Zille in hot water with party over colonialism tweet
Former DA leader Helen Zille is in hot water with her party over a tweet she sent today regarding colonialism.
Zille, who was top trending this morning, later apologised for the tweet in which she said that for those who claim colonialism was only negative one should look at our independent judiciary, transport infrastructure and piped water.
For those claiming legacy of colonialism was ONLY negative, think of our independent judiciary, transport infrastructure, piped water etc.
— Helen Zille (@helenzille) March 16, 2017
After Zille took a roasting on Twitter from people calling her racist, she apologised unreservedly.
I apologise unreservedly for a tweet that may have come across as a defence of colonialism. It was not.
— Helen Zille (@helenzille) March 16, 2017
DA leader, Mmusi Maimane, also weighed in.
His spokesperson, Mabine Seabe, said the view of Helen Zille does not represent the views of the party or the DA leader.
"Apartheid was a racist system like colonialism and they should never be justified. The matter has been referred to the party's federal legal commission," he said.
We are a party that is committed to redressing the wrongs of the past. #HelenZille
— Democratic Alliance (@Our_DA) March 16, 2017
Meanwhile, chairperson of DA Federal Executive, James Selfe, says the tweets could be a violation of the DA's media policy for public representatives.
"The DA profoundly disagrees with the sentiments behind it, because colonialism - like apartheid - was wrong. It oppressed millions of people and violated human rights in a cruel and inhumane way," says Selfe.
Selfe says the investigation will establish whether the social media policy was breached and will recommend whether or not disciplinary processes should follow.