It was hard luck on the big Belgian keeper, who produced some fine early saves to deny Hearts who dominated possession without playing well.
But surely if Mixu Paatelainen's side are to climb the league, he needs to find a safe pair of hands to replace Makaba-Makalamby who is becoming a comical figure.
For Hearts, their first derby win of the season is also their first victory in 11 games and their superiority in the first 20 minutes was crucial.
However after the goal, Hearts seemed content to sit on their lead but Hibs simply didn't have the firepower to capitalise.
It was Hearts who started better and Michael Stewart's 25 yarder was deflected wide off Rob Jones.
Then Makaba-Makalamby went down to his left to parry a Deividas Cesnauskis shot before the keeper made the save of the match.
Ruben Palazuelos broke from midfield and his shot took a wicked deflection off Jones, but Makaba-Makalamby threw out his right fist to block superbly.
But after his early heroics, Makaba-Makalamby was the villain as Hearts grabbed the crucial 20th minute goal.
Andrew Driver's corner was nodded down by Christophe Berra and Velicka's close-range header bounced off the keeper's chest and into the net.
Hibs squandered their best chance when Filipe Morais whipped over a low cross that Abdessalam Benjelloun missed completely from eight yards.
Chances were few and far between after the exciting start.
Chris Hogg was lucky not to concede a penalty for a trip on Velicka and Driver volleyed over the bar from 12 yards.
But the best chance of the second period fell to Hearts when Driver fired in a cross from the left and Saulius Mikoliunas saw his downward header saved by Makaba-Makalamby.
If it had not been for his crucial error the Hibs keeper would have been looking at a man of the match award, but instead he will have to live with the derby day blues.