We must stand here as one nation, and emphasize the high cost of crime on the stability and security of South Africa. Here we stand again, barely a week from Women’s Month at the double murder of two businesswomen, and entrepreneurs.
African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP) leader, Reverend Kenneth Meshoe has said that the most significant pronouncement in President Cyril Ramaphosa’s State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Thursday was the procurement of energy by municipalities.
“The most important thing that we appreciated that came from the president’s speech tonight was for him to say municipalities that are doing well with their finances, will be allowed to procure power directly from independent power producers (IPPs).
“We know that IPPs have not been given the right to sell directly to municipalities, so we believe that is one of the best things he said tonight. There was an applause from both sides of the house, because we all welcomed that,” said Meshoe, in reference to the governing party’s MPs and opposition MPs.
He said that although Ramaphosa said “many things” on how he would improve the stagnant economy, “details were not given”.
However, given that the president was “so specific” on the procurement of power, Meshoe said, he hoped that it would become a reality within the next few months.
He said Ramaphosa should have mentioned more about the country’s crime problem, which inhibited investors. Violent service delivery protests were chasing away tourists and investors and had to be addressed, he added.
“This is a concern to the ACDP because we want stability in the country and policy certainty.”
“In general, [Ramaphosa] has done much better than we had expected tonight,” said Meshoe.
African News Agency/ANA
https://www.iol.co.za/…/procurement-of-power-by-municipalit…
The ACDP policies and manifesto are practical, and put God at the centre.
The time for talk and for fighting is over. It is now time for work and time to rebuild and to serve.
The African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP) has called on the government to act on farm murders after the latest incident in the area of Normandien, KwaZulu-Natal.
A couple from KwaZulu-Natal, Glen and Vida Rafferty, were shot dead on their farm in Normandien, along with their dog.
We condemned the attack and called for the restoration of the Farmer Commando Units.
“The ACDP condemns the senseless killing of the couple as we believe that South Africa will edge closer to a food insecurity crisis if the government continues to allow for our farmers to be killed,” Meshoe said.
“While implementing measures to provide optimum protection on farms in order to protect South African lives, and to ensure that justice is served.
“In addition, the ACDP has, for the longest time, called for the restoration of farmer commando units to increase the safety of those living and working on our farms,” he added.
The ACDP president further reiterated farmers and their workers’ lives needed to be protected regardless of their race.
“We believe that the restoration of farmer commando units can bring down the number of farm attacks, and could be a vital part of the solution to putting an end to farm attacks in South Africa.
“The protection of those that provide us with food is paramount. South Africa is not in a position where we can easily afford to import food stuff at high costs, due to our weakened economy.
“If we are to curb farm murders and protect our people, President Ramaphosa must break his silence on the issue, lead, and act decisively against those who attack and kill our farmers, and threaten our food security,” he said.
The ACDP, with the utmost urgency, calls on the sixth Parliament to act in the best interest of our children by signing off on the National Plan of Action for Children.
ACDP welcomes arrests of top officials involved in R230 million Free State asbestos housing scandal
Statement by Wayne Thring MP, ACDP Deputy President
ACDP welcomes arrests of top officials involved in R230 million Free State asbestos housing scandal
The African Christian Democratic Party welcomes the arrests of top officials involved in the R230 million Free State asbestos housing scandal.
The project came to a total of R21 million, but the awarded tender was to the tune of R230 million.
These arrests come after the testimony of businessman Edwin Sodi at the Zondo Commission where he confirmed making payments to government officials to secure the highly inflated tender.
The ACDP has historically criticised the slow action at the Zondo Commission, which has raked up a bill of over R800 million so far, with no real action taken. We understand the importance of due process, but South Africans now deserve, and demand, swift and decisive action when it comes to crimes that involve state resources, government officials, and departments.
The ACDP is appalled by the move made by former President Zuma asking for Judge Zondo to recuse himself. If there are familial and personal connections between the Judge and Mr Zuma, these should have been revealed by both at the appointment of the Judge under Zuma’s leadership.
The state capture enquiry has dragged on for long enough and has cemented what we all know is the truth: the ruling party has failed to lead this country with integrity and resolve.
The unemployment statistics released this week, revealed a sobering figure of 20.6 million South Africans, aged between 15-64 years, who are not economically active in the second quarter. The highest percentage of the unemployed is the youth, aged 15-34, making up 82% of the total unemployed.
While the ruling party fight amongst themselves, misappropriating state funds and showing more and more disdain for South Africans, there is a real socio-economic crisis brewing that cannot be fixed by giving out food parcels and other temporary relief measures.
