are not theoretical pillars. They are practical commitments designed to address the daily realities faced by South Africans. 5. The UDM's approach to local government Underlying these twelve pillars are six simple principles. 1) Basic services must be reliable. 2) Public money must be protected. 3) Councillors and officials must be accountable. 4) Communities must be treated as partners. 5) Municipalities must be stable, ethical and capable. 6) Councillors must provide oversight and must never interfere in procurement or administration. This last principle deserves special emphasis. One of the greatest contributors to municipal collapse has been the blurring of lines between politics and administration. A councillor is not a municipal manager. A councillor is not a procurement officer. A councillor is not a tender adjudicator. The role of councillors is to represent communities, monitor implementation, exercise oversight and ensure accountability. The role of administrators is to manage municipal affairs professionally and in accordance with the law. Once politicians begin deciding who gets contracts, who gets appointed and who benefits from municipal resources, service delivery becomes secondary and communities suffer. The UDM will defend the professionalisation of local government because competent municipalities deliver services and incompetent municipalities create crises. The details of this manifesto are in the conference packs which we have distributed. Those who wish to read this manifesto may alternatively make use of our website, www.udm.org.za and this information first-hand. 6. What this election is really about The 2026 Local Government Elections are not about politicians. They are not about positions. They are not about political slogans. They are about daily life. They are about whether water comes out of the tap. Whether refuse is collected. Whether roads are maintained. Whether communities are safe. Whether public money is protected. Whether councillors are visible. Whether young people can find opportunities. Whether municipalities work. The UDM does not promise miracles. We promise ethical leadership. We promise accountability. We promise practical solutions. We promise to place communities before politics. Our message is clear. South Africa has had enough of excuses. It is time for municipalities that work. It is time for competent administration. It is time for clean governance. It is time for councillors who serve the people. It is time for local government that is consistent in-service delivery, present in communities and accountable to residents. That is the UDM offer. That is the UDM manifesto. 7. A call to the people of South Africa As we conclude this National Congress and launch our 2026 Local Government Elections Manifesto, we make a clear appeal to the people of South Africa. We ask you to judge us not by words, but by our work. We ask you to judge us not by promises, but by delivery. We ask you to judge us not by political rhetoric, but by our presence in your communities. We are ready to restore dignity to local government. We are ready to rebuild municipalities that work for the people. From Khayelitsha to Phuthaditjhaba, Let us move forward together. Let us build stronger communities. Let us restore trust in governance. Let us renew hope in our democracy. And let us ensure that local government becomes once again what it was meant to be: a system of service, dignity and development for all. Phantsi ngamasela Phatsi! Phantsi ngo hlohlesakhe Phantsi! Phambili nge nkonzo Phambili! Phambili ngesikhokhelo esithembekileyo Phambili! I thank you.
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16 Feb, 2019
Bantu Holomisa’s keynote address at the launch of the UDM’s manifesto
• Deputy President of the UDM; • UDM National Office Bearers; • Members of our National Executive Committee; • The party’s provincial leadership; • The Nelson Mandela Bay Executive Mayor and the people of this metro who are our hosts; • Members and supporters of the UDM; • Fellow South Africans; Introduction Good day to you all, including those who are watching from home; welcome to the unveiling of the United Democratic Movement’s (UDM) 2019 manifesto. As the UDM enters its third decade as a party, our message is clear: we are ready to lead and, we are ready to govern! Our manifesto is available for all to read, but I want to highlight a number of salient points. This election is all about trust. We have a president who pleads with you to trust him; and this despite his party. Why? Because he knows that his party – the ANC – is not worthy of your trust. We all know what damage it has done, be it to our economy, our safety, our education and health systems, and so the list goes on. How can it be trusted when it stood meekly by, as Jacob Zuma and his cronies looted the state and stole your hard-earned taxes and deprived you of economic opportunity. We now know the cost of state capture. Billions of Rand have been stolen and many state institutions and agencies have been weakened. As a direct result of state capture, for example, PRASA has been disabled. What that means, is that the railway system is disrupted. Notwithstanding the fact that billions of rands of tax-payers’ hard-earned cash are used to rescue the ailing railway system. In practical terms it is even harder for those people who are lucky enough to have jobs to get to work on time. To cite another example, Eskom also is a victim of state capture. As we speak, we are unsure whether this rally will complete its business. There is the likelihood of being visited by an uninvited guest, who brought darkness: load shedding. Small businesses, which are the backbone of our economy, are most affected and cannot run their enterprises, because of this uncertainty. This situation is diametrically opposed to what the ruling party has been telling South Africans. We were told that the change of leadership will bring efficiency. We were told that load shedding is a thing of the past and that the future is bright. Like PRASA, Eskom is no longer able to perform the public service it should. Eskom comes up with a new excuse from the already used ones, such as the shortage diesel and coal. Now we are told that the Hitachi and Chancellor House project i.e. the Medupi and Kusile power stations, which they built, are the reasons for this load shedding. As we all know, Chancellor House is the ANC’s front company and it is therefore prudent