Admin
02 Feb, 1998
South Africa’s competitiveness
Statement by UDM President and Deputy-President The surprising rating of South Africa’s competitiveness as 7th among 23 African countries by the World Economic Forum should be a clear wake-up call if we want to develop a world-class country within ten years. The main reasons for our poor performance are essentially the pessimistic business perceptions of South Africa, with the high crime rate as the most bedeviling factor, and the low ratings regarding the training and productivity of our labour force. These factors are all to a degree controllable by government: the crime rate warrants even stricter and more holistic measures in the form of a policy concerning civil order, and further economic reforms in order to alleviate massive unemployment in our country. The pressure is also squarely on the shoulders of the education system to supply a labour force of adequately-trained workers, especially in the fields of science, mathematics and languages. Productivity is a further issue which should be addressed primarily during education and training. The vision of making South Africa a world-class country in ten years’ time, is one that will require our national focus on all sectors of government and private companies. We will have to outlive the past and solve all our problems and shortcomings jointly as South Africans. That is the challenge that we need to grasp, the opportunity that we should transform into reality.
Admin
29 Jan, 1998
Inquiry into Shaw affair
Statement by Media and Marketing Director The sordid contract by the Central Energy Fund (CEF) with Emmanuel Shaw II will now, to the relief of taxpayers and proponents of clean, corruption-free government, hopefully be terminated. The UDM urges the Minister of Mineral and Energy Affairs to immediately implement the recommendations of the departmental investigation. Terminating Mr Shaw’s contract immediately, investigating possibilities of recovering expenses related to the contract and terminating the CEF’s board’s term not later than March 31, seem to be the first steps needed to be taken in this regard. Minister Penuell Maduna will do well to scrutinise his department to rid it of all irregularities like these. He will also benefit from not listening to bad advice. His accusations against the Auditor-General is very much still in the public eye, an event which has since not been brought to finality. In the spirit of transparency and good governance, this matter still needs to be settled publicly. The UDM awaits developments in this department and ministry.
Admin
26 Jan, 1998
Provinces need to heed national schools policy
Statement by Media and Marketing Director In these times of transformation, special care has to be taken by the national education department to communicate policy effectively and efficiently, and by the provincial departments to implement it accordingly. In this way, much frustration and unnecessary incidents can be prevented. In our schools, policies should be implemented in the best interest of existing pupils and school communities, but also towards potential pupils who sometimes have few options as to available schools. Language policy in itself is an extremely sensitive issue with implications towards nation-building and the accommodation of diverse communities in our nation. Although the national language policy in our schools seems reasonable and pragmatic, care has to be taken when implementing it, especially by our provincial education departments, in order to respect both the letter and the spirit of the policy. This has been lacking when dealing, for example, with the situation in Rob Ferreira School in Witrivier.
Admin
26 Jan, 1998
Opposisie politiek: onwelkom of verkeerd aangebied?
