United Democratic Movement (UDM)

Founded: 1997.

The United Democratic Movement is a South African political party launched in 1997 and led by Bantu Holomisa. Its 2024 national and provincial manifesto and its published policy proposals cover good governance and anti-corruption, the economy, land, labour, energy, education, health, safety and security, traditional leadership, provincial and local government, and international relations. For the 2026 local government elections it campaigns on a twelve-pillar programme covering basic services and maintenance, clean governance and financial discipline, fair tariffs, local economic development, housing and land use, rural revitalisation, community safety, public health, youth and social development, participatory democracy, traditional leadership, and coalition governance.

Official website: https://udm.org.za/

Not yet reviewed by a human. These positions were placed by reading the sources below; each one links to the document it came from.

15 of 15 axes have a cited position. Axes without a published position are marked as such and are never scored.

Positions

Economy: state or market — -0.25

State-led: the state owns or directs key industries, sets prices and plans investment.Market-led: private ownership, deregulation, lower taxes and a smaller state.

Between the two poles

Restructuring of public enterprises, rendering core services, should seek formulas such as strategic equity partners, and not wholesale privatisation.

Economic Policy Position , 4.8.1 Principles for Restructuring (party_document; accessed 2026-10-18)

Land reform and expropriation — +1.25

Expropriation without compensation and state custodianship of land.Strong property rights; redistribution only through willing-buyer/willing-seller and the courts.

Leaning towards: strong property rights; redistribution only through willing-buyer/willing-seller and the courts.

For those who already, and in the future, own land it means that their right to property is protected by the Constitution. It means that government may only expropriate land by balancing the interest of the public and the interests of those affected. In addition, government may only do so if the current owner is compensated with fair value, subject to mutual agreement or a decision of the court.

Land Policy Proposals , 2.1 Land and nation building (party_document; accessed 2026-10-18)

BEE and race-based redress — +1.50

Race-based redress expanded: BEE, employment equity and ownership targets enforced.Race-based redress phased out or replaced by non-racial, class-based or need-based measures.

Leaning towards: race-based redress phased out or replaced by non-racial, class-based or need-based measures.

The UDM notes that the present Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) only empowers a selected few. Furthermore it is racially divisive and excludes most people, irrespective of race, who need to be economically empowered.

Economic Policy Position , 4.13 Equal Economic Empowerment (party_document; accessed 2026-10-18)

Labour market — -0.50

Strong worker protection: higher minimum wages, collective bargaining, limits on labour broking and dismissal.Flexible labour market: easier hiring and dismissal, fewer statutory protections, incentives for employers.

Between the two poles

Contrary to local perceived wisdom, most of the comprehensive studies undertaken of foreign direct investment to South Africa since 1994 suggest that it is the absence of a skilled and educated labour force – rather than labour market inflexibility – that has a chilling effect on potential inward investors.

Labour Policy Proposals , 3. Skills development (party_document; accessed 2026-10-18)

Healthcare and NHI — -0.50

Universal public health care: a publicly funded and publicly provided National Health Insurance with a smaller private sector.Private provision: medical schemes and market competition carry most of the system, with a smaller public role.

Between the two poles

The UDM commits itself to protecting and promoting the constitutional right of all South Africans to basic health care, and providing proper and immediate responses to the major health risks facing the country.

Health Policy Proposals , 1. Introduction (party_document; accessed 2026-10-18)

Education — -1.00

State-directed schooling: a central curriculum, expanded free public education and tighter regulation of independent schools.Parental choice: independent schools, charter-type models and market mechanisms in education.

Leaning towards: state-directed schooling: a central curriculum, expanded free public education and tighter regulation of independent schools.

The UDM supports fee-free tertiary education aimed at students from poor and working-class families. ... However, once implemented under a UDM government, students' progress shall be monitored and managed as an investment.

Manifesto 2024: 2024 National and Provincial Elections , 7.3 Higher education (manifesto; accessed 2026-10-18)

Crime and policing — +0.25

Enforcement-first: more police and soldiers on the streets, harsher sentences, fewer procedural limits on the state.Prevention-first: community policing, restorative justice, and civil-liberties safeguards.

Between the two poles

The UDM however does believe that to ensure a long-term solution to crime and violence we, the citizens of South Africa, must devote ourselves to a collaborative long-term effort to reform our society so that we do not merely focus on the symptoms, but also eradicate the causes of crime and violence.

