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<\/p>\nRabia Mayet | rabiamayet@radioislam.co.za<\/p>\n
05 August 2025<\/p>\n
3-minute read<\/p>\n
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As local leaders hedge and local MP\u2019s enjoy sponsored junkets, Rise Mzansi\u2019s leader Songezo Zibi has says that silence on Israel\u2019s genocide in Gaza is not an option.<\/p>\n
Despite their stance on the Palestinian matter costing them millions in donor funding, Zibi has taken a firm position on the Palestinian matter.<\/p>\n
From the 6th<\/sup> to the 8th of<\/sup> October 2023, Rise Mzansi was locked in their policy convention when they received the news of the October 7th<\/sup> attacks. While they had a clear position on the issue of Palestine, the sudden spike caught them off guard and their initial response was \u201cquite clumsy\u201d until it became obvious this was going to become a \u201cweighty issue on cohesion within our organization.\u201d<\/p>\n In trying to \u201cfill the gap that the ANC is vacating,\u201d 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.<\/p>\n 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\u2019s values. There were even some Jews who received pressure from within their own communities for supporting Rise Msanzi\u2019s stance.<\/p>\n 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\u2019s decision regarding the Jewish cricket player, which was said to be \u201cantisemitic.\u201d Rise Mzansi refused to issue a concurring statement, and this ultimately led to them having to face certain consequences like the withdrawing of funding.<\/p>\n Songezo\u2019s memories from childhood of South Africa as a \u201cpariah state\u201d isolated under apartheid caused him to decline a trip to Israel, something he had done previously as the editor of Business Day.<\/p>\n His political colleagues have always had a \u201cstrident stance\u201d 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 \u201cin a good way.\u201d 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\u2019s 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 \u201cit can be, even in diversity, unifying\u201d.<\/p>\n From day one, Rise Mzansi has said that Palestine is human rights issue and not a religious one. Palestine is a \u201cBantustan\u201d 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 \u201chave to support a free Palestine.\u201d<\/p>\n