that the ruling party must take full responsibility for plunging South Africa into darkness. We all suffer as a result. This kind of institutionalised corruption must be exposed for what it is, without fear nor favour. So, I ask you: how can South Africans trust the ANC? The reason we now know more details about state capture, thus far, is because of the revelations at the Zondo Commission of Inquiry. The Zondo commission exists, because the Public Protector recommended that it be appointed; and the courts agreed. The rule of law prevailed, despite the onslaught of Zuma and his party. We went to the Constitutional Court with three other opposition parties and succeeded in having the Public Protector’s State Capture report published. We can be proud of the role we played in protecting the rule of law. The UDM’s track record speaks for itself, to mention but a few: • No-one will question that the UDM has consistently batted on the wicket of anti-corruption and the promotion of the ethics of good governance. We have always called a spade a spade, to the annoyance of many. • We fought the immoral floor-crossing legislation and were vindicated when it was eventually removed from the country’s statute books. • The UDM took the matter of the irregular lease agreement of the Independent Electoral Commission’s offices to the Public Protector, after which Advocate Tlakula was forced to resign. • Post 2016 Local Government Elections, the UDM was the catalyst in establishing coalition governments in several metropolitan municipalities. • We coordinated the biggest march to the Union Buildings, which called for the former president to vacate his office. • The UDM was at the lead when some opposition parties took the matter of the secret ballot on the no-confidence motion in the former president to the constitutional court. We succeeded in forcing the speaker of the national assembly to pronounce on how the balloting would take place. • Since 1999, the UDM has steadily campaigned to have party funding legislation put in place, which has recently been signed into law. • Most recently, the UDM exposed alleged corruption at the Public Investment Corporation amounting to billions of Rands. We called for the chief executive officer to pack his bags and leave, which has happened. We have further asked the president to institute a commission of inquiry, which he has done. • Various communities will attest to the fact that the UDM has intervened on their behalf to have government, at municipal, provincial and national levels, attend to their service delivery complaints. This has been our mission since the Mandela, the Mbeki, the Zuma and now the Ramaphosa administrations. • We have further written numerous letters to government to intervene in the malfunctioning SETAs, on behalf of the employees and needy pupils who are affected by the SETA’s inefficiency and corruption. This is part of our proud track-record of more than the twenty years – that we are a party stands up for what is right and is not afraid to speak the truth to power! We have defended the constitution and we will continue to do so. President Ramaphosa may be a decent man, but he is just one man. It is said that people must vote for the ANC in order to allow President Ramaphosa to continue in office. But there is no guarantee that the ANC will allow him to do so. There is nothing to stop the ANC from deciding to remove Ramaphosa just as they recalled Thabo Mbeki and replaced him with a person facing over 800 criminal charges. Today we hear noises from the ANC that the past nine years have been disastrous under the Zuma administration. Yet the current crew was the very one who said that he did nothing wrong. They even invented a slogan that read: “We have a good story to tell”. I ask the question again: CAN WE TRUST THEM, given that the same organisation was at pains to defend Zuma and was hellbent on discrediting the Public Protector and the judiciary. Had it not been for the insistence of opposition parties and some civil society organisations, Cyril Ramaphosa would not have occupied an office at the Union Buildings. We should not be lulled into thinking that the leopard has changed its spots. To prove that, it is the same organisation who has asked Zuma to campaign for them and thus continue to undermine the rule of law. The voters of this country will not have their intelligence insulted and take a risk to trust them again. They realise that the ANC is a damaged organisation riddled with deadly division, dangerously unstable, and unfit to lead our great country. That is why the president did not even mention his party once during the State of the Nation Address. Not once! He knows that the ANC is a liability. He wants to draw the spotlight of the election on him. But our electoral system means that you can’t have Ramaphosa without the ANC! Which makes the UDM’s suggestion that the president of the country should be directly elected by voters, as in other democracies. And so, my message is this: South Africa is not the ANC. And these days, nor can it be said that the ANC is South Africa. It has lost touch with ordinary South Africans. It has lost its moral compass. It has betrayed its history. It has betrayed South Africa. The misuse of resources permeates both the public and private sectors. Where government is concerned, this mismanagement pervades all three tiers of government. When the UDM comes to power, one of the first things we shall invest in is professionalizing the civil service in order to deliver quality services. The appointment of DGs will be the sole responsibility of the department of public services in consultation with the presidency to avoid the current situation where ministers appoint their friends and thus perpetuates corruption. Another area in which we will invest, is the training of the personnel of the bodies responsible for our safety and security i.e. the police, intelligence and military. Their state of readiness must always be guaranteed so that they may execute their mandate. The people of this country deserve better and they yearn for a better alternative. They deserve a party that will put them first. Allow me to talk about the economic needs of South Africa. South Africa has fast diminishing hopes of being able to respond to the triple threat of acute poverty, ever-rising unemployment and deepening inequality. The UDM’s manifesto puts the economic needs of people at the centre of its plan for