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25 Aug, 2017
NMB coalition: UDM participation – notice to pull out
Letter by UDM President Bantu Holomisa to Coalition Opposition Party Rev Kenneth Meshoe, MP President, African Christian Democratic Party Mr Mosiuoa Lekota, MP President, Congress of the People Mr Mmusi Maimane, MP Leader, Democratic Alliance Dr Pieter Groenewald, MP Leader, Freedom Front Plus Dear Colleagues NELSON MANDELA BAY METRO COALITION: UDM PARTICIPATION – NOTICE TO PULL OUT 1. The United Democratic Movement (UDM) National Executive Committee (NEC) met on Saturday, 5 August 2017. The NEC expressed serious reservations about the manner with which the Democratic Alliance (DA) treats the UDM in dealing with the situation at the Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality (NMBMM). 2. The UDM NEC expressed its intense dislike of the DA’s style and manner of operation which undermine the Coalition and the decisions we had taken, at the highest level, to resolve the situation concerning Councillors Trollip and Bobani. The findings of the three-person team remain that both Councillors Trollip and Bobani were fingered by the findings of the investigation, Yet, the DA seems to think that it is above those decisions and want to unilaterally force the UDM to comply. Why is the DA not taking action against Councillor Trollip? This is a double standard. In the end, the Co-governance Agreement makes provision for a conflict resolution mechanism and we have followed those prescriptions to the letter. Why is the DA operating like “big-brother” outside these provisions? They are not only attacking the UDM directly, but also actively undermining the collective leadership of the Coalition Partners. 3. In addition, we take a dim view of the underhanded scheme to have Cllr Marlon Daniels (from the Patriotic Alliance (PA)) move for a motion of no-confidence against Deputy-Executive Mayor Bobani. We wonder at this PA/DA “side-marriage”, which seems to be outside the Co-governance Agreement? How is this relationship managed? Is the PA being swallowed by the DA? How can Councillor Daniels, who is not a Coalition Partner, be aware or have information about the allegations that Councillor Bobani is destabilising the Coalition? 4. The DA is acting in such a hypocritical manner. We are reminded that, at the first council meeting in the City of Johannesburg, the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) insisted that they would not work with the DA, should it go ahead with the appointment of Councillor Herman Mashaba as Executive Mayor. The DA told the EFF they would not be dictated to by another political party; yet in this instance the DA wants to dictate to the UDM? Yet another double-standard. 5. To make matters worse, in a recent City Press article, DA leader Musi Maimane, said about Cllr Bobani: “…that a preliminary investigation into the deputy mayor showed prima facie evidence of corruption.” The UDM has not been privy to this “preliminary investigation”; which begs the question whether any of the Coalition partners have seen it? The City Press also reported that: “Maimane said the DA had repeatedly appealed to the UDM national leadership to replace Bobani with another candidate, but the party refused to do so, signalling a tolerance for corruption which infringed upon the coalition agreement.” On the 22nd of August, in a meeting of the leaders of coalition in Cape Town, Maimane asserted that the DA has a report from PriceWaterhouseCoopers (PWC) which implicates Bobani in maladministration. The leaders of the coalition demanded to be given this report. The PricewaterhouseCoopers report was only delivered yesterday, the 23rd of August, and we are still yet to see a line that implicates Bobani on corruption. The DA has gone rogue in the worst manner possible. Going to the media and saying that the UDM tolerates corruption is tantamount to defamation. Making these damaging statements about the UDM in the media is also in contravention of the Co-governance Agreement. Why must we tolerate this? 6. The UDM NEC decided that should these matters not be put to rest once and for all, the UDM will review its decision to be part of the NMBMM coalition. As a result of the DA’s dirty tricks campaign against Bobani and the UDM, today Deputy Mayor Bobani was irregularly removed from his post. In light of the DA’s stance, we have no option but to inform you that the decision of the UDM’s NEC must be put into immediate effect. In other words, if Bobani is not reinstated to his position by the 28th of August, the UDM will pull out. Yours sincerely Mr Bantu Holomisa, MP UDM President
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20 Aug, 2015
UDM wins Ward 30 in the Nelson Mandela Metro
