ANC’s budget a success

When Moody’s gives your budget two thumbs down, they only try to help; and naturally, you’d expect the Finance Minister to promptly return to the drawing board... unless running the country’s economy into the ground is cause for celebration.  

From an IOL article, with the headline "Moody's concerned about Mboweni's Budget speech" By ANA Reporter:

CAPE TOWN - Moody's ratings agency on Friday warned that the economic forecasts contained in finance minister Tito Mboweni's 2020 budget had been rendered uncertain by the liabilities placed on the state by stricken parastatals and the labour movement's reaction to public wage bill reductions.

"Uncertainty regarding the success of negotiations with the country's unions and potential contingent liabilities from state-owned enterprises mean risks to budget forecasts are elevated," Moody's said.

It also noted that while Mboweni conceded that revenue would remain low, partly because of weak economic growth, he elected not to raise tax.

"As a result fiscal deficits will remain wide," it noted.

After secession we’ll take ALL of the assets and NONE of the debt. So why wouldn’t you give your mandate at www.ulacongress.com, for a new country? Without the old crap!

Gravy train, full speed ahead.

In future you need to ask for extra gravy on the gravy train, says Finance Minister. 

In a Fin24 article with the headline "‘Join me in economy class': Mboweni asks MPs to commit to cost cutting", reporter Khulekani Magubane writes:

Finance Minister Tito Mboweni told Members of Parliament that members of the legislature would need to follow his example in containing costs, if only to demonstrate to taxpayers that government was committed to spending revenues more responsibly. 

The minister was addressing a joint meeting of Parliament's Standing Committee on Finance, the Standing Committee on Appropriations, a Select Committee on Finance and a Select Committee on Appropriations on Thursday.

Mboweni's briefing to the MPs came after he tabled his 2020/21 Budget Speech in Parliament on Wednesday. He told MPs that his message to ministers to opt for economy class flights instead of business class flights also applied to them.

Mboweni's speech proposed requiring economy class travel for all domestic flights, except in exceptional circumstances.

Give your mandate at www.ulacongress.com and stop this train in its tracks.

Vehicle license renewed?

If your vehicle license is expired don’t fret, you are not alone.

In a News24 article with the headline "Heidelberg cops contravening the law by operating vehicles with expired licence discs", reporter Ntwaagae Seleka writes:

A fleet of about 30 state-owned vehicles at Heidelberg police station are transgressing the law daily.

The vehicles are being operated with expired licence discs and this is putting officers at risk of receiving traffic fines.

Among the 30 affected vehicles, three belong to support services, 11 to detectives and 16 are marked vehicles performing visible policing.

Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) spokesperson Simon Zwane said, according to road legislation, a police vehicle should have a proper licence disc to be on the road.

"The police are not exempt from paying vehicle licences. It is an offence to drive an unlicensed [police vehicle] on a public road and the person driving the car will receive a fine. Only the army and diplomatic cars are exempt," Zwane added.

If the police don’t even uphold the law then anarchy is afoot. Give your mandate at www.ulacongress.com and restore law and order.

Who decides what is news?

Last week some of us saw the tragic video recordings on social media of a mother and her two boys burned alive in their home. The outrage of these events can only be fueled by mainstream media’s refusal to report on this event giving the grieving family and the community no consolation.

In a News24 series which just started with the headline "Gauteng pupil kidnapped, ransom demanded", reporter Ntwaagae Seleka writes:

A Gauteng pupil, Lindokuhle Masuku, has been kidnapped on Monday while waiting outside his school, Queens High, in Johannesburg, the Gauteng Education Department said in a statement late on Tuesday night.

Grade 8 pupil Masuku was waiting for his transport when he was taken, said the department.

“Subsequently, it is alleged that a ransom of about [R5 million] has been demanded for his release,” said Steve Mabona, the department’s spokesperson.

This is a developing story. More to follow.

Please explain why this child, who is still presumed alive, gets not only coverage but the complete saga will be reported. While 2 children and their mother who were horrifically murdered and their assailants still at large do not deserve even a mention. Who decides or should we draw our own conclusions?

The ULA mornes with the under appreciated minorities of South Africa and our condolences go out to their families and loved ones! Give your mandate at www.ulacongress.com and tell the world that we the minorities of South Africa do matter!

