Thursday, 27 March 2025.

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) reiterates its support for the renaming of Sandton Drive to Leila Khaled Drive, honouring a courageous freedom fighter who has dedicated her life to the struggle for Palestinian liberation. Leila Khaled is not just a symbol of resistance; she is a revolutionary who has, for decades, stood firm against the brutal occupation of Palestine by the apartheid state of Israel.

The EFF firmly opposes the cowardly efforts by the Ramaphosa administration and the City of Johannesburg to halt the renaming process, particularly because the United States of America’s embassy is on this road. South Africa, given its own history of colonial dispossession and apartheid, has a moral obligation to stand in full solidarity with the Palestinian people. Just as the world stood with us during our darkest days, we must continue to support those fighting for their dignity and liberation.

As a member of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), Leila Khaled gained global recognition for her fearless defiance of Israeli oppression. In 1969, she took part in the historic hijacking of a plane to draw international attention to the Palestinian cause: an act of resistance against a world that had chosen to ignore the suffering of her people. Unlike the warmongers and colonisers who massacre innocent civilians, Khaled’s actions were driven by the righteous struggle for self-determination, justice, and an end to Israeli apartheid. She remains a living testament to the resilience of the Palestinian people, inspiring generations of activists worldwide.

The US and its imperialist allies have always sought to demonise those who fight for freedom, labelling resistance as terrorism while turning a blind eye to the genocide, land theft, and daily atrocities committed by Israel against Palestinians. We reject the notion that renaming a street after Leila Khaled would “worsen diplomatic tensions” with the US, considering that the US has already targeted us due to our support for Palestine and our case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ). Trump has already expelled our ambassador to the US, and now has proposed a right-wing white supremacist as his choice for ambassador to South Africa.

South Africa must refuse to bow to foreign interests that seek to silence the truth and erase the legacy of those who stand against oppression. The same forces that once labelled Nelson Mandela and the ANC as terrorists are now attempting to dictate who we can honour in our own country. We will not be intimidated.

The renaming of Sandton Drive to Leila Khaled Drive is not merely symbolic, it is an act of defiance against imperialism and a declaration that South Africa will always side with the oppressed. We call on the City of Johannesburg to proceed with the renaming process without compromise, without apology, and without fear. To delay or abandon this decision would be a betrayal of our revolutionary principles.

The EFF stands with Palestine, with Leila Khaled, and with all those who resist injustice. Let Sandton Drive bear the name of a true hero, a fearless fighter, and a symbol of resistance: Leila Khaled.

ISSUED BY THE ECONOMIC FREEDOM FIGHTERS

Leigh-Ann Mathys (National Spokesperson) 082 304 7572

Thato Lebyane (Media Enquiries) 078 304 7572