Latest news with #AfricanTransformationMovement
IOL News
4 days ago
- Politics
- IOL News
Six killed in Choba tavern shooting: Calls for action against illegal operations
Community safety concerns rise after deadly tavern shooting in Choba informal settlement in Olievenhoutbosch, where six patrons were gunned down. Image: File A string of tavern mass shootings in recent months has raised serious concerns about community safety in South Africa. The latest incident occurred on Friday night at a tavern in Choba informal settlement, Olievenhoutbosch, claiming six lives. The shooting is believed to have stemmed from a gang turf war between Lesotho and Mozambican nationals. Community leaders, police, and political parties have raised alarm about safety and the implications of illegal tavern operations. 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 The African Transformation Movement (ATM) expressed concern that illegal taverns are operating without adhering to safety standards, putting patrons at risk. "The ATM raises serious concerns about compliance with safety regulations, licensing conditions, and the broader role such establishments may play in perpetuating criminal activity within vulnerable communities," said party spokesperson Zama Ntshona. GOOD Secretary-General Brett Herron attributed the attack to a larger crisis of crime and violence in impoverished communities, emphasising the need for spatial and socioeconomic transformation to address the root causes. "We have a duty to confront our failure to address the spatial legacy conditions that create socio-economic conditions conducive to crime and gangsterism," he said. Recent months have seen a concerning surge in tavern killings, including a January incident in Mpumalanga province's Pienaar area, where unidentified gunmen opened fire outside a tavern, killing eight patrons. A February incident in Mandeni, north of KwaZulu-Natal, resulted in the deaths of four people, including two off-duty SAPS members, in a tavern shooting. Last October, a tavern owner in Orange Farm, south of Johannesburg, allegedly shot and killed family members of a patron with whom he had a dispute, resulting in seven murders. Oupa Mataboge, representative of the South African Liquor Traders Association, blamed the police for allowing the unlicensed tavern to operate. "Places like that in Olievenhoutbosch are not allowed to sell liquor because there is no infrastructure," he said in a television interview. He expressed concern that law enforcement failed to take action despite the tavern's extended period of illegal operation. Ward 77 councillor in Olievenhoutbosch, Thembeni Thabatha, said on Sunday that although the exact motivation behind the gunfight remains unclear, it appears to have been a clash between Mozambican and Lesotho nationals. He said it was the first time the two groups had a physical altercation, but there had been long-standing tensions between them. He identified the challenge facing his ward's community as the presence of two informal settlements, Choba and Mahlangu, which are predominantly occupied by Lesotho nationals. Thabatha claimed the Lesotho nationals have constantly been accused of serious crimes such as rape and murder. He appealed to the Gauteng Premier, Panyaza Lesufi, and various departments to collaborate in addressing the issue of illegal immigration in his ward. 'Most of the foreign nationals here don't have documents and they are the ones busy committing crime in our communities. We call upon the home affairs department and the metro police to come and conduct raids in those squatter camps,' he said. The police are currently searching for around ten suspects, who were armed with pistols and rifles, stormed the tavern and opened fire randomly, according to Gauteng police spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Mavela Masondo. 'The motive for the shooting is unknown at this stage. The police have opened a case of murder and attempted murder for investigation,' he said. He urged anyone with information that could aid the investigation or help capture the suspects to contact their nearest police station or call Crime Stop at 08600 10111.
The Star
12-07-2025
- Politics
- The Star
There is no link between the name ‘Azania' and the indigenous people of South Africa
Kenneth Mokgatlhe | Published 22 minutes ago We should be asking ourselves where the word 'Azania' originates from, which language, and how it is related to the people of South Africa. There are no cultural, historical, linguistic, or political connections to the name, says the writer. Image: Picture: Henk Kruger/ Independent Newspapers The proposal of constitutional amendment by the African Transformation Movement (ATM) to change the name of South Africa to the 'Republic of Azania' is nonsensical, unnecessary, and irrelevant to the inhabitants of this place. We should be asking ourselves where the word 'Azania' originates from, which language, and how it is related to the people of South Africa. There are no cultural, historical, linguistic, or political connections to the name. It was during my time as a young and vibrant activist within the Pan Africanist Congress (PAC) that I was firmly convinced that South Africa should be renamed 'Azania'. I had been persuaded by the existing argument that 'South' was merely a geographical direction and therefore did not have substantive cultural and historical connections befitting a nation's identity. However, I later realised that my comprehension of the term 'Azania' was very limited to its use within Pan Africanist and Black Consciousness discourses. Never mind my strong ideological conviction and commitment, I was unable to intellectually express a clear historical or cultural justification for the adoption of the name, nor could I trace its relevance in juxtaposition to the people, history, and identity of the country. It is important to note that the name 'Azania' has no historical or cultural connection to my people. It was never part of our vocabulary or identity. The term did not exist in our oral traditions or historical records, and my community had never encountered it before modern political movements began to invoke it. It is important to note that the pre-colonial South African society was home to various independent kingdoms and queendoms, each governed by its rulers. I descend from the Bahurutshe, one of the largest sub-groups of the Batswana people, who previously occupied the area now known as the Marico region or Zeerust. Our ancestors referred to their kingdom as