JOHANNESBURG – The African Transformation Movement (ATM) is spearheading a controversial proposal to rename South Africa as the "Republic of Azania," arguing that the current name is a colonial relic that fails to represent the nation's true identity. The ATM, along with other political parties, intends to bring the matter before parliament and the Constitutional Review Committee as part of a broader effort to amend the Constitution.
ATM president and parliamentary leader Vuyo Zungula asserts that the name "South Africa" was imposed during colonisation and is intrinsically linked to the oppressive systems established by the British and the Boers. "Before 1652, we were not South Africans," Zungula stated. "The name 'South Africa' came as a result of the British and the Boers coming together to form what was called the Union of South Africa, a structure designed to further the oppression of indigenous people."
Zungula believes that changing the name is about reclaiming heritage and national pride. He draws parallels with other formerly colonised nations, such as South West Africa, which changed its name to Namibia. "The country is the name given to them by colonisers. It is an identity. It is your heritage. You can’t expect South Africans to hold on to an identity that was imposed on them."
The proposal, however, has already drawn criticism. Political analyst Kenneth Mokgatlhe dismisses the idea as unnecessary and irrelevant, arguing that "South Africa" is simply a geographic description and not unique. "Other countries like South Sudan, Central African Republic, North Macedonia, East Timor, and North and South Korea also use geographical identifiers. It’s nothing out of the ordinary," he said.
Mokgatlhe further contends that "Azania" is not widely embraced and is primarily used by black radicals in academia and politics who wish to symbolically reject the legacy of apartheid and white supremacy. "The name ‘Azania’ lacks authentic historical, cultural, political, or linguistic connections to South Africa and its people, reinforcing doubts about its relevance and appropriateness as a national name," Mokgatlhe stated.
The proposed name change is part of a wider set of constitutional amendments that the ATM plans to submit to the Constitutional Review Committee. The committee is expected to debate each proposed clause before public hearings are held. According to Zungula, the overall goal is to reclaim national sovereignty and address what the party sees as structural imbalances embedded in the Constitution.
One key amendment the ATM is advocating for is the replacement of the word "everyone" with "citizens" in specific sections of the Constitution. Zungula argues that the current language has led to legal ambiguities and created a situation where non-citizens can claim rights and access services meant for South Africans. "There needs to be instances where the Constitution is very clear. When it says ‘everyone’, it refers to every person," he said. "This is regardless of whether they are legal, illegal, or not even citizens of South Africa. But when it says ‘citizen’, it should be clear that it refers to bona fide citizens of our country."
Zungula believes that when the Constitution was initially drafted, the ruling ANC sought to reassure the global community that South Africa would not mirror the discriminatory practices of the apartheid regime. However, he feels this effort has come at the cost of prioritising South Africans. "In doing so, they created a Constitution that prioritised being open and inclusive at the cost of national interest and sovereignty," he said.
Another proposed amendment focuses on shifting the balance of power between the courts and Parliament. Zungula argues that the courts currently hold too much authority over lawmaking. "We want Parliament, as the voice of the people, to be the final arbiter of laws—not the courts," he said.
Land reform is also a high priority for the ATM. Zungula is aiming at Section 25 of the Constitution, which limits land restitution to dispossession after 1913. He argues that this timeframe excludes many South Africans whose land was taken before then. The party is also calling for a ban on land ownership by foreign nationals, arguing that their stronger currencies push up land prices and disadvantage locals. "Foreign nationals must only be allowed to lease land. That is the practice in many other countries," Zungula said.
In addition to land reform, the ATM wants to address the ownership of natural resources. Zungula argues that South Africa’s mineral wealth enriches foreign companies while local communities remain impoverished. "We are saying the mineral wealth must be owned by South Africans and managed by the state for the benefit of the country."
As the ATM prepares to present its proposals to parliament, the debate over South Africa's identity and future is set to intensify. The proposed constitutional amendments, including the name change, raise fundamental questions about national sovereignty, historical redress, and the balance of power within the country's governance structures.
Follow Us on Twitter