verklaring deur Media en Bemarkings Direkteur Tim du Plessis raak in sy artikel “Opposisie is uit” reeds in die eerste paragraaf ook aan die ooglopende antwoord. Die UDM glo dat net so min as wat die “redding en heil” vir Suid Afrika in die “klasieke liberale demokrasie” lê, net so min is die rol van opposisiepartye en opposisie – politiek in die klassieke liberale rol van opposisiepartye gesetel. Die vraag is nie watter groeperinge in die land vir- sterk opposisie en watter daarteen is nie, maar veel eerder die herdefiniëring van opposisiepartye se rol in die Suid Afrikaanse politiek. Alle onafhanklike meningsopnames sedert die begin van 1997 het getoon dat die ANC as meerderheidsparty steun verloor. Dit het verder aangedui dat geen van die bestaande parlementêre politieke partye by hierdie verlies van steun baat nie. Die stemme swerf dus nog rond. Hierin lê daar twee boodskappe : Ondersteuners van die ANC is wel bereid om hul affiliasie met die ANC te beëindig, en geen van die huidige parlementêre partye bied ‘n alternatief vir hierdie swewende stem nie. Wanneer die DP en die NP mekaar dus die stryd aansê oor wie nou werklik die effektiefste (lees luidrugtigste) opposisieparty is, verander dit weining aan die werklike politieke prentjie nie. Ja, die DP mag dalk in die proses ‘n paar stemme van die NP wegneem maar die meerderheid kiesers van die land sien steeds nie vir hulself ‘n sielkundige tuiste by enige een van die twee partye nie. Hoe dan ook anders as opposisiepartye hulself as effektief beskou wanneer hulle Nelson Mandela beledig, stem teen wetgewing wat die lewenskwaliteit van die meerderheid van Suid Afrikaners verbeter, en al hul parlementêre aksies daarop dui dat hulle hul huidige (wit) magsbasis probeer konsolideer. Die UDM, anders as die NP en die DP, het nie nodig om te probeer swart steun trek om as geloofwaardig beskou te word nie. Die meerderheid van die UDM steun is swart, mense wat reeds weg van die ANC vir hulself ‘n politieke tuiste by die UDM gevind het. Die UDM bied aan alle Suid Afrikaners wat wil deel wees van vooruitgang, wat konstruktief wil help bou aan die nuwe Suid Afrika, so ‘n politieke tuiste. Die UDM sien sy rol na die 1999 – verkiesing verder ook, nie as die van opposisie nie, maar as deel van die regering. Daar is sekere uitdagings wat die land nou in die gesig staar, uitdagings wat suksesvol opgelos moet word in die breër belang van Suid Afrika en sy mense. Landsbelang moet nou bo kleinlike, party – politieke belang gestel word. Dit is hoe die UDM ook sy politiek in die komende jaar en as deel van regering na 1999 sal bedryf. Dit beteken nie dat ons nie krities sal wees wanneer nodig nie, maar dat kritiek so gelewer sal word dat die finale besluit steeds positief beïnvloed kan word. Waar die regering in landsbelang programme implementeer, sal die UDM hul steun en samewerking in die verband gee. Sou die regering egter in partybelang eerder as landsbelang optree, sal die UDM deur sy deelname dit uitwys en alternatiewe verskaf. Die feit dat die NP uit die Regering van Nasionale Eenheid onttrek het, beteken nie dat opposisiepartye nie ‘n konstruktiewe rol het om te speel nie. Dit dui slegs op ‘n onvermoë van die NP se kant om die rol te kon vervul. Die uitdaging vir opposisiepartye is dus nie om net te skree en raas nie. Dit is veel eerder om die regering in die opstel van sy nasionale prioriteite te beïnvloed en toe te sien dat die ooreengekome prioriteite die nodige aandag ontvang. Indien opposisiepartye nie instaat is om dit te doen nie, dan is die skrif werklik aan die muur en kan die kieser tereg vra oor wat die doel en nut daarvan is om te stem. Wanneer hy stem verkies die landsburger nie net partye as opposisiepartye nie, maar kies hy hulle ook as deel van die regering. Suid Afrikaanse politieke partye loop die risiko dat die kieser hom kan agterlaat. Die grootste uitdaging in 1999 mag dalk juis wees om die kieser by die stembus te kry – dit moet verhoed word. Dieselfde geld vir die rol van die media. Terwyl ons in ‘n stadium in ons land se geskiedenis is waar dit gaan oor die vestiging en ontwikkeling van die demokrasie behoort die media ook deel van die opleidingsproses te wees. Die boodskap moet ook van die media kom in die daarstelling en bepaling van prioriteite. Die media het ook ‘n rol om te prys waar nodig en te kritiseer waar gefaal word. Die media, in die beskerming en ontwikkeling van ons brose demokrasie, het ook nodig om die alternatief vir die kieser te stel: alternatiewe menings, standpunte en alternatiewe oplossings. Alles gedoen op ‘n regverdige, objektiewe wyse, ten doel om ‘n ingeligte kieser daar te stel. Sou dit die benadering van almal betrokke wees dan sien ek nie dieselfde donker prentjie as wat Tim skets nie. In die UDM glo ons, dat ons saam die oplossings kan vind – gesetel in Suid Afrika se ryk verskeidenheid.