government. South Africa needs an inspiring and shared economic vision of where we are going in the next ten to twenty years. Looking back, the Codesa negotiations only focused on political freedom and consequently economic policy formulation has been left to individual ministers to the detriment of the development of a comprehensive and coherent economic plan. This approach to policy formulation is not sustainable, because as soon as changes occur in government, a new administration tends to disown previously adopted policies. Yet, the same political party has sponsored those ever-changing policies. To compound matters, the tri-partite alliance’s differing stances on the economy further confuses policies with the National Development Plan being the white elephant in the room. Although we do not out of hand discard the current administration’s economic summits, the UDM strongly believes that a similar exercise as the Codesa talks needs to take place, but this time in the form of an Economic Indaba. This forum should gather to address the backlogs and imbalances of the past, and examine international precedents such as the European Recovery Programme of 1948, also known as the “Marshall Plan”. Closer to home, the Afrikaner government was deliberate in using state resources to successfully address Afrikaner poverty. Piecemeal conferences and summits will not do the job; it needs a concerted effort with all stakeholders gathered under one roof to hammer out South Africa’s macro-economic policy. Even the governing tri-partite alliance have differed fundamentally from each other. These differences have raised tensions at Nedlac level. This is one institution that needs to be completely overhauled, given that there are new strong unions in this country such as SAFTU. South Africa’s economic growth could be realised if we all work together and communicate one message to would-be investors, both local and abroad. Health care The quality of healthcare infrastructure and maintenance are often below standard. Hygiene at many clinics is at unacceptable levels and must be addressed immediately. It remains a sad fact that many South Africans must travel huge distances to the nearest clinic or hospital. Therefore, health infrastructure and services need to be provided closer to the poor. A UDM government will commit itself to healthcare that is linked to other social cluster portfolios, recognising the role of social welfare, water and sanitation, basic life skills and awareness to improve the basic health of the nation. Education One of the UDM’s main priorities is to invest resources in schools, where it is sorely needed. We can never advance as a nation if we do not educate our young. It is the most serious structural constraint that the economy faces. Hence, a UDM government will prioritise the building, fixing and upgrading of school infrastructure. A UDM government will also make additional funding available to ensure that every school has the required learning materials and resources, and ensure that it is delivered on time. There are major discrepancies at state schools when one talks resource spending and infrastructure. Some have the necessary tools to fulfil their obligations to our children and others lack even the bare necessities. President Ramaphosa announced that advanced technology would be used to enhance teaching, but one cannot imagine a situation where a child works with a tablet at a mud school, who has no electricity to even charge the battery. We will establish a permanent commission on education whose primary responsibilities will be to establish and build upon basic educational policy pillars as well as ensuring that there is stability in the curriculum to give our learners the best opportunity to succeed in their studies. The UDM will reopen teacher training colleges and impose national standards for teachers and ensure that they have the necessary resources to provide the highest level of professionalism possible. School inspectors will be brought back to deal with erratic attendance by pupils, teacher laziness and to ensure that the administrative tasks are attended to. Safety and security The safety and security of our country and her people leave much to be desired. The criminal justice system has collapsed. When we hear about the information revealed in, for instance, the Zondo commission, one wonders if our security bodies are fast asleep as this happened under their watch. Under a UDM government, it will take steps to professionalise the criminal justice system. We will also lobby SADC countries to seriously consider establishing an apparatus to respond to cross-border-crime and terrorism, as well as the gathering of intelligence. Public transport There is an over-reliance, coupled with lack of maintenance of our road infrastructure, which has led to its rapid decay. A UDM government will return the units which used to maintain our roads, and not solely to rely on the current tender system that poorly pays EWP employees. A UDM government will further explore the possibility of having an intercity highspeed rail put in place, which could present the nation with the following advantages: a) The reduction of accidents and fatalities on our roads. b) Greater access to specialised services, e.g. courts, legislatures, hospitals and healthcare specialists, universities, etc. c) Roads that are taxed less by heavy vehicles that damage road surfaces which in turn cost a lot of money to maintain. d) The reduced dependence on road transport will have the spin-off of speeding up our economy. Such a profound transformation of our public transport system would be possible via the refurbishment and adaptation of existing railway lines and building additional capacity where needed. Specific UDM proposals Our manifesto is comprehensive and covers other areas that are important for a dignified and prosperous life, but I want to focus on a few areas where we offer distinctive approaches: Job creation The unemployment crisis in South Africa has many causes that underscore the need for a comprehensive strategy. As one solution, a UDM government will launch a massive initiative focussing on job creation through infrastructure maintenance and development. There is a big chunk of unskilled labour which could be absorbed in working in such programmes. They could, for instance, work on the upkeep of government buildings, construction and maintenance of dams and cleaning silted rivers. They