Admin
16 Sep, 1997
The integrity of the new party
Statement by Roelf Meyer The new political party to be launched on 27 September will endeavour to designate the problem of civil order as one of the highest priority for South Africa. This would include making our society criminal-hostile to the greatest possible extent, rooting out corruption and fostering national moral regeneration. In order to achieve these goals, the protection of the integrity of the party and its membership needs to be a top priority. We simply cannot endeavour to occupy the moral high ground and simultaneously harbour potential criminals in our midst. To this end we are formulating a code of conduct for our members and representatives. It follows that no-one who may be in a position to compromise the integrity of the party by his or her association, should be allowed as members. Anyone with a pending court case against them should, until such time as he or she is acquitted by court, refrain from associating him or herself with the party. Applying these criteria, it follows that Sifiso Nkabinde and Lucas Mangope will not be in a position to join the new party until such time as their pending court cases have run their respective courses.
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.
Admin
26 Aug, 1997
Retirement of Mr FW de Klerk
Statement by Roelf Meyer The announcement by Mr FW de Klerk came as quite a surprise. Together with the whole of South Africa, we want to thank him today for the courage and vision that he displayed in 1990, which have helped to lift our country out of the rut of the past and put it on the road towards democratisation. For that, our country will remember him for ever. After 1994, it became increasingly clear that the National Party could not carry through the transformation in South African politics, in spite of good intentions. Mr De Klerk’s retirement gives further momentum to the restructuring of the South African political landscape and I have no doubt that many more people will now reconsider their political positions. Regarding the NP, this situation will now probably have the effect of speeding up the movement towards provincialisation and marginalisation. I can wholly understand Mr De Klerk’s decision not to lead the NP any longer, and wish him well on his retirement.
Admin
22 Aug, 1997
NP legal action against Pretoria councillors
Statement issued by NMP Media Manager The following observations can be made regarding court procedures started by the National Party against the 8 Pretoria councillors who have joined the New Movement Process: It is contravening the policy of the NP, namely that provision must be made in the Constitution allowing elected representatives to exercise their own free will regarding party loyalties. Mr De Klerk himself has, on a number of occasions, requested that the anti defection clause be scrapped. It creates a climate of non-participation with the NP court cases alienate people. It contravenes the promotion of multi-party democracy and the promises by the NP itself that it will work together to create a realignment of the political scene. It leaves the impression that the NP is only concerned about its own interests and only wants to restructure politics on its own terms. It is clear that something drastically needs to be done to restructure the political scene. Dissatisfaction with the ANC nonwithstanding, no opposition party has been able to achieve any gains from the situation. Results of the latest survey conducted by the HSRC, confirm this: ANC support has dropped to 53%, but the opposition has even fared worse, with a grand total of only 21%. The only solution is therefore to strengthen multi-party democracy by creating a new political formation. This is exactly what the NMP is busy doing. It is incidentally also the decision the 10 Pretoria councillors have reached, in line with the broad interest of South Africa. The moment this happened, the NP again lapsed into its style of practising politics through litigation. What is also significant, is the apparent division in the NP’s own ranks. At the end of July, subsequent to final decisions on the Executive Council posts in the Pretoria council, Mr Sam de Beer and myself were discussing the NMP proposal, namely that the NP should retain chairmanship of the Exec Council. It then came to light, though, that the NP has already reached an agreement with the ANC, in terms of which the NP will lose the chairmanship. The question is: Who managed these negotiations? Whilst discussions were again initiated between Mr De Beer and myself during the past couple of days, the process of issuing the court orders was continued. Again it leaves the impression that there is division in NP ranks. The NMP has all the time been of the opinion that we must look at the future regarding restructuring of politics and contributing to multi-party democracy. It is therefore counter-productive to launch any action to the detriment of opposition parties and to the benefit of the ANC. This was also the view of the NMP councillors, and I reject emphatically the allegation that their actions have benefited the ANC. If the NP wants to test voter opinion under present circumstances, an ideal opportunity presents itself with the coming election for Students’ Representative Council at the University of Pretoria. The election is held on party political base. During 1996, the NP participated and did the best from all political parties. This year, the NP has failed to even nominate any candidates, evidently because of lack of interest.
Admin
19 Aug, 1997
Meetings with the UCDP
Statement by NMP Media Manager The Technical Committee of the New Movement Process, the National Consultative Forum and the United Christian Democratic Party has met for a few times and has now completed its assignment according to its mandate. The NMP and NCF have taken note of the fact that the UCDP is holding a congress to decide on its future. We are, however, still convinced that a fresh start has to be made in South African politics with the launching of the new political party on 27 September 1997. We therefore confirm our viewpoint that the founding members of the new party should be individuals and not any existing political party or parties.
