Suspension of Zille DA fuels the fire
THE DA’s suspension of its former leader, Helen Zille, over her colonial tweets has plunged the party into a tailspin over her future as Western Cape premier.
Yesterday, the official opposition party’s coalition partner in the crucial Gauteng metros, the EFF, led the charge in rejecting the decision to suspend her only from party activities and not from her position.
The party’s top brass yesterday passed the decision on her fate amid mounting pressure that Zille should relinquish her powerful post in the only province the party governs.
Last night, political analysts also warned of more damage to the party in the run-up to 2019 if the DA does not dislodge Zille. This as her supporters in the Western Cape reaffirmed their support for her.
The EFF said the suspension only from party activities was “playful” and showed that the DA cared more about itself than South Africans. “If her disciplinary process means it is important that she does not participate in DA activities, why is this not also the case with government?” the EFF asked.
“What makes DA decision-making structures more important than the people’s government structures that she presides over as premier?”
Zille had until Tuesday to explain to the party’s federal executive (Fedex) why she should not be suspended. Fedex chairperson James Selfe said it was decided by an “overwhelming majority” to officially suspend Zille until such time as her disciplinary hearing, starting tomorrow, was concluded.
The Fedex agreed that Zille’s tweets on colonialism “breaks down public trust, stunts South Africa’s reconciliation imperative, and undermines our political project”.
However, in her submissions to the Fedex, Zille remained defiant, saying it was clear from DA leader Mmusi Maimane’s announcement on her suspension on Saturday that he had prejudged her. “This initial material failure to comply with due process has serious implications. The leader (Maimane) has, in a public statement, made it clear that he wants me suspended and has already decided to suspend me,” she said.
“This puts the Fedex in an impossible position to make an objective determination, whatever the merits of my arguments against suspension. In any event, the Fedex has equally compromised itself on this decision,” Zille said in her submission.
EMFULENI mayor Simon Mofokeng might have bitten off more than he can chew when he allegedly splurged over R1.7 million on KFC, Nando’s and expensive hotels during his previous stint at Sedibeng District Municipality.
Today, the DA was expected to march to the Emfuleni local municipality offices to demand that he resign from his position.
According to the DA, the ANC-run municipality is in debt and is not able to collect much-needed revenue from ratepayers.
The official opposition accused Mofokeng of not paying attention to the problems facing the municipality.
Instead, the mayor was prioritising his lavish lifestyle, said the DA’s Kingsol Chabalala, the party’s constituency head in Emfuleni.
“Mofokeng is an embarrassment to the ANC and the Gauteng provincial government,” said Chabalala, adding that the municipality was dogged by problems such as mismanagement of public funds and resources.
The DA said it was expecting thousands of its supporters to join the march, due to start at the licensing department. The march will be led by John Moodey, the DA leader in Gauteng and the party’s members of the provincial legislature.
“Enough is enough. Mayor Mofokeng and his cronies have taken enough from the poorest residents in Emfuleni,” charged Chabalala.
Municipal spokesperson Lebo Mofokeng was quoted as saying expenditure associated with executive offices was not unique or limited to Emfuleni, but normally “related to entertainment, stakeholders’ engagements, business meetings, and investor engagements in the execution of his official functions”.