Zille's tweet on colonialism violates Constitution - Public Protector

[Geoff.D]

Leave the PP alone ..... She is doing an excellent job in destroying her own reputation permanently. The unintended consequence of course will be the Institution she is currently working for.

 

[ponder]

https://www.iol.co.za/news/politics/da-backs-zille-blasts-public-protector-15433294

DA backs Zille, blasts Public Protector

Cape Town - The DA has sprung to Western Cape Premier Helen Zille’s defence after Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane found she must face the music over her controversial tweet regarding the benefits of colonialism.
On Monday, the party slammed Mkhwebane’s report on Zille, saying they would push for her removal from the office of the Chapter 9 body.

Delivering quarterly reports on concluded investigations, Mkhwebane said the Western Cape legislature must hold Zille to account for her tweet, which sparked public outrage last year.

Zille had tweeted: “For those claiming colonialism was only negative, think of our independent judiciary, transport infrastructure, piped water etc.”

Mkhwebane said she found Zille’s remarks to be in violation of the constitution and the executive members’ ethics code, and that she was guilty of misconduct.

“The tweet has brought back a lot of pain and suffering to victims of apartheid and colonialism in South Africa. She (Zille) celebrated oppression, exploitation, racism and poverty, which are the direct results of the legacy of colonialism.

“She (Zille) failed to act in good faith and in the best interests of good governance by making such statements. And the premier’s action did not comply with what was expected from a person holding the office of the premier of a province. She also failed to act in a manner that is consistent with the integrity of the office,” Mkhwebane added.

She said Zille had violated the principles of the constitution and divided society on racial grounds. “By undermining South Africans with her personal beliefs on colonialism, she failed to uphold her oath of office, which requires the premier to hold office with honour and dignity.”

Mkhwebane has now directed Western Cape speaker Sharna Fernandez to table the report before the legislature within 30 days, and for it to take action against Zille.

Former public protector Thuli Madonsela also found Jacob Zuma guilty of violating his oath of office and the same code of ethics in the Nkandla matter, a decision that intensified calls from opposition parties for him to step down.

Zille said she would take Mkhwebane’s report on judicial review, describing it as illegal and irrational. “The premier has not yet received the actual report outlining the reasons for this finding. However, from what has been announced on TV, the premier is likely to take this report on judicial review," her office said in a statement.

“The premier has already advised the public protector that, in her view, such a finding would be unlawful and irrational."

The DA previously compelled Zille to apologise unconditionally for the tweet, which she eventually did.

DA parliamentary chief whip John Steenhuisen on Monday also blasted Mkhwebane’s report, accusing her of being reliant on irrelevant sections of the constitution when compiling her report. Steenhuisen also said Mkhwebane did not give Zille the copy of the report before presenting it to the public.

“Neither the premier nor the party have been provided with the report, as required in terms of the public protector’s responsibilities. The excerpts that I have seen of it seem to have been once again a complete overreach by the public protector, relying on sections of the constitution which are not relevant,” Steenhuisen said.

Mkhwebane pointed out in her report that by apologising for the tweet, Zille had admitted to her misconduct. “Her apology can be interpreted as recognition of the negative impact the tweet had on the dignity of a section of the population. Although the tweet could have been made in the context of the premier’s right to freedom of expression as provided in section 16 of the constitution and in good faith

“But it was offensive and insensitive to a section of the South African population, which regarded it as reopening a lot of pain and suffering to the victims of apartheid and colonialism, particularly considering the position of influence she holds,” Mkhwebane said.

On Wednesday, the justice portfolio committee will hear the DA’s request for an inquiry into Mkhwebane’s fitness to hold office.

Said Steenhuisen: “We believe she is completely out of her depth and must vacate the Office of the Public Protector.”

Both the official opposition and the EFF have argued that Mkhwebane was unfit to hold office, due to her alleged proximity to Zuma and his allies. Recent reports by Mkhwebane have been subject to controversy and judicial review, including the Bankorp/Absa case in which she recommended that the Special Investigating Unit recover more than R1billion from Absa for an apartheid-era bailout from the SA Reserve Bank.

