STATEMENT
ISSUED BY CHRISTIAN MARTIN MPL
UDM EASTERN CAPE PROVINCIAL LEGISLATURE
This
week marks the UDM’s first anniversary in the Eastern Cape Legislature as the
official opposition in the provincial government. We would like to extend a vote
of thanks to all our supporters, past and present, even the those who have left
the Party for whatever reason, have contributed in one way or the other, to its
success.
The UDM is proud to declare that it has achieved its immediate goal in the
Eastern Cape, by becoming the official opposition, with no less than nine (9)
members in the Eastern Cape Legislature and one (1) in the National Council of
Provinces (NCOP). This was achieved, despite the ANC’s attempt to eliminate
opposition by denying the UDM state funds for fighting elections. This blatant
display of arrogance on the part of the ruling party is a clear indication of
its determination to ignore any other party, especially White driven parties.
The ANC therefore attempted to eliminate the UDM as the only real threat to
their devastating reign of corruption and incompetence.
The UDM had many successes during the past year, least of which is the
transformation of constituency offices into centres of actual service delivery.
The Party is also proud to be known to the public, as well as the ANC, as a
party of solutions and not only problems. realising full well our chief
function, as the ever-watchful eye of opposition. We are constantly striving to
find solutions to problems and to facilitate a system of government that will
benefit South African society in its entirety and diversity and not to
substitute the “old White elite” with a “new Black elite”, leaving the
masses to their own devices. In this regard the UDM is committed to
proportionate representations that can clearly be seen in the race ratios of our
parliamentarians.
Apart from our successes, the UDM also went through a period of intensive
learning, during the past year. Learning from public opinion, learning from its
constituency and power base and also learning front the mistakes of other
parties. The UDM is committed to consultative governance with due regard and
respect for different opinions, reflecting the diversity of our nation.
The UDM salutes those visionaries who supported the Party with the will and the
ability to bring about true democracy. Your vision and optimism for the future
will be needed in the forthcoming local government elections. We need true
visionaries in our municipalities and soon to be formed Metropolitan Councils.
We would also want to bring the following under the attention of the public that
our recess starts on 26 June 2000 until the 14 July 2000 (subject to change)
when we will be personally involved in community work.
Enquiries:
Christian Martin, MPL
UDM Member of the Eastern Cape Provincial Legislature
Bisho
13 June 2000
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