could also be tasked to play a meaningful role in restoring eco-systems and biodiversity by fencing off land for agrarian and grazing purposes. Others could be skilled to take care of waste management. The UDM also believes that, for the development of the South African and African economies, it makes sense to gradually cease the mass export of raw materials so that jobs are created locally through homegrown processing and manufacturing. There must be a paradigm shift in the way that we think of job creation and focus on the empowerment of our youth to be wealth creators, future employers, manufacturers and business owners. In order to achieve this, the UDM will do the following: • Establish a distinct national fund, to assist frustrated entrepreneurs in getting the basic tools to start their businesses. • Invest in sector-based planning and implementation, including the creation of sector-specific banks to provide financial assistance to historically disadvantaged groups and individuals. Such sector banks could assist the youth to start their own business in, for instance, the textile, IT, tourism, hospitality, agriculture industries. Billions of rands are wasted on SETAs, whilst they could be transformed into such sector banks. • Remove the bottlenecks on the registration of companies by introducing an online application system to expedite registration. • Identify markets for small firms through promoting domestic and foreign connections to adequately address both supply and demand. • Embark on massive training programme of entrepreneurs to build and manage their companies. • Identify loan and capital sources, as well as facilitating loans and investments in community businesses. • Devote more resources to promote “buying South African” as a tool to stimulate local wealth generation and job creation. Land economy We support land reform and land redistribution – it is vital for our agrarian and rural economies, but also vital for restoring the dignity of our people, recognising the injustices of the past. But the issue is complex and must be understood as such: there are no easy answers and we must work to find consensus on a solution to benefit the landless. So, we need to build a strong, resilient consensus about how to tackle it. In the proposed amendment of the constitution, government could be empowered so that it may expropriate land without compensation, but subject to the development of comprehensive legislation. Such legislation must answer the following: • Who exactly (individuals, companies and/or government) will be affected and how? • How does food security and economic stability impact implementation i.e. does it prevent expropriation in specific circumstances, and what those would be? • How will government handle rapid urbanisation and an ever-increasing need to make land available in cities which denudes rural communities and local economies? • How will traditional leaders and rural communities be affected? • How will entities such as traditional trusts be impacted? • What will be the effect on the land tenure system particularly in rural areas? • What would the position be on the sale of, in main, urban land to foreigners? • How will the issuing of title deeds be sped up so that entrepreneurs may use them as collateral to secure capital for start-ups? Sustainable development: the environment Protecting the environment and our national resources are often placed on the backburner since the consequences of abuse are not immediately appreciable. People find an issue such as the depletion of the ozone layer an abstract concept that does not directly affect them. Many South Africans do not concern themselves with the environment, because of the notion that “it’s someone else’s problem” and therefore do not take responsibility for their own actions. Climate change got just one meagre line in President Ramaphosa’s recent State of the Nation Address. That is a serious abrogation of responsibility. A UDM government will not make this mistake. It will take responsibility. It will join the dots between climate change and environmental degradation to poverty and human development and economic policy. For development, to be both just and sustainable, it must recognise the inter-connectedness of the environmental, social and economic dimension of the crisis we face. High levels of poverty contribute to the damage of our environment. For example, the need to stay warm in the winter is a primary goal for rural and township communities, whilst the negative impact of wood collection on the environment may not be understood. A UDM government will implement a “Marshall Plan” to save our natural heritage that shall identify, build and reward individuals, institutions and community-based organisations to rescue and conserve our environment. We will introduce “green battalions” to counter, amongst others, soil erosion, over-grazing, deforestation and to also protect biodiversity, especially in rural South Africa. This country has failed dismally to manage waste. It is worse in the townships, informal settlements, towns and rural areas. South Africa is a tourism mecca in her own right, and something must be done to address waste management. Under a UDM government, conservation and socio-economic development shall be linked by allowing communities to have sustainable access to the life-supporting and income-earning potential of nature reserves and conservation areas. The UDM believes that, through the implementation of bio-diversity programmes thousands of jobs can be created, because we believe that it is possible to generate jobs and business opportunities whilst being environmentally responsible. We will implement tax incentives to encourage the private sector to invest in the development of technologies for conservation and sustainable use of bio-diversity programmes. This sets us apart from all the other political parties in South Africa. We offer a realistic as well as visionary alternative approach to our sustainable development challenge. Hence, a UDM government will also roll out an information campaign to teach the uninformed of the impacts of their actions on the environment and why it matters to their future prosperity as individuals and as communities. What is noticeable in all the towns and cities is that you hardly see trucks collecting garbage, and residents just find an empty space to dump their waste. A UDM government will embark on a country-wide clean-up campaign. We will provide the necessary tools to keep our country clean and, in the process, create jobs, as well as opportunities for small businesses to flourish. We will consolidate the massive number of environmental laws and regulations into one concise and effective law. Once in power, a UDM government will be active in the enforcement of environmental law with individuals or organisations that contravene it to suffer severe penalties. Budgets should be adjusted to make waste management a primary goal. The UDM’s position on coalition government I also want to touch on the issue of possible coalition governments after this year’s elections. If it should deliver no outright winner, as forecast by political analysts, the question of coalitions arises. In this regard, the UDM is of the view that any coalition government should be regulated so that the principle of serving the people is not suppressed by wanton political intimidation and playing the numbers-game that typifies the present local government dispensation. Hence it is important that coalition partners iron out their relationships directly after elections and publish their compacts so that voters clearly understand how that coalition will work and to have a set of standards to measure any coalition government’s performance. Role of faith-based organisations Religious values and practices are deeply entwined in the fabric of our daily lives, which means that faith-based organisations play a very important role in providing moral leadership and guidance. We, as a nation, have lost our moral compass as is evidenced by the crime and corruption that have become a permanent feature of our lives. During the apartheid years, the work of faith-based organisations formed a vital part of overthrowing that discriminatory regime. It could however be argued that, in the South Africa of today, they play a less critical part in leading our people on the path of decency, honesty and goodness. The UDM therefore calls on all faith-based organisations to again be the voice of reason for a nation in moral dire straits. Closure It is not rocket science to see that the gap between the haves and the have-nots is rapidly widening. As South Africans we need to address the backlogs and imbalances of the past. Our policies must be in line with our constitution which seeks to improve the quality of life for all South Africans. Once this has happened the gap between black and white. This is the consistent, principled approach to politics and policy that the UDM offers. We are ready to lead, and we are ready to govern! We offer a political home for all South Africans, united in the spirit of South Africanism by our common passion for our country, mobilising the creative power inherent in our rich diversity, towards our transformation into a prosperous and winning nation. The UDM has demonstrated integrity amongst all our members and leadership. Our three guiding pillars, integrity, dignity and prosperity, feed our minds and our actions as a modern political party that firmly stands against corruption and the exploitation of South Africans; especially the poor who cannot weather the effects of the ruling party’s dishonest, bungling government and don’t care attitude. For the past two decades the UDM has left no stone unturned in our fight to have corruption eradicated wherever we found it. We will continue that fight by ensuring effective procedures and establishing special courts and implemented to investigate and prosecute those in the public and private sector involved in corruption. We will continue that fight. And we will not rest until the dignity of our people is restored and everyone has the opportunity to live a prosperous and flourishing life. Thank you.
Admin
20 Apr, 2016
Message from UDM President, Mr Bantu Holomisa, MP at the launch UDM Gauteng Manifesto for 2016 Municipal Elections
Chairperson, NEC Members of the UDM Members and Supporters of the United Democratic Movement Gauteng Citizens WELCOME Welcome one and all, and thank you for making the effort to come and listen to the vision which the United Democratic Movement (UDM) has for people of Gauteng. In just over three months’ time, you will have an opportunity to have your say in which party should govern your municipalities. Through the ballot box, on the 3rd of August, you have an opportunity to lay foundations for change for the better and create hope for the future. As a voter, it is up to you to set a new agenda. You have the power to say what are the real priorities; as opposed to the elite projects (such as speed trains, automated tolling, etc.) which contribute nothing to your life and only enrich the politically-connected. It is time to PUT COMMUNITY FIRST by prioritising service delivery and removing the politicians and parties that stand in the way of that. GAUTENG AS OUR FLAGSHIP PROVINCE Gauteng is the gateway to South Africa and is the economic hub of our country. Yet, we witness how our people struggle to find work and struggle to find a decent home to live in. There are disconcerting signs that our infrastructure is in distress. If you walk down our streets you will see paint flaking from the walls and roofs of the buildings. It is a sad and ugly sight. No-one respects the bylaws and they are definitely not enforced. Our CBDs are fast becoming unhygienic slums threatening community health. UDM Councils will be proactive in identifying problem areas, with the help of communities, to ensure that dilapidated buildings are inspected. Owners will be forced to bring buildings up to standard and to maintain them. This will not only ensure a safe living environment, but is a win-win strategy to reduce crime and increase property values. PRIORITIES OF MUNICIPALITIES It is clear that the councils and municipalities in this province has not done well and in some cases failed completely. In far too many municipalities the councils have their priorities all wrong. For example, in which universe does a council approve millions of Rands to be spent on a mayoral soccer extravaganza whilst they owe millions of Rands for electricity and water. Yet, this happened. Whilst our people are jobless and homeless, councils throw mammoth parties with taxpayers’ money. When you, the voter, go to the ballot box in August, you must think of putting leadership in place that will not forsake the needs of the people with frivolous expenditures. The UDM has the right people and the right plans to make sure that council monies are spent on the bread-and-butter needs. SPATIAL DEVELOPMENT AND DECENT LIVING CONDITIONS People see Gauteng as the duck that lays the golden eggs, and yet when they come to Johannesburg or Pretoria they are in for a rude awakening. Job hunting aside, one of the first things people need is a roof over their heads. Our townships have become a deposit ground for the homeless. People build their meagre shacks wherever they find an open space. Out of desperation, these buildings arise near landfills and floodplains which are extremely dangerous. The rats that infest these areas are disease ridden and are so big they even attack people. UDM councils will make spatial development programmes an immediate priority. People who have built their shacks in dangerous areas must be assisted immediately and measures taken to prevent others from building there. The long-term solution to these problems is the acceleration of housing programmes. The UDM will make adequate housing, in conjunction with provincial and national authorities, one of the highest priorities in those councils where we govern. Local government would immediately make land available for development and infrastructure development will be monitored by both the national department and a municipality. LIVING IN A CLEAN AND HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT: THE JUKSKEI AS AN EXAMPLE Johannesburg’s official waste management service provider states that their mission is to keep the city clean and preserve an attractive and hygienic environment for residents and visitors. Yet, this commendable vision only seems to only apply to certain areas of the city, and only when the company’s workers are not on strike. Let us take areas near the Jukskei River… It is heavily polluted by urban runoff and lack of infrastructure maintenance has let raw waste flow into the river on a daily basis. Outbreaks of cholera are prevalent. Tons of waste such as plastic, metal and rubber flow down the river annually. Aside from the environmental damage the river suffers, many people in Alexandra Township access this water for washing, drinking, and cooking. This is an appalling indictment against the City of Johannesburg. The UDM believes that the problem can be addressed by finding a simple solution closer to the people. A UDM-led municipality will help the people to help themselves by creating small businesses, owned by the community, that will be responsible for cleaning the area they live in. This way jobs are created, people can claim ownership of their environment and all can live in a decent, healthy space. POLITICISING MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS; THE CAPE TOWN EXAMPLE Municipal affairs are, more often than not, politicised to the extent that political parties block each other at every road simply for the joy of derailing each other. This political obstinacy has only one effect: the people suffer. The citizens of the Cape Flats live in abject poverty and squalor and for what? Government, whether it be at local, provincial or national levels have one purpose: that is to work for the betterment of our people. The UDM has a track-record of working with other parties and we will continue our philosophy of doing just that: working with our colleagues to make life liveable for our people irrespective of political affiliation. RATES AND TAXES For years the billing system for rates and taxes in Johannesburg, in particular, has made headline news. Despite assurances that the city has sorted out its mess, the administration continues to battle a large deficit, partly due to poor management and collapsing infrastructure, and partly due to its failure to collect rates and service fees in areas where there is a high rate of illegal usage and/or payment defaults for legitimately supplied utilities. In a UDM-led council, this administrative incompetence will not be tolerated. It is clear that our cities and towns are in need of well trained, competent officials to administer billing systems. In order to get to the bottom of this mess an extensive skills-audit needs to be done immediately and corrective action taken. ADRESSING PROBLEMS OF A COMMUNITY AS COLLECTIVE Unfortunately our people have reached levels of frustration which leads to lawlessness and violence. When they vent their dissatisfaction with service delivery the effects are mostly felt at local level whilst the problems might not necessarily be addressed at that level. In some instances, a councillor will be approached to solve a service delivery problem in the community, but he/she might not be capacitated to address the problem. Very easily that councillor becomes a scapegoat and suffers the wrath of the community. The UDM proposed that small crises committees be instituted that have all the necessary technical expertise to assist councillors in their work. Once dissatisfaction arises within a community, a quick call to such a crises committee can be made. If it is a simple problem of a burst pipe, engineers can be dispatched or if a more a complex problem, meetings can be arranged with complainants and solutions found as a collective. IMPORTANCE OF THE 3 TIERS OF GOVERNMENT WORKING TOGETHER As I have mentioned earlier, our people vent their frustration on the streets where they live. Whether the problem actually lies with national, provincial or local government becomes quite irrelevant. An ordinary citizen will try to find a solution closest to home and that sometimes mean that the blame is laid at a municipality’s door. To prevent this from happening, the UDM believes that it is crucial that all three tiers of government must work much closer when they are planning and budgeting. In other words, the problem must be identified and stopped before it becomes a reality. UDM Councils will therefore be proactive in creating fruitful partnerships with their counterparts higher up in government in an effort to prevent crises before they occur. PUTTING COMMUNITY FIRST The time for citizens to take control of their lives and dictate their destiny is now. Join the United Democratic Movement in its call – “PUT COMMUNITY FIRST”. Putting Community First, means: working together with the South African Police Service, businesses and the community, bring closer to the people, satellite police stations. It also means, empowerment of local community safety organisations like neighbourhood watches. Putting Community First, means: fair and proper