Malema gets special treatment

As with the Jacob Zuma trial the trend continues where arrests for contempt of court are being stayed for politicians.  

In an IOL article with headline “Legal experts hail the issuing of arrest warrants against politicians”, reporter Sihle Mavuso wrote:

Durban - Despite being seen as "too lenient" on absconding politicians by issuing warrants of arrests that are stayed, some legal experts say the courts are sending strong messages to the accused public figures.

One of the experts said the courts are telling politicians that they will not get special treatment and will be treated like all citizens if they fail to pitch before courts. 

Malema is charged with discharging a firearm in public. The incident allegedly happened in 2018 at Sisa Dukashe stadium in Mdantsane where one of his bodyguards Adriaan Snyman (a co-accused in the case) handed over to him a gun and Malema allegedly fired it into the air. The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) then charged him for illegally using a firearm in a closed area and thus endangering people. 

Now the court wants Malema to be present in court on May 8 or every time the matter is to be heard. 

Give your mandate at www.ulacongress.com where we are all equal under the law.

Ramaphosa Lies & Corruption

While the business dealings of Ramaphosa senior remains hush-hush the dealings of his son with Bosasa worth millions remains in question. 

In a news24 article with headline “Andile Ramaphosa’s secret Bosasa cash and the mystery man who got the 'lion’s share'”, reporter Kyle Cowan wrote:

Andile Ramaphosa portrayed his business deal with corruption-accused company Bosasa as a forthright and honest mistake. But a News24 investigation shows that in his moment of attrition, he was not totally honest – he misstated how much and when he was paid and remained mum on the role his secretive business partner, John Mathwasa, played.

What do you expect when we let our country be run by criminals. For a brand new start ruling our own country, give your mandate at www.ulacongress.com.

FF+ irrelevant?

No mention of Pieter Groenewald’s address at the response to SONA in parliament on Wednesday.

In a news24 article with headline “Eskom, NHI and land expropriation: How Ramaphosa responded to MPs' SONA concerns”, reporter Jan Gerber wrote:

Here are some of the points raised in Parliament by members of the opposition in response to President Cyril Ramaphosa's State of the Nation Address.

DA MP and spokesperson on energy and mineral resources Kevin Mileham said: "We had hoped that in this critical hour, President Ramaphosa would seize the opportunity last week to take ownership of the problem, deal decisively with Eskom, and provide South Africa with a path to a powered future. But the incapable state and its incapable president never take bold action."

DA interim leader John Steenhuisen advised Ramaphosa to walk away from expropriation without compensation.

DA MP Annelie Lotriet said amending Section 25 of the Constitution to allow expropriation without compensation would cause South Africa irreparable harm, it would undermine property rights and that it was just used to paper over the ANC's failures regarding land reform. "The initial motivation for the amendment to Section 25 was to make explicit that which is implicit. This is a false argument. The Constitution is explicit enough about specifically land reform and restitution."

DA MP and spokesperson on health Siviwe Gwarube said: "It became evident that many have been sold a dream that the failures of the ANC government will be immediately rectified by the NHI Bill. Yet we know that this is not true. What is most tragic though is how the governing party is using the NHI Bill to mask its governance failures, promising an overnight transformation of the health system when they know this is false. This government knows that as the bill stands, it will not improve the quality of health care for all South Africans."

Perhaps FF+ should start to fight for self-determination as their mandate and constitution dictates if they want to stay relevant or perhaps the DA is just the only opposition worth mentioning.

For the opportunity to choose your own leaders on merit and the promises they make, give your mandate at www.ulacongress.com for an end to party politics.

Municipalities blame residents for debt

The latest excuse is that municipalities are in good standing and that it is the households and businesses that are in arrears on their accounts. Which makes little sense because the accounts in arrears cannot be for services rendered since these services would’ve been disconnected.

In a fin24 article with headline “Municipalities can't pay up because they're not being paid”, MPs hear reporter Lameez Omarjee wrote:

The debt owed to municipalities far outweighs the debt municipalities owe to Eskom and water boards, members of Parliament heard on Tuesday.

President Cyril Ramaphosa's address during his State of the Nation announced that the government would allow municipalities in financial good standing to procure power from independent power producers.