Admin
13 Aug, 1997
Growth of the NMP
Statement by NMP Media Manager Over the past weeks, there has been a spate of elected officials of political parties voicing their support for the New Movement Process. For this we are extremely grateful and excited, because it is a sure indication that the political process we have embarked upon, speaks to the hearts and minds of fellow South Africans from all communities and political persuasions. We want, however, to emphasize that we have no membership drive in place yet. There is no strategy in place to enroll members. The sole focus of our attention is now to launch a successful political party on 27 September 1997. Political parties complaining that the NMP, or Mr Roelf Meyer, is luring away their support or poaching their members, are simply missing the point. Consultative meetings by the NMP are held country wide, with considerable interest from all over. If people decide to voice their support for the NMP or even resign from their existing political affiliations in order to join us, it is simply because they have lost confidence in those parties to provide a political beacon and a home they can believe in. The NMP believes in the political vision it is developing. If people support this, we have no inclination of preventing them from doing so. We welcome all South Africans with South Africa’s interest at heart, to walk the road with us. The choice, in the last instance, is still theirs, not ours.
Admin
12 Aug, 1997
First local council with NMP majority: Graaff-Reinet
Statement by NMP Spokesperson Five councillors serving on the Graaff-Reinet Transitional Representative Council, pledged their support to the New Movement Process yesterday. In this council, 5 of the 6 members are now supporting the NMP, making the New Movement Process the majority grouping in the TRC. It is therefore the first local council in the country with a NMP majority. The councillors have previously been on the ticket of the Graaff-Reinet Alliance, which has won the local election with a 71% majority. The members are: Johan Malherbe, TRC Chairperson Pierre le Grange, TRC Vice-chairperson Peet van Heerden Ms Pat Wallis Ernest Job In Somerset East, Christoffel Schoeman, chairman of the National Party District Council has resigned from the NP last week and joined the NMP. His secretary, Mr Gert Els, has also resigned and joined the NMP yesterday.
Admin
30 Jul, 1997
Media statement by 9 National Party members who joined New Movement Process
We nine members of the Pilanesberg region of the National Party have decided to resign from the NP and join the New Movement Process of Mr Roelf Meyer.; We believe in co-operative government as defined in our Constitution; we want to support a party that belongs in the new South Africa, a non-racial party inspired by our country’s new sense of nationhood, a party which is solution-orientated and not problem-orientated and a party with an eye on the future and not the past. The decision two months ago by NP leader Mr FW de Klerk, to disband the task team on restructuring the party, has finally made it clear to us that the NP did not, and never will, break from the past. We regard this as a clear message to find another avenue to pursue our political goals and beliefs. The way in which the NP is dealing with those who decide to leave the party, as clearly demonstrated in Pretoria with the resignation of councilors from the NP and the branding of Roelf Meyer and others as ‘the enemy’, only reinforces the image of the NP as an aggressive and beleaguered party. In resigning from the NP and joining the NMP, we also want to encourage others remaining hostage in old-style parties in a new-style country, to join us in our mission to help restructuring South African politics in order to focus on the real enemies of our country: joblessness, crime, inferior education and poor housing delivery. We left the NP because we reject the past. We join the NMP because we believe in the future. Stoffel Masebo Gertrude Moatshe Ben Moemedi David Mothlapa Aaron Kgaledi Nkae Pilane Thabo Mosebo (Leader of NP Youth League) Bishop R Makete Benjamin Matlou
Admin
28 Jul, 1997
Reaction: NP’s determination to sue
Statement by Pretoria Councillors of the New Movement Process We have taken note of the National Party’s determination to take us to court on not resigning from the CCP since leaving the party. We are, however, pleased to note that proceedings will not start immediately, and that the opportunity still exist for resolving the issues in an amicable way. We believe in peaceful co-existence and dialogue, rather than confrontation and a situation where party politics tend to take the interests of the residents of our city hostage. We do, however, want to put some of the NP’s remarks in their press release, in perspective: We did not hand over power to the ANC: The ANC is not at present in power in the Pretoria council. It holds 28 seats with the remaining 42 in the hands of the NP, NMP, independents and other parties. If the ANC effectively takes control of the city, it will rather be the result of the NP’s inability to co-operate with other parties, than the actual power base of the ANC itself. It is patently untrue that we have resigned from the NP without any consultation with our electorate. A primary reason for our resignation, has exactly been pressure from our electorate, dissatisfied with reluctance from the NP to live out its vision and mission. We find it surprising that the NP is pursuing this matter with so much vigour: By staunchly opposing the anti-defection clause in the constitution, the NP is supposedly in favour of free movement between political parties. The party accepted members of the Minority Front in KwaZulu-Natal in this spirit, but somehow cannot bring themselves to apply the same principle in Pretoria. We still believe that the interests of the residents of Pretoria can at best be served by councillors working together in a spirit of co-operation to serve those by whom they were elected.
