The past is present: Whites must face history
Pearl Thusi. Photo: Gallo Images / Frennie Sivambu
Former DA leader and Western Cape premier Helen Zille woke up on Thursday morning and decided to share her thoughts on the “good” that colonialism did for this country.
“For those claiming legacy of colonialism was only negative, think of our independent judiciary, transport infrastructure, piped water etc,” she shared with South Africans.
She used Singapore as an example, saying it had no natural resources, and 50 years ago it was poorer than most African countries. “Now, they soar,” she said.
She has been trending on Twitter since, with fellow South Africans sharing their own thoughts on colonialism. Presenter and actor Pearl Thusi was one of those who went on a rant of her own and gave “annoying” Zille a piece of her mind.
“Helen tell your people to give our land back before you try remind us how lucky we are that our ancestors were killed for hospitals. Tsek,” she said.
https://twitter.com/PearlThusi/status/842305922408022016
Did people have to die for those pipes? Thusi asked.
She further asked her if wine farms and land would be owned by the people who do now if they hadn’t “stolen” it from the people they found there.
https://twitter.com/PearlