Admin
19 Apr, 2018
#LandQuestion Indaba on 25/4 in Mthatha. Searching for solutions. Invitation to attend a Mthatha public meeting on: NA resolution on the EWC explained, and UDM position
The national leadership of the United Democratic Movement (UDM) noted the National Assembly’s resolution, taken on the 27th of February 2018, on the well-documented motion regarding the expropriation of land without compensation (EWC). This decision will affect communal, urban, government and privately-owned land and the UDM cordially invites all interested parties to attend an important public meeting to obtain more information on topic: Where? Mthatha City Hall. When? Wednesday, 25 April. Time? 10am. The UDM leadership has, as such, mandated me to reach out to all sectors of society, including but not limited to traditional and religious leaders, as well as communities to explain the: 1. meaning and implications of the resolution; 2. processes which parliament will follow in consulting with all stakeholders; and 3. mechanism to be used in making submissions to the parliamentary constitutional review committee. For your information, the UDM is on record saying that the issue of EWC must be addressed in terms of the following matters: • Who exactly (individuals, companies and/or government) will be affected and how? • How does food security and economic stability impact implementation – does it, for instance, prevent expropriation in specific circumstances, and what would those be? • How will government handle rapid urbanisation and an ever-increasing need to make land available in cities and the denuding in rural committees and those local economies? • How will traditional leaders, and rural communities be affected; • How will entities such as the Ingonyama Trust, among others, be impacted? • What will be the effect on the land tenure system? • What would the position be on the sale of [urban] land to foreigners? • How will the issuing of title deeds be sped up so that entrepreneurs may use this as collateral to secure capital for start-ups? Issued by: Mr Bantu Holomisa, MP UDM President
Admin
12 Jul, 2017
Attack on young Mthatha woman: UDEMWO commends swift arrest
Statement issued by Thandi Nontenja – UDEMWO Secretary General The United Democratic Movement Women’s Organisation (UDEMWO) commends the police officials on the swift arrest of suspects who allegedly raped and horrendously hacked a 19 year old woman in Xhwili village near Mthatha, Eastern Cape. This attack is another example of the escalation of gender based violence that we are witnessing in South Africa at the moment. These swift arrests are a good sign. We hope that the investigation will shed light and that those involved will soon be brought to book. The perpetrators must face the wrath of justice for their inhumane acts. UDEMWO reiterates its call to Minister of Women in the Presidency Susan Shabangu whose silence is deafening. We want to see a functional department that make real changes in women’s lives. End
Admin
08 Mar, 2016
Isilimela Road in Port St Johns and the Mthatha High Court
Statement by Mr Mncedisi Filtane (MP) in the National Assembly Responding to the much published potential loss of the public monies, the United Democratic Movement (UDM) member of the National Assembly Portfolio Committee on Public Works, Mr. Mncedisi Filtane, fielded this question to the Department: “What is that the department if doing about a much publicised potential loss surrounding the stalled road construction of the Isilimela Road in Port St Johns and whose contract value is R200 million?” The department made a commitment in the Portfolio Committee meeting, that it will investigate the matter, working with the Provincial Department of Public Works and thereafter, present a report to the committee soon. The United Democratic Movement welcomes this speedy response and commitment. We hope the investigation will ensure that the much needed road is constructed with speed and that public monies are not wasted. We further welcome a commitment made the by Minister of Public Works with regard to the Mthatha high court infrastructural upgrade. During 2015, this matter was raised with the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services. Amongst issues raised was the infrastructural decay of the high court. Today, the Minister of Public Works, pronounced that the Mthatha high court will be attended to, from the 1st of April 2016 and a progress report will be presented to the Portfolio Committee at the end of the first quarter of the year, which is the end of June. We also welcome this commitment and looking forward to the upgrading of the Mthatha High Court so that it can provide qualitative services to the people.