The South African Local Government Association (Salga) represents 257 local governments. Commenting on the financial position of municipalities, Thembi Nkadimeng, president of Salga, noted that R25 billion and R14 billion is owed to Eskom and water boards, respectively, and that they are threatened with disconnections from these entities for failure to pay.

Municipalities in turn are owed close to R170 billion by households, businesses and government for services rendered.

Households account for the majority of the debt - R120 billion - followed by businesses, which owe R25 billion, and government, which owes R10 billion.

Incompetence gets laid at the feet of the everyday man who has no power to effect any change. The ULA has a solution where the power is not in the hands of the government but we the people get to decide. The choice whether we want to accept the solution is also in our hands, by giving your mandate at www.ulacongress.com or remain at the mercy of the government.

Tshwane Municipality Hostile Takeover Continues

The Tshwane council meeting held on January, 16th in the guise of no confidence by the DA to set the stage for ANC/EFF provincial take over even though the DA received the majority vote, is expected to continue today.

In a News24 article with headline Tshwane council meeting on motions of no confidence to continue, reporter Alex Mitchley wrote:

The four motions which were tabled, were against the mayor, speaker, acting speaker and chair of chairs.

During the original sitting, none of the motions were heard as the council spent most of the day fighting over the sequence of the motions.

The ANC and EFF were unhappy about the sequence of the motions, arguing that they should have set the order as they petitioned for the meeting in the first place.

With a lot of back and forth, several disruptions, a scuffle and two caucuses breaks, the ANC and EFF collapsed council as they staged a walkout.

Whether today would prove different is questionable, all on the taxpayers dime. if you want competence to replace theatrics and actually see your taxes being put to work give your mandate at www.ulacongress.com for a 2-state solution.

Malema - No jail time for Zuma

In a News24 article with the headline Jacob Zuma 'too old to go to jail', says Malema, Tshidi Madia reports:

Speaking at the Cape Town Press Club on Friday, EFF leader Julius Malema believes that although former president Jacob Zuma must bring himself before a court of law on the charges he faces, he is too old to go to jail.

Zuma faces 16 charges of fraud, money laundering, corruption and racketeering linked to 783 payments that French arms company Thales allegedly made to him in connection with the infamous arms deal in 1999. It saw Zuma's former close associate Schabir Shaik sentenced to 15 years in jail for corruption.

"If there are charges against him, he must go to court and answer to those charges," said Malema.

"The purpose of jail is correctional, we correct you and send you back to society. What about Zuma is going to be corrected because he is an old man?" Malema asked, forgetting that prison is the punishment.

Give your mandate for law and order at www.ulacongress.com 

SACC defending Communism is God’s work

The South African Council of Churches defends communism calling it Christian work. 

The SACC secretary general Bishop Malusi Mpumlwana has called on FW de Klerk to retract and apologise over his recent statement that the UN categorisation of apartheid as a crime against humanity was a Soviet propaganda ploy.

In a City Press article with the headline SACC calls on de Klerk to retract and apologise for his apartheid remarks, Ntwaagae Seleka reports Mpumlwana saying:

“Apartheid made all South African Whites and their future generations, its beneficiaries in superabundance.”, the Bishop proclaims straight from the communist’s handbook.

Mpumlwana continued that if the De Klerk Foundation suggests that the international categorisation of apartheid as a crime against humanity was propaganda by the Soviet Union, then it means that the SACC, that campaigned under God to humanise South Africa against apartheid, was a Soviet propaganda pawn.

“It suggests that the apartheid government’s charges through the Schlebusch and Eloff Commissions, that the work of the Archbishop Desmond Tutu’s SACC for social justice and national reconciliation against apartheid was not Christian work.

“It justifies the banning and banishment of the more than 2 000 citizens of all races between 1950 and 1990 through the provisions of the wholly unjust Suppression of Communism Act.” he defends communism in contradiction to an apparent guilty conscience, you be the judge.

The atrocities committed in the name of communism is the same destiny the ANC/SACP/EFF plans for South Africans with the blessings of the SACC. The ULA has the solution to liberate the South African minorities from this tyranny. Tell a friend and get their mandate to www.ulacongress.com or we will all suffer the consequences.

Soviet propaganda says de Klerk

It would appear FW de Klerk has no friends left on either side of the isle.

