The African Transformation Movement (ATM) is a political party in South 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]
History
ATM was founded in 2018 by the South African Council of Messianic Churches in Christ. It was led from its formation until June 2025 by Vuyolwethu Zungula.[6][7][8][9][10]
However, there were claims that former president Jacob Zuma's faction of the African 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.
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]
Policy
In January 2019, it was announced that the party, if brought to power, would return the death 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]
Election results
The party contested its first elections in 2019, winning two seats nationally, as well as one each in the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal legislatures.
^From 2024, seats in the National Assembly are determined by a combination of the national ballot, and the nine regional ballots. Only the national ballot figures are shown here.
