Zille to answer to SAHRC complaints

PREMIER Helen Zille was preparing her response to a list of at least 12 complaints that had been lodged with the SA Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) following the former DA leader’s controversial tweets in March, which were widely perceived to have been in praise of colonialism.

Zille’s office yesterday confirmed the receipt of the SAHRC’s letter.

The premier has until June 12 to answer to the charge that her tweets amounted to “a violation of African people’s right to dignity”.

One of the complaints, which the SAHRC said were received from around the country, accused Zille of portraying herself “as an apologist for white supremacy, racism and continental genocide”.

While the DA said it had charged Zille over the colonialism tweets, which she fired off after an official visit to Singapore, the party said a disciplinary hearing date had not yet been set.

On March 15, Zille tweeted: “Much to learn from Singapore, colonised for as long as SA, and under brutal occupation in WW2. Can we apply the lessons in our democracy?”

The post that raised the ire of some social media users read: “For those claiming legacy of colonialism was only negative, think of our independent judiciary, transport infrastructure, piped water etc... Would we have had a transition into specialised healthcare and medication without colonial influence?”