South Africa party official charged over racist tweet

(From L) Mr Mmusi Maimane, Ms Mamphela Ramphele, Ms Helen Zille and Mr Wilmot James at a Democratic Alliance press conference in Cape Town in the past. FILE | NATION MEDIA GROUP 

By AFP

South Africa's main opposition party said on Sunday that it had charged a provincial leader with misconduct after she posted on Twitter that colonialism had brought benefits including clean water.

Ms Helen Zille, a former leader of the Democratic Alliance (DA) and the current Premier of the Western Cape Province, could be expelled for the tweet, which unleashed fierce criticism from her own party and opponents.

She will remain the leader of the Western Cape during the internal party probe.

"For those claiming legacy of colonialism was ONLY negative, think of our independent judiciary, transport infrastructure, piped water," she wrote on Twitter last month.

Disciplinary proceedings

DA leader Mmusi Maimane said at a press briefing in Cape Town that disciplinary proceedings had began against Ms Zille, but that she would not be suspended during the investigation.

"Our party has always stood for the principle of freedom of speech. This case is not about freedom of speech. Our party has stood for South Africans from all walks of life," he said.

"People can express a view but does that view do damage or harm to the interests of the organisation, which is what this is."

Credible alternative

DA, which won 22 per cent of the vote in 2014's General Election, has been gaining popularity as it tries to shed its image as a "white" party. But efforts to broaden its appeal among black voters have been bruised by social media scandals, and the party has struggled to present itself as a credible alternative to the ruling African National Congress (ANC).

"For Democratic Alliance black members, uncertainty remains on where the party stands on racism and on the treatment of white and powerful leaders," the ANC's Western Cape office said in a statement.

Temporary suspension

"Maimane has not shown the same passion in putting South Africans first above Helen Zille who singlehandedly put him where he is," it said.

"The DA should have suspended Helen Zille as premier."

If the DA upholds the misconduct charge against Ms Zille, sanctions could include temporary suspension, a fine of up to $3,700, community service or permanent expulsion from the party.