DA officially suspends Zille's membership
|Published
Premier Helen Zille Premier Helen Zille
The Federal Executive (FedEx) met on Wednesday morning where a decision was taken to suspend her pending the outcome of a disciplinary hearing. The suspension does not affect her position as premier.
“This past Saturday, DA Leader Mmusi Maimane proposed to the Federal Executive that Ms Zille be served with a notice of suspension, whereby she was afforded 72 hours to make representations as to why she should not be suspended,” DA Federal Executive chairman James Selfe said in a statement.
“After consideration of Ms Zille’s representations, the FedEx has today taken an official decision to suspend her.”
Zille’s disciplinary hearing is expected to start on Friday.
Selfe said Zille’s tweet praising aspects of colonialism had damaged the party’s image.
“The Federal Executive agreed that Ms Zille’s social media commentary and public utterances in connection with colonialism breaks down public trust, stunts South Africa’s reconciliation imperative, and undermines our political project,” Selfe said.
“As a former leader and as a member of the Federal Executive, Ms Zille has a special duty of care to protect the party’s interests and promote the party’s mission, which is to build a non-racial, inclusive democracy. Ms Zille’s statements are at variance with this.”
On Saturday Maimane announced Zille’s party membership had been suspended, but Zille was quick to point out that he had flouted the party’s constitution by not giving her a chance to make representations.
The party later backtracked saying Zille had until Monday to submit reasons why she should not be suspended.