Protector slams Zille on colonialism tweets
EMBATTLED Western Cape Premier Helen Zille’s colonialism tweets belong to members of the disbanded National Party (NP), and she is an embarrassment, says ANC acting provincial chairperson Khaya Magaxa.
This followed a scathing report by Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane, who found Zille to have violated the Constitution and the integrity of her office.
Magaxa had lodged a complaint with Mkwebane’s office against Zille, charging that “she celebrated the oppression, exploitation, racism and poverty which are the direct results of the legacy of colonialism”.
Mkhwebane instructed the provincial Speaker to, within 30 days, table the report before the legislature for it to take appropriate action to hold Zille accountable.
“Although the tweet could have been made in the context of the premier’s right to freedom of expression, as provided in section 16 of the Constitution, and in good faith, it was, however, offensive and insensitive to a section of the South African population, which regarded it as reopening a lot of pain and suffering to the victims of apartheid and colonialism, particularly considering the position of influence she holds,” Mkhwebane found.
On her arrival from Singapore last year, where Zille had been on an official visit, she charged that South Africa had much to learn from the repressive city-state.
While waiting to board a plane to Cape Town, Zille had tweeted: “For those claiming legacy of colonialism was only negative, think of our independent judiciary, transport infrastructure, piped water, etc.”
A few minutes later, she tweeted again: “Would we have had a transition into specialised health care and medication without colonial influence? Just be honest, please.”
The EFF had labelled Zille a “cold-hearted racist”.
Maxaga said colonialism in the Western Cape had particularly destroyed the existence of Khoisan people and the lives of the black majority in the country.
“If one refers to any development that happened through colonialism in the Western Cape, it happened though slave labour.
‘‘Therefore if one cannot appreciate that destruction of humankind, there is something wrong with you.
‘‘If I was her, seriously married to those kind of beliefs, I would rather resign, because those sentiments belong in the past.
‘‘We will expect those kinds of sentiments emerging from white sections belongings to the National Party. Therefore to me she is an embarrassment. I will rather resign” Maxaga said.
In his complaint to the public protector, Magaxa alleged Zille had, among others, undermined South Africans with her personal beliefs on colonialism.
Provincial Speaker Sharna Fernandez said she could not respond to requests for comment yesterday as her office had not yet received Mkhwebane’s report.
Zille’s spokesperson, Michael Mpofu, said: “The premier has not received the actual report outlining the reasons for this finding.
‘‘However, from what has been announced on television, the premier is likely to take this report on judicial review.
‘‘The premier has already advised the public protector that, in her view, such a finding would be unlawful and irrational.”
However, Magaxa said: “She must use her own money when doing so.
“Zille was exercising her own personal views not that of the government or the DA, thus she must take personal responsibility.
“If it happens that she uses the money of the state, we will take this matter further. She must use her own funds,” said Magaxa.
She celebrated the oppression, exploitation, racism and poverty
THE ANC in the Western Cape welcomes the public protector’s report on Premier Helen Zille’s colonial tweets.
As the ANC, we lodged a complaint with the public protector against Zille for violating the Executive Ethics Act with her gravely offensive and reckless tweets which polarised our community and drove deeper the racial wedge of our past. As the head of government in the province, Zille’s primary responsibility is to build social cohesion and racial harmony in a province that has known too much blood and pain on racial polarisation, and this judgment makes this crucial point quite clear.
As the ANC, we are vindicated by the public protector’s remedial action, which now forces the provincial legislature, according to its constitutional responsibility, to find appropriate measures to discipline Zille.
We initially brought this matter before the legislature and the DA members chose to be loyal to the party and Zille rather than to the country’s Constitution and the people of this province. It did not have to take the public protector for this provincial legislature to do the right thing. We also welcome the time frame of 30 days for the legislature to fulfil its constitutional obligation on this matter.
It is also clear that the DA has finally woken up to the reality that Helen Zille has become a liability both in their party and in their political posture in the province.
The regret expressed by Mmusi Maimane on not acting strongly against Helen Zille is now widely shared and the DA’s provincial caucus is also showing signs of Zille fatigue and it is likely that when we bring a vote of no confidence against Zille, and the Speaker allows a secret ballot, Helen Zille will go.
If Zille has any dignity left in her, she does not have to wait for that humiliation.
As the ANC we ask Helen Zille to do the right thing and resign as the premier of the Western Cape. Khaya Magaxa Acting provincial chairperson ANC Western Cape