valuation of all properties, and stopping the excessive property rates. It also means, ensuring that the correct residents are accurately billed for services they actually receive. Putting Community First, means: access to basic services to the poorest of the poor without being charged. This also means scrapping any Apartheid-era arrears and strengthening of the rolling out of the indigence policy. Putting Community First, means: collection of refuse on a regular basis, cleaning of streets, parks, pest and rodent control and promoting income generation through recycling. Putting Community First, means: no abuse of office power, immediate action against all officials and councilors found to be involved in corrupt activities. It means rooting out any attempt to award municipal tenders to people with personal or family ties to council employees and councilors. It also means, the tendering system shall be transparent, unbiased and open to public scrutiny. CONCLUSION We have so much work to do, the need is great. But we can do this, we can rise above the current disaster in local government. Let us vote for a party and councillors dedicated to joining hands with their communities. This local government election is our chance to show that it can be done. Starting in the streets where we live, we can build something greater, something better, to improve the lives of our families and loved ones. The UDM has stood the test of time and has been consistent in its efforts to make South Africa a Winning Nation. To vote for the UDM is to vote a better future for you and your loved ones. Thank you
Admin
22 Mar, 1999
UDM Manifesto Launch Election 1999 “The future hope for all South Africans”
Address by Mr Bantu Holomisa, MP in Johannesburg, Gauteng It is most appropriate that the release today of our manifesto coincides with the weekend of our National Youth Conference, because we are charting a future, which will be led by the youth. Our objectives therefore address the needs of the future which belongs to them. We are grateful to our youth movement for inviting us to share ideas with them and keep us relevant to their needs and aspirations. In our manifesto we address the historical imbalances which are the heritage of this century. It is up to us to ensure that we do not enter the new millennium with the baggage and legacy of conflict, corruption, greed and selfishness of the 20th century. We must begin a fresh and promising era. This is the challenge facing us all. On the 2nd of June 1999, South Africans will be voting in the last South African elections this century. These elections are of a tremendous significance to the people of South Africa who will be choosing which political party has the most relevant vision and best capacity to lead the country into the next millennium. The main challenge of this year’s election is to give hope to millions of disillusioned South Africans who have seen most of the promises made by incumbent government evaporate before their eyes. South Africans demand an apology from the ANC government for failing them. Further, the choice which will be made on 2nd June 1999 will be about building a government that is clean, accountable and who cares for the people. It will also be about a government which will make South Africa a competent nation that enjoys the support of its citizens and the respect of other nations. As UDM we must give leadership and clarity to a people whose material well-being has degenerated to unparalleled levels even under apartheid. We must restore faith in governance by reversing the process of disempowerment. Our poor working people have been systematically edged out of employment with no prospects of alternative employment for them. Millions of the unemployed, whose ranks are annually swelled by school leavers and more retrenchments, stare a bleak future in the eye. The 1994 elections in our country provided a historic framework for the transition from apartheid oppression towards an era of democracy and prosperity. The transition was conceived in various phases with each phase costing the lives of many South Africans as they, in different ways, struggled to develop a common vision and purpose in the search for a democratic society. Unfortunately, for South African people, the reality in our country indicate that the ANC-led government neither has the will nor the ability to govern. This reality is seen in the escalation of unemployment, crime, interest rates, corruption and the general state of institutional decay in all spheres of government. We in the UDM must arrest this downward spiral which is turning state departments and corporations into a playground for ANC deployed members, who line their pockets by driving other black and white South Africans into the streets in the name of down-sizing and rationalisation. The UDM will substitute a new economic philosophy for ANC’s GEAR. The ANC’s policies are impervious to the needs of the disadvantaged who are bewildered by the disregard of their needs by a government they voted into power. The poor have paid the capital price to ensure the success of a struggle they waged in the fore-front when those who now enjoy the fruits of their labour were touring the capitals of the world. Our manifesto is a statement of intent, which provides a framework for a ten-year period within which we would govern when elected to government. The manifesto seeks to address the glaring national grievances and provides alternatives and solutions in the future as the way forward. Inspired by our unifying love for our country and respect of her people for each other we will address these grievances. It is only by means of genuine co-operation and partnership that we, South Africans, will be empowered to ensure a better quality of life and individual freedom for every citizen, family and community. This will be based on good governance and civil order. One of the most serious flaws in the economic policy of the present government has been a blind leap onto a band-wagon of globalisation without taking the necessary measures to protect local emerging industries and markets which have become the dumping ground for cheap foreign goods. The demise of local industries as a result of unfair competition resulting from inferior technology of the sanctions era has resulted in massive job losses and stifling of economic growth. Our manifesto recognises that globalisation is a reality, but argues for a balanced global strategy