News24 | ATM’s Vuyo Zungula joins race for Joburg mayor

The African Transformation Movement (ATM) has named Vuyo Zungula as its mayoral candidate for Johannesburg in the 4 November election.

Gallo Images/Fani Mahuntsi

• The African Transformation Movement (ATM) has named Vuyo Zungula as its mayoral candidate for Johannesburg in the 4 November election.
• Zungula vows to address lawlessness and inequality, highlighting disparities between affluent areas and impoverished townships.
• The ATM says it aims to prioritise community interests and is open to coalitions aligned with its goals post-election.
• For more politics news, visit News24 Politics.

The African Transformation Movement (ATM) has named its Parliamentary leader and former president, Vuyo Zungula, as its mayoral candidate for the City of Johannesburg.

Zungula will go up against the DA’s Helen Zille, ActionSA’s Herman Mashaba, Rise Mzansi’s Lukhona Mnguni, BOSA’s Nobuntu Hlazo-Webster, and the MK Party’s Bongani Bhaloyi, among others.

Around 80 parties are vying for support in the City of Johannesburg in the 4 November election, the Electoral Commission of SA (IEC) recently confirmed.

The party made the announcement at an event held at a community hall in Orlando, Soweto, on Monday.

The ATM also announced the rest of its mayoral candidates for Gauteng municipalities.

• Mncedi Ndzwanana – City of Tshwane
• Velaphi Ernest Ndaba – City of Ekurhuleni
• Khayalethu Goodman Nkenkwezi – Sedibeng District
• Dimakatso Pinkie Masopha – Midvaal
• Pulane Mokhanedi – Lesedi
• Siyanda Afrika – Emfuleni
• Danny Molefi Thupane – West Rand District
• Reneilwe Tiny Thupane – Mogale City
• Andiswa Xesibe – Merafong City
• Nnini Rebecca Mokoena – Rand West City.

Ndzwanana is a Speaker at the City of Tshwane.

In his acceptance speech, Zungula said his party would put an end to lawlessness in the City of Johannesburg.

He said their findings from the campaign trail were that there was a tale of two cities in Johannesburg.

“We have gone to Alex, Cosmo City and many communities and what we see there is abject poverty,” Zungula said.

He said people were not living dignified lives and that Johannesburg townships deserve the same services as those in more affluent areas such as Rosebank.

Speaking to News24 moments after the announcement, Zungula said he was not opposed to resigning as a member of Parliament to represent the ATM in the City of Johannesburg.

Zungula said: “I’m a servant of the people; I never put myself in Parliament. Even for this position, I didn’t apply for it; the people of Joburg spoke to the leaders in the party, and the party took a decision.”

He said his role was to implement the party’s decisions.

“It’s not true that we are not going to win, we are responding to the call of communities, and we are putting in our efforts to make sure that come 4 November when Joburg has a new government, it will be headed by the ATM,” Zungula said.

READ | ATM asks ConCourt to prevent presidential get-out-of-impeachment card

The ATM previously formed part of the governing coalition in the City of Johannesburg but abandoned the pact when there was a change in leadership in 2023.

“As the ATM, we are part of this campaign because we want what is in the best interest of the people. Depending on what happens on 4 November, we will always be available to talk to any party that has the best interest of the people,” he said.

He added that the ATM was not interested in getting into power at any expense.

Zungula said:

We would not want to sell dreams, hopes and aspirations of people, simply because we want positions in the municipality. All we want is to improve the lives of people, and if organisations want to talk to us, if there is alignment in terms of priorities, then we can work together.

Asked if he was keeping the position warm for someone else, given that he was engaged in Parliament, Zungula said:

“I am not a placeholder for anyone, I am fully committed towards doing the work of the ATM, and according to us, 4 November should make the ATM the leading party, and obviously, I can’t be a member of Parliament and the mayor at the same time,” Zungula said.