South Africa needs a serious overhaul and a thorough rebuilding process. The process starts with key policy intervention that addresses the current economic malaise, including political and policy uncertainty. Thereafter political will is needed to drive implementation, accompanied by transparency and accountability mechanisms that monitor the action of key interventions.
The ACDP stands ready to implement the above. It is time for change.
The ACDP welcomes the commitment given by the Minister of Justice and Correctional Affairs, Mr Ronald Lamola, in response to our recent oral question in Parliament, to amend legislation dealing with the payment of admission of guilt fines and criminal records.
ACDP says to recover from Covid-19 pandemic, SA needs a leadership that will put people first
As South Africa moves into Alert Level 1, the African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP) urges all to work towards rebuilding our economy. The economy has been decimated and another 3 million people added to the ranks of the unemployed, as a consequence of one of the harshest lockdowns in the world.
The past six months have changed the lives of many forever. The country has gone through a paradigm shift and the ugly heads of inequality and corruption have once again been revealed. However, South Africans are resilient. We are a strong, courageous people and we have a shared future to care for.
In order to recover from this pandemic, the nation needs a leadership that is willing to put people first, root out corruption and address the systemic injustices that prevail in South African communities.
The ACDP is dedicated to rebuilding communities and bringing opportunities at local community level. The hard lockdown, in April, showed how weak or close to nonexistence local economies are in South Africa. Instead of having close access to food and social services, community members were still driving out of neighbourhoods, or using public transport to access food and other services. This needs to change. Our communities need to become thriving economic nodes that bring sustainable opportunities and job creation.
South Africa needs to rebuild by ensuring that local businesses are capacitated and resourced with skills and opportunities to funding.
For the rebuilding process to take root, it’s critical for people to get involved in the decision-making process. Rebuilding should focus on long-term planning which helps citizens come back stronger by rethinking and repurposing new systems and innovations that make wholesome individuals and entire communities more resilient and successful.
This can only happen if government planning and spending processes are transparent and participatory, which is not the case. South Africans are not represented meaningfully when it comes to governance issues, but often are merely informed of the government’s plans. This needs to change, and policy interventions and programmes should be representative of what people and communities see as priorities for them and their families.
The South African education system is still vastly unequal, with millions of children falling behind due to a lack of access to internet services. The Coronavirus not only exacerbated inequalities but also brought service delivery gaps to the fore. What is required is a new and willing leadership to drive the necessary change forward.
The ACDP is committed to putting communities first by providing ethical and transparent leadership and governance that is not marred by party squabbles or factions. I believe that South Africans are ready to receive a leadership that represents their core value system, one which puts families and lives first.
Statement by Wayne Thring MP, ACDP Deputy President
“Honourable Deputy Speaker,
Women played an iconic role in the history of our country. South African history is filled with real female heroes who have championed the cause for equality and the eradication of discriminatory laws during the difficult years of apartheid.
They left an indelible mark on the political struggle for a democratic South Africa. The women who lived through the social oppression of those days, did not back down to the status quo. They demanded their voices be heard and they addressed injustice in the most valiant ways possible.
When we say “she is a woman”, there is a recognition of the power of the female voice and unique role women play in shaping society.
It is important now more than ever, for the voice of women to be heard in our nation. The inequality and poverty the majority of our nation live in, affects women the most.
Economic disparity has severely limited the freedom of women in our democratic South Africa. The pandemic of disease and violence affects women disproportionately.
The issue of equality remains critical in a society where broken families are becoming the norm, and more than 38% of households are women led.
Women’s Month should be a time to reflect on how far we have came in the pursuance of equality and justice for all, but it also needs to be a time to refocus our attention and redefine the path to building strong, healthy communities.
The fight is at the most basic level of how women live and the opportunities that are available for them to pursue advancement in order to attain economic freedom.
It is in recognizing how systemic failures at all levels have given rise to the brutal reality of Gender Based Violence.
26 Years after the dawn of our democracy, this country is among the most dangerous for women to live in, and raise her children in.
The Constitution of South Africa states that “everyone has the right to life”. Every day in South Africa that right is being violated, and women are being killed in a manner that resembles a war zone.
The abnormal has become normal and the tide is rising. The most critical issue we face is the right to live in safety for there is no dead person who can enjoy the fruits of equality and freedom.
This Women’s Month we must again revisit that moment in 1956 when 20 000 women of all races and class marched on the Union Building to hand over a petition to the then Prime Minister.
How do we celebrate women when the names of the slain are growing daily, and still today the female body is being exploited?
How do we celebrate women when she is forced to live in a shack and raise her children in fear? When she must sell herself in shame to protect her children against hunger?
There is a new breed of women that should revisit that moment in 1956 to say – how many times will you strike this rock?
We should do so in the same unified voice of the women who came before us, a voice that history teaches us, shall not be denied.
