Carl Niehaus

Carl Gerhardus Niehaus (born 25 December 1959) be South African politician wey dey represent de Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) insyd de National Assembly of South Africa. He be former national spokesperson for de African National Congress (ANC), but dem expel am from dat party for misconduct insyd December 2022. He join EFF for December 2023 den dem elect am go de National Assembly insyd May 2024.

Dem born Niehaus insyd Afrikaner family insyd Western Transvaal. As student, he join anti-apartheid activism den enter de ANC underground for 1980. From November 1983 go March 1991, dem lock am for prison sake of treason charges wey relate to ein activism, especially ANC ein plan to sabotage de Johannesburg Gas Works.

After dem release am from prison, he turn influential figure insyd de ANC: he serve as de party ein spokesperson during de post-apartheid transition, den from 1994 to 1996 he be Member of de National Assembly. From 1996 go 2000, he be South African Ambassador to de Netherlands. He dey insyd ANC National Executive Committee from 1994 to 1997. For November 2008, he return go de ANC media office as de party ein national spokesperson. But for February 2009, he resign from dat position den confess say he do some wrong things sake of personal financial problems.

He come back enter frontline politics for 2017 as national spokesperson for de UMkhonto we Sizwe Military Veterans' Association. From 2019, dem employ am for Luthuli House as worker inside de office of ANC secretary-general Ace Magashule. During dis time, he clash plenty times plus ANC leadership because of how he dey always support former President Jacob Zuma den de Zuma-side agenda of radical economic transformation (RET). Ein support for Zuma make ANC suspend ein membership for July 2021, den later dem expel am from de party for December 2022. After dem expel am, he form ein own short-lived political groups – Radical Economic Transformation Movement (RETMO) den African Radical Economic Transformation Alliance (ARETA) – before he finally join EFF for December 2023.

 Early life den activism 
Dem born Niehaus on 25 December 1959 insyd Zeerust, small town wey dey de former Western Transvaal (now part of North West Province). Ein parents, Carl plus Magrieta Niehaus, be working-class Afrikaners; ein poppie be railroad clerk. As he talk, later dem support de far-right Conservative Party, den dem raise am as Christian insyd de Dutch Reformed Church. Truly, for some time he bin get plans say he go turn dominee.

After ein family move go Johannesburg, he start dey go church volunteer trips for Soweto, where as teenager, de way black people dey live disturb am; later he talk say he come believe say apartheid be heresy. He start dey active insyd anti-apartheid activism as student for Rand Afrikaans University, where he study theology. Insyd ein final year as student, for 1980, he lef de Dutch Reformed Church sake of how dem take stand for apartheid; he join de African Dutch Reformed Church insyd, where he serve as deacon for de black township of Alexandra. Insyd July 1980, he join de underground movement of de African National Congress (ANC), wey by dat time be banned organisation. People later talk say ein political style be “terribly radical, almost Stalinist.”

Just before ein final exams insyd 1980, dem expel Niehaus from Rand Afrikaans University sake of ein political activities, including how he take paste Free Mandela posters for campus. After dat, he enroll for University of de Witwatersrand to continue ein degree.

 Treason conviction den detention 
Insyd August 1983, dem arrest Niehaus plus ein girlfriend, Jansie Lourens, den charge dem for high treason plus other political charges. Because say dem be white, de case attract “hostility, puzzlement, and considerable interest” from white people.

As de trial go on insyd de Supreme Court, de main state witness be Robert Whitecross, wey be housemate of Niehaus den Lourens. Insyd ein testimony, he reveal say Craig Williamson recruit am join de Security Branch for 1980, den say he be police warrant officer. He give plenty evidence say Niehaus dey involved for reconnaissance of de Johannesburg Gas Works, wey be part of ANC ein plan to do sabotage for dere. Whitecross follow Niehaus go do reconnaissance trip, wey police officers take pictures of. Niehaus sef give Whitecross de pictures wey he take of de site.

Niehaus talk say he no guilty for treason, but for court, he talk openly say he support de ANC den he no show any regret. De court find say, apart from de reconnaissance for de gasworks, Niehaus share political pamphlets, help ANC members escape illegally from de country, den carry coded messages go between ANC members. For 25 November 1983, dem convict am den sentence am to fifteen years for prison. Reporter Allister Sparks, wey dey inside de courtroom, talk say Niehaus shout "Amandla!" before dem carry am go. Dem keep am for Pretoria Central Prison, wey he serve over seven years out of ein sentence before dem release am for 20 March 1991.

