Zille faces first step of post-tweet journey
THE fallout over Western Cape Premier Helen Zille’s tweets that not all aspects of colonialism were bad is continuing.
Zille is scheduled to meet the chairperson of the party’s Federal Legal Commission, Glynnis Breytenbach, tomorrow as part of investigations into whether she had breached the DA’s social media policy.
Zille’s posts landed her in hot water last week after she tweeted that not all aspects of colonialism were bad, prompting the party’s leader, Mmusi Maimane, to have her referred to the commission to determine whether she should be charged and brought before a disciplinary committee.
“There’s a meeting taking place between Breytenbach and Zille tomorrow (Saturday) after which we will prepare a report for the Federal Executive to decide on whether disciplinary proceedings should be initiated,” said the party’s Federal Council chairperson, James Selfe.
Yesterday, Breytenbach told Independent Media that she would conclude her investigations on the same day as well as compile a report to send to the Federal Executive, which will decide on whether to institute disciplinary action.
But Selfe could not say when the executive would sit down to go through the report and decide on a way forward because members of the executive “are spread out through the country”.
Yesterday, political analyst Somadoda Fikeni said whether or not the party goes ahead with instituting disciplinary action, irreparable damage had been done to the party’s image.
“This is the most profound damage the party has suffered in a long time. “The opponents of the DA, who have long said the party harbours racial elements, are capitalising on this.”
Zille’s spokesperson, Michael Mpofu, had not responded to a request for comment by the time of going to press.