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16 Aug, 2018
Message by Mr BH Holomisa, MP and UDM President on the 16th of August 2018 at the Commemoration of the Marikana Massacre
• Programme Director • The families of the victims of the Marikana Massacre • Ladies and Gentlemen 1. Opening Thank you for allowing me to share in this occasion, the commemoration of the Marikana Massacre. We must always remember what happened on this awful day six years ago, so that it may never be repeated. 2. No consequences for criminals We live in a country where there are no consequences for breaking the law. Worst still when it is our very own government that is doing so. It is frustrating that there are no consequences for those who steal; there are no consequences for those who engage in corruption and there are no consequences for those guilty of murder. This must stop. 3. The UDM’s message to mineworkers It is the mineworkers of this country that must bring about change in how government manages the mineworking industry. Each time there is a cabinet reshuffle the policies change as a new personality takes over the reins. The mining experts are frustrated, because they are being tossed around by politicians. This too must stop. It is time for the owners and the mineworkers to get their acts together and speak the same language on this score. 4. Land and the purpose of the parliamentary committee’s hearings Whilst I have the opportunity, I want to remind you that the parliamentary hearings that took place all over the country, were to determine whether the constitution should in fact be amended or not. This is phase one. The second phase is where the “how” part should be discussed, whether the parliamentary committee recommends that the constitution should be amended or not. The current land-owners such as government, big business, the Anglo’s of this world and the traditional leaders and churches should meet under one roof, together with political parties, to hammer out the “how” part of such a process. People’s expectations have been raised and phase 2 must happen very soon, as there has already been threats of land grabs and even civil war. 5. When will things change? What each of us must take to heart is that things will not change unless we take to task those who have disappointed us… those who have abandoned us. We must stop moaning and do something about those who squander and pillage state resources. It is time for the South African voters to say: NO MORE. We will no longer be fooled by your empty election promises. The ANC must be punished come the 2019 elections. Their support should be drastically cut back as a lesson to any party which thinks it can walk over South Africans. That power lies in the voters’ hands alone; it lies in your hands alone. 6. Closing As I close, I say to the families of those who lost their lives, as well as to those who survived that fateful day; We will keep you in our prayers. We hope that time heals some of your sorrows and that peace will replace some of your heartache. Thank You
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30 Apr, 2018
Workers Day 2018
Media release by Mr Nqabayomzi Kwankwa, MP and UDM Deputy President On Labour Day, 1 May 2018, we all dwell on the plight of the working South African and the United Democratic Movement (UDM) unequivocally supports our workforce. South Africa’s painful history, with the exploitation of black South Africans, has left a scar on the psyche of our workforce and the poor. Today the formerly oppressed, comprising the biggest section of our workforce, as well as the poor, find themselves doing menial and/or physical labour for a slave wage. Only the lucky few has joined the middle class and the comrades in corruption have left their brothers and sisters to rot in the clutches of poverty which they are unlikely to escape under a ANC-led government. The UDM takes a dim view of big corporates’ annual threat of job-shedding, because they claim they cannot afford a too-high wage bill at the time of annual increases. Pay your directors less money and reduce the gap between the haves and the have-nots! Be what Judge Mervyn King calls conscious companies and look at the big picture before you ruthlessly cut jobs. The UDM reiterates the urgent call it made last week, for government to refer the proposed changes to our labour legislation back to the National Economic Development and Labour Council (Nedlac). We believe that the proposed changes will roll back progress made thus far. We also reiterate the call that Nedlac must have a wider range of representation and should not exclusively comprise of big business, the big unions and big trade federations. As we mark this day with those who have jobs, we also have in mind the millions of South Africans (including those with tertiary qualifications) who do not have work. We must not only concern ourselves with the rights of workers, but also with the right of all our people to work, have dignity and prosperity, as well as the opportunity to contribute to the economy. In fact, every day should be Labour Day, where we work towards a working and winning nation. Issued by: Mr Nqabayomzi Kwankwa, MP UDM Deputy-President and Chief Whip in the National Assembly
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01 May, 2014
