It’s seven years ago to the day that Munier had the “pleasure” of a three-hour sit-down with Helen Zille.
Pleasure because he walked out of the then-Premier’s chambers in Wale Street that day feeling somewhat starstruck.
Zille had made quite an impression on him.
One of the sharpest minds in politics, he reckoned at the time.
Munier had marched in armed with a quiver full of his most piercing questions – which touched on a wide range of issues from housing and portable toilets to crime, unemployment and racism.
One by one, the Iron Lady shot down each arrow.
Munier was amazed by how knowledgeable Zille was of each issue, confidently engaging on each point in detail, without deflecting or having to hand the inquiry over to the “relevant department”.
Smart, and a strong work ethic. That came across too.
For once, Munier felt sheepish, sy groot bek stil gepraat.
Still, he couldn’t help feeling that something wasn’t quite right about the DA leader, like there was a screw loose.
For all her intellectual prowess, she lacked the grace of a great leader; a serenity that comes with maturity.
Perhaps this was the psychology of an opposition leader, one who has to constantly be in fight mode, ready to challenge, criticise, obstruct and retaliate.
Zille seemed to have that in her; a bit too quick to react, lose her cool and lash out.
Somehow, back then, Munier had a foreboding that this would be the downfall of the Iron Lady.
And that she would never lead South Africa.
He could not have predicted, though, that Zille’s Waterloo would not be at the polls, but on social media.
Over the past few years, Twitter has brought out the worst in the Madam, triggering her darkest impulses.
It has been disappointing and disturbing to note – or rather “follow” – Zille transform from a revered political icon into Twitter troll.
Her tweets – defending colonialism in particular – have become increasingly bizarre, divisive, racial and vindictive.
She’s easily goaded into petty wars of words with “Black Twitter”, who relish in toying with her already neurotic state.
Zille once claimed that over half a million of her Twitter followers were “fake bots” created as part of a campaign against her.
Determined to antagonise Black Twitter, she’s gone so far as to tweet recently that the current government’s laws are more racist than apartheid.
In so doing, the DA Federal Council chair has lost even more respect, and support for the party.
Munier reckons, by now, Aunty Helen has either completely lost her marbles.
Or she’s given up on ever winning the majority vote, unseating the ANC and ruling SA.
For if the measure of a leader is the ability to inspire and unite a population behind your vision, then Zille has ultimately failed.
At 69 years old, she knows her political race is run, so she can speak her mind.
She's free to show her true rightwing colours without caring who she offends.
taariq.halim@inl.co.za