Admin
21 Jan, 1998
PW Botha: racial polarisation
Statement by Media and Marketing Director The UDM is disturbed by the irresponsible manner in which political parties are dealing with the court appearance of Mr PW Botha on Friday. The ANC’s planned protest action outside the courtroom and the call by rightwing political parties and groupings for supporters of Mr Botha to mobilise can only be described as polarising. We have also witnessed during the past week that the NP together with the Freedom Front and the Conservative Party have made themselves guilty of irresponsible and inflammatory remarks. Political parties, especially, need to be sensitive when dealing with and commenting on issues that can be a threat to our fragile democracy. Support for Mr Botha has been coming from some very strange corners. People, who previously would not have granted him the light of day, are now his most loyal supporters. The UDM calls on South Africans to realise this for what it is, and not to let them get drawn in this game of political opportunism. Political parties and the media must handle the court case in a responsible manner. We cannot allow emotions to run wild. The law must now take its course. Let us not forget what the TRC is all about and let us embrace that spirit of reconciliation in our actions, also in attending the court case. Political parties will have to take full responsibility for the actions of their supporters. The UDM will monitor the proceedings carefully.
Admin
18 Jan, 1998
Political agenda for 1998
Statement by Media and Marketing Director During 1997 the UDM made a start in restructuring South African politics away from the racial mould it has been stuck in. In 1998, the UDM aims to intensify its reaching out to all South Africans. The UDM believes that the end of the road for exclusive white or black politics in South Africa has been reached. South Africans are tired of being pigeonholed into racial categories. As a party for all South Africans, we aim at providing a political home to all our citizens. The two leaders of the UDM, Bantu Holomisa and Roelf Meyer, leave today for a 10-day visit to the United States. The purpose is to introduce the UDM as a political party to the White House staff, representatives of Congress, business people and members of the media. Reaction on requests by the UDM for interviews and discussions was extremely positive, and 27 appointments with leading opinion formers have been made. It seems as if Americans are specifically interested in the South African brand of black/white relations, with emphasis on the cooperation that the UDM stands for.
Admin
13 Jan, 1998
A new school year; where a good matric starts
Statement by statement by Director Media and Marketing The new school year has started. On the positive side, it is a time of optimism and of hope, with new challenges waiting to be realised. The grade ones start a new school career and a new curriculum whilst the matric class of 1998 has 300 days ahead to prepare for their entrance into the adult world of employment and responsibilities; millions of parents are prepared to make huge sacrifices to offer their children the best possible education; thousands of teachers are able and willing to teach those in their care to the best of their capabilities. The UDM supports the Minister of Education’s urgent call for a culture of teaching and good administration by teachers and principals, and a culture of learning and of discipline by school children. This has always been the basic formulae for successful education, and needs to be implemented now. The countrywide decisions to put the sacking of temporary teachers on the ice, are also supported. On the negative side, reports of schools not being able to open because of the lack of teachers, of handbooks not being delivered or in some instances not even been ordered, of the low morale amongst many teachers because of the uncertainty of their job future, and of the apparent lack of funds to provide the basic necessities for a decent education, are disheartening. These are the things that the Minister and Department of Education need to square up to. These issues need to be tackled creatively and urgently, because the matric class of 1998 only has 10 months before reckoning day. The UDM calls on the Minister to make 1998 the year of delivery in our schools, not a year of threats and hollow promises. It is now time to start making it work. As a party, the UDM will positively support all measures aimed at educating our children to the level where our country, our parents, our employers – and our children – can really take pride.
Admin
08 Jan, 1998
Appointment of Chief Executive Officer for the UDM
Statement by Director Media and Marketing Acting on the mandate of the Interim Management Committee the leadership of the UDM appointed Mr. Danie du Plessis, former managing director of the Institute for Political Leadership, as the Chief Executive Officer of the United Democratic Movement. Mr. du Plessis will commence office on January 12 1998. The UDM believes that in order to operate effectively, professional managers should run its administration and management. In cultivating this believe a decision was taken to appoint a professional manager. The UDM is positive that the appointment of Mr. du Plessis will contribute to the growth and success of the UDM.