Kaditshwene (a place of baboons) and Tshwenyane (a little baboon), an ancient twin-city settlement that thrived between 1300 to 1884. Like many other indigenous polities, it functioned as a sovereign polity, free from foreign or external domination. There was a dramatic shift in the geopolitical landscape after the Berlin Conference of 1884, where European powers gathered to partition Africa among themselves, which laid the foundation for the modern nation-states we recognise today. As a result, we — descendants of various kingdoms — were forced to adapt to these new political realities and form countries under Western-imposed frameworks. A country known as the Union of South Africa was established in 1910, led and governed by white minority rule. A referendum was held in 1960, where white South Africans decided to leave the Commonwealth, became independent, and referred to themselves as the Republic of South Africa on 31 May 1961. While the name 'South Africa' is descriptive of a geographic location, the name gives a strong cultural, political, and historical connection. It reminds us of different epochs in our history and how we interacted with other countries. The name South Africa is not unique in the world, as other countries have historically adopted names which are geographically descriptive of their land, such as South Sudan, Central African Republic (CAR), North and South Korea, North Macedonia, and East Timor. My discomfort at the term Azania was vindicated after I came across one of the compelling writings of South African freedom fighter and journalist Paul Trewhela, who is now based in the United Kingdom. Through his sharp historical analysis, he provides a well-substantiated account of the origins of the name 'Azania', demonstrating that it was a term imposed by slave traders/masters to demean the Black Africans in some parts of East Africa. Trewhela contends that the name 'Azania' does not bear any link to the indigenous peoples of South Africa and carries connotations or implications of oppression rather than liberation. His esteemed scholarship helped clarify that the name 'Azania' lacks authentic historical, cultural, political, or linguistic connections to South Africa and its people, reinforcing my earlier doubts about its relevance and appropriateness as a national name. 'The name 'Azania' celebrates the centuries of enslavement of black Africans by Islamist Arab imperialism down the east coast of Africa. It is a disgrace for reactionary ideologists to be using this concocted name to replace the name South Africa,' he remarked. This name, 'Azania,' is primarily used by individuals who identify themselves as revolutionaries or radicals within South Africa's academic, political, and social spheres. It is largely preferred by black radicals in academia and by political formations considered to be on the far left, such as the PAC, the Azanian People's Organisation (AZAPO), the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), and trade unions affiliated with the National Council of Trade Union (NACTU), among others. Like I once did in the past, many of these individuals adopt the term 'Azania' as a symbolic rejection of apartheid and white supremacy. Their chief motivation emanates from a desire to eliminate any association with the apartheid regime, including the name 'South Africa', which they regard as a legacy of colonialism and racial oppression. Mokgatlhe is a political analyst and consultant.
IOL News
12-07-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
There is no link between the name ‘Azania' and the indigenous people of South Africa
We should be asking ourselves where the word 'Azania' originates from, which language, and how it is related to the people of South Africa. There are no cultural, historical, linguistic, or political connections to the name, says the writer. Image: Picture: Henk Kruger/ Independent Newspapers The proposal of constitutional amendment by the African Transformation Movement (ATM) to change the name of South Africa to the 'Republic of Azania' is nonsensical, unnecessary, and irrelevant to the inhabitants of this place. We should be asking ourselves where the word 'Azania' originates from, which language, and how it is related to the people of South Africa. There are no cultural, historical, linguistic, or political connections to the name. It was during my time as a young and vibrant activist within the Pan Africanist Congress (PAC) that I was firmly convinced that South Africa should be renamed 'Azania'. I had been persuaded by the existing argument that 'South' was merely a geographical direction and therefore did not have substantive cultural and historical connections befitting a nation's identity. However, I later realised that my comprehension of the term 'Azania' was very limited to its use within Pan Africanist and Black Consciousness discourses. Never mind my strong ideological conviction and commitment, I was unable to intellectually express a clear historical or cultural justification for the adoption of the name, nor could I trace its relevance in juxtaposition to the people, history, and identity of the country. It is important to note that the name 'Azania' has no historical or cultural connection to my people. It was never part of our vocabulary or identity. The term did not exist in our oral traditions or historical records, and my community had never encountered it before modern political movements began to invoke it. It is important to note that the pre-colonial South African society was home to various independent kingdoms and queendoms, each governed by its rulers. I descend from the Bahurutshe, one of the largest sub-groups of the Batswana people, who previously occupied the area now known as the Marico region or Zeerust. 