Opposition parties bay for Zille’s blood

But DA acting leader says the ANC should first remove Zuma

OPPOSITION parties are calling for Western Cape Premier Helen Zille to resign from office and the provincial ANC, EFF and UDM have all urged Zille to step down. The calls follow the DA’s federal executive decision to serve Zille with a notice of intention to suspend her from the party’s activities. Zille was given 72 hours, ending tomorrow, to give reasons why she should not be suspended.

ANC acting chairperson Khaya Magaxa said: “The ANC repeats its call on the DA’s disgraced past leader Helen Zille to immediately resign as Western Cape premier. She has also humiliated the province and its people with her continual Twitter attack on people of colour.”

Zille is in the hot seat over her tweet about colonialism.

ANC Western Cape secretary Faiez Jacobs said the DA was in a fundamental crisis. “This is clearly a test for DA leader Mmusi Maimane and we are surprised by his boldness. We are not only calling for her suspension but for her to be relieved off her government duties until this thing is concluded.”

The EFF’s Bernard Joseph said: “The suspension is definitely only a smokescreen to appease the minuscule black supporter base of the DA. Nothing concrete has been done to take her to task regarding her rather well-concealed racist attitude. Helen Zille must do the honourable thing and resign as premier of the Western Cape.”

The UDM’s Mputhumi Ntabeni warned the DA not to fool the public.

“If the DA says it has suspended Helen Zille’s membership of the party, but allows her to remain as the premier of the Western Cape, who is she then representing there?

“The DA must stop playing with our minds and just declare that it doesn’t have the guts to deal with Helen Zille.”

DA acting leader in the province Bonginkosi Madikizela said opposition parties had nothing to offer in the Western Cape except to make “ridiculous” statements. “The ANC must first remove Zuma, who is implicated in countless offences. We’ve taken action against Helen Zille, she hasn’t been found guilty yet so why should we support such a ridiculous call?” said Madikizela.

James Selfe, chairperson of the DA’s federal executive, said Zille still had time to make representations.

He said should she be suspended it would only be from party activities and not her office of premier.

“There is a separation of power, so she would be able to continue with her work. The suspension would not affect her work as premier,” said Selfe.

Zille was unavailable for comment.