Admin
08 Jan, 1998
The pension crisis in the Eastern Cape
Statement by Bantu Holomisa The crisis in the Eastern Cape regarding the payment of thousands of pensioners is symptomatic of the collapse of government systems across the country. The real problem is that the government has, quite rightly, identified transformation of the civil service as a chief priority, but has never adequately planned for this transformation. It was seen not as a process, but as a programme of replacement. A system of packages, sometimes enforced, led to a replacement of the experienced with the inexperienced and the unqualified, often the friends of those making the appointments. There is no evidence that any intensive training programme, to also act as a screening process, has ever been implemented. It is indeed not strange that government is experiencing this collapse of systems, as highlighted by the insensitive gamble in the Eastern Cape with the lives of the poorest of people. It may be a solution for government to appoint a non-political caretaker administrator in the Eastern Cape as well as in other provinces in a similar predicament, until the next election. This administrator, together with a team of qualified people, will at least help towards normalising the situation, granted that no quick-fix is possible. It is time that the actions of government are dictated by the real needs of the people.
Admin
06 Jan, 1998
Matric Results 1997
With the matric results of 1997 now available, including indications that the Gauteng results are also 5% down from last year, a gloomy picture of our school system emerges. The simple truth is that without an adequate educational system, all our other national efforts to curb joblessness, poverty and crime, and become a nation of hope and a world player in the new millennium, will come to nothing. Adequate education now, more than ever, needs to become an urgent national priority. The following should be noted: A culture of learning, teaching and discipline needs to be cultivated in our schools as a matter of utmost urgency. Without this prerequisite, the ‘outcomes-based’ policy of Curriculum 2000, with its much less emphasis on regular examining, will be a humiliating disaster, leading to even worse matric results. This culture of learning, teaching and discipline will have to eradicate the disastrous consequences of the upheavals in black education in the 1980’s with the ‘liberation before education’ rallying cry. It also needs to address the problems of bad school management and unmotivated or ill-trained teachers, and really involve parents as a crucial component of a well-run educational system. By empowering principals, teachers and school governing bodies and moving away from an over-centralised and interventionist system, the foundations for a successful system would have been laid. This need for a culture of learning, teaching and discipline is essentially part of the need for a moral regeneration of the very fibre of our society. It is not acceptable for teachers to turn up late for school or not at all, to allow strikes and protests to take priority over proper teaching, or to order handbooks late or not at all. Pupils should also attend school and take responsibility for their education, whilst parents and the community need to take co-responsibility, creating the best possible environment for educating their children. Unsettling government policies regarding the appointment of teachers should be reviewed in total. The whole retrenchment scheme has wrecked havoc with the morale of teachers and has drained schools of some of the best and brightest teachers. In some instances, it has led to irreparable damage. Balancing the restraints of the budget with the provision of the best possible education – including teaching staff – needs a more creative approach that the hamhanded and haphazard efforts at present. A careful and thorough analysis of the whole education system needs to be made in order to satisfy the demands for a system offering the best possible value for money. If, however, this has indicated a too thinly spread budget, the Government should ask itself if the country could afford not to spend the shortfall. The UDM supports calls for an urgent national summit involving all educational stakeholders. The agenda should include the above-mentioned points and be aimed at resolving problems and finding solutions, not distributing blame. The 1997 matric results are timely alarm bells that Government dares not ignore. The country now waits for Government to react creatively, decisively and promptly. If that is the sole legacy of the ‘class of 1997’, their results would at least have served a purpose; for those who did well, we wish to convey our congratulations.
Admin
15 Dec, 1997
South African political landscape
Joint media statement about South African political landscape by Roelf Meyer and Bantu Holomisa of the UDM and Tony Leon of the Democratic Party The leaders of the DP and the UDM held a meeting during the past week in which an overview of the present political situation in the country was undertaken. Both parties confirmed their viewpoints that an over-dominant one party state was detrimental to the interests of South Africa and the need exists for vibrant opposition. Both agreed on the further need for a restructuring of the political scene in South Africa. Developments during 1997 have been a positive start in this regard but the process is far from complete. Any restructuring needs to be based on breaking the existing racial mould in which our politics is cast and on the establishment of political values based on shared principles. The principles in the Constitution requiring national unity, the development of multi-party democracy and serving of the national interest are key indicators in this regard, but any political movement also requires a shared economic, political and social vision. With this in mind, the UDM and the DP will in the new year focus on how these principles can be advanced by the two parties. For this purpose the Joint Committee established earlier between the two parties will be re-activated early in the new year. A meeting is planned where the state of the nation will be evaluated and further planning is undertaken.
