Latest news with #AfricanTransformationMovement
The South African
5 hours ago
- Politics
- The South African
Proposal to change the name of SOUTH AFRICA to THIS
The African Transformation Movement (ATM) has announced plans to formally table a proposal before parliament to change South Africa's official name to the Republic of Azania , reigniting a decades-old debate about national identity and colonial legacy. ATM leader Vuyo Zungula says the current name, South Africa , is a relic of colonial rule and fails to reflect the indigenous heritage of the nation's people. Speaking in parliament this week, Zungula argued that the name originated with the British and Boer colonisers during the formation of the Union of South Africa in 1910, and should be replaced as part of a broader effort to decolonise the state. 'Before 1652, we were not South Africans. The name was imposed upon us,' Zungula stated. 'We need to reclaim our identity, just like other formerly colonised nations have done.' The proposal calls for South Africa to be renamed the Republic of Azania – a title historically associated with various liberation movements during the apartheid era. Zungula said the change would symbolise a break from the past and the restoration of dignity to the country's indigenous population. Predictably, the proposal has sparked mixed reactions among political commentators and the public. While some support the change as a meaningful step toward decolonisation, others have dismissed it as unnecessary and politically motivated. Political analyst Kenneth Mokgatlhe criticised the move, arguing that 'South Africa' is a geographic term, not inherently colonial. 'Many countries use geographic descriptors – think South Sudan, Central African Republic, or North Macedonia,' he said. 'The name 'Azania' has no broad cultural or linguistic grounding among South Africans.' He added that the term is mostly embraced by a narrow group of black radical thinkers, and lacks the widespread recognition necessary for a unifying national name. ATM and its allies plan to approach the Constitutional Review Committee to initiate formal discussions. Any name change would likely require a constitutional amendment, supported by a two-thirds majority in parliament and broad public consultation. Legal experts note that such a change would have wide-ranging administrative implications, including updates to passports, government signage, legislation, currency, and international treaties. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
The Citizen
6 days ago
- Politics
- The Citizen
Tshwane Speaker survives a motion of no confidence
The DA brought forward the motion against the African Transformation Movement (ATM) councillor, claiming he lacked impartiality. The speaker of Tshwane Council Mncedi Ndzwanana during the Tshwane Council Meeting on July 25, 2024 in Pretoria, South Africa. Photo by Gallo Images/Beeld/Deaan Vivier Tshwane Speaker of Council Mncedi Ndzwanana has survived a motion of no confidence. The DA brought forward the motion against the African Transformation Movement (ATM) councillor, claiming he lacked impartiality. The party lacked the numbers to pass the motion itself, but hoped to convince others in the Council. Despite its Speaker of Council being voted out in Johannesburg just hours earlier, thanks in part to the ANC, ActionSA voted with the ANC to dismiss the motion. ActionSA Gauteng provincial chairperson Funzi Ngobeni earlier said the DA's motion was a 'desperate' attempt to destabilise the city. 'This motion is not about principle; it is about fear. Fear of a coalition that is delivering. Fear of exposure. Fear of becoming irrelevant to a public that is starting to see what good governance can look like,' Ngobeni said. This is a developing story
The South African
23-06-2025
- Politics
- The South African
Possible name change on the cards for one of SA's oldest towns
The African Transformation Movement (ATM) has called on Sport, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie to begin processes to change the name of Harrismith in the Free State due to its cultural sensitivities. According to BusinessTech , the ATM requested this of McKenzie in a recent parliamentary Q&A, revealing that towns named after historical figures who caused harm to the local indigenous population should be changed. MP for the Movement, Vuyolwethu Zungula, revealed that the name 'Harrismith' was an unpleasant reminder to the AmaXhosa Kingdom in particular, as it was their King, Hintsa kaKhawuta, who was captured and killed in 1835 by Governor Harry Smith, whom the town was named after. Harrismith itself has faced similar calls for name changes before, with proposals put forth as early as 2005, with Intabazwe being the preferred name choice. Another proposal was put forward in 2014/15, but did not find support from local communities, who petitioned to keep the name the same. Founded in 1849, Harrismith was named after British Governor Sir Harry Smith. The incredibly old South African town played a role during the Anglo-Boer War and still has some heritage buildings that reflect its colonial past. Minister McKenzie, in response to Zungula's proposal, said that it was not the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture's responsibility to initiate name changes in the country. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
The South African
10-06-2025
- Politics
- The South African
African Transformation Movement: Party rings in leadership changes
