SPEECH DELIVERED AT THE SPECIAL FEDERAL COUNCIL MEETING

HEAD OFFICE OF THE UCDP

SATURDAY, 09 MARCH 2013

STANDING UP, SPEAKING OUT AND TAKING RISKS

I am very concerned to be addressing this unscheduled meeting today. Our ordinary meeting of the Federal Council meeting, as you know, is due in May but owing to dissent and malcontent from some quarters we are here. This meeting will determine a defining moment for the UCDP.

As you will hear later we have hastily convened this meeting to resolve as a party. You will be asked to decide on whether to defend or oppose litigation facing the party, the leader of the party and the head of administration of the party.

We are faced with a desperate act by some individual who believes in scorched earth policy – simply put, all should perish and he alone should live, lead and rule by dictatum ad infinitum.

Yesterday, 8 March was the International Women’s day. I take this opportunity to remember my predecessor Mavis Ntebaleng Matladi. May her soul rest in peace. We were together in this struggle to save the soul of the UCDP.

Mavis did not only make history by being the first woman to lead the UCDP by popular vote, she actually made history south of the Zambesi River to be elected to lead a party.

Your Patricia de Lilles, Magwaza ka Msibis broke away from bondage and formed their parties but Mavis fought from within. That is the battle we are still fighting. We say Aluta continua.

Members of the UCDP must stand up, speak out against all dictatorial tendencies and their manifestations with the fully knowledge that there are risks that go along with caving in. Indzima lendlela, inameva iyahlaba......

Martin Luther stood up and spoke out against the Pope back in the 14th century. He made it clear that we are all fallible. Lutheranism is flourishing nowadays. Richard Allen in the 17th century stood up and spoke out against the Methodist Church and nowadays African Methodism is spreading across the globe. They did not allow themselves to be intimidated, they took risks.

The UCDP cannot and should not allow itself to be subjugated by an individual who has neither regard nor respect for democratic principles. Members of the UCDP cannot and should not allow themselves to remain with somebody who says a constitution of the party ke pampiri e e sa reng sepe.

The deputy leader/president will take you through the paces of why we are gathered here today. I hope this meeting will resolve wisely thereafter.

The time has come that all right thinking people should not allow themselves to be dictated to without asking why.

In a democracy elections have to be held regularly. If no elections are held and one person or even others remain in their positions of leadership we must know that that is fertile ground for despotism, dictatorship and arrogance. A democratic party should never allow that to contain.

Unfettered power is a recipe for disaster. Perhaps the time has come for the UCDP in reviewing the constitution to not only determine the term of tenure but to consider the state of health and agility that goes along with age of the leader they elect.

Modern politics calls for a physically mobile individual who MUST traverse the length and breadth of South Africa, Africa and the globe. If the UCDP has to grow this party needs someone whose interests are not confined to the North West province and some former Western Transvaal towns only. The whole of South Africa is the hunting ground for the UCDP.

In conclusion, I need to remind members of the UCDP that politicians are good at voting. Politicians worth their salt do not appoint or get appointed to positions without voting. They vote for decisions they take and you are going to vote today. May your voting today yield desired fruits for the UCDP.

I thank you

Sent by: Sipho Mfundisi
President: UCDP