Admin
10 Dec, 1997
Court case against UDM Pretoria Councillors
Joint media statement by the UDM and the NP The National Party (NP) and the United Democratic Movement (UDM) have jointly decided that the pending court case regarding the UDM members who have resigned from the NP whilst retaining their elected positions on the Pretoria City Council, not be proceeded with. It is a joint viewpoint that the situation in the country in the national interest requires from everybody to rather concentrate on the bigger issues. Policy differences between the two parties are not dissolved by this agreement, but in further decision-making regarding relevant issues in Pretoria, the interests of all the residents of the city will be the determining factor.
Admin
10 Dec, 1997
The challenges facing South Africa as we approach the New Millennium
Presented by Mr Bantu Holomisa, UDM Co-leader, at the South African Institute of Race Relations, Johannesburg In the letter of invitation which I received from the Institute of Race Relations, it is stated that the United Democratic Movement (UDM) is attracting much media attention. The UDM on the other hand feels that scant attention is paid to its activities by the media, so it is a matter of debate as to whether we enjoy any sufficient media coverage or not. However, what is important to us is the reasons of our existence or the process which led to the formation of the UDM. The process which led to the first 1994 April democratic elections in the history of South Africa was initiated to bring about freedom to the people of South Africa. Indeed the first democratic government was unveiled to assume its task of continuing with the democratisation process of state institutions, above all to bring about qualitative change and particularly improving the lives of the poor. The UDM is ready to measure to current and future challenges facing South Africa, as we approach the 21 Century. We embrace the challenge with passion and alacrity the practical demands of rebuilding our severely divided society with unprecedented vigour. We will set free the creative power inherent in our diversity, and will co-operate with all stake-holders to ensure a quality of life and freedom for every citizen, based on good governance and civil order, towards being a winning nation. The UDM presently is for obvious reasons not represented at parliament. This does not necessarily mean that our primarily aim is to contest the 1999 elections and be part and parcel of other political parties in parliament without any broader vision and sense of purpose. We clearly see ourselves playing an effective role outside and inside parliament if ever we gets sufficient seats in 1999 elections. The UDM programme of action is geared towards the achievement of just social outcome. In dealing with: unemployment; civil order; housing; education; economy; We are currently involved in the process of designing specific policy positions, what the UDM have contrary to what is said, is broader policy framework or principles. Can the current political parties stand to the current and future challenges? The parliamentary experience/or observations such as: the inability of minority parties to exert pressure and hold the executive to account; the majority party using its numeric strength to dismiss constructive views from other parties; the past activities of parties in parliament being used by the majority party to weaken its opposition during policy-making process with some of the issues with no direct connection on what is being deliberated upon; These are some of the factors, which had weakened the current political parties in terms of playing effective opposition role. It is against this background that the UDM has a role to play and to fill this gap and unite the country by consolidating and defending this hard won fledgling democracy as we move towards the 21 Century and positioning ourselves in dealing with the unforeseen challenges of the future and building together a just society for all. The role of civil society in addressing these challenges should not be undermined. The non-government sector in South Africa has played an important role in making sure that Apartheid as government policy fails. This sector has played an important role in capacitating our communities through various means, in the form of training, poverty reduction programmes, particularly in the rural areas, providing support for small and medium enterprises for the disadvantaged sector of our communities, adult basic education to combat illiteracy. The South African Institute of Race Relations with other similar minded NGOs has in the past and I believe still made education a priority by recognising its importance as a liberating tool. The fact that these institutions granted scholarships and bursaries to the needy bears testimony to this commitment of uplifting our communities. It clear that the government alone cannot transform our society without the active involvement of the Non-governmental Institutions. The fact that NGOs by their nature are suppose to be apolitical they are strategically placed to