The Pretoria High Court set aside Mkhwebane’s remedial action and ordered her to personally pay 10% of the legal costs, following a judicial review application of the report earlier this year by the central bank, Absa and the National Treasury.

 

[ponder]

https://www.iol.co.za/capetimes/new...lle-after-protectors-scathing-report-15429075

ANC chairperson lashes Zille after Protector's scathing report

Embattled Western Cape Premier Helen Zille’s colonialism tweets belong to members of the disbanded National Party (NP), and she is an embarrassment, says ANC acting provincial chairperson Khaya Magaxa.

This followed a scathing report by Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane, who found Zille to have violated the Constitution and the integrity of her office.

Magaxa had lodged a complaint with Mkwebane’s office against Zille, charging that “she celebrated the oppression, exploitation, racism and poverty which are the direct results of the legacy of colonialism”.

Mkhwebane instructed the provincial Speaker to, within 30 days, table the report before the legislature for it to take appropriate action to hold Zille accountable.

“Although the tweet could have been made in the context of the premier’s right to freedom of expression, as provided in section 16 of the Constitution, and in good faith, it was, however, offensive and insensitive to a section of the South African population, which regarded it as reopening a lot of pain and suffering to the victims of apartheid and colonialism, particularly considering the position of influence she holds,” Mkhwebane found.

On her arrival from Singapore last year, where Zille had been on an official visit, she charged that South Africa had much to learn from the repressive city-state.

While waiting to board a plane to Cape Town, Zille had tweeted: “For those claiming legacy of colonialism was only negative, think of our independent judiciary, transport infrastructure, piped water, etc.”

A few minutes later, she tweeted again: “Would we have had a transition into specialised health care and medication without colonial influence? Just be honest, please.”

The EFF had labelled Zille a “cold-hearted racist”.

Maxaga said colonialism in the Western Cape had particularly destroyed the existence of Khoisan people and the lives of the black majority in the country.

“If one refers to any development that happened through colonialism in the Western Cape, it happened though slave labour.

‘‘Therefore if one cannot appreciate that destruction of humankind, there is something wrong with you.

‘‘If I was her, seriously married to those kind of beliefs, I would rather resign, because those sentiments belong in the past.

‘‘We will expect those kinds of sentiments emerging from white sections belongings to the National Party. Therefore to me she is an embarrassment. I will rather resign” Maxaga said.

In his complaint to the public protector, Magaxa alleged Zille had, among others, undermined South Africans with her personal beliefs on colonialism.

Provincial Speaker Sharna Fernandez said she could not respond to requests for comment yesterday as her office had not yet received Mkhwebane’s report.

Zille’s spokesperson, Michael Mpofu, said: “The premier has not received the actual report outlining the reasons for this finding.

‘‘However, from what has been announced on television, the premier is likely to take this report on judicial review.

‘‘The premier has already advised the public protector that, in her view, such a finding would be unlawful and irrational.”

However, Magaxa said: “She must use her own money when doing so. Zille was exercising her own personal views not that of the government or the DA, thus she must take personal responsibility.

“If it happens that she uses the money of the state, we will take this matter further. She must use her own funds,” said Magaxa.

 

[ponder]

Zille is gonna win this one, I just hope all costs go to the PP protector in her personal capacity.

The ANC hot air idiot you can only shake your head at.

There is no basis in law for the PP's report.

/Grabs popcorn...

 

[Vrotappel]

The EFF had labelled Zille a “cold-hearted racist”.

Rich coming from the most racist organization in the history of South Africa.

 

[Knyro]

Rich coming from the most racist organization in the history of South Africa.

In the history of South Africa? Ha! Not even close.

 

[Knyro]

LOL.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Occupation_of_Japan


Japan had perilously few things like woman's rights before the US occupied them.

Military occupation is not the same as colonialism. Also Japan was pretty much on par with the West before WW2, even the Russians got their asses handed to them by the Japanese.

