Latest news with #AfricanTransformationMovement
The Citizen
27-05-2025
- Business
- The Citizen
R4 million spent to axe Port St John's town manager
Protest erupts as Port St John's municipality spends millions trying to oust its manager amid corruption claims. Cash-strapped Port St John's local municipality in the Eastern Cape, has spent more than R4 million in legal fees over the past five months in a bid to remove its municipal manager, according to documents seen by The Citizen. A spreadsheet detailing the cost of R4 038 458.95, incurred by the municipality for the disciplinary hearing of Mluleki Fihlani, excludes costs for venue hire and expenditure by attorneys appointed by mayor Cebisa Mazuza. When asked for comment, Mazuza did not respond regarding the amount spent. R4m in legal fees to remove its manager In a letter to Gxumisa Incorporated Attorneys, Mazuza said: 'I am appointing you as evidence leader in the disciplinary hearing matter of Mluleki Fihlani. According to the private investigator, there is evidence the allegations are serious.' Costs would be according to quoted rates, she added. ALSO READ: Municipality's CFO 'hounded out' of job for refusing to sign dubious contracts The move to remove Fihlani prompted a recent protest bringing Port St Johns to a standstill. Among several controversies to rock the town, were that chief financial officer Tembisa Kahla Sikolo resigned last month and has gone to ground, fearing for her safety. Opposition parties said she resigned due to pressure from politicians who wanted her to sign off on dubious multimillion-rand contracts. Resignation due to pressure – opposition Another is the resignation by the internal audit manager, allegedly due to 'mistreatment'. African Transformation Movement local leader Mzwandile JamJam said 'politically connected individuals are siphoning off taxpayers' money through questionable government contracts'. NOW READ: Corruption claims swirl as Port St Johns CFO steps down
IOL News
26-05-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
ATM criticises Ramaphosa's US visit, asserting South Africa is not a colony
African Transformation Movement (ATM) president Vuyo Zungula has sharply criticised President Cyril Ramaphosa's recent visit to the United States Image: Oupa Mokoena / Independent Newspapers African Transformation Movement (ATM) president Vuyo Zungula sharply criticised President Cyril Ramaphosa's recent visit to the United States of America, which aimed to ease diplomatic tensions and boost trade relations between the two countries. Ramaphosa and his delegation met with the US President Donald Trump at the White House earlier this week. During the meeting, Trump showed a video falsely claiming it depicted a mass grave for white farmers. He also played clips of Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema and others singing the struggle song "Dubula ibhunu," which he claimed was evidence that white farmers were being persecuted in South Africa Ramaphosa denied these claims, saying that the government does not support such views and insisted that violence affects all communities in the country. Despite what has been described as an "ambush", Ramaphosa said the talks went well and expressed hope that Trump would attend the G20 summit in South Africa in December. 'My takeaway from that is that G20 participation by the United States is going to be happening. So I'm particularly pleased with that,' he said. Addressing thousands of party supporters in Mangaung at Dr Petrus Molemela Stadium in Bloemfontein, Zungula criticised the visit, saying South Africa was not a colony of the US. "We make no apology as the ATM and the MK [uMkhonto weSizwe party] when we say South Africa is not a colony of the United States. Under the leadership of ATM and MK, you will never see a president flying to America to justify our domestic decisions," Zungula said He also accused the government of going to beg and plead for approval from the US instead of standing firm on South Africa's sovereignty.