Insyd 2008, LitNet publish one blog Niehaus write – wey be open letter to ein small daughter – where he talk say some detainees gang-rape am de night before de Supreme Court convict am for 1983. But some journalists later doubt dis story because no evidence dey back am. Insyd February 2021, Niehaus testify for de inquest into Neil Aggett ein death while he dey detention; dem cross-examine am based on one affidavit wey he submit about how dem torture am when dem arrest am.

 Education 
Wey he still dey prison, Niehaus study theology through correspondence from de University of South Africa, where he complete ein bachelor's plus honours degree. Reports talk say he be de best student for ein honours class.

But up till 2009, Niehaus ein résumé plus official profile talk say he finish ein first bachelor's degree for de University of the Witwatersrand before dem arrest am, den he later complete masters plus doctorate for theology from Utrecht University. Journalists later find out say he no complete any of dem degrees.

 Career insyd de African National Congress 

 Democratic transition: 1991–1994 
Wen dem release Niehaus from prison, he start dey active for African National Congress (ANC), wey de apartheid government just unban during de negotiation period to end apartheid. As ein official biography talk, dem appoint am to de ANC ein Provincial Executive Committee for PWV, to dem Negotiations Commission, den to de head of de national media liaison unit, wey he serve as spokesperson to Nelson Mandela.

 Early democratic period: 1994–2009 
Insyd South Africa ein first democratic elections for April 1994, Niehaus win seat represent ANC for de National Assembly, wey be de lower house of de new South African Parliament. He chair Parliament ein Portfolio Committee on Correctional Services for de First Parliament. Again, for December 1994, he attend ANC ein 49th National Conference, wey dem elect am to serve three-year term on top de party ein National Executive Committee; for number of votes wey dem take elect people, he rank 20th out of de 60 candidates wey make de committee.

Wen dem release Niehaus from prison, he start dey active for African National Congress (ANC), wey de apartheid government just unban during de negotiation period to end apartheid. As ein official biography talk, dem appoint am to de ANC ein Provincial Executive Committee for PWV, to dem Negotiations Commission, den to de head of de national media liaison unit, wey he serve as spokesperson to Nelson Mandela.

Insyd South Africa ein first democratic elections insyd April 1994, Niehaus win seat represent ANC for de National Assembly, wey be de lower house of de new South African Parliament. He chair Parliament ein Portfolio Committee on Correctional Services for de First Parliament. Again, insyd December 1994, he attend ANC ein 49th National Conference, wey dem elect am to serve three-year term on top de party ein National Executive Committee; for number of votes wey dem take elect people, he rank 20th out of de 60 candidates wey make de committee.

Insyd late 1996, before de parliamentary term finish, President Mandela appoint Niehaus make he take over from Zach de Beer as South African Ambassador to de Netherlands. As he dey Netherlands, he lead de South African delegation go de Organisation for de Prohibition of Chemical Weapons for The Hague. When ein diplomatic service end for mid-2000, Queen Beatrix of de Netherlands knight am give am Grand Cross for de Order of Oranje-Nassau. Utrecht University sana give am de International Medal.

As he return to South Africa, Niehaus come be executive director of de National Institute for Crime Prevention and Re-integration of Offenders (Nicro), start from 1 June 2000. Then, for Reconciliation Day 2000, inside gathering for St George's Cathedral, Niehaus plus Mary Burton launch de Home For All initiative. Dis initiative dey call on white South Africans make dem support national reconciliation by publicly admit and help fix de harm wey apartheid cause. Niehaus plus Burton write one document wey dem call Declaration of Commitment by White South Africans. Even though over 900 prominent white South Africans sign am, plenty people bash de idea hard. Niehaus later talk say de way people reject and mock de initiative na part of wetin make ein mind strong about white racism matter.

Insyd 2001, Niehaus comot from NICRO go become partner for Deloitte & Touche, one professional services firm wey at dat time dey start one Dutch desk. He resign from dat work for 2003, den after dat he do some short-term jobs: de South African Presidency hire am make he help work on de Decade of Democracy celebrations for 2004; he come be CEO plus spokesperson for Ray McCauley ein Rhema Church from 2004 till he resign for 2005; last last he serve as CEO for de Gauteng Economic Development Agency (GEDA), wey be one department under Gauteng Provincial Government, for de last seven months of 2005.