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 ✕ Our ancestors referred to their kingdom as Kaditshwene (a place of baboons) and Tshwenyane (a little baboon), an ancient twin-city settlement that thrived between 1300 to 1884. Like many other indigenous polities, it functioned as a sovereign polity, free from foreign or external domination. There was a dramatic shift in the geopolitical landscape after the Berlin Conference of 1884, where European powers gathered to partition Africa among themselves, which laid the foundation for the modern nation-states we recognise today. As a result, we — descendants of various kingdoms — were forced to adapt to these new political realities and form countries under Western-imposed frameworks. A country known as the Union of South Africa was established in 1910, led and governed by white minority rule. A referendum was held in 1960, where white South Africans decided to leave the Commonwealth, became independent, and referred to themselves as the Republic of South Africa on 31 May 1961. While the name 'South Africa' is descriptive of a geographic location, the name gives a strong cultural, political, and historical connection. It reminds us of different epochs in our history and how we interacted with other countries. The name South Africa is not unique in the world, as other countries have historically adopted names which are geographically descriptive of their land, such as South Sudan, Central African Republic (CAR), North and South Korea, North Macedonia, and East Timor. My discomfort at the term Azania was vindicated after I came across one of the compelling writings of South African freedom fighter and journalist Paul Trewhela, who is now based in the United Kingdom. Through his sharp historical analysis, he provides a well-substantiated account of the origins of the name 'Azania', demonstrating that it was a term imposed by slave traders/masters to demean the Black Africans in some parts of East Africa. Trewhela contends that the name 'Azania' does not bear any link to the indigenous peoples of South Africa and carries connotations or implications of oppression rather than liberation. His esteemed scholarship helped clarify that the name 'Azania' lacks authentic historical, cultural, political, or linguistic connections to South Africa and its people, reinforcing my earlier doubts about its relevance and appropriateness as a national name. 'The name 'Azania' celebrates the centuries of enslavement of black Africans by Islamist Arab imperialism down the east coast of Africa. It is a disgrace for reactionary ideologists to be using this concocted name to replace the name South Africa,' he remarked. This name, 'Azania,' is primarily used by individuals who identify themselves as revolutionaries or radicals within South Africa's academic, political, and social spheres. It is largely preferred by black radicals in academia and by political formations considered to be on the far left, such as the PAC, the Azanian People's Organisation (AZAPO), the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), and trade unions affiliated with the National Council of Trade Union (NACTU), among others. Like I once did in the past, many of these individuals adopt the term 'Azania' as a symbolic rejection of apartheid and white supremacy. Their chief motivation emanates from a desire to eliminate any association with the apartheid regime, including the name 'South Africa', which they regard as a legacy of colonialism and racial oppression. Mokgatlhe is a political analyst and consultant.
eNCA
11-07-2025
- Politics
- eNCA
Public Protector probes Police Minister Senzo Mchunu
JOHANNESBURG - The Public Protector is investigating a range of allegations against Police Minister, Senzo Mchunu. The probe comes as a result of explosive claims of corruption and political meddling made by KZN Police Commissioner, Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi. African Transformation Movement leader in Parliament, Vuyo Zungula, lodged the complaint with the Office of the Public Protector. Chief among the issues the Public Protector is investigating is whether or not Mchunu misled Parliament about the nature of his relationship with North West businessman, Brown Mogotsi. The office will also look into whether the police minister acted improperly by enabling Mogotsi and another tenderpreneur, Vusi 'Cat' Matlala to interfere in police operations. Other matters to be scrutinised include the instruction to disband the political killings task team; Mchunu's possible hand in delaying and derailing cases to protect the accused; and a R360-million contract the SA Police Service awarded to Matlala.
IOL News
09-07-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
ATM accuses Mchunu of cover-ups in explosive political killings scandal, calls for Public Protector probe
Police Minister Senzo Mchunu at the center of serious allegations involving the collapse of KZN's elite political killings task team. Image: File African Transformation Movement (ATM) has filed an urgent request to Public Protector Kholeka Gcaleka, demanding an immediate investigation into what it describes as a 'flagrant episode of abuse of power' by Police Minister Senzo Mchunu. In a letter backed by WhatsApp messages, audio recordings, and financial documents, the ATM alleged that Mchunu colluded with businessman Brown Mogotsi and murder-accused Vusimuzi Matlala to derail critical investigations and shield politically connected individuals from justice. At the heart of the scandal is the collapse of the elite KZN political killings task team, a unit that had secured over 100 convictions and made breakthroughs linking firearms to a string of high-profile assassinations. The team was disbanded late last year under mysterious circumstances. More than 120 criminal dockets, many tied to political assassinations, have reportedly been shelved since the task team was dismantled. ATM claimed Mchunu violated the Constitution, misled Parliament, and subverted the rule of law—all to serve narrow political and private interests. The party is calling this a matter of 'national security' and insists that the Public Protector place all other matters aside to give this top priority. 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 ✕ '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,' the party said. However, Mchunu denied ever meeting Matlala, speaking to him or ever requesting anything from him. The appeal follows a bombshell press conference by KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, who accused Mchunu of executive overreach and political interference, specifically blaming him for orchestrating the task team's shutdown. ATM demanded that Mkhwanazi formally be summoned under oath to provide Gcaleka's office with all evidence in his possession, including recordings, documents, timelines, and sworn statements. The party insisted that a full-scale inquiry must be launched immediately to determine the legality, motive, and fallout of the task team's disbandment. This is no longer just about politics—it's about justice, accountability, and the lives lost to unchecked power, the ATM stated. Meanwhile, President Cyril Ramaphosa promised to tackle this issue when he returned home, admitting that he did not see this one coming. IOL Politics
