DA suspends Zille until legal commission hearing
Premier losing support in party
The DA federal executive made an attempt to reach out to Western Cape premier Helen Zille in a bid to avoid suspending her membership.
This is the party’s latest effort to contain the fallout caused by the federal executive’s decision to ask Zille to submit reasons why she should not have her DA membership suspended.
The peace efforts continued behind the scenes despite the DA executive’s decision yesterday morning to suspend her from all DA activities.
She has also been barred from speaking publicly on behalf of the party until the DA federal legal commission has decided whether she’s guilty or not.
Late yesterday the party announced her suspension but she remains provincial premier, although it is not clear for how long.
The DA federal executive took the decision to suspend her “by an overwhelming majority” after considering representations made by Zille’s legal representatives on Tuesday.
Well-placed sources said the behind-the-scene negotiations were the reason why a planned press conference did not take place.
The decision was supported by all the provincial leaders except Western Cape interim leader Bonginkosi Madikizela and Denise Robinson of the DA Women Network.
Zille’s been charged with bringing the DA into disrepute and damaging the party, among others.
“When the DA leadership writes her personal letters, she responds with lawyers’ letters. This shows every chance of ending very badly,” a top DA leader said.
The source also said Zille’s support was waning in the DA.
One of the mooted options was for her to remain the premier provided she makes an unreserved public apology for her behaviour since sending out tweets about the positive aspects of colonialism, and provided she resigns from the DA FedEx council.
Those familiar with her representations say Zille is arguing that the federal executive’s decision against her had been procedurally flawed and that she had been prejudged.
She apparently offered to stay away from the activities of the FedEx but wants to keep taking part in the businesses of the DA caucus in the Western Cape legislature.