Insyd November 2008, as de ANC dey prepare for de 2009 general election, Niehaus return to de ANC ein communications department as dem appoint am de party ein second national spokesperson, make he work plus Jessie Duarte. Reports talk say na ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe invite am come take dat role. Daily Maverick even talk say plenty people believe say he do de job very well. But he no stay long: just over three months inside de role, on 13 February 2009, news break out about Niehaus ein financial wahala plus some fraud matter (wey go come later), den Mantashe announce say de party dey accept ein resignation as spokesperson.

 Support for RET: 2017–2022 
Niehaus spend plenty of de next ten years away from frontline politics; as he talk, he bin dey do consulting work plus dey try clear ein remaining debt. Insyd 2017, he show face again as national spokesperson for de ANC-side UMkhonto we Sizwe Military Veterans' Association (MKMVA) den as regular commentator for ANN7. He come be key lobbyist for Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma ein campaign make she become ANC president. Na during dis time people describe Niehaus as “a massive poes, and an embarrassment to the human race.” Even though Dlamini-Zuma lose give Cyril Ramaphosa for de ANC ein 54th National Conference wey happen for December 2017, Niehaus still land role under Ramaphosa ein new administration: from January 2019, he start work for Luthuli House insyd de office of ANC secretary-general Ace Magashule.

Over de next three years, MKMVA plus Niehaus einself start get plenty clashes plus wahala plus de Ramaphosa-led National Executive Committee. Niehaus come be de loud voice wey dey fight against de plan to combine MKMVA into one new and more structured veterans' body. He use both ein own platform and MKMVA ein name to support former President Jacob Zuma wey dem accuse say he chop money, to attack de ANC leadership, plus push one ideology wey dem dey call radical economic transformation. Insyd 2018 inside, MKMVA comot body from some talk wey Niehaus give about de land matter plus how dem dey manage de Ingonyama Trust.

Dis confrontation reach ein peak insyd July 2021, as de Constitutional Court order make dem arrest Zuma sake of contempt of court charges. Niehaus join MKMVA to strongly oppose de court ein order; during one of de plenty gatherings wey dem hold for outside Zuma ein Nkandla house, he tell de press say MKMVA go “form human shield” around Zuma make dem no arrest am, den he “warn” say if dem jail Zuma, e go bring “instability and unrest”. Insyd 7 July, ANC give Niehaus official disciplinary charges, say de talk wey he give for Nkandla no follow ANC ein disciplinary rules. Dem suspend ein ANC membership as dem prepare disciplinary hearing. De next day, Niehaus join Zuma ein supporters again for one protest outside Estcourt Correctional Centre wey be de prison wey dem take put Zuma; local South African Police Service arrest am sharp-sharp say he break COVID-19 lockdown rules. But dem release am shortly after, make he go pay R3,000 fine.

As Niehaus dey wait ein disciplinary hearing, ANC still sack am from ein staff position: insyd 9 September, dem just dismiss am sharp-sharp from ein work for de secretary-general ein office after he go make anoda provoking public statement. ANC spokesperson Pule Mabe talk say de way Niehaus dey behave be “divisive, opportunistic and anti-ANC”. Insyd March 2022, dem no allow am join de new group wey replace MKMVA, say he never even be member of Umkhonto we Sizwe before. As all dis dey go on, de disciplinary case wey dem start against am as ANC member no finish till 12 December 2022, where ANC ein National Disciplinary Committee find am guilty of misconduct den expel am from de party. Niehaus appeal am right away. But for 23 December, after de ANC ein 55th National Conference end, Niehaus come announce say he dey resign from de ANC by ein own choice, say he no go follow de appeal matter again.

 Career insyd opposition politics 

 RETMO den ARETA: 2023 
Less than one month after dem expel Niehaus from de ANC, for one Twitter Space wey happun 11 January 2023, he announce say dem dey launch de Radical Economic Transformation Movement (RETMO). Dis movement come dey push for radical economic transformation, den as chairperson, Niehaus list one ten-point policy plan. Inside, he talk about land expropriation without compensation, say dem no for dey privatise state-owned enterprises, den make border policing strong well. City Press talk say two big people wey dey support Zuma – Magashule plus Tony Yengeni – help plenty for de formation of de movement.

But by 22 February, RETMO turn into something new: African Radical Economic Transformation Alliance (ARETA), one political party wey Niehaus launch for Johannesburg. He talk say de party fit contest de next elections. ARETA even join de so-called National Shutdown wey happun de next month. Still, de party no last long: on 14 December 2023, Niehaus leave ARETA, come announce say he go join de Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF).

