Extracts from my contribution today in Polokwane at a workshop for UDM Branch Chairs and Secretaries in Limpopo. The full speech is available on udm.org.za. ====================== When one looks at the list of service delivery complaints, one discovers that they have one thing in common. That is: public representatives have either failed to consult, or account, to the people about service delivery. Democracy is subverted when elected politicians do not consult and account to the electorate, and when they deliberately misinform the public about some of their decisions. … The UDM has warned many times that, unless something is done about the high levels of corruption in Government, we are on the slippery slope to anarchy and dysfunction. Corruption in Government is widespread despite assurances to the contrary. Nowhere is this more evident than in the extent to which National Government went to prevent the Public Works Task Team Report on Nkandla, which lays bare all the corruption that took in this project, from coming out. Another example where the ruling party condones corruption is what took place in Tlokwe Municipality (Potchefstroom). Here ruling party councillors voted their mayor out of office for the second time and handed the mayorship to the Democratic Alliance (DA). These councillors have publicly stated that they had so done because the African National Congress (ANC) mayor is corrupt. However, instead of working with its councillors in fighting corruption, the ruling party chose to expel them with immediate effect. This occurred despite the fact that none of them were brought before a disciplinary hearing. This begs the question: “Can we trust them to fight corruption when their actions both in private, and in public, condone it?” … You will recall that recently we wrote a letter to President Zuma requesting him to intervene in the looting of state resources taking place at the Universal Service and Access Agency of South Africa (USAASA), a portfolio organisation under the Department of Communications. Apart from asking for strong action against corruption and maladministration, the letter also calls for the broadband infrastructure to be rolled out fairly and equitably, because it is currently skewed in favour of certain regions and ethnic groups. … This reminds us of the failed Verwoerdian policies, which sought to improve the education of one sector of our society at the expense of others. … However, a long-term solution to this problem revolves around ensuring that the composition of future cabinets truly reflects the demographics and the geographical spread of South Africa. This will ensure that government not only understands the challenges facing the people, but it is also responsive to the needs of all the communities across the country. ... I encourage the women and youth of Limpopo [in fact all provinces] to claim their space; use the UDM as a vehicle to ensure that your are properly represented in Parliament and the Provincial Legislatures. Roll up your sleeves; go out and spread the gospel; make sure that you change your destinies... … Thank you
Posted on: Sat, 06 Jul 2013 10:50:24 +0000
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