intervene on behalf of citizens, especially when the government is inclined to abuse its political power in pursuance of sectional/ or individual interests. The civil society can effectively play its role by supplementing oppositional parties in government. This can be achieved by being public watchdogs or whistle blowers, especially when acts of corruption are detected. However, we do acknowledge the limitations which the NGOs are faced with in carrying out their mandate, precisely that the funding environment had dried up. The future direction of South Africa is already mapped by the ANC through RDP initially which was later abandoned and replaced by GEAR as government normative policy document, it sets out in no uncertain terms as to what the ANC hopes to achieve in a given period from job creation to provision of infrastructure. Today teachers who are supposed to be building the nation are to be retrenched. So compare the objectives of GEAR with what is happening now. Is it more jobs or speedy retrenchments of the people whom should be benefiting from the new dispensation? Judge for yourselves… In conclusion I wish to take this opportunity to thank the Institute of Race Relations for inviting me and the audience. Bantu Holomisa UDM Co-leader
Admin
09 Dec, 1997
Blanket amnesty for top ANCs
Statement by Bantu Holomisa and Roelf Meyer The Amnesty Committee of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission has now asked legal opinion on its decision to grant amnesty to Mr Thabo Mbeki and 36 other top ANC officials. Since granting amnesty, the Committee has not informed the nation for which human rights transgressions these amnesties were granted. As a matter of fact, the Committee has indicated that they need not do any explaining. This is of course totally unacceptable. It is a disservice not only towards the Commission’s mandate and the transparency that is an essential part of the process towards truth and reconciliation, but also towards the applicants themselves. Thabo Mbeki, as a potential president of the country, cannot face the future with the cloud of an unexplained and nebulous amnesty hanging over his head. The situation should be fully explained and rectified, as speedily as possible. The TRC, as the torchbearer into our obscure past, should not start fumbling around in the dark itself.
Admin
05 Dec, 1997
TRC hearing of Winnie Madikizela-Mandela
Statement by Bantu Holomisa and Roelf Meyer The past two weeks’ hearing before the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Ms Winnie Madikizela-Mandela has revealed a number of things ‘that went horribly wrong’ during the time of Ms Madikizela-Mandela’s association with the so-called Mandela United Football Club. Details aside, our country now demands clear reaction from the ANC leadership if it is serious about the aim of the TRC, namely to get to the truth about the past and to continue into a future of reconciliation: Allegations made against Madikizela-Mandela were done by senior members of the ANC, such as Sydney Mufamadi, Murphy Morobe and Azar Cachalia. The ANC leadership should now emphatically state its position regarding these allegations. Many of these allegations were already made before the appointment of Ms Madikizela-Mandela as deputy minister in government. Suspicions around these issues were also rife at the time. By appointing her, the ANC leadership has obviously condoned her actions in this regard. During the TRC hearing it appeared as if the ANC now wanted to taint her name by accusing her of these very actions. If the view of the ANC in this regard has since changed, we citizens should know about it, given the public role that Madikizela-Mandela has since played, inter alia as deputy minister. The UDM bears no candle for Ms Madikizela-Mandela. As the governing party, the ANC, however, will determine to a large extent the success of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. The ANC now owes the country a full explanation regarding the above. The country, and the Commission, demand the truth, not obfuscation or mere silence. They await the ANC’s response.
Admin
03 Dec, 1997
Medium-term budget policy statement by Minister Manuel
Statement by Bantu Holomisa and Roelf Meyer The release of Finance Minister Trevor Manuel’s medium-term budget policy statement has introduced a new, transparent direction for South African fiscal policy. For this he needs to be congratulated. Although all the news is not encouraging, especially the scaled-down forecast for growth of the GDP, the opening up of fiscal policy planning is a fresh approach that will prove to be of immense assistance to local and foreign investors. It also expresses a much-needed confidence in the capabilities of the department and ministry of Finance and the general direction in which South African fiscal policies are heading. One concern, though, is regarding the introduction of a contingency and policy reserve, totaling R5bn. Proper control of these funds would be needed to prevent irregularities and the improper application thereof. Clear control guidelines need to be spelled out by the minister.
