Carl Niehaus, a senior EFF figure, has launched a scathing attack on MK Party Chief Whip Colleen Makhubele, labeling her a “disgusting and shameless Zionist and apartheid Israel supporter.” The fiery condemnation comes amid ongoing tensions in South African politics regarding the Israel-Palestine conflict.
Niehaus accused Makhubele of maintaining a long-standing pro-Israel position, recalling her time as Johannesburg council speaker when she was “viciously anti-Palestinian.” He claimed she remains unchanged in her views, alleging she is “in the pockets of Zionists” and must be “exposed, named and shamed.”
The EFF leader referenced a 2024 televised debate where Makhubele, then leading the South African Rainbow Alliance (SARA), strongly defended Israel. He also criticized her recent refusal at an MK Party press conference to condemn Israel’s actions in Gaza, which he termed “genocide.”
“These are the charlatans the reactionary MK Party promotes to senior positions. Disgraceful!” Niehaus declared, expressing outrage at her political ascendance.
The outburst underscores deepening ideological rifts in South Africa’s political landscape, where the Israel-Palestine issue remains highly charged. Niehaus’s use of terms like “apartheid Israel” reflects the EFF’s staunch pro-Palestinian stance, contrasting with what he views as compromised positions within other parties.
The public denunciation may fuel further internal MK Party tensions while highlighting how international conflicts continue to influence local political dynamics. Neither Makhubele nor the MK Party had responded to Niehaus’s remarks at the time of reporting.
Analysts suggest the confrontation reveals ongoing struggles within liberation-aligned parties to reconcile historical solidarity with Palestine against shifting political alliances. The EFF appears determined to position itself as Palestine’s most uncompromising South African ally, even at the cost of intra-left conflict.