Get out of office, Helen Zille, and let the process take place

By Rudzani Floyd Musekwa

South Africa, bless her; she’s got so much sense of humour. No wonder the likes of Pieter Dirk Uys and Trevor Noah call her home. No day is ever like the last one. Different, all the time. If it’s not hot former model Jessica Leandra dos Santos and some perverted black dude at a spar then it’s the likes of Nceba Faku talking about race and racism. Like really now. And who can forget the former number one, Frederick Willem de Klerk’s now infamous stance on apartheid with Christiane Amanpour?

Anyways, enough about the former model, de Klerk or the dude who once wanted The Herald to go into smoke. The week’s most important story (just until tomorrow, or before end of day anyway) is the furore between Western Cape Premier Helen Zille and the findings by Public Protector Thuli Madonsela. The hated Madonsela, according to a mainstream Sunday paper found that Helen Zille’s DA and advertising agency TBWA Hunt Lascaris had been involved in some dodgy (at least legally) awarding of a communications tender. When it initially came out that there may be some irregularities the former Mayor of Cape Town said that she’d vacate office if there was something untoward about the awarding of such a tender.

That was a very brave statement by the hoarse voiced leader of the official opposition party, and very honourable at it. Then, Zille epitomised everything that this country needs from the powerful: brave leaders who stand for what’s good and against everything that’s detestable. What’s surprising however is Zille’s about turn and the futile defence as to what the facts really are, but unfortunately the Public Protector’s provisional report is damning. Now this is hypocritical in the worst form because Zille and most in her party are usually the first to condemn those in power whose integrity is in question. The first thing that Zille would have said had it been a member of the ruling party in this case would have been that the said member step out of office until the matter is finalised.

What is so difficult for Zille to do the same in this instance? Is it only wrong when the dirt is coming from the other side of the fence and not where the Premier is? I am not in any way saying that Zille must vacate office for good, but at least until this matter has been put to rest. Come on madam Zille, do the right thing and see how respectful we’ll still remain. After all you are the one who advocates for exactly that, am I wrong? Mrs Zille is an incredible leader that our maturing democracy needs her from where she is, but having said that we also need her to lead by example and not in any way to contradict herself. She said something with the cameras clicking to millions of South Africans, and now she must do as she promised.

She was applauded for that, and now it’s time to act and get the second applause. Zille will be the first to know that this gives the ruling party an opportunity to call her all sorts of names from liar to hypocrite, and who can blame them when it was on record what the Premier said about this very matter? The last thing the Premier needs to do is give the ruling party any ammunition against her where matters like these are concerned. The Premier is already under fire from the statements she has made about this province’s children who go seeking education in the Western Cape, and that means that the majority of the voters are basically watching her every move and action. Zille has got a lot to lose from this uncertainty than she has to gain. The more defensive she becomes the more it will look like indeed there’s something to hide. Zille must simply step out of her office; cooperate with the public protector as she clears her name.

I and the rest of South Africa will have the greatest respect for her if only she did the most honourable thing and stepped down, If only for the whole dark cloud hanging over her party’s integrity to be cleared.

Musekwa is a freelance writer based in Grahamstown. He writes in his personal capacity. He is a regular voter but has never been a member of any political party (yet