The United Democratic Movement (UDM) is pleased to win Ward 30 in the Nelson Mandela Metro By-Elections that were conducted yesterday. This is a big achievement for us as a Party and it shows that UDM is growing. We would like to congratulate Councillor Mandla Faltein for his undying hard work. Well done to him for all the effort. Faltein grew up within the Party and he knows the philosophy of the Organisation of putting people first. He is the conveyor belt between the members of the community and municipality. We would also like to thank the community that has helped in this victorious win. We also thank the team that has worked tirelessly in making sure we get this victorious achievement. Your hard work and dedication does not go unnoticed. If it was not for the community members, we would have not made it. As the UDM we would like to pledge to the voters that they will never be alienated by the Party. End
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20 May, 2015
Sport and politics cannot go together
On behalf of the United Democratic Movement, I wish to congratulate Dr Danny Jordaan for his appointment as Mayor of the Nelson Mandela Metro, Port Elizabeth. He is a well-known figure especially in the soccer fraternity and has achieved a lot in his life including being the President of South African Football Association, serving in FIFA and other Committees in Sport. However, as much as we don’t have anything against him, since this is a political appointment – The UDM hopes that he would do the right thing by resigning in his position as President of SAFA. The independence and neutrality of SAFA must be protected and not be blemished by politics. The SAFA Committee can say anything but must keep in mind that, politics are not like any other industry and they must compare apples with apples. Jordaan is now going to take orders from the ANC headquarters, so whatever that he will be doing or saying, people will not be able to see him as an independent person. Let us save our sports from this political game. Statement issued by Bongani Msomi – UDM Secretary General
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29 Jul, 2014
Nelson Mandela Day – address by Mr Nqabayomzi Kwankwa, MP in the National Assembly
Madam Speaker, Deputy President and Honourable Members President Nelson Mandela’s election and inauguration in 1994 marked the end of many years oppression and caused South Africans of all races to fill the streets, all celebrating our victory in the fight for the self-evident right to determine our own destiny. Some shouted from their rooftops lines from SEK Mqhayi’s poem, Ukutshona kukaMendi, the SS Mendi steamship, which sank in 1917 killing all the troops on board. These lines have over the years been used to describe not only the bravery of the men, who died in this tragic incident, but to also explain a course of events that has been predetermined by fate. Mqhayi says, and I quote: “Sibona kamhlophe sithi bekumele, Sithethe engqondweni sithi bekufanele, Xa bekungenjalo bekungasayi kulunga, Ngoko ke Sotase kwaqala ukulunga.” End quote. Speaker, We did this precisely because Madiba was a man of courage, who refused to withdraw when difficulties ensued. He fought gallantly to deliver freedom and justice for all. During his term in office, Madiba meticulously stitched together a people as diverse as our country’s scenery into a Rainbow nation. We must however admit that race relations have regressed since the Madiba days. Anger, resentment and racism sometimes belie the seemingly well-adjusted Rainbow Nation. We therefore have to work hard to build a cohesive Nation that works towards the well-being of all the people. Speaker, Madiba did not only leave us a legacy of peace, forgiveness and justice, but he also left us one of the best Constitutions in the world, which is fortified by a number of institutions that support our constitutional democracy. While talking about democratic institutions, Honourable Members, our conduct in this House over the past few weeks has left much to be desired. It has chipped away at the foundation of Parliament and the very same very same Madiba legacy we seek to uphold and preserve. I submit that nations around the world use Parliament as a dipstick through which to measure the quality of a nation’s discourse, as well as the quality and the maturity of its leaders. Considering how badly we been behaving in this House, we should not complain when people mistake Parliament for a gathering of gangsters and hooligans. We must maintain the decorum of the House and treat each other with respect at all times. In honour of Madiba, we have to use this House to fight poverty, unemployment and inequality and to build a just and better South Africa for all. Fellow Compatriots, In conclusion, in his parliamentary farewell speech to Madiba in 1999, former President Mbeki said the following words, which still ring true today, because Madiba is with us in spirit and I quote: “We have you, Madiba, as our nearest and brightest star to guide us on our way. We will not get lost.” End quote. Thank you.