Admin
03 Dec, 1997
Concern about murders on farms
Statement by Bantu Holomisa and Roelf Meyer The alarming regularity with which farming people are attacked and murdered has long since reached critical proportions. The possibility mooted by President Mandela last week that the atrocities may be committed by wild elements formerly belonging to MK, was a frank admission opening up a possibility of ending this rule of terror. The UDM, however, is concerned that nothing substantial has apparently since been done. We request government, as a matter of urgency, to compile a list of all possible suspects and to comprehensively plan how all of these will be traced and their activities investigated. If gangs like these are indeed existing and operating, they are a scourge and a menace to our society and our democracy. The full force of the law needs to be speedily brought down on them, otherwise the government will be seen as having dismally failed a large community of its citizens. We shall monitor the situation closely in the interest of the many South Africans living and working on farms, who are now living under the unacceptable and constant sword of violence and murder.
Admin
01 Dec, 1997
Jobs summit: acclaim for breakthrough
Statement by Bantu Holomisa and Roelf Meyer The UDM is extremely grateful for the agreement reached at Nedlac on the presidential jobs summit planned for the second quarter of 1998. We have taken note of the two phased approach towards the summit and the follow-up phase envisaged. Although proper planning is essential, it is a pity that this most desperate need of so many of our fellow South Africans took so long to receive the proper attention it deserves. It is, however, clear that sufficient new jobs are not going to be created by government and big business alone. The only way to achieve sustainable success in this area, the UDM believes, will be to start with relevant programmes at grass roots level, targeting individuals and households. We need to bring jobs to the townships. In the quest for urgent and creative solutions to this priority issue, the UDM will hold an economic workshop early in the new year. This workshop will involve experts in the respective fields of economic planning, labour and related issues. The UDM will therefore be in a position to creatively take part in the consultation and negotiation phase towards the proposed presidential summit. If the war against unemployment is not won, a sea of desperation and hopelessness will obliterate many of the good things that South Africa has achieved so far. Unemployment needs to be an urgent national priority.
Admin
25 Nov, 1997
Zuma’s final straw
Statement by Bantu Holomisa The finding by the Public Protector that Minister Zuma had made some misleading or exaggerated claims about the cost of medicines in South Africa in an apparent bid to justify her medicines bills, is a further infringement by a minister that is now really overstaying her welcome. With this, Minister Zuma has misled Parliament and the population at large. Under the circumstances, signing of the Bills by the President should be delayed until the Public Protector has conducted further investigations. The Public Protector has proved himself to be a worthwhile, independent watchdog of Government. We now trust that Government will also respect the authority of the Public Protector and not allow him to be targeted as had happened to the Auditor General. Two things are now required: Firstly, the urgent need exists to investigate the applicable international conventions in order to determine which are beneficial to South Africa. A clear policy is needed regarding our official stand towards international copyright conventions and the right of intellectual property. Secondly, the Minister of Health has now certainly crossed a bridge too far. This matter is a classical case of abuse of power by the minister concerned. Notwithstanding the good work she has done, her disregard for accuracy and correctness, brusque and undiplomatic treatment of involved parties in the health field and her ham-handed handling of her ministry has made her a liability. By allowing her to stay on as minister, Government will send a clear message that it condones a ministry where the only principle apparently is that the end justifies the means. Zuma should go.
