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Gwede Mantashe at the IEC Results Operation Centre in Midrand on 30 May 2024.(Photo: Felix Dlangamandla) /file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/PM_0035.jpg "Results screen projectint numbers of political parties at the IEC Results Operation Centre on 30 May 2024.(Photo: Felix Dlangamandla)")
/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/ROC-Thursday-2024-4.jpg "Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) provincial head Michael Hendrickse during a media briefing at the Western Cape results centre. (Photo: Shelley Christians)")
/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/ROC-Thursday-2024-3.jpg "Angela Sobey, Action SA Western Cape Provincial Chairperson and independent candidate Zackie Achmat at the Western Cape results centre. (Photo: Shelley Christians)")
/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/6T5A0282_4da602.jpg "DA members gather around Premier Alan Winde as the results trickle in. From left: Provincial chair Jaco Landt, Dr Ivan Meyer, MEC Minister of Agriculture, Carl Pophaim, City of Cape Town councillor of housing, Tertius Simmers, DA Provincial leader, Western Cape, DA Western Cape deputy leader Geordin Hill-Lewis. (Photo: Shelley Christians)")
/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/6T5A0262_4d64a7.jpg "DA members applaud the Premier of the Western Cape Alan Winde as he arrives at the Western Cape results centre earlier on Thursday. From left: Tertius Simmers, DA Provincial leader, Western Cape Provincial chair Jaco Landt. Premier Alan Winde, Dr Ivan Meyer, Minister of Agriculture and Carl Pophaim, City of Cape Town councillor of housing. (Photo: Shelley Christians)")
/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/PM_0091.jpg "Election Observers at the IEC Results Operation Centre. Photo: Felix Dlangamandla)")
/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/PM_0085.jpg "Helen Zille at the IEC Results Operation Centre. (Photo: Felix Dlangamandla)")
/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/PM_0055.jpg "Helen Zille.(Photo: Felix Dlangamandla)")
/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/PM_0030.jpg "Gwede Mantashe at the IEC Results Operation Centre in Midrand.(Photo: Felix Dlangamandla)")
/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/PM_0007.jpg "Results screens project the voting numbers of political parties at the IEC Results Operation Centre. (Photo: Felix Dlangamandla) DM")
Can the DA please please please do the math and retire Helen Zille from its leadership for once and for all? She is costing the party more in loss of votes than she is benefitting it in the amount of donations the DA gets because of her presence in its leadership.
One of the equations in the maths is that Helen Zille, a young reporter in 1976, had the courage to find out what had happened to Steve Biko at the hands of the old Security Police. She has moral courage and guts. She's abrasive but she's a principled woman in a tough arena with a long record of progressive activism.
Although it is true that Helen Zille may "scare" off some black voters, I doubt those that are vocal about her ever had any intention of voting DA. She was unfairly branded as a racist by opportunistic opposition based on a a very biased interpretation of her views on Singapore's colonial legacy. She is truly a remarkable person and I don't doubt that her leadership and influence in the DA was instrumental in its ability to become the principled, well governed organization it is today. Very few political leaders in SA are comparable in caliber and vision. And despite the right wing mantra and propaganda, labelling her a racist cannot be further from the truth.