Manifesto 2024: 2024 National and Provincial Elections , 6 Safety and Security (manifesto; accessed 2026-10-18)

Immigration — -0.75

Restrictive: tighter borders, limits on foreign nationals, deportation of undocumented migrants.Open: freer movement, rights for migrants, and regional integration.

Leaning towards: restrictive: tighter borders, limits on foreign nationals, deportation of undocumented migrants.

In the labour market, protecting South Africans, in policy and law, from unfair competition from illegal and undocumented immigrants and deal with the exploitation of illegal immigrants in the private sector. We will handle illegal immigration in a compassionate and holistic manner in line with our continental and international obligations.

Manifesto 2024: 2024 National and Provincial Elections , 2.3 Sustainable job creation (manifesto; accessed 2026-10-18)

Energy and climate — +0.75

Rapid decarbonisation: coal phase-out, renewable generation and climate commitments prioritised.Energy security first: continued coal, gas or nuclear generation and a slower transition.

Leaning towards: energy security first: continued coal, gas or nuclear generation and a slower transition.

Migration to a green economy has to be balanced with South Africa's developmental goals. The sequencing of addressing South Africa's challenges is going to be key and we must apply a balancing act in our approach.

Manifesto 2024: 2024 National and Provincial Elections , 5.1 Climate change (manifesto; accessed 2026-10-18)

Federalism and devolution — +1.50

Centralised: a unitary state where national government sets policy and lower tiers have limited discretion.Devolved or federal: more powers, budgets and discretion for provinces and municipalities.

Leaning towards: devolved or federal: more powers, budgets and discretion for provinces and municipalities.

The UDM is in favour of phasing out Provinces and strengthening Local Government. This should be coupled with the transfer of most provincial duties, as well as human resource capacity, from Provinces to Local Government.

Provincial and local government Policy Proposals , 1. Introduction (party_document; accessed 2026-10-18)

Traditional leadership — -0.75

Expanded role: traditional leaders hold formal powers over governance, land and customary law.Limited role: elected structures and individual constitutional rights take precedence over customary authority.

Leaning towards: expanded role: traditional leaders hold formal powers over governance, land and customary law.

To date the role of traditional leadership has been belittled and undermined, thereby threatening the one social institution that is best placed to understand and promote the needs and aspirations of rural people. ... Recognise and protect the role and institution of traditional leaders.

Manifesto 2024: 2024 National and Provincial Elections , 2.9.1 Traditional leaders (manifesto; accessed 2026-10-18)

Social values — +0.50

Conservative: law reflects religious or traditional morality, with narrower reproductive and LGBTQ+ rights.Liberal: secular law, with expanded gender, reproductive and LGBTQ+ rights.

Between the two poles

The LGBTQIA+ community is therefore entitled to live their lives as they choose, and their rights should be protected.

Manifesto 2024: 2024 National and Provincial Elections , 6.2 The LGBTQIA+ community (manifesto; accessed 2026-10-18)

Foreign policy — -0.75

Non-aligned and Global South: closer ties with BRICS, Russia, China and Palestine, with distance from Western powers.Western-aligned: closer ties with the United States, the European Union and other liberal democracies.

Leaning towards: non-aligned and global south: closer ties with brics, russia, china and palestine, with distance from western powers.

Retain the moral high ground in international conflict resolution scenarios without taking sides.

Manifesto 2024: 2024 National and Provincial Elections , 4 International Relations (manifesto; accessed 2026-10-18)

Anti-corruption and governance — -1.25

Expanded oversight: independent anti-corruption bodies with stronger investigative powers, asset forfeiture and procurement transparency.Smaller state machinery: fewer new bodies and regulations, with corruption handled through existing criminal law and the courts.

Leaning towards: expanded oversight: independent anti-corruption bodies with stronger investigative powers, asset forfeiture and procurement transparency.

Independent anti-corruption task teams will be established in each province to determine the level of corruption and to immediately introduce recovery steps.

Manifesto 2024: 2024 National and Provincial Elections , 1 Good governance (manifesto; accessed 2026-10-18)

Local service delivery — +1.00

Centralised delivery: national standards and national or provincial intervention where councils fail.Municipal self-reliance: councils and communities decide, with private or community providers used where they work better.

Leaning towards: municipal self-reliance: councils and communities decide, with private or community providers used where they work better.

The UDM proposes the rapid expansion of the role of Local Government, as the sphere of government that is closest to the people. The equitable share of revenue that is allocated to Local Government must be increased to ensure that development and delivery at community level becomes a reality.

Provincial and local government Policy Proposals , 1. Introduction (party_document; accessed 2026-10-18)