IOL News
25-05-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
ATM's Zungula slams Ramaphosa for ‘begging' in US: ‘South Africa is not a colony'
African Transformation Movement (ATM) president Vuyo Zungula has sharply criticised President Cyril Ramaphosa's recent visit to the United States Image: Oupa Mokoena / Independent Newspapers African Transformation Movement (ATM) president Vuyo Zungula sharply criticised President Cyril Ramaphosa's recent visit to the United States of America, which aimed to ease diplomatic tensions and boost trade relations between the two countries. Ramaphosa and his delegation met with the US President Donald Trump at the White House earlier this week. During the meeting, Trump showed a video falsely claiming it depicted a mass grave for white farmers. He also played clips of Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema and others singing the struggle song "Dubula ibhunu," which he claimed was evidence that white farmers were being persecuted in South Africa Ramaphosa denied these claims, saying that the government does not support such views and insisted that violence affects all communities in the country. Despite what has been described as an "ambush", Ramaphosa said the talks went well and expressed hope that Trump would attend the G20 summit in South Africa in December. 'My takeaway from that is that G20 participation by the United States is going to be happening. So I'm particularly pleased with that,' he said. 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. 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. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ 'We are making no apology as the ATM and MK Party when we say, we are not a colony of the USA under the leadership of @ATMovement_SA and @MkhontoweSizwex you'll never see a president going to America and having to explain why are we taking decisions' Vuyo Zungula — News Live SA (@newslivesa) May 24, 2025 Addressing thousands of party supporters in Mangaung at Dr Petrus Molemela Stadium in Bloemfontein, Zungula criticised the visit, saying South Africa was not a colony of the US. "We make no apology as the ATM and the MK [uMkhonto weSizwe party] when we say South Africa is not a colony of the United States. Under the leadership of ATM and MK, you will never see a president flying to America to justify our domestic decisions," Zungula said He also accused the government of going to beg and plead for approval from the US instead of standing firm on South Africa's sovereignty.
eNCA
23-05-2025
- Politics
- eNCA
ATM wants leaders to have generational roots
BLOEMFONTEIN - The African Transformation Movement wants to ban those born outside the country from holding public office. It says the Constitution currently allows naturalised citizens to take up office, including that of the President. The party also says those with dual citizenship should be barred as they have divided loyalties. ATM president Vuyo Zungula added that only those with generational ties should be entrusted with leadership roles.
IOL News
22-05-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
Vuyo Zungula: Trump can't tell Vladimir Putin or Captain Ibrahim Traoré who to bring to White House
US President Donald Trump hands papers to President Cyril Ramaphosa during a meeting in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington. Image: AFP Leader of the African Transformation Movement (ATM) Vuyolwethu Zungula says the high-stakes meeting between President Cyril Ramaphosa and US President Donald Trump was poisoned even in its preparations, when Trump informed Ramaphosa people to include in Pretoria's delegation. At the beginning of the presidential engagement on Wednesday night, Ramaphosa revealed that Trump had asked him to bring certain golfers — Ernie Els, the former world No. 1 golfer, and Retief Goosen, a two-time US Open champion — to the bilateral meeting. Ramaphosa also revealed that Trump had asked him to bring along another celebrated South African golfer, Gary Player, who reportedly still practices his swing with the United States president. Ramaphosa told Trump that he had approached Player, and invited him to travel with him, but the 89-year-old golf legend had declined to make the trip. Get your news on the go, click here to join the IOL News WhatsApp channel. 'When I spoke to you, you said come along and bring Gary Player, Ernie Els and Retief Goosen. I have brought the two of them. Gary Player, I spoke to him and he said I am getting rather on in my years and he wishes us luck in this discussion with you. It is a real joy and I would like you for allowing your people to start discussions with us,' said Ramaphosa. 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. 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. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad Loading In an interview with broadcaster Newzroom Afrika, ATM leader Zungula said when Trump made suggestions to Ramaphosa's delegation, it was a big red flag. 'As a sovereign country, you want to show the world that you have a backbone, and you are able to put the interests of the millions of your citizens where you affirm that you are not a puppet, you are not a country that could be bullied or undermined by any country," said Zungula. 'To have the president of the USA dictating to the president of South Africa as to who he must bring in the delegation, that was the first red flag. You can't imagine President Trump saying to President Putin when Putin is going to America, who to bring. US President Donald Trump Image: Photo: AFP 'Trump can't tell the President of China (Xi Jinping), he would never even try it with Captain Ibrahim Traoré but he finds comfort in telling the president of South Africa as to who must come and represent South Africa on a delegation going to address his own misinformation,' he said. Additionally, Zungula said Ramaphosa did not firmly address Trump on the issue of the misinformation about South Africa, using facts. 'He delegated that to John Steenhuisen and other people. He did not rebut the misinformation by President Trump and Elon Musk with fact. The issue we have with that as the ATM is that majority of South Africans who live outside the country, wherever they go, they need to explain that there is no genocide in South Africa," said Zungula. IOL reported on Wednesday that, at the beginning of the meeting, Trump said he has received many complaints about the treatment of Afrikaners in South Africa, and he will be engaging Ramaphosa on the matter. IOL News
