Rabia Mayet | rabiamayet@radioislam.co.za

05 August 2025

3-minute read

As local leaders hedge and local MP’s enjoy sponsored junkets, Rise Mzansi’s leader Songezo Zibi has says that silence on Israel’s genocide in Gaza is not an option.

Despite their stance on the Palestinian matter costing them millions in donor funding, Zibi has taken a firm position on the Palestinian matter.

From the 6^th to the 8^{th of} October 2023, Rise Mzansi was locked in their policy convention when they received the news of the October 7^th attacks. While they had a clear position on the issue of Palestine, the sudden spike caught them off guard and their initial response was “quite clumsy” until it became obvious this was going to become a “weighty issue on cohesion within our organization.”

In trying to “fill the gap that the ANC is vacating,” and allowing a place for all South Africans from every culture and religion, Rise Mzansi has a definite position on principles, human rights and constitutional values to build a non-racial society.

Their firm, unambiguous and clear stance on calling out Israel on genocide has had both positive and unfortunate outcomes. Some of their donors chose not to interfere on the political stance taken by Rise Mzansi because their main concern is what is happening in South Africa, and because they support the party’s values. There were even some Jews who received pressure from within their own communities for supporting Rise Msanzi’s stance.

On the other hand, from their wide array of supporters, there were those from the Jewish communities who wanted the party to come out in support of Israel, with one of the issues being Cricket SA’s decision regarding the Jewish cricket player, which was said to be “antisemitic.” Rise Mzansi refused to issue a concurring statement, and this ultimately led to them having to face certain consequences like the withdrawing of funding.

Songezo’s memories from childhood of South Africa as a “pariah state” isolated under apartheid caused him to decline a trip to Israel, something he had done previously as the editor of Business Day.

His political colleagues have always had a “strident stance” on Israel and Palestine. However, despite comradeship within their organization, divisions were caused on the position taken against Israel by the leadership. Furthermore, Songezo admits that the resilience of the organization was tested, albeit “in a good way.” Some of their Jewish colleagues who were with Rise Mzansi from inception are still with them, and one of them even mentioned that the party’s stance on Palestine was not strong enough, and that they need to come out even stronger against Israel. Songezo says that he is proud of his colleagues who value human rights and that he has learnt that “it can be, even in diversity, unifying”.

From day one, Rise Mzansi has said that Palestine is human rights issue and not a religious one. Palestine is a “Bantustan” without rights and recognition, it has never been free, it is not part of the United Nations, and it does not enjoy sovereignty in any way. In living up to the values that Rise Mzansi claims, Songezo Zibi says that they “have to support a free Palestine.”

Listen to the full interview with Ml Sulaimaan Ravat and Songezo Zibi.