Latest news with #CaesarNongqunga
The South African
4 days ago
- 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
4 days ago
- 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.
The Herald
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Herald
Zungula sacked as ATM president
Vuyo Zungula has been removed from his position as president of the African Transformation Movement. He has led the party since its inception in 2018 and has now been demoted to leading the party only in parliament. The shock announcement was made on Monday, with a revelation that Prof Caesar Nongqunga will succeed Zungula. Nongqunga is the chief apostle of the Twelve Apostles' church. The decision was said to have been taken in a national executive committee meeting where the party leaders agreed to separate party advocacy and the building of the organisation. 'With Prof Nongqunga focusing on party leadership and growth, and Zungula concentrating on parliamentary leadership, we are poised for a new era of growth and effectiveness. This strategic division allows us to address the challenges we face with renewed vigour and clarity of purpose,' the party said. Calling Nongqunga a 'beacon of hope for many', the party said it believes he has a 'profound vision' for the direction to be taken by the ATM. 'His commitment to establishing true democracy and holistic liberation encompasses the creation of a conducive environment for physical, psychological, social, socioeconomic, and spiritual growth for citizens. His extensive experience in both leadership and community service — building houses, initiating agricultural projects, providing educational funding and creating jobs — reflects his dedication to uplifting those in need.' The party thanked Zungula for his efforts and dedication over the past seven years, hailing him for growing the party from modest beginnings into a formidable force. 'His visionary leadership has been instrumental in registering the party, advocating for the voiceless, and firmly establishing the ATM on the political landscape of South Africa.' Zungula has been contacted for comment. The story will be updated when more information is received. TimesLIVE
