Admin
25 Jun, 2026
UDM to hold its 6th National Congress in East London
Statement by Zandile Phiri, Acting Secretary General of the United Democratic Movement The United Democratic Movement (UDM) will hold its 6th National Congress from 26 to 28 June 2026 at the grounds of Absa Stadium in East London, Eastern Cape, where 2,500 voting delegates from across the country will gather for one of the most important organisational and political moments in the life of the Party. The UDM’s 6th National Congress agenda will include the tabling and discussion of organisational and financial reports, the consideration of proposed constitutional amendments, and a review of the Party’s structures, systems and organisational health. Delegates will also consider the UDM’s strategic roadmap towards the 2026 Local Government Elections and beyond. This will include discussion on mobilisation, campaign readiness, the Party’s offer to communities, and the work required to rebuild public confidence in municipalities. On the road to the 2029 National and Provincial Elections, the 2026 local government campaign will be an important platform from which the UDM will strengthen its structures, expand its public reach, and reconnect with communities that are demanding clean, capable and accountable government. The Congress will also mark the launch of the Party’s 2026 Local Government Elections Manifesto. Through this manifesto, the UDM will sharpen its message on clean governance, reliable basic services, protection of public money, ethical leadership and accountable councillors. A key item on the programme will be the election of the UDM’s National Office Bearers for the next term of office. The electoral process will be presided over by the Electoral Institute for Sustainable Democracy in Africa (IEMSA), with Advocate Terry Tselane serving as the presiding officer for the confirmation of the voting college, announcement of duly nominated candidates, election procedure briefing, voting, counting and announcement of results. UDM President, Major General Bantu Holomisa, MP, will deliver the keynote address and launch the UDM’s 2026 Local Government Elections manifesto during the open session on Saturday, 27 June 2026. This UDM National Congress takes place at an important moment for both the UDM and South Africa. The state of the nation remains deeply concerning, with unemployment, poverty, crime, corruption, weak municipalities, unreliable services and declining public trust in government continuing to place communities under severe pressure. Against this backdrop, the UDM will use its 6th National Congress to strengthen its structures, renew its mandate, and reaffirm its commitment to disciplined, ethical and accountable political organisation, clean governance, reliable basic services, the protection of public money, community-centred leadership, and a local government agenda that puts people before power. Members of the media are invited to cover the open session of the Congress: Dates : 26, 27 and 28 June 2026 Venue : Absa Stadium, East London, Eastern Cape Open media session : Saturday, 27 June 2026 Time : Media arrival from 08:00; open session starts at 10:30 Credentials : Members of the media are requested to report to the registration desks for accreditation. The open session of the Congress will be broadcast live on national television and streamed on the UDM’s official Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/udm.rsa/. Members of the public, supporters and stakeholders who are unable to attend in person are encouraged to follow the proceedings on television or through the UDM’s Facebook page for live coverage and updates from the Congress. UDM President Bantu Holomisa, MP’s keynote address, the tabled congress documents, and the PDF version of the UDM’s 2026 Local Government Elections manifesto will be made available on www.udm.org.za and on the UDM’s social media platforms following the official launch of the manifesto by President Holomisa on Saturday.
