By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The United Democratic Movement (UDM) celebrated its 26th anniversary with a keynote address by Party President Bantu Holomisa in Mthatha on Saturday.
The party was formed in 1997 following the expulsion of Holomisa from the governing African National Congress (ANC).
Mthatha used to be the capital town of Transkei of which Holomisa was a Bantustan leader.
In his speech, Holomisa emphasized the challenges faced by the UDM, the need for a new dispensation in South Africa, and the party’s achievements in advocating for good governance and accountability.
The UDM has had its ups and downs throughout the years. But through its resilience, it has stood the test of time.
“The UDM’s other challenge is that we were stripped of human resources as well as financial resources during a critical period with the floor crossing legislation. Also, due to political intolerance and pure intimidation tactics, we tragically lost members in killings in KwaZulu-Natal and Western Cape,” says Holomisa.
The party believes it has played a pivotal role in holding those in power accountable.
“The United Democratic Movement has been betting on a wicket of anti-corruption and we have had many successes on that score. Today we no longer even have the CEO of IEC who leased the IEC building in a shady way. We’ve shown her the door.
“Today I can say the UDM was leading in exposing corruption at PIC, a situation where we were vindicated by Justice Lex Mpati, commission. The UDM has been in the vanguard of coordinating other organisations in the opposition benches with a view to make sure that we call the government to account. The list is long,” adds Holomisa.
He acknowledged the frustration and disillusionment among South Africans due to the lack of accountability, insecurity, and economic challenges.
Holomisa called on the UDM to learn from past mistakes, strengthen its structures, and build alliances with other parties to ensure meaningful change in South Africa.
He emphasized the need for a new alliance and a united effort to reclaim the country from the “State Capturers.” The UDM committed to engaging with other parties and working towards a common goal of building a winning nation.