Admin
05 Jul, 1998
Political hotline: a first in South Africa
Statement by National Deputy-Secretary In keeping with the UDM’s spirit of being innovative in its approach, the UDM Information Hotline will be available as from Monday, 6 July 1998. The electorate can call the UDM Hotline to get more information on the UDM. Callers will also be invited to leave a message or give some input on issues. The Hotline will provide callers the opportunity to listen to the President, Bantu Holomisa, and Deputy President, Roelf Meyer, explaining to them the policy of the UDM. Comments on burning issues facing South Africa will also be available on this service. Callers can call in and hear what the UDM’s view on the SACP/COSATU/ANC dogfight is as well as find out what the UDM think about the TRC’s decision not to investigate the atrocities committed by high profile ANC members in exile. Within the next week callers will also be able to listen to media statements issued by the UDM and get information on provincial structures and contact numbers. With this service the UDM aims at becoming more accessible to South Africans and further its approach of consultation on the challenges facing South Africa. The UDM Hotline number is 083 910 2709.
Admin
29 Jun, 1998
DP’s comment a farce
Statement by National Deputy-Secretary The Democratic Party’s reaction on the policy of the UDM is absurd. From the reaction of the Democratic Party, it was clear that they commented on something that they have not laid their eyes on yet. This was confirmed this morning when a call was received from the “Research Department” of the DP requesting the UDM to forward a copy of the UDM’s policy to them. One would expect the DP to properly research the content of the policy before artificially and out of context try and comment on it. Not only does the DP’s comment smack of arrogance and ignorance, it also confirms the inability of the DP to grasp an understanding of the reality of the challenges facing the majority of South Africans. The DP’s insensitivity towards issues such as unemployment and poverty clearly indicates how far the DP is removed from the realities on the ground. The politics of this country is not limited to the chambers of parliament and the volume of noise that a party generates there; it would serve the DP well to get out of their glass houses and face the realities of South Africa amongst the people. The UDM in developing its policies did not engage in what can merely be described as an academic exercise. The UDM set it self-out to find practical solutions to the most daunting problems facing all South Africans. In getting to the answers the UDM talked to thousands of ordinary South Africans, called in the assistance of well known experts in the different disciplines and those interest groups operating in that field. The result is an integrated policy that can realistically be executed and implemented within the limited financial resources available in South Africa.
Admin
26 Jun, 1998
UDM First National Congress, 27 June 1998
Statement by Convenor of Credentials Committee (26 June 1998) The following nominations for the positions on the National Management Committee have been received from the structures of the UDM. National Leader – Mr. Bantubonke H Holomisa, Pretoria National Deputy Leader – Mr. Roelof Petrus Meyer, Pretoria National Chairperson – Mr. Esau Masilo Mabeta, Umtata National Deputy Chairperson – Mr. Salamuddi Abram Mayet, Benoni; Rev. William Sello Molefe, Brits; Mr. Gabonewe William Motsatsi, Rustenburg; Adv. Jabulani Pantalea Mnguni, Pretoria; Mr. John Mulaudzi, Louis Trichardt Mr. James Sullivan, Greater Johannesburg National Secretary – Mr. Jacobus Tapedi Maseka, Mmakau; Mr. Sifiso Gabriel Nkabinde, Richmond National Deputy Secretary – Mr. James Jerry Hope, Greater Johannesburg; Mr. Bheki Samson Ntanzi, Krugersdorp; Mrs. Christell Scheepers, Louis Trichardt; Miss. Annelizé van Wyk, Pretoria National Treasurer – Mr. Takis Christodoulou, Pretoria National Financial Planning and Fundraise Officer – Mr. Daniel Petersen, Cape Town National Organiser – Mr. James Jerry Hope, Greater Johannesburg; Mr. Siphiwe A. Makhubo, Pretoria; Rev. Kingsley Masemola, Lebowakgomo; Mr. Ngwenya, Brakpan; Mr. Matodzi Sadiki, DobsonvilleNational Deputy Organiser: (2 Positions): Mr. Tommy Abrahams, Cape Town; Mr. Johannes B. Baard, Carltonville; Mr. Andile Magodla, Comfimvaba, Eastern Cape; Mr. Siphiwe A. Makhubo, Pretoria; Ms. Bathembise Mokoena, Ermelo; Rev. William S. Molefe, Brits; Mr. Arnold M. Phasha, Middelburg, Mpumalanga; Mr. Kesiloe Shoai, Randfontein; Mr. Maurice I. Van Staaden, Kraaifontein
Admin
22 Jun, 1998
ANC attack on Nkabinde: UDM reaction
Statement by UDM President The ANC’s panic regarding the election of Sifiso Nkabinde is noted. The UDM will not allow the ANC to choose leaders for itself, nor are they the UDM’s agents to gauge support for the us in KwaZulu Natal. One thing is clear: the ANC is still being haunted by the acquittal of Nkabinde. Nkabinde was subjected to scrutiny by the state and the judiciary of this country. He fared far better than his former bosses in the ANC who rushed to the TRC to apply for blanket amnesty. They never revealed how they executed their black brothers and sisters in exile. Senior ANC officials like Thabo Mbeki, Zuma, Modise, Mac Maharaj and others who are now comfortable in high offices, are still yet to inform the public of South Africa how the ANC in exile arrived at decisions to execute their own brothers and sisters. We have heard about ANC accusations against Nkabinde but what about ANC warlords in cabinet. There will be no question of fairness until a principle of even handedness is equally applied. The UDM accepts the judgement by Justice Jan Combrink as the last word on this matter. The Kangaroo court methods, which were used in executing fellow blacks in exile, have no home under the new constitution. The ANC will have to swallow its pride and if it is serious about peace in KwaZulu Natal work together with Sifiso Nkabinde in achieving exactly that.
