Bantu Holomisa’s vision for SA
As his biography is released, UDM leader Bantu Holomisa speaks candidly to YOU about his vision for South Africa
HE’S one of the most colourful characters on the South African political scene – outspoken, upfront and always candid. He makes his opinions known and his presence felt wherever he goes. So it’s no surprise to see Bantu Holomisa (62) striding confidently into the Johannesburg offices of the company that’s just published his authorised biography, The Game Changer.
Dapper in a blue suit and with his ever-present tablet in hand, he’s in fine spirits as he prepares for the launch of the book, which was written by journalist Eric Naki. He gets right to the point. “Sawubona, sisi,” he says as we shake hands. “Right, first question. What do you guys want to know?”
WHY THIS BOOK AND WHY NOW?
He’s had a good year, Holomisa says. His party, the United Democratic Movement (UDM), has just celebrated its 20th anniversary and he and his team helped win a Constitutional Court judgment that allowed for a secret ballot in parliament during a vote of no confidence in President Jacob Zuma.
So he decided to top it off with an authorised biography, which looks at his life and journey in South African politics, and delves into where our embattled country is headed.
The politician, who hails from Mqanduli in the Eastern Cape, was under pressure to produce the book from people who approached him asking for proper documentation of the history of the region.
The role the Transkei military government played in the liberation struggle was missing, people told him.
“The main reason I wrote the book is simply to contribute to the South African story and in particular the role of the military government in changing homeland politics,” he says.
THE STATE OF THE COUNTRY
The future of the country lies in a coalition government, he believes.
“South Africa doesn’t need one-party dominance anymore. In the past 23 years we’ve seen how corrupt that system is,” Holomisa says.
He thinks relevant parties should go on “study tours” of countries such as New Zealand and Germany where coalition politics are the norm. But there’d have to be rules and regulations on forming an effective government.
He doesn’t mince his words when it comes to his contempt for the president.
“Zuma is just laughing at us. He says, ‘I’ll loot with impunity with my friends from India’.”
It’s time South Africans took ownership of the country.
“The mentality that only the ANC can improve our quality of life needs to change.
“The ANC is just as corrupt as other governments on the continent. So whoever emerges in December [after the
ANC elective conference], we can’t say we’re going to trust that individual or that group.
“Things were happening right under their noses. I’m talking about Cyril Ramaphosa, Zweli Mkhize, Lindiwe Sisulu, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma – all of them. They’re all the same. Even if you listen to their presentations, you can see their arguments are laced with factionalism.”
A BIT ABOUT HIS PAST
With more than 30 years of experience in the volatile South African political field, he’s seen it all.
Holomisa served as the commander of the Transkei Defence Force and head of the Transkei government in the ’80s and ’90s. During his tenure he unbanned more than 30 organisations and worked closely with the liberation movement, which led to him being elected to the ANC’s national executive committee in 1994.
He was expelled two years later after testifying before the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC).
Holomisa explains he’d gone to the commission to ask for compensation for families of Transkei Defence Force soldiers killed in what he calls an abortive coup in 1990.
He testified that his predecessor, Stella Sigcau, had received a cut of a R2 million bribe from hotel magnate Sol Kerzner, and “some media and ANC elements went overboard. People said I must apologise and I said, ‘No ways – apologise for what?’ I participated in the TRC under oath so why must I apologise?”
A “small word” led to him being expelled from the ruling party, he says. “That small word is called corruption.”
His expulsion led to the formation of the UDM and he sees the 20th anniversary as an important milestone.
“One might say I’ve been vindicated,” he says.
IS THERE HOPE FOR THE ANC?
Holomisa believes the policies of the ruling party are sound but their implementation is the problem.
“The policies have been researched. The UDM and the ANC are fishing from the same pond and I was part of the original agenda that seeks to improve the quality of life for all.
“That’s been the motto since 1994 but the implementation has been handicapped by the fact that the people appointed to implement policies have no clue.”
The ANC can self-correct if it runs the country with other parties “so they can learn how things are done. But they can’t correct themselves on their own. Because those who’ll win in December will say, ‘It’s our turn to eat now’. It’s perpetual.”
HOLOMISA OUTSIDE POLITICS
The social media-savvy politician splits his time between the UDM’s national offices in Pretoria, parliament in Cape Town and his home in Mthatha in the Eastern Cape.
“In my spare time I sit down with my iPad and connect with the world and the people on Facebook, Twitter and WhatsApp. I’m a student of current affairs,” he says.
When he’s at home he loves spending time with his wife, Thunyelwa, and their daughter, Anele (35). Their second child, son Mandla (30), lives in Johannesburg.
They’re a close-knit family, he says, and some of his family members were there to support him when he launched his book in Johannesburg in November.
Going back to his book, Holomisa envisions a summit of leaders of political and civil society exchanging ideas on how to take South Africa forward.
The summit should not only find solutions to the country’s current set of challenges but explore how the powers that be can build a prosperous country for future generations.
“Our role as leaders is to do everything in our power to maximise efforts to make South Africa a winning nation.”
We can’t argue with that.