DA probe of Zille tweets progresses
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 with the party’s chairperson of the Federal Legal Commission, Glynnis Breytenbach, tomorrow as part of investigations into whether she breached the DA’s social media policy.
Zille’s posts on Twitter 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 between Breytenbach and Zille tomorrow (Saturday), after which we will prepare a report for the federal executive to decide whether disciplinary proceedings should be initiated,” said party federal council chairman James Selfe.
Yesterday Breytenbach said she would conclude her investigations on the same day and compile a report to send to the party’s federal executive, which will decide on whether to institute disciplinary action against the premier.
But Selfe could not say when the executive would go through the report and decide on a way forward, because the members “are spread out through the country”.
Zille’s tweets will also be debated at the Western Cape Provincial Legislature on Tuesday as the ANC pushes for her to be removed as premier. Yesterday, political analyst Somadoda Fikeni said whether or not the party goes ahead with disciplinary action, serious damage had been done to the party’s image.
“This is the most profound damage the party has suffered in a long time,” he said. “The opponents of the DA, who have long said the party harbours racial elements, are capitalising on this…
“It also puts party leader Mmusi Maimane in a very awkward position in terms of having to prove he is not the puppet he has been accused of being. Whatever decision the party takes will surely cause ructions between those who have always seen this kind of behaviour by the premier as reprehensible and those who would want this to be dealt with quietly.”
Zille’s spokesperson, Michael Mpofu, had not responded to a request for comment by the time of going to press.