Admin
04 Jun, 1998
Suspend all rationalisation in government until criteria is agreed upon
Statement by UDM Co-leaders The UDM calls on all the relevant parties involved in the pending education crisis to, in the interest of education, work towards finding a solution. The frustration within the education community is understandable and well founded. Minister Bengu can not merely ignore what are realistic and profound concerns. Education forms the basis of the development of the human resource in South Africa. Attention must be given when professionals in that domain indicate that planned steps by government will influence negatively on the professional service. The arrogance of the Minister of Education will not contribute towards finding a solution. What is happening in education is a reflection of what is happening in all other spheres of government where transformation through rationalization, without proper consultation and agreed upon criteria takes place. This results in a very high uncertainty amongst government officials and contributes to very low productivity. The UDM calls on government to suspend all further retrenchments within the civil service and to work towards agreed criteria after proper consultation with the interested parties. Retrenchment on its own is not transformation and the one sided, arrogant approach with which it is conducted by government only leads to distrust and low moral. The absence of a contingency plan to assist those who are retrenched contribute to further impoverishment. Government should address the issue of retrenchment in a far more sensitive and co-ordinated way.
Admin
21 May, 1998
Appointment of president for the Reserve Bank must be handled cautiously
Statement by UDM Co-leaders The Government must announce as soon as possible a successor for Dr. Chris Stalls as President for the Reserve Bank. The announcement by Dr. Stalls that he will not be available again once his contract expires in July 1999 coupled with the change in government just before Stalls vacates his position might bring too much uncertainty to the financial markets. The UDM believes that government would act responsible if it sends out a clear message on who will take over. The timely announcement of a successor would provide the financial markets the opportunity to settle down and would reduce the effect it would have when the actual changeover takes place.
Admin
20 May, 1998
Government must first get its own house in order
Statement by Co-leader of the UDM The call by Thabo Mbeki for financial aid from the world community can only be considered legitimate and serious when South Africa gets its own house in order. The announcement that the low-cost housing projects will loose its momentum due to an insufficient national housing budget is a serious charge against the ANC led government’s ability to address national priorities. Not only will government fail in targets it setout for itself, but also is it failing dismally in addressing the plight of the poor. The most important point on the Government agenda, the Presidential Job summit is not getting of the ground. Again, a meeting between the ANC alliance partners to debate an employment strategy was postponed indefinitely. The creation of employment opportunities is the single most important challenge facing South Africa. While housing projects, health services and education is tumbling in like a house of cards all around us, government is also failing in empowering people to provide their own services. Instead, the ANC government and its alliance partners still find time to bicker amongst each other instead of concentrating on the mammoth task ahead. The UDM believes that the creation of employment opportunities is the most important challenge facing South Africa and its citizens. We cannot continue to have 400 000 new entries in the job market every year and not create one single new job opportunity. If South Africa fails in addressing this issue we will have a revolution on our hands. It is for this reason that the UDM identified the creation of employment as its main focus in policy development. The UDM will soon make public its plans for addressing unemployment.
Admin
05 May, 1998
Rugby must be the winner
Statement UDM Co-leader The involvement of government structures and specifically of Member of Parliament, Muleleki George, in the SARFU/NSC battle for the soul of rugby, clearly indicates a political involvement. Following the court decision there can be no doubt that SARFU is occupying the moral high ground. This can and must however not be seen as the last word spoken in solving the problems of rugby. The UDM believes that the only dignified option remaining for the parties involved, government, the National Sports Council and the South African Football Union, is to swallow their pride, sit around a table and come up with an amicable solution in the interest of the game of rugby. The UDM calls on those involved to consider appointing a neutral facilitator to ensure progress. Such a move would definitely discourage those who want to bat on the racism wicket.
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