In the aftermath of her dismissal from the Congress of the People (COPE), Colleen Makhubele shared a cryptic quote from the Book of Proverbs, sparking speculation about her perspective on the situation.
Colleen Makhubele turns to Proverbs in wake of COPE termination
PLEASE NOTE: The third-party content below is shared on our platform for journalistic purposes. Swisher Post, its parent company, partners and affiliates shall not be held liable for any consequence that arises from the journalistic duties performed in sharing this content.
Makhubele, following her termination from COPE, posted a proverb from the Bible on X (formerly Twitter), stating, “A simple man believes anything, but a prudent man gives thought to his steps.” (Proverbs 14:15).
This quote, contrasting the gullible with the prudent, is seen as a veiled commentary on her recent political misfortune.
The proverb could be interpreted as Makhubele asserting that her recent political moves, including her alleged affiliation with an opposition alliance, were not impulsive but rather the result of careful deliberation.
Alternatively, the quote might be directed at her detractors, suggesting that those who accepted her dismissal without scrutinizing the facts are comparable to the ‘simple man’ in the proverb.
Why was Makhubele fired by COPE?
Makhubele’s dismissal stemmed from accusations that she wrongfully affiliated COPE with the South African Rainbow Alliance (SARA) without appropriate authorisation.
Acting Secretary-General Eric Matlaphamswe emphasised that such actions were in violation of the party’s constitution.
The controversy extended beyond Makhubele, with another councillor, Ofentse Moalusi, also being dismissed for similar reasons related to SARA.
“Correspondents are on their way to the former comrades because we have terminated their membership ever since they joined SARA,” Matlaphamswe said in a statement.
Makhubele’s removal disrupts the Johannesburg City Council’s operations, complicating the Democratic Alliance’s (DA) plans to dissolve the council.
The DA has criticised the city’s leadership for poor service delivery and has been advocating for the dissolution of the Johannesburg council citing inefficiency.
