Thulisile Mapongwana
The United Democratic Movement leader, Bantu Holomisa, has called for a government of provincial unity in the Eastern Cape post-general elections.
The veteran politician was speaking in Duncan Village in East London on Friday, where he unpacked the UDM's 10-point plan to tackle key issues in the province and delivered the party’s manifesto.
Holomisa highlighted a litany of failures by the ANC-led government over the past 30 years of democracy, saying party members want him to restore the province to its rightful place as the Home of the Legends it once was.
“Political structures said I must take a stand on their behalf. I was given the thumbs up to run for the role of Eastern Cape Premier based on my history of running a clean government that promoted tolerance among political parties.”
10-Point Plan
To ensure clean governance, UDM has promised to establish special courts to investigate and prosecute those involved in corruption and to establish independent anti-corruption task teams in each province. Holomisa highlighted that part of the solution was multi-party democracy to strengthen government.
“Infrastructure has collapsed and there are more portholes than surface on the roads. Government buildings are falling apart and houses are shoddily built or left incomplete. Corruption is up to the highest levels of government, and there is a decline in the economy. Crime and lawlessness, a failing infrastructure, load-shedding, poor health, and education services are what the UDM needs to fight against", he said.
Holomisa said every week, somewhere in the country there is a service delivery protest that escalates to violence and results in property destruction. “The African National Congress is to blame for this phenomenon.”
“I propose a government of provincial unity because I believe the solution cannot be left in one party’s hands.
National Dialogue
“The people of Duncan village have been forgotten for decades, even though they have been on the vanguard of the struggle. They lived in substandard housing since the apartheid years and they have continued to live there for 30 years.”
He promised to do better should he come into power.
During the roadshow, Holomisa also afforded the community an opportunity to present their most pressing concerns.
People complained about a lack of housing, potholes, no water, dilapidated infrastructure, and unemployment, among other issues.
The UDM President thereafter suggested a national dialogue spanning over at least 24 months. This was to identify key issues affecting all South Africans.
“We are simply saying let's go back and look at the issues we have never finalized prior to 1993 - the agenda of developing and finding each other.” When we talk economy, we will have to talk about the land and property ownership and those are pending issues we cannot enforce as one party.
“We need national consensus. So let us sit down around the table and integrate all our manifestos and speak with one voice”