Admin
24 Nov, 1997
Futile summit by opposition parties
Statement issued by Roelf Meyer Over the recent past, the idea of closer co-operation between opposition parties in our country, has been mooted a couple of times. This idea has to be exposed for the futile exercise in hopelessness it essentially is now that the NP has announced plans to hold such a summit early next year. These ‘plans’ are essentially similar to proposals the DP has made earlier and can be interpreted either as a concerted effort by the two parties to get such a summit off the ground, or a hijacking by the NP of a DP initiative. Fact is that efforts on these lines will be futile if the crucial issue, namely a restructuring of our politics, is not addressed. The bigger picture is that South African parliamentary politics is presently being conducted along racial lines, with the essentially ‘white’ parties in no position to threaten the majority, essentially ‘black’ party, notwithstanding attempts by the ‘white’ parties to rearrange themselves. These efforts will rather increase the racial polarisation by being interpreted as a ganging up against the ANC, even if attempts to draw in the IFP, which is regarded as a Zulu traditional niche party, is successful. These attempts will be futile in changing the present numbers game in our politics. Without successfully increasing their support bases, the combined support of the parliamentary opposition parties will not even reach 25% according to recent polling figures. This is an even more emasculated opposition than at present. The only viable answer is to restructure the politics out of the present racial rut and present South Africans from all communities with political parties that appeal on grounds of their values, visions and policies rather than the racial ticket. This means that parties need to shed the image and baggage that presently prevent members from other communities to vote for them. The NP and DP, for example, will never in their present forms be able to attract meaningful black support. This is the political reality around which the NP and DP are conducting their futile egg-dances. Without making this paradigm shift, they are destined to become withering niche parties with nothing more than curiosity value. The parties will therefore have to reinvent themselves. The NP cannot expect black support for itself as a party or its idea of an opposition summit while clamouring for consolidation of its (essentially white) support base. The UDM was born as a result of the determination to present to South Africans a party free from historical baggage, with sound core values and well-grounded policy positions suited to the needs of the real South Africa. It has already proved itself by attracting support from literary all communities in the country. It is at present the only party able to draw substantial support in ANC strongholds, as illustrated by rallies in the Eastern Cape, where 20 000 supporters attended, the North West Province, Mpumalanga and the Northern Province. While the DP and NP are busy rearranging the deckchairs on their political Titanic, the UDM is building a substantial party on its vision of a party for all South Africans, aiming at making South Africa a winning nation to the benefit of all her people.
Admin
23 Nov, 1997
Meyer and Holomisa hold rally in KwaMhlanga
Statement by UDM Media Manager The quiet of the late Sunday morning in Kwaggafontein near KwaMhlanga (Mpumalanga) was shattered today by the beating of drums, rhythmic singing and ululating women when Bantu Holomisa and Roelf Meyer visited the rural highveld area of Mpumalanga for a rally in the local stadium. 700 supporters from the area, many of the women in the colourful Ndebele traditional dress and men sporting UDM T-shirts, enthusiastically cheered the two UDM leaders in a program of song and dance. In the leaders’ addresses, Holomisa emphasised the crime question, referring to President Mandela’s acknowledgement that MK fighters may be involved in the killing of Free State farmers. Holomisa said that only half of the original number of MK soldiers had been integrated in the SANDF. Many of those have since left the Force, complaining of integration irregularities. What happened to all the ex-fighters? If they weren’t integrated in the SANDF, were they at least integrated in society? Holomisa demanded a proper government investigation into the issue of the armed forces of the liberation movements. Regarding the Truth Commission, Holomisa emphasised the UDM’s viewpoint that all people who can shed relevant light on our past should be encouraged to do so before the TRC, including people such as Ms Winnie Madikizela-Mandela and Mr PW Botha. A lot of allegations have been made against Madikizela-Mandela recently, but why have the allegations not been investigated earlier and the culprits exposed? Regarding the position of tribal chiefs, Holomisa said that a policy commission on tribal authorities of the UDM has been tasked with coming up with a workable solution to the issue. Roelf Meyer said that the UDM is growing to be the only party able to challenge the ANC, whilst the ANC is increasingly becoming more like the old NP regime in the way it is consolidating power and not giving attention to the real needs of the people on the ground. Possibly the greatest challenge now is that of job creation. There has been no growth in the number of jobs offered over the last years, which is so disconcerting that the UDM is planning an economic workshop focussing on the issue. It will be held in the new year and involve all interested parties. Meyer also emphasised that other issues will be dealt with in the same way, showing that the UDM is not all talk, but means business. In the quest for the hearts and minds of all South Africans, the UDM will try to outvote other parties in stressing that the apartheid struggle is over, but that the new struggle is for the future of South Africa. About 40 chiefs and Inkozi also attended the rally from areas as far as Piet Retief and Secunda. The chairman of the meeting was local UDM leader Prince James Mhlangu.
