Defending constitutional democracy, exposing state capture, safeguarding public funds, and securing tangible court triumphs for the dignity and empowerment of all South Africans.
Victories
UDM VICTORIES
Watch how the United Democratic Movement challenges injustice, demands financial accountability, and delivers tangible victories for all South Africans.
UDM Victory on fighting for the rights of SATBVC pensioners
UDM Victory on fighting for the rights of SATBVC pensioners
The UDM has been advocating for the rights of the South African, Transkei, Bophuthatswana, Venda and Ciskei (SATBVC) government pensioners for some time.
The core issue revolves around retirees’ dissatisfaction with their pensions being calculated from 1996 when the Government Employees Pension Fund (GEPF) took over. This is despite their employment with the SATBVC governments since the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s, during which they made significant contributions to the pension pot inherited by the GEPF and the Public Investment Corporation.
In February 2023, during the State of the Nation Debate, UDM President Bantu Holomisa brought up the SATBVC pension issue. Subsequently, President Cyril Ramaphosa instructed Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana and National Treasury to address the matter.
An SATBVC Pensioners’ Committee was formed to coordinate the activities of the pensioners and they had their first meeting on 8 May 2023. A massive database of pensioners was established. Unfortunately, the entire process was brought to a halt by Minister Godongwana whose intransigence has seen to the utter frustration of the pensioners. The UDM entered into a months’ long letter writing campaign with the ministry and the Presidency, made phone calls and sent text messages, to no avail.
It was eventually decided to take the legal route of action with the assistance of a legal firm who has agreed to assist the pensioners pro bono.
UDM Victory on Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula
UDM Victory on Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula
The UDM wrote to the Joint Standing Committee on Defence in March 2021 about R5 million in alleged dubious payments made by a SANDF contractor to Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, between 2017 and 2019, as well as nepotistic appointments when she was Minister of Defence and Military Veterans.
Mapisa-Nqakula had been accused of extorting payments from a service provider of the Department of Defence, in cash on several occasions, as well as for instance paying for a night nurse for her father who was terminally ill in 2017 and upon her brother’s passing away in 2019.
Mapisa-Nqakula had allegedly in her various communications asked the service provider for “wigs” and “imithi” corresponding with large withdrawals of cash which were delivered to her. Some of the money was allegedly spent renovating her home in Bruma including buying “Egyptian doors”.
She denied the allegation and challenged President Holomisa to approach law enforcement agencies to pursue the case. He did just that. The wheels were set in motion.
On 19 March 2024, the National Prosecuting Authority’s Investigating Directorate, confirmed that a search and seizure operation was executed at Mapisa-Nqakula’s home in connection with an ongoing investigation against her.
Mapisa-Nqakula then made a desperate bid to have the High Court in Pretoria interdict her impending arrest amid ongoing corruption investigations.
On 2 April 2024, Mapisa-Nqakula’s urgent court application to block her arrest for corruption allegations has been struck from the roll. In a statement, UDM President Bantu Holomisa stated that: “Mapisa-Nqakula must present herself to SAPS finish and klaar!”.
