Helen Zille

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DA to Charge Helen Zille

Mmusi Maimane – Leader of the Democratic Alliance – announced at a press conference in Cape Town Sunday that the party’s Federal Executive has decided to institute formal disciplinary action against Helen Zille, following recommendations presented by the Party’s Federal Legal Commission (FLC). He confirmed Zille will remain in her current position as Premier of the […]

By SAPeople
02-04-17 16:59
in News
Helen Zille

Mmusi Maimane – Leader of the Democratic Alliance – announced at a press conference in Cape Town Sunday that the party’s Federal Executive has decided to institute formal disciplinary action against Helen Zille, following recommendations presented by the Party’s Federal Legal Commission (FLC).

He confirmed Zille will remain in her current position as Premier of the Western Cape during the probe and said “this has not been an easy decision to take”.

Maimane highlighted the contribution Zille has made to the success of the DA, and how she has “fought oppression and discrimination” during the course of her life.

However, he said, “my job as the Leader of the DA is to grow our party and advance our project of building a non-racial, prosperous democracy.

“Nothing is more important that this project, and no one is bigger than it. I must protect this project, and cannot tolerate any action or behaviour by any person which undermines or harms it.

“It is my belief that Ms Zille’s assertions did just that, and therefore require action.

“The charge against Ms Zille is that she has allegedly violated the Party’s Federal Constitution by acting in a manner which has brought the party into disrepute. A formal disciplinary hearing will now be instituted in order to come to a finding.”

Today’s decision follows a series of tweets by Zille, published on 16 March 2017, which sought to communicate her experiences and impressions following a week-long visit to Singapore.

Zille’s comments included “for those claiming legacy of colonialism was ONLY negative, think of our independent judiciary, transport infrastructure, piped water etc.” After a backlash she apologised unreservedly about an hour later, and stressed her words had been twisted and that she was never defending or justifying colonialism.

Maimane, who referred Zille to the Federal Legal Commission for investigation on that day, said today that the Commission has confirmed there is a case and therefore the FedEx has decided to proceed with disciplinary action.

“Throughout this process, Ms Zille will remain in her current position as Premier of the Western Cape,” said Maimane.

He added that “it must be made clear that this matter is not strictly confined to the series of tweets by Ms Zille. Since then, the matter has developed further. Therefore the initial referral was supplemented on 22 March 2017 to include reference to “a series of comments (made) publicly and on social media that have…exacerbated and amplified the original tweet.””

Maimane also took the opportunity to say the country is running out of time to save itself from the “clutches of the Zuma administration and its Gupta bosses“, and reiterated his call for all South Africans to join him in a march to the ANC HQ at Luthuli House this Friday, 7 April 2017, calling on the ANC to support our Motion of No Confidence in Jacob Zuma.

Maimane said he has also convened a meeting with leaders of all opposition parties tomorrow, Monday 3 April 2017, to discuss the way forward to remove Zuma from office.

Maimane was joined at the press briefing by the Chairperson the DA’s Federal Executive, James Selfe, and DA National Spokesperson, Phumzile Van Damme.

Premier Helen Zille’s Response

Zille, who has changed her Twitter profile pic to that of her granddaughter who was born yesterday, said she has not yet hear anything formal from the DA and cannot issue a press statement through the Premier’s office. She said: “Whatever I hear from the DA I have only one comment: I will abide by due and fair process of SA and DA constitution and the rule of law.”

UPDATE 16h30: Zille says she has now received an email from James Selfe, and that her comment above stands: “I will abide by due and fair process of SA and DA constitution and the rule of law.”