Zille scolds youth leader for ‘prima donna’ ways
Sharp reprimand comes after Ntuli questions march on Luthuli House
A HEATED verbal exchange took place between Democratic Alliance leader Helen Zille and her youth leader, Mbali Ntuli, last weekend over the latter’s public criticism of the opposition party’s planned march on the ANC’s headquarters.
A fuming Zille called Ntuli a “prima donna” and accused her of having “a big ego” during a DA federal executive council meeting in Johannesburg on Friday last week.
Zille is said to have been angered by Ntuli’s post on Twitter earlier in the week in which she said she was “not sure if I agree with my party to march on Luthuli House”.
According to witnesses, the DA Youth leader fought back, telling Zille that she had no right to call her names and that she, too, was one of the party’s leaders — and had a right to hold personal views.
On Friday, Zille confirmed her verbal altercation with Ntuli, which unfolded in front of the party’s most senior leaders.
The DA leader said although she tolerated dissent in the party, she “drew the line with Mbali” because the youth leader had failed to return her calls when she wanted to talk to her about the tweet.
“I had tried to call her several times, and SMS’d asking for her to call me back, and she did not do so. I asked why, and she said she had not
If one has to wait to be ‘in the right space’ to behave professionally, then that behaviour has to change
been ‘in the right space’.”
“I am entirely within my rights to describe this — and other contributory factors — as ‘prima donna’ behaviour. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that,” said Zille in an e-mailed response to the Sunday Times.
She said the party had to “main- tain professional standards ... which involves calling each other back”.
“If one has to wait to be ‘in the right space’ to behave professionally, then that behaviour has to change. That was the point I made. It is no big deal,” said Zille.
Ntuli declined to comment, saying she was not allowed to discuss meetings of the federal executive with journalists.
“I can’t comment on anything that happened at fedex. In the DA we are allowed to disagree but the matter is behind us now,” she said.
The march on Luthuli House, which is scheduled for Tuesday, has drawn criticism from the ANC and its allies, which have accused the DA of provocation.
Zille, who will lead the march, has said its aim was to highlight the ANC government’s failure to create jobs.
Her attack on Ntuli did not sit well with some members of the DA Youth executive, who said they were offended.
“As a member of the DA Youth, I am offended by Zille’s verbal and personal attack on my leader,” said DA Youth KwaZulu-Natal executive member Nicholas Farrell.
“As a liberal democratic party we should embrace different views and opinions, and when there are disagreements we should deal with them in a mature manner.”
The war of words comes at a time when Ntuli has become a target of an unsuccessful attempt by the ANC in KwaZulu-Natal to have her defect to the ruling party.
Ntuli’s close associates said former police commissioner Bheki Cele and ANC KwaZulu-Natal secretary Sihle Zikalala had made informal approaches to her to join the ANC.
Ntuli, who would not say whether she had met the ANC, said she was not planning to quit the DA.
“I am not going anywhere ... People are speculating — there’s nothing I can do about that.”
Zikalala said he had not tried to recruit her. “No, there is no such a thing. I don’t know about that, but the ANC is willing to welcome anyone who wants to join. If Mbali wants to join the ANC or anyone from the DA . . . we would be happy, but it’s not that we have a programme of recruiting her.”