Jan Gerber wrote in a News24 article with the headline: Notion that apartheid is a crime against humanity is Soviet propaganda meant to agitate - FW de Klerk Foundation

The FW de Klerk Foundation has labelled the notion that apartheid is a crime against humanity "soviet agitprop" – propaganda meant to agitate.

This is in response to what it called the EFF's "vitriolic attacks" on De Klerk during the State of the Nation spectacle during general assembly.

"He is an unrepentant apologist of apartheid who is not willing to accept that apartheid was [a] crime against humanity," Malema said.

"First we have to look at the origins of the charge: In November 1966 the UN General Assembly declared apartheid to be a crime against humanity - and in 1973 it adopted the Convention on the Suppression and Punishment of the Crime of Apartheid.

"Both the Resolution and the Convention were political initiatives of the Soviet Union - which had itself committed atrocious crimes against humanity that involved the killing of millions of people.

"The idea that apartheid was 'a crime against humanity' was, and remains, an 'agitprop' project initiated by the Soviets and their ANC/SACP allies to stigmatise white South Africans by associating them with genuine crimes against humanity" read the statement.

According to the foundation, some 23 000 people died in South Africa's political violence between 1960 and 1994 - of who fewer than 5 000 were killed by the security forces. 

While the ANC/EFF cannot seem to get over Apartheid the ULA has a vision where all minorities can move forward and prosper. Give your mandate at www.ulacongress.com for a future of cooperation and mutual respect.

No plan for Eskom: Ramaphosa's SONA speech

The speech, delivered by president Ramaphosa in the National Assembly on Thursday evening, left much to be desired. The much anticipated speech, which came after a 2 hour long disruption by EFF hooligans, was supposed to address the Eskom concern but it did not satisfy.

In a News24 article with headline No plan for Eskom: Parties react to Ramaphosa's SONA speech by Sesona Ngqakamba reported on the responses by some opposition parties:

The DA says President Cyril Ramaphosa's State of the Nation Address showed that he had chosen the ANC over South Africa and saving the country from economic disaster.  

DA interim leader John Steenhuisen said that Eskom remained the biggest threat to South Africa and that the emergency measures announced by the president were simply confirming what was already known: "Eskom is dead."

"The ANC's insistence on trying to resurrect it by raiding the pensions of government employees is madness. There is no 'financially sustainable' way to throw a quarter of a trillion rand of pension savings down a hole that has no bottom," he said.

African Christian Democratic Party leader Kenneth Meshoe said the party would oppose any motion that the money of government employees be used to bail out cash-strapped Eskom.

Solidarity's Dirk Hermann said they welcomed the drastic steps to decentralise power generation as announced by Ramaphosa, but added that there was no plan to address Eskom's "huge debt problem".

"We foresee a huge clash between pension fund members and government, and Solidarity will be at the forefront of this fight," he said. 

The minority group representatives who still proclaim their resistance to a majority ANC that does what it wants, pays no lip service. The ULA has a solution but it is up to you and me if we want it. Register your mandate at www.ulacongress.com and take the first step towards saving our economy.

JSE back to 1994

It is easy to imagine the decline of South African industry and public service due to incompetence and a sheer lack of simple maintenance, but to truly appreciate the success of BBEEE and AF one can look at the Economy.

In a Business Insider SA article with headline SA lost 250 listed companies since 2000 – there are now almost the same number of listings as before 1994 a reporter wrote:

According to a report by the the market information service TimBukOne, there are currently only 344 listed companies on the JSE - down more than 40% from the 601 listed companies as recently as in 2001.

The number of listings have dwindled to levels last seen during the end of apartheid. In 1993, there were 305 listed companies.

Many smaller companies have left the bourse after takeovers. “The trend is towards delisting,” says Jean Pierre Verster, CEO of Protea Capital Management.

While the JSE's all-share index gained 8% in 2019, it lost more than 11% in 2018. Also, last year’s gains were concentrated in some bits of the market, mostly in the mining sector  – Impala Platinum jumped 290% – while Massmart (Makro and Game) lost half of its value in a single year, Truworths dropped 40%, Shoprite lost almost a third and Mr Price fell 23%.

Thus the obvious thinking goes, to prevent a negative growth just dig more resources out of the ground. The ULA had a feasibility study made which shows that we can easily realise positive growth without the natural resources and mining industry.

If you agree give your mandate at www.ulacongress.com and take the first step towards a prosperous future.