LISTEN: Zille to challenge Public Protector’s finding on tweets
The office of Western Cape Premier Helen Zille has confirmed that she could take the Public Protector’s report into her controversial colonisation tweet from 2017 on judicial review.
Advocate Busiswe Mkhwebane released the report into Zille’s tweets on Monday.
It was one of six reports released by Mkhwebane.
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She found that Zille violated the Executive Ethics Code when she tweeted: “For those claiming the legacy of colonialism was only negative, think of our independent judiciary, transport infrastructure, piped water etc.”
Mkhwebane believes that while Zille has the right of freedom of expression as provided by the Constitution, her tweet was offensive and insensitive to the victims of apartheid and colonisation.
She said, given the negative response to Zille's tweet and her influential position, her statement was not consistent with the integrity of her office.
She has instructed the Speaker of the Western Cape Provincial Legislature to table the report before the house told hold Zille accountable within 30 working days.
Zille’s spokesperson Michael Mpofu says she has already indicated to the Public Protector that the finding is both irrational and unlawful.