The African Transformation Movement executive committee named Professor Caesar Nongqunga as its new president. Vuyolwethu Zungula, the former president, focuses on legislative duties to increase national visibility before the 2026 local government elections. Professor Caesar Nongqunga founded the political party and is the chief apostle of the Twelve Apostles Church in Christ. His work, leading housing and community programmes, shapes the party's strategy based on faith. The organisation claims the change in leadership is to get more support from the ground up before the upcoming elections. Analysts warn that mixing religion and politics could be a threat to South Africa's secular framework. Vuyolwethu Zungula is no longer the political party's president, but he is still influential in Parliament. He supports laws that limit foreign interference, is against unregulated immigration, and supports land reforms. On 9 June, SABC News confirmed that Zungula is still dedicated to pushing the movement's policy agenda in the National Assembly. Political experts say that this separation of powers is meant to make both campaigning for office and parliamentary influence easier. According to political reporter Natasha Phiri, Professor Nongqunga's primary objectives are to re-establish ties with the faith-based organisations and increase visibility at the local level. Critics wonder if this structure could cause confusion within or make it harder to hold people accountable. Spokesperson Zama Ntshona clarifies that the division of leadership positions is done to simplify the organisation's operations. The move is a political strategy to improve electoral success and institutional focus in 2026. The African Transformation Movement's recent deal to work with the uMkhonto we Sizwe political party has raised questions about politics. According to Natasha Phiri of SABC News, both sides will back each other's candidates in the upcoming by-elections. Even though a coalition could improve regional performance. Coalition talks must be open and honest to keep the public's trust. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 11. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news
IOL News
10-06-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
ATM appoints Professor Caesar Nongqunga as president amid leadership restructuring
ATM party leader Vuyolwethu Zungula has been appointed to only focus on the party's parliamentary work, while its new president, Professor Caesar Nongqunga, will focus on growing the party's support base. Image: Oupa Mokoena / Independent Newspapers Senior clergyman Professor Caesar Nongqunga is taking over as the new president of the African Transformation Movement (ATM) without being elected to the position because the party believes that electing its leaders instead of appointing them would harm it. Nongqunga, the leader of the Twelve Apostles' Church in Christ, which has over 4.5 million followers in South Africa and with footprints across the continent, is taking over the ATM presidency from Vuyolwethu Zungula, who will now only focus on parliamentary duties. Zungula was appointed as the ATM president when it was formed and registered in 2018. The ATM has already held several congresses, but not to elect its leaders. 'The ATM has used the system of appointment since its inception in 2018 because the system of elections, when the party is in its infancy, kills the political party,' said its spokesperson, Zama Ntshona. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. 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Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ He said the ATM had learnt that there would be people who would masquerade as members of the party but whose actual interest is to divide it after being elected. 'When we are going to an elective congress, they can use underhanded tactics and even hand over the party to the capitalists that fund the rise and fall of regimes. 'Therefore, we wanted to protect ourselves from those people by choosing the system of appointment,' he said. The party, which in the 2019 and 2024 general elections obtained two seats in the national Parliament, announced on Monday that Zungula would now only be focused on parliamentary matters, while Nongqunga focused on building the party brick by brick. Ntshona on Tuesday said that the decision to restructure party leadership was because it has not grown fast enough. 'We don't have time anymore, time is against us,' said Ntshona. He said that after last year's May 29 general elections, the party went through the process of self-evaluation. He said during this process, the party concluded that 'Zungula was truly untouchable' as an exemplary parliamentarian despite having taken over the party leadership with no political background, having been a former 'church boy'. 'He was able to hold a seventh-year presidency in Parliament, and he did this with distinction,' he said. Ntshona said Zungula would now have to focus his energy on holding the government accountable for its failure to deal with social ills that are ravaging the country. 'From 2023, there were 4,500 people who were abducted for ransom in South Africa, close to 80 murders a day, and 20 million people who are subject to abject poverty, with close to 70% of the youth unemployed, and the economy is not growing. 'We have moved in the last seven years, but we have not moved significantly enough to stop all the issues that we keep raising in Parliament,' he said. Ntshona said the party then decided to decentralise its political functions 'so that we can be more effective'. 'We have fewer seats while there are more portfolios in Parliament, and we have the president (Zungula) having to bear the burden of also having to monitor the functionality and the growth of the party of which we felt like it is a bit too much. 'We said let us introduce this approach of Vuyo Zungula to continue doing that as the party leader in Parliament, while Professor Nongqunga, who is the visionary as the one who started the ATM, stops working behind the scenes,' said Ntshona. He said everything that the party had been doing since its inception was in collaboration with Nongqunga, who, while not seen being active in the party's affairs, worked behind the scenes from strategy to advocacy, including building houses and starting agricultural schemes for the poor. 'We are saying (Nongqunga) come out of the shadows and be on the right-hand side so that our plane can fly without any challenges because we are looking for faster growth, and the faster growth can come when we decentralise the office of the president,' said Ntshona.
