African Transformation Movement | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Abbreviation | ATM |
| Leader | Caesar Nongqunga |
| Founded | 2018; 7 years ago (2018) |
| Headquarters | Fedsure House, 1st Floor, Church Street,Pietermaritzburg,Kwa-Zulu Natal |
| Ideology | Conservatism[1] Christian democracy[1] Right-wing populism[2] Anti-immigration[1] |
| Political position | Centre-right[4] |
| National affiliation | Progressive Caucus |
| Slogan | Transforming Society For A Better Tomorrow |
| National Assembly | 2 / 400 |
| NCOP | 0 / 90 |
| Provincial Legislatures | 2 / 487 |
| Website | |
| www | |
TheAfrican Transformation Movement (ATM) is a political party inSouth Africa. It was formed with the backing of the South African Council of Messianic Churches in Christ (SACMCC), which together are supported by millions of congregants.[5]
ATM was founded in 2018 by the South African Council of Messianic Churches in Christ. It was led from its formation until June 2025 byVuyolwethu Zungula.[6][7][8][9][10]However, there were claims that former presidentJacob Zuma's faction of theAfrican National Congress had a hand in its formation.[11]
Ahead of the 2019 election, a key Zuma ally,Mzwanele Manyi, joined the party,[12] though he would later leave in 2023.
Following the2024 South African general election, the party joined theProgressive Caucus, a left-wing parliamentary faction which includes theEconomic Freedom Fighters anduMkhonto weSizwe (MK) parties.[13] In March 2025, ATM and MK announced they would be entering a pact to work together electorally and in parliament.[14]
In June 2025, Zungula was replaced as president by Caesar Nongqunga, who was also Chief Apostle of the Twelve Apostles Church in Christ. Zungula continued as party leader in parliament.[15]
In January 2019, it was announced that the party, if brought to power, would return thedeath penalty and scrap low pass marks in public schools.[16]
Mzwanele Manyi, the former chief of policy and strategy for the ATM, further states that the party plans to bring about capital punishment regardless of the constitution not consenting to such matters. Manyi claims that this is due to South Africa being abused as a "haven" for people who commit crimes and need a place to evade the law.[16]
In December 2021, the party said that it opposed mandatory vaccinations against COVID-19.[17]
The party contested its first elections in2019, winning two seats nationally, as well as one each in the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal legislatures.
| Election | Party leader | Total votes | Share of vote | Seats | +/– | Government |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019[18] | Vuyolwethu Zungula | 76,830 | 0.44% | 2 / 400 | New | Opposition |
| 2024 | 63,554 | 0.40%[a] | 2 / 400 |  0 | Opposition |
| Election[19] | Eastern Cape | Free State | Gauteng | Kwazulu-Natal | Limpopo | Mpumalanga | North-West | Northern Cape | Western Cape | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| % | Seats | % | Seats | % | Seats | % | Seats | % | Seats | % | Seats | % | Seats | % | Seats | % | Seats | |
| 2019 | 1.52% | 1/63 | 0.78% | 0/30 | 0.25% | 0/73 | 0.49% | 1/80 | 0.28% | 0/49 | 0.61% | 0/30 | 0.39% | 0/33 | 0.24% | 0/30 | 0.24% | 0/42 |
| 2024[20] | 1.55% | 1/73 | 0.71% | 0/30 | 0.29% | 0/80 | 0.18% | 0/80 | 0.09% | 0/64 | 0.43% | 0/51 | 0.16% | 0/38 | 0.10% | 0/30 | 0.28% | 0/42 |
| Election | Votes | % | Seats |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021[21][22] | 189,943 | 0.62% | 53 |