Holomisa blames ANC for UDM failure

By Celani Sikhakhane

General Bantubonke Holomisa is blaming the ANC for the demise of the United Democratic Movement (UDM) in KwaZulu-Natal.

Holomisa, leader of the UDM, has claimed that the ANC used its money and floor-crossing legislation to kill his party by poaching prominent members of his party.

Holomisa left the ANC, then under the leadership of Nelson Mandela, to form the UDM with former National Party leader Roelf Meyer.

He told Scrolla.Africa that the UDM aims to be back in KZN politics as the voice of reason and have members in the legislature.

“Many of our members crossed the floor with our seats to the ANC which affected us very badly. The ANC doesn’t play when it comes to approaching people. I was also approached by Nelson Mandela to come back to the ANC,” he said. 

“The UDM was six months old at the time but I refused. Unfortunately, some of our members were weak and fell for the ANC approach. That is why we ended up with no members in the KZN Legislature,” he said.

Floor crossing was introduced to the post-apartheid South African political system in 2002. MPs, members of provincial legislatures and local government councillors could change political parties or form a new party and take their seats with them when they did so.

The Act was scrapped in 2008 after opposition parties challenged it in court.

The UDM has resolved that young people should be at the forefront of their campaign in KZN to revive it.

Holomisa will spend more time in KZM with his leadership such as national chair Bongani Msomi, national organiser Nyaniso Mfihlo and secretary general Yongama Zigebe.

Holomisa revealed that the murder of his foot soldier in KZN Sfiso Nkabinde was a huge loss for the party.

Nkabinde was described by his political enemies as a Richmond warlord who was very famous in the 1990s and had many fights with ANC leaders such as Dr Zweli Mkhize.

Holomisa said his party will also focus more on rural areas such as Nongoma and Mtubatuba.

He said eThekwini has a huge slice of the cake that they will never turn away from.

He joked about his retirement.

“I won’t retire while the likes of Dr Nkosazane Dlamini Zuma, President Cyril Ramaphosa and Dr Naledi Pandora are still in politics,” he said.

“Those ones were older than me. So why would you want me to retire while my elders are still leading in government and politics?”

These are new characters to an old joke. Holomisa used to claim that he wouldn’t retire until former IFP president Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi went on retirement.

Pictured above: General Bantubonke Holomisa claims that the ANC destroyed his party in KZN

Image source: Supplied 

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