Next excuse.

It is functionally exactly the same

It was a complete replacement of their societal functions. It usurped just about everything about their country.

Shows how ignorant you are about pre-WW2 Japan.

 

[ponder]

Military occupation is not the same as colonialism.

Also Japan was pretty much on par with the West before WW2, even the Russians got their asses handed to them by the Japanese.

Agreed.

Japan only really took off after WW2. https://www.nippon.com/en/in-depth/a04003/

 

[grok]

This whole thing is probably just an eye-blind to direct attention away from some other godawful behind the scenes move by Zuma. Typical commie & especially spook move, keep the public busy with something like this to fume over so they can do their voodoo in the shadows..

 

[Urist]

In one hand you have a corrupt government wasting billions of taxpayers money, keeping millions in actual poverty. http://www.sabcnews.com/sabcnews/municipalities-irregular-expenditure-up-by-75/

The Auditor-General Kimi Makwetu’s report shows that irregular expenditure in the country’s municipalities has increased from R16.2 billion to R28.3 billion, up by 75%.

He released the figures in Parliament on Wednesday.

Makwetu says the Eastern Cape is topping the list of defaulting provinces with R13.5 billion, followed by the North West and Gauteng.

He also says the Free State, Limpopo and North West municipalities have not received a single clean audit.

In the other hand you have a western cape premier, with this audit outcome for her province.

The provincial government indicated that 100% of its entities in the province received clean audit; and 71% of its municipalities, including municipal entities, received clean audits.

She says something arguably politically incorrect and hurts some feelings

Who does the public protector go after?

 

[Knyro]

Agreed.

Japan only really took off after WW2. https://www.nippon.com/en/in-depth/a04003/

Depends what you mean by "taking off"

This is Tokyo in 1935

[video=youtube;dCWxEeL9eEo]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dCWxEeL9eEo[/video]

Easily on par with any Western Capital at the time. konfab's "colonialism" was not required. At. All.

Funny how all that Western technology made it over there without colonialism.

When it "took off" it left every single Western nation in the dust aside from the United States.

 

[Urist]

[video=youtube;zhL5DCizj5c]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zhL5DCizj5c[/video]

 

[Spliffcat]

This whole thing is probably just an eye-blind to direct attention away from some other godawful behind the scenes move by Zuma. Typical commie & especially spook move, keep the public busy with something like this to fume over so they can do their voodoo in the shadows..

EXACTLY, THIS.

Malema the Twat can say what he wants the ANC and clones are the biggest racist, thieves ever.

 

[surface]

HZ is probably the only non-black leader left in DA who fought against apartheid and she should have known better not to tweet like this but I hope everyone moves on from one of her rare lapses of judgement.

 

[diesel]

Amazing with all the corruption and looting that has been happening she prioritizes investigating tweets from helen zille , clearly this woman was put in that job to protect the real criminals and its clear thats where she will stay because she is useful to the new gang in charge

 

[ProfA]

HZ is probably the only non-black leader left in DA who fought against apartheid and she should have known better not to tweet like this but I hope everyone moves on from one of her rare lapses of judgement.

rare? :crylaugh:

And people will never move on from it. Why? Because many people still believe what she said was 100% correct, valid and appropriate.

 

[Sinbad]

In the history of South Africa? Ha! Not even close.

Actually correct.
I don't recall any organisations talking about the systematic and wholesale elimination of black people.

"We haven't called for whites to be killed... yet" (Leader of the EFF)

 

[Solarion]

What the Public Protector is saying is that if you are white, you are not allowed to talk about the past in any way, shape or form.

 

[Noob-Noob]

Well its really no surprise Tokyo "Took Off", Its a well known fact Asians has a very high IQ in general.

https://iq-research.info/en/average-iq-by-country

 

[Jola]

What the Public Protector is saying is that if you are white, you are not allowed to talk about the past in any way, shape or form.

And if you are Black you can say anything racist you like (EFF), and do state capture, loot and steal with impunity (ANC).