The ACDP this Women’s Month, calls for unity across political and racial divides to tackle the giants we face: Gender based Violence, Unemployment and Inequality.
We must make South Africa safe for women again!
Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng has expressed his deeply held personal beliefs and views on Israel based on his strong religious and spiritual connections with the Holy Land of Israel, but he now faces criticism, intimidation and reprisal from the ANC, BDS, the Judicial Services Commission and others.
Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng has a proven track record of upholding the Constitution and human rights over the years.
In addition, the judiciary, under his leadership, has been fiercely independent, and was the strongest bulwark against the ANC’s complete capture of the state during the Zuma years.
In a recent wide-ranging interview with the Jerusalem Post (https://bit.ly/2VQ85eC), which included South African Chief Rabbi Warren Goldstein, discussion focussed on global racial tensions and the need for love, forgiveness and reconciliation.
During the interview, he made it very clear that he was not undermining the government’s policy on Israel but had the right to express himself as a citizen and as a Christian.
It is also undeniable that South Africa, with its unique history and experience in negotiating a peaceful solution, could play an important role in facilitating the peace process in the Middle East.
We thus fully agree with Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng’s sentiment that “the people of South Africa are an asset we must use around the world to bring peace when there is no peace, and to mediate effectively based on rich our experience.”
The ANC has chosen to ignore these important parts of the interview, but has only focussed on Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng’s personal comments on Israel.
Sadly, the unbalanced approach of the ANC in condemning Israel whenever possible, along with its resolution to downgrade the South African embassy in Israel, while turning a blind eye to far more serious human rights violations in many other countries including China, Iraq, Syria, Iran, North Korea and Myanmar, has resulted in it losing any credibility as an honest mediator in international affairs.
This resolution to downgrade the SA Embassy in Israel flies in the face of growing diplomatic ties between Israel and many African countries who see the benefits of such relationships when it comes to Israel’s technology such as in the medical, water and agricultural spheres.
These growing diplomatic ties are ironically being mediated by Gulf states, including the United Arab Emirates who mediated a meeting between Prime minister Netanyahu and Sudanese President Burhan, and clearly illustrates how short-sighted the ANC’s foreign policy towards Israel is.
The ANC asserts that South Africa “is a secular state and officials of the state, which include our esteemed judiciary are bound by the constitution to respect this.” This view shows that the ANC has no understanding of the relationship between the state and religion as clearly articulated by the Constitution and the courts.
South Africa is not a secular state. This was confirmed by a full bench of three Gauteng High Court judges in the 2017 OGOD judgement which stated that, “this fits a twin theme often raised during argument, and accepted by all, namely first, that we are not a secular State and, second, that in this country our diversity is celebrated, not tolerated.”
The ACDP notes the announcement by the Minister of Basic Education Minister, Ms Angie Motshekga, in which she has said that more learners would be returning to school in the months of July and August.
**On July 6, 2020, Grades R, 1, 2, 3, 6, 10 and 11 will return.*
**On August 3, 2020, Grades 4, 5, 8 and 9 will return.*
The ACDP encourages the Department to recognise the rights of parents, as we believe that no parent should be forced by the Department to send their child/children to school if they deem it unsafe, or should they be able to home-school.
We are of the opinion that the Department should introduce a hybrid system in order to facilitate the successful completion of the academic school year for ALL children.
The cold fact is that our schools are overcrowded, and that the next intake of learners on the 6th of July, and the 3rd of August, respectively, will most definitely impact compliance to health and safety standards negatively. The ACDP proposes that the DBE enable those parents who can home-school their children, to do so without having to de-register their children from school. In light of the impact of Covid-19 on our schooling system, the Department has to adapt and adopt a more flexible mind-set to schooling.
The ACDP is also concerned that the psycho-socio support that was set out by the minister is not easily accessible for both learners and teachers who seek the psychological support during this difficult time.
*In a hybrid system:*
**Three groups of children would be accommodated at a time.*
**Children whose parents can afford to home-school would be allowed to do so and receive the necessary support from the department.*
**Children in disadvantaged communities would collect work from school to practice, study, and work from home.*
**Children at risk in poorer communities who need supervision, and those who depend on the school nutrition programme, would attend school.*
This system is an alternative that is completely possible. Some schools have already adopted this method, particularly in the Western Cape.
The ACDP has full confidence that the hybrid system will address overcrowding in our schools, and that it would make life for parents, teachers, and children much easier and safer.
All is not equal in our society, and the loss of the academic year would further disadvantage children who live, and attend schools, in our poorer communities – the cost of which would negatively impact the next string of students going onto the next level.
The ACDP proposes the hybrid system because we cannot afford to have any of our children left behind.