Admin
07 May, 2015
SUBJECT FOR DISCUSSION: Vote 11 on Public Works
ADDRESS BY Mr ML Filtane MP Hon Chairperson, Minister and Members The United Democratic Movement supports the budget. However we want to drive home the following important issues for the department to pay the necessary attention to, during the current financial season. • For the financial year 2014/15, the Minister committed the department to creation of over a million work opportunities through the Expanded Public Works Programme as a contribution to the overall commitment to create 6 million work opportunities by 2019. In this regard, the department should quarterly and annually update its statistics against the targets and report accordingly. • During our oversight visit to Pretoria, one eight storey building, in which the Council for the Built Environment is involved, was discovered to be socially unfriendly and non-compliant with basic prescripts governing and regulating conditions for buildings, private and public. This matter needs to be attended to urgently. One ablution facility and toilet to serve 32 tenants in one floor is just not acceptable. • The Departmental Offices situated in Mthatha in the Eastern Cape, has not been functioning optimally for a while, allegedly due to internal management challenges. This situation, if left unattended to, is compromising the efficiency and effectiveness of the department to render its services to its clientele. The Departmental Administrative Head should ensure that the situation is resolved. • The department must move with speed in finalising all the outstanding lease agreements. • The security of the Parliamentary villages remains a very sore and critical matter, this is notwithstanding all important decisions taken in the past. We still receive reports of break inns and uninvited visitors from outside in the middle of the night, risking the security of members. The department must ensure that once decisions are taken, they are implemented with the speedy they deserve. It must be remembered that this is classified as PRESTIGE PORTFOLIO of the department. • We need to get an update reports on the suitability of all government buildings in terms of access by people with disability as regulated. The department undertook last year to ensure that all Government buildings are compliant. • This budget, must also consider the funding framework for the Independent Development Trust. This should be consistent with the mandate of the IDT. The future of the employees of this entity remains uncertain, whilst this matter remains in limbo. The UDM hopes that corruption that has been widely reported, painting the department as a heaven of corrupt activities, is being aggressively addressed at an accelerated pace. I thank you. End
Admin
07 May, 2015
SUBJECT FOR DISCUSSION: Vote 11 on Public Works
ADDRESS BY Mr ML Filtane MP Hon Chairperson, Minister and Members The United Democratic Movement supports the budget. However we want to drive home the following important issues for the department to pay the necessary attention to, during the current financial season. • For the financial year 2014/15, the Minister committed the department to creation of over a million work opportunities through the Expanded Public Works Programme as a contribution to the overall commitment to create 6 million work opportunities by 2019. In this regard, the department should quarterly and annually update its statistics against the targets and report accordingly. • During our oversight visit to Pretoria, one eight storey building, in which the Council for the Built Environment is involved, was discovered to be socially unfriendly and non-compliant with basic prescripts governing and regulating conditions for buildings, private and public. This matter needs to be attended to urgently. One ablution facility and toilet to serve 32 tenants in one floor is just not acceptable. • The Departmental Offices situated in Mthatha in the Eastern Cape, has not been functioning optimally for a while, allegedly due to internal management challenges. This situation, if left unattended to, is compromising the efficiency and effectiveness of the department to render its services to its clientele. The Departmental Administrative Head should ensure that the situation is resolved. • The department must move with speed in finalising all the outstanding lease agreements. • The security of the Parliamentary villages remains a very sore and critical matter, this is notwithstanding all important decisions taken in the past. We still receive reports of break inns and uninvited visitors from outside in the middle of the night, risking the security of members. The department must ensure that once decisions are taken, they are implemented with the speedy they deserve. It must be remembered that this is classified as PRESTIGE PORTFOLIO of the department. • We need to get an update reports on the suitability of all government buildings in terms of access by people with disability as regulated. The department undertook last year to ensure that all Government buildings are compliant. • This budget, must also consider the funding framework for the Independent Development Trust. This should be consistent with the mandate of the IDT. The future of the employees of this entity remains uncertain, whilst this matter remains in limbo. The UDM hopes that corruption that has been widely reported, painting the department as a heaven of corrupt activities, is being aggressively addressed at an accelerated pace. I thank you. End
