Latest news with #ConstitutionalReviewCommittee
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.
eNCA
29-06-2025
- Politics
- eNCA
ATM calls for Constitution amendment
JOHANNESBURG - The ATM and other political parties are calling for radical changes to certain clauses of the Constitution. The party has made submissions to the Constitutional Review Committee to amend the preamble, 'South Africa belongs to all who live in it'. WATCH: The Peoples Court | Who does the Constitution belong to? | 10 June 2025 Them, along with others want to charge it to "South African belongs to its citizens and those legally residing in the country". The ATM also want South Africa be renamed the Republic of Azania.
Eyewitness News
09-06-2025
- Politics
- Eyewitness News
Parliament to get to work on amending Constitution following high court order barring John Hlophe from serving on JSC
CAPE TOWN - Following last week's high court ruling that a judge impeached for gross misconduct can't serve on the Judicial Service Commission, Parliament is set to get to work on amending the Constitution during this administration. Besides a submission made to the Constitutional Review Committee by the Council for the Advancement of the South African Constitution (CASAC), the DA says a bill to this effect is already in the pipeline. ALSO READ: The party's justice spokesperson, Glynnis Breytenbach, said it's important to tighten the law to prevent impeached individuals from making a return in other spheres of government. The National Assembly speaker is yet to announce the next steps in filling the vacancy on the judicial service commission. The seat belongs to the MK party, which plans to appeal a ruling preventing its parliamentary leader, John Hlophe from serving on the body. CASAC wants Parliament's Constitutional Review Committee to consider amending sections 177 and 194 to specify that any person removed from judicial office or a Chapter 9 institution may not hold any other public office. Breytenbach, co-chair of the committee, said a Private Member's Bill has already been prepared and is with Parliament's legal drafters. "I think it's very important that Parliament is populated with MPs who are ethical, honest, reliable and have integrity, so the sooner we can prevent bad eggs like John Hlophe and Busisiwe Mkhwebane coming to Parliament, the better." The Western Cape High Court said in a judgment last week that the National Assembly had not acted rationally nor constitutionally when it rubberstamped the MK Party's nomination for the JSC.
Eyewitness News
08-06-2025
- Politics
- Eyewitness News
Parliament's Constitutional Review Committee receives more than 250 proposals to change the Constitution
CAPE TOWN - Parliament's Constitutional Review Committee has received more than 250 proposals to amend the Constitution. But it could take up to a year to decide how many of them are worthy of the attention of the committee which is currently still dealing with legal opinions on submissions made during the previous administration. ALSO READ: ActionSA proposes constitutional amendments to stem SA's immigration problems Co-chairperson of the committee, Glynnis Breytenbach says it's an arduous and painstaking process the committee will now embark upon after the deadline for submissions closed at the end of last May. The Constitution was last amended in 2023 to include sign language as an official language. Prior to that, the Constitution had not been amended since 2012 after an attempt to amend Section 25 to allow for land expropriation without compensation in 2021 flopped without the two thirds majority required by the National Assembly. Breytenbach says some submissions exceed 100 pages, and Parliament's administrative and legal staff will have to categorise the submissions depending on their substance. "It's not a must that the committee must find matters that must be brought to the National Assembly. If none of them are of any significant import, then we will again call for submissions." Breytenbach says it could take up to a year to grapple with these serious submissions. "Even that takes a long time because then you have to find the space for those people to come and present. You have to hear all the presentations. The pros and the cons." Among submissions received by the committee deal with the consequences for impeached individuals which Breytenbach says warrants Parliament's urgent attention.