that does not reduce South Africa into a satellite economy. An UDM government will develop an economic policy that will enable our economy to withstand the external shocks that have rocked the Asian tigers and other emerging markets. To that end the UDM has adopted a policy of enterprise development to empower South Africans to create wealth and thereby narrowing the gap between the have’s and the have-nots. However, globalisation accounts for only part of our economic woes. Lack of investor confidence has been occasioned by lawlessness and escalating crime. Rightly or wrongly there is a growing perception that the relocating and delisting of mining giants like Anglo-American is linked to the deteriorating law and order and lack of confidence in the future of South Africa. We need to arrest this process and restore confidence. In this regard, the UDM will adopt realistic and committed strategies to stop the rampant crime wave and to transform the penal code into an effective mechanism for punishing wrong doers. In line with our philosophy of an integrated approach, we propose a single Ministry of Civil Order. This Ministry of Civil Order will combine the current ministries of Justice, Safety and Security, Correctional Services, National Intelligence and Defence into one, effective mechanism to combat crime and restore civil order in South Africa. In doing so we shall instil pride and commitment in our law enforcement agencies to ensure their loyalty and dedication to their job of protecting the public and divest them of the feeling of despair and disillusionment at the hands of a government which treats them with contempt. We will give the people an opportunity to decide whether the life of a murderer is more valuable than that of its victim, by holding a referendum on the death penalty. The UDM recognises that while students in centres of learning must be given a hearing and allowed to make a meaningful contribution to the learning process, their primary responsibility to themselves and their parents who pay their fees is to restore the culture of learning. Learn in the process and equip them to salvage the disadvantaged from the throes of perpetual enslavement. The students of today and in the future must take a leadership position in society which only skills can assure. Conversely, we will not countenance lawlessness, anarchy and disrespect for authority law and order. Ladies and Gentlemen, the foreign policy of the UDM will determinedly work towards reclaiming the international opportunities squandered under most favourable circumstances. We will play a leading role internationally by assiduously co-operating with other states, the U.N., the O.A.U. and the Non-aligned Movement to protect and promote human rights and democracy on a universal basis. The UDM believe that South Africa’s role on our continent and in our region can be meaningful without being hegemonic and coercive in our approach. For that to be a reality we need a foreign policy that reflects the wishes of our people and the wisdom of our parliament so that we are not accused of following destabilisation policies of the apartheid era. Therefore in our region, the UDM government will play a significant role through co-operation and consultation in all forms of interactions including trade, investments security and other forms of partnerships in order to bring shared development and happiness to the many disadvantaged in our region and continent who have yet to realise the material benefits of political liberation. As far as the elections are concerned, we are fully prepared for a hostile winter election. The ANC, by its own admission, is mobilising its forces to stop the growth of the UDM all over South Africa. We are hardly surprised that no other party has been targeted, like ours, because scientific forecasts indicate that the UDM is the fastest growing party in South Africa. The UDM is the only party that can erode the power base of the ANC. It is up to the UDM and all its supporters that all the checks and balances as enshrined in our constitution are guaranteed. As long as South Africa is being seen by the international world as drifting towards a one-party state, investor confidence will elude us. It is for this reason that we are calling for a more objective and non-partisan election monitoring mechanisms. To this end I have recommended to the I.E.C. Commissioners to convene a summit of all the leaders of the registered political parties to clear some concerns related to the levelling of the political playing field. However, it is to the credit of our leaders at all levels that our membership growth patterns reflect that we have support in all South African communities irrespective of colour, race or class. This is testimony to our total break with the past and the acceptance of the UDM as a political home for all South Africans. The UDM has a message for all South Africans. Our lack of resources should not constrain the distribution of this manifesto. We appeal to all South Africans to make this document accessible to all voters. This will enable them to make informed decisions when they vote. We have moved from the past and converged on a common course to a shared future. Any suggestions, as have been made, that we are a marriage of convenience or a home of outcasts is devoid of truth. We have severed all links with the past. We are a party of the future. We are a party of hope. Those who think otherwise are themselves extinct dinosaurs. In summary, the UDM believes in alternative, independent and competitive politics and responsible government; UDM believes in empowering all South Africans; UDM offers hope; this is our challenge. If you want to preserve South Africa’s beautiful land and cultural diversity; If you are concerned with the ANC’s economic dependence on outside forces and jobless growth; If you are aggrieved by the escalating crime; If you are concerned by the deteriorating health and educational standards in state hospitals, clinics and schools; If you are concerned with the uncontrolled influx of illegal aliens into South Africa, who deprive South Africans of employment opportunities; If you are concerned about our neglected senior citizens and handicapped; If you are concerned with the misuse of government resources, bribery and corruption, theft and fraud in the government departments; If you are concerned with the low morale of our law enforcement agencies. THEN VOTE UDM!!!!!! Thank you