 Economic Freedom Fighters: 2023–present 
As a newly minted member of the EFF, Niehaus denied rumours that he was planning to abscond to Zuma's new Umkhonto we Sizwe Party, and in March 2024 the EFF announced that Niehaus would be ranked 27th on its party list in the May 2024 general election. Elected to an EFF seat, he was sworn in to the National Assembly on 14 June 2024.

 Dishonesty scandals 
As person wey just join de EFF, Niehaus deny de rumour wey dey go round say he dey plan run go Zuma ein new Umkhonto we Sizwe Party. Then for March 2024, EFF announce say dem go put Niehaus for number 27 for dem party list inside de May 2024 general election. He win seat under EFF, den dem swear am insyd de National Assembly on 14 June 2024. But make we go back small—inside February 2009, Mail & Guardian ein Pearlie Joubert write one long exposé about how Niehaus get plenty debt issues den broken promises. Insyd dat same article, as Joubert confront am, he open up say he dey overspend too much, den say de reason why he lef him past jobs for Deloitte & Touche, Rhema Church plus GEDA be because of how he no manage ein personal debt well, den how he keep dey borrow money. Insyd de GEDA case, he confess say he try collect personal loan by forging one letter wey get fake signature of four Gauteng provincial ministers (Paul Mashatile, Ignatius Jacobs, Angie Motshekga, plus Khabisi Mosunkutu). He resign after he tell Minister Mashatile de truth about de forgery. He talk say e no be true say ein 2004 contract with de Presidency end early because of financial wrongdoing.

Niehaus ein confession quick quick turn big national story, den dat same day he resign from ein position as ANC spokesperson. At de same time, other media houses start do dem own investigations about how Niehaus dey live, den dem come report new allegations. Dem talk say he lie say ein sister die just so he go fit get business-class plane ticket from one law firm wey he dey do BEE consulting for. Dem sana talk say he lie say he get leukemia so he go fit get free vacation go Mauritius from one travel agency. The Times estimate say he owe more than R4.4 million. But one ANC-affiliated businessman, Vivian Reddy, come talk publicly say he go help Niehaus with financial support. During dis same time too, Beeld come release story say Niehaus lie for ein résumé.

Niehaus ein money matter still dey pull media attention for later years. On 1 May 2012, he come do ein first interview since de February 2009 scandal, as he go appear for John Robbie ein talk show for Radio 702. There, he talk say he don finish pay all ein debts, den he dey expect make ANC give am "formal position" for de administration. But ANC deny say dem no dey plan give am any role, den plenty people come out dispute say he really pay ein debts. Among dem be Deputy Minister Derek Hanekom, ANC-affiliated trade union SACCAWU, plus ein former landlord for Midrand. Mail & Guardian come report say for late 2011, Niehaus collect small money from Deputy Justice Minister Andries Nel, wey dem talk say be burial contribution for Niehaus ein poppie. But when Nel go Zeerust to pay ein respects, he no see any burial. Niehaus come talk say na small miscommunication cause am.

Then insyd December 2017, as Niehaus start gain political recognition again, Sunday Times ein Toby Shapshak talk say Niehaus owe R4.3 million for two Sandton apartments wey he dey rent, den say he lie to ein creditors say ein mommie die so he go soon inherit money. But truth be say ein mommie still dey alive for retirement home dat time; she later die insyd October 2023. Niehaus deny de report, say na smear campaign from “white-owned media” against Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma ein people. Insyd May 2018, Sunday Times publish anoda report from Mzilikazi wa Afrika, wey show say Niehaus still get new debts wey he no dey pay.

 References 
Category:Afrikaner anti-apartheid activists
Category:Living people

 External links 

Category:1959 births
Category:Human
Category:South African people
Category:African National Congress politicians
Category:Afrikaner anti-apartheid activists
Category:Ambassadors of South Africa to the Netherlands
Category:Economic Freedom Fighters politicians
Category:Knights Grand Cross of de Order of Orange-Nassau
Category:Members of de National Assembly of South Africa 2024–2029
Category:People wey komot Ramotshere Moiloa Local Municipality
Category:People dem convict of treason against South Africa
Category:South African Christians
Category:South African prisoners den detainees
Category:University of South Africa alumni
Category:White South African people
Category:Members of de National Assembly of South Africa 1994–1999
Category:Rand Afrikaans University alumni
Category:21st-century South African politicians