Address by UDM President, Mr Bantu Holomisa at a Nactu Workers’ Day Celebration in eMalahleni (Witbank), Mpumalanga
• Programme Director • Nactu Leadership • Nactu Members • My fellow South Africans THANK YOU On behalf of the United Democratic Movement (UDM), I thank you for the opportunity to share the stage with the National Council of Trade Unions on this very important day. RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN GOVERNMENT AND WORKERS The past few years has seen a new dynamic in our political discourse that harks back to the time before our new democracy. The Marikana Massacre on 16 August 2012, was an incident of the most use of lethal force by South African security forces against civilians since the Sharpeville Massacre in 1960. Twenty one months hence, the ruling party adds further insult to this egregious injury. First Minister Fikile Mbalula tried to ply the African National Congress’ (ANC) pretense of caring and then President Zuma’s scheduled outing was cancelled due to “violence in the area”. Instead of visiting the area when it mattered, and listening to workers’ concerns, the ruling party sent their police to harshly suppress the masses – a blatant use of state resources to defend the ruling elite’s interests in the mining industry. It is impossible to comprehend the arrogance with which the ruling party treats our people. Where were government’s leaders when the danger signs showed? Where were they during the aftermath? The words of the ruling party’s North West provincial chairman Supra Mahumapelo illustrates the ANC’s disdain. He said: “We do not want to draw unnecessary attention… We do not want to give anarchists a platform to advance their agenda.” What kind of leadership provokes violence and then calls our people “anarchists”? Do you even recognise this ANC anymore? Would you judge these so-called leaders to be of the same cloth as the leaders of the struggle? They seem to be nothing more than impostors who masquerade in the name of the people. The original agenda, which is to improve the lives of all South Africans, is a carcass from which these hyenas has grown fat and then left it to rot. GOVERNMENT’S RELUCTANCE TO INVEST IN THE ECONOMY TO CREATE JOBS The irony of celebrating Workers’ Day is that most of our people don’t have work. The rest of the 364 days of the year should each be called: “Jobless Day”. The paradox of the South African economy since 1994 has been jobless growth, even when this country has had a sustained growth for ten years. The ruling party’s policies have failed to grow our economy at the rate required to create jobs. After a careful analysis of South Africa’s economic challenges and opportunities, reinforced by comparative analysis of successful policies in other countries, the UDM has a practical realisable plan. The basic philosophy of the UDM is that “Government Must Do More”. While the UDM recognises the valuable role that markets should play, it is of the firm belief that government must play a key role in creating a stable policy environment and developing the economy for the benefit of our people. “Government Must Do More” means that a responsible government: • cannot depend on market forces alone. • cannot fail to decisively intervene in the economy whilst the quality of life of its citizens deteriorates, South Africans cannot find decent work, millions live in abject poverty and suffer because of underdevelopment. • has to ensure that our political freedom translates into economic emancipation. CLOSURE It is time for change. May the 7th, can be the catalyst for that change, but this cannot happen if you don’t take action. The ANC has failed abysmally to unite South Africans and make nation building the priority. The UDM remains committed to creating a political home for all South Africans, a place where we can all share our freedom together. Thank you
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01 May, 2014
Workers’ Day 2014
Workers’ Day is a celebration of labour and the working classes. In this regard, the United Democratic Movement (UDM) recognises the right of employers and employees to organise themselves to campaign and lobby the aspirations of their members. Given our history it is clear that labour organisations have a role to play in society and are a strong voice of social conscience. After all, this country must never return to a situation where our people are exploited as slaves and a source of cheap labour. Although we celebrate this day with those who have jobs, we think of the millions of South Africans who do not have work. We must not only concern ourselves with the rights of workers, but also with the right of all South Africans to work and to contribute to the economy. The labour disputes – such as the current ones in the mining industry – makes it clear that where labour is directly affiliated and dependent upon a political master, it does not serve its primary purpose. The ruling party has presided over so-called ‘jobless growth’ – which simply means that it has steered the economy into a direction that does not create jobs or increase the overall wealth of the country. With elections around the corner, we hope that South Africans will vote for job creation – in other words, a vote for the UDM.
