Christian Zionists call for ‘pro-jihadi’ Pandor’s axing

“We are Christians, we’ve been quiet for too long, and we’ve made South Africa a new Palestine.” 

These words were shouted loud and clear on 30 January outside the Nelson Mandela Foundation when more than 600 Christian Zionists, hosted by the South African Friends of Israel (SAFI), gathered to protest the chairpersonship of the organisation by Dr Naledi Pandor. 

“We want to make a statement that the ANC [African National Congress] does not speak for Christians,” said SAFI spokesperson Bafana Modise. “We are here to make it clear that South Africa isn’t the ANC. That South Africa isn’t Naledi Pandor. We are here to declare that Nelson Mandela wasn’t a jihadist. Mandela was a friend of Israel.” 

While people gathered peacefully outside the Nelson Mandela Foundation in Houghton, a tiny crowd of pro-Palestinian activists gathered across the street, holding a sign reading “Kensington stands with Palestine”, and waving Palestinian flags. 

Dingane Sithole, representing South African Church Defenders, asked police at the protest to ask the anti-Israel protesters to leave as unlike SAFI, they weren’t there legally. “We don’t like to be provoked. We might look like a lamb, but sometimes we become a lion,” said Sithole. 

“People are taking advantage of Christians, they don’t know us,” he said. “Please, send them home. We never disrespected their rights. We never dissed their marches.” 

The protesters handed over a memorandum on behalf of SAFI to Dr Mbongiseni Buthelezi, the chief executive of the Nelson Mandela Foundation. 

Modise said they were calling on Pandor to cease abusing the name and legacy of Mandela to advance her personal ideological agenda through the Nelson Mandela Foundation. 

“Under Naledi Pandor’s chairmanship, the Nelson Mandela Foundation has veered into a radical ideological agenda antithetical to Nelson Mandela’s values of positivity, reconciliation, and respect for diverse beliefs,” said Modise. “Now, Naledi Pandor’s tenure has weaponised the Nelson Mandela Foundation against Christian Zionism, a biblical cornerstone of more than 80% of South Africa’s Christians, alienating millions and branding Zionism as a proxy for genocide, the selection of US sanctioned activists.” 

Modise said the decision to select Francesca Albanese, a United Nations Special Rapporteur who has repeatedly trafficked in antisemitic rhetoric and whitewashed Hamas’s crimes against humanity, as keynote speaker for the 2025 Nelson Mandela Lecture was in stark contradiction with Mandela’s moral clarity. He said it echoed Pandor’s prior record as minister of international relations in praising Hamas’s 7 October 2023 massacre of Israeli civilians, and spearheading the costly International Court of Justice case against Israel on genocide claims. 

“Pandor’s failures further include initially rightfully condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, only to retract that condemnation under political pressure, demonstrating a lack of moral consistency and principled leadership. These contradictions were compounded by her demonstrably cordial relations with senior figures of Iran’s violently oppressive clerical regime,” he said. 

“Such moral ambiguity erodes South Africa’s common standing and pervades Madiba’s legacy of truth and human rights. Neither Pandor nor the Nelson Mandela Foundation owns Mandela’s identity. Mandela belongs to all South Africans who cherish his struggle for a democratic and non-racial nation. Mandela wasn’t a friend of Hamas. Mandela wasn’t an Islamic jihadist. Mandela wasn’t an Iranian puppet. We will defend Mandela’s name; we will protect Mandela’s legacy.” 

Pastor Tom Mofokeng, a councillor in Ekurhuleni, didn’t mince his words, saying, “This foundation no longer represents the views of Nelson Mandela. Naledi Pandor is using it for her own political agenda. As international relations minister, she took Israel to the International Court of Justice but has nothing to say about Iran or people in Africa being killed by Islamists.” 

Members of the protests were in high spirits, singing songs, saying they were ready for Jerusalem, waving both South African and Israeli flags and signs that read “Defending Madiba’s Legacy”; “Mandela was a Zionist”; “Iran murders its people, and Pandor is silent”; “Unite against radical Islam”; “Pandor silent on Nigeria, Sudan, and DRC Christian slaughter”; “Hamas = Boko Haram”; among others. 

Modise said, “Pandor’s conduct as chairperson of the Nelson Mandela Foundation has been just as alarming. Under her leadership, the Nelson Mandela Foundation has been restructured as a platform to attack Christian Zionism, a belief system with deep biblical roots and inherent importance to Christian identity. In doing so, Pandor and the Nelson Mandela Foundation have alienated and insulted more than 80% of South Africans who identify as Christian.” 

“We say today, the lion of Judah is in South Africa. That’s not the Republic of Iran,” said Sithole, “This is the Republic of South Africa.” 

Wayne Thring, deputy president of the African Christian Democratic Party and a Member of Parliament, emphasised the constitutional rights of Christians. “Christians have a constitutional right to their religion and political opinions. We will not be told what to believe by the Nelson Mandela Foundation. Radical Islamists are killing people all over the world. We must stand up and defend Israel, otherwise we will be next. 

“There’s no nation in the world that can be convinced to stand by idly while their citizens are massacred, murdered, killed on their soil by their enemies, while rockets are being fired into the earth. There’s no nation on this earth that, in terms of United Nations laws and decrees, must stand by silently while they are being violated,” said Thring. 

“Just as Pandor proved damaging to South Africa’s interests on the international stage, she has now become a liability to the Nelson Mandela Foundation itself. The foundation must urgently reconsider the destructive path it has taken,” Modise said. “However, if the board and senior leadership of the Nelson Mandela Foundation refuse to halt this campaign that imperils Nelson Mandela’s legacy, then the people of South Africa will be compelled to stand up and defend it themselves.”