Admin
13 Dec, 2015
UDM 5th National Congress resolutions
Having met on its 5th Congress, the United Democratic Movement strives to create a South African government that responds to the socio-economic challenges confronting the nation. The UDM fifth Congress laid another brick towards building a firm foundation for the development and fine-tuning of Party policies on wide ranging issues of the nation. The Congress was extremely concerned with the rate of corruption within our country that has reached a stage of being a threat to our national security. It mandated its leader in parliament to sponsor at the National Assembly a “Bribery Bill” as part of the aggressive fight against public and private sector corruption. The UDM will lobby and mobilise for national government to revisit the tax system and tighten financial controls as part of the mechanisms to fight the illicit financial flows and its adverse impact on the economy. To compel all companies directly investing into the South African economy to have local content on ownership and preconceived obligation to reinvest certain percentage of its profits within the country. The Congress further mandated the National Executive Committee to continue lobbying other political parties, civil society organisations and the nation at large for a National Indaba on Economic Transformation in order to develop a blue print of the economic transformation path and to develop a national blue print on spatial local economic development to avoid the capital outflow in the guise of rural and local economic development initiatives. The UDM has decided to continue being part of radical campaign for a free quality education and lobby all sectors of society for the realisation of sustainable development and human dignity for all. The Congress denounced the decision to sack the Minister of Finance, Nhlanhla Nene, as irrational and not meeting up to the S1(c) demands of the national constitution. The UDM is against the deployment of ruling party cadres without skills into high position of power within the state and/or state companies. This practice not only promotes inefficiency and corruption, and is fast turning the country into a Banana Republic. The Congress resolved to radically campaign and mobilise South African society against the elite projects, like E-Tolls and Nuclear Energy Plants, intendent to fund the ruling elite friends and the confers of the ruling party. The UDM believes the falling prices of renewable energy technology makes it the only sensible option for sustainable development that is couched on the protection of our environment. Therefore the UDM aligns itself with the aggressive campaigns for Green Energy. The Congress mandated the National Executive Committee (NEC) to develop and adopt a re-branding strategy that would make the party relevant to the demands of the 21st century. This include attracting into its fold all sectors of society in particular youth, students and professionals. The Congress adopted the 2016 Local Government Elections – Manifesto whose theme is: “Put Community First – Save South Africa – Live the Dream”. It further directed all its structures branches to be part of social audits in their respective communities to ensure the monitoring and evaluation of service delivery. UDM, will create inclusive and independent ward committees that represent and account to citizens of a ward than to a party councillor. These ward committees will be responsible for coordinating development of ward based plans to be included in the municipal IDP. Consultation with communities will mean, under UDM council; that citizens of a ward will be responsible for identifying their challenges, solutions and be central in implementing their developmental plans. UDM will not give priority to its members who are councillors over the citizens of a ward and a municipality. Any UDM councillor that is alleged of corruption or any other act that is against the people will be swiftly removed. The Congress was totally against the new elite systems that contravenes poor people’s Constitutional rights to Basic services like water and electricity. It mandated the National Executive Committee to convene a National Policy Conference within eighteen (18) months from the date of the Congress. We believe in a UDM that serves the people that people serving it. This is so, because UDM firmly accept that first is the country and its citizens.
Admin
30 Aug, 1997
UDM: Preparatory conference: 30 August 1997
statement issued by NMP Media Manager Representatives of the provincial co-ordinating structures and the national office of the New Movement Process met in Bloemfontein yesterday for a national preparatory conference to report back on the country-wide consultation process and to prepare for the launch of the new party on September 27, 1997. The conference marked the end of the three month long consultation process where ideas and inputs from thousands of South Africans were garnered in order to inform on the need for a new political party, and the points of departure, policy framework and vision and mission of such a party. A report back on these was done by the provincial representatives and summarised by Roelf Meyer. In preparation for the national launch on 27 September, the following resolutions were unanomously and enthusiastically adopted by the conference: To support the establishment of a new political party on 27 September 1997, jointly with the National Consultative Forum, with a view to assuming the responsibility of governing the Republic of South Africa at the earliest opportunity. To mandate the leader of the New Movement Process (NMP), Mr Roelf Meyer, to lead the NMP into the formation of the new party on 27 September 1997. To nominate Mr Roelf Meyer and Gen Bantu Holomisa to jointly lead the new party until its first full congress, which is to be held not later than 30 June, 1998. To mandate the joint leadership to decide on the name, symbols and colours of the new party. That any political party wishing to join the new party on 27 September 1997, should disband beforehand. Their members can then join the new party as individuals. The leader of the National Consultative Forum, Gen Bantu Holomisa, joined the conference with a message from the NCF, which was received with acclaim. The entire conference expressed its extreme excitement and enthusiasm for the launching of the new party: Throughout South Africa there is a spirit of anticipation for a realignment in politics, which is also one of the main objectives for launching the new party.
