Latest news with #VuyoZungula
Eyewitness News
4 days ago
- Politics
- Eyewitness News
Political parties bemoan Parliament's over R500 million budget shortfall
CAPE TOWN - Political parties have bemoaned a budget shortfall of more than R500 million for Parliament, saying it will seriously hamper its work of being a voice for the people and an effective oversight body for the executive. The official opposition, the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party, has suggested that money to be used on a new commission of inquiry into the police should instead be diverted to Parliament. Introspecting on its own performance during debate on the R3.6 billion budget vote of Parliament, parties across the divide said that public confidence in the legislature is at an all-time low. Parliament is failing to match the pace in responding to societal developments. The MK Party's Des van Rooyen said it's scandalous that Parliament has to plead poverty and be reliant on an executive it oversees for its budget. The African Transformation Movement (ATM)'s Vuyo Zungula agreed. With parliamentary committees each allocated a budget of R3 million for the year, the Freedom Front (FF) Plus's chief whip, Heloise Denner, said public participation is being treated as a rubber stamp and a box-ticking exercise. 'The voice on whose behalf we do this work is lost and ignored for the sake of political point scoring.' Build On South Africa (BOSA)'s Nobuntu Hlazo-Webster said Parliament appeared hesitant to rise to the occasion, and instead, the citizenry is leading from the streets. 'This failure is clearest in Parliament's unwillingness to launch a proper inquiry into Minister Nobuhle Nkabane's involvement in the SETA [Sector Education and Training Authority] board scandal.' ActionSA's Kgosi Letlape said his party would not support an underfunded budget because Parliament is setting itself up for failure. RISE Mzansi's Makashule Gana said Parliament had to find its backbone in this administration, with public perception growing that it's been too soft on the executive and officials who fail to deliver.
The Herald
09-07-2025
- Politics
- The Herald
Zungula lays public protector complaint against Mchunu
African Transformation Movement (ATM) parliamentary leader Vuyo Zungula has laid a complaint with the public protector against police minister Senzo Mchunu over the damning allegations made by KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Lt-Gen Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi. Mkhwanazi accused senior law enforcement officials, including Mchunu, of interfering in cases police are investigating and protecting tenderpreneur Vusimuzi 'Cat' Matlala. In a letter to the office of the public protector, Zungula described this as one of the most flagrant episodes of executive misconduct, political interference and abuse of power. 'These revelations point to nothing less than a direct capture of police power for private and political protection,' Zungula said. 'This is not merely a policy or operational concern. It is an ethical and legal emergency. If such interference is allowed to continue without consequences, the public's faith in the rule of law and the legitimacy of our democratic institutions will be destroyed.' He believes the allegations made are not speculative. 'They are backed by digital communication records, WhatsApp messages, voice recordings, financial documentation, intercepted data and operational reports. They form a factual matrix that speaks to a systematic effort by the minister to derail active investigations, protect criminal syndicates and subvert the criminal justice system for political and private gain.' Mkhwanazi claimed Mchunu and his associate, Brown Mogotsi, were involved in disbanding a task team investigating political killings. 'This decision was made without consultation with the national or provincial commissioners and with no documented internal review. The commissioner has since confirmed that 121 case dockets, many linked to politically sensitive investigations, were removed and have remained dormant at SAPS head office.' Zungula said the task team had made progress before its collapse. 'Since the minister's directive, 121 dockets have been shelved and cases implicating politically connected individuals have been obstructed. These actions not only undermine justice for victims but embolden criminal syndicates and signal that political connections offer protection from prosecution.' Zungula demanded that the public protector: Investigate Mchunu for alleged violations of the executive ethics code, the constitution and legislation. Determine whether his conduct constitutes a bridge of his duties. investigate the relationships and communications between Mchunu, Mogotsi and Matlala. Verify the timeline, legality and consequences of the disbandment of the political killings task team. Summon Mkhwanazi to appear before the public protector's office under oath, and submit all relevant documentation, evidence, recordings and sworn statements in his possession, to enable a thorough and fair investigation. TimesLIVE
IOL News
08-07-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
ATM's proposal to rename South Africa as Azania: What does it mean and how do South Africans feel about it?
ATM proposed to change the country's name to Republic of Azania. The African Transformation Movement (ATM) has announced its intention to table a proposal before Parliament and the Constitutional Review Committee to rename South Africa as the Republic of Azania. According to the party, the move is a part of a broader project of national decolonisation. The proposal has sparked debate across political, public and social media spheres. ATM president and parliamentary leader Vuyo Zungula argues that the name South Africa is a colonial imposition, created through the Union of South Africa in 1910 by the British and the Boers. 'Before 1652, we were not South Africans,' he said. 'The name comes from a colonial structure created to further the oppression of indigenous people. It is time we reclaim our identity.' Zungula went further to draw comparisons with other post-colonial nations—such as Namibia (formerly South West Africa)—that changed colonial-era names to reflect local history and pride.
The Citizen
05-07-2025
- Politics
- The Citizen
Refreshed proposal for South Africa name change sparks debate
A YEARS-old proposal to change South Africa's name is back in the spotlight as political parties plan to approach Parliament on the matter. According to media reports, the African Transformation Movement (ATM) is spearheading the proposal, supported by other political parties. ALSO READ: uMhlathuze workers' strike suspended pending negotiations The Republic of Azania is the proposed name change. As quoted in Business Tech, ATM argues that the name South Africa is deeply tied to the country's colonial and oppressive past. 'Before 1652, we were not South Africans. The name 'South Africa' came as a result of the British and the Boers coming together to form what was called the Union of South Africa, a structure designed to further the oppression of indigenous people,' said ATM parliamentary leader Vuyo Zungula, as quoted by Business Tech. ALSO READ: Join Zululand's own Survivor star and donate blood this Mandela Day 'All formerly colonised nations, like South West Africa, have changed their names. We now know it to be Namibia,' he explained. Not everyone agrees, however, with political analyst Kenneth Mokgatlhe saying 'South Africa' is merely a geographical description. 'Other countries like South Sudan, Central African Republic, North Macedonia, East Timor, and North and South Korea also use geographical identifiers. It's nothing out of the ordinary,' Mokgatlhe told Business Tech. He went so far as to say the name 'Azania' 'lacks authentic historical, cultural, political or linguistic connections to South Africa and its people, reinforcing doubts about its relevance and appropriateness as a national name'. Don't have the ZO app? Download it to your Android or Apple device here: HAVE YOUR SAY Like our Facebook page and follow us on Twitter. For news straight to your phone invite us: WhatsApp – 060 784 2695 Instagram – zululand_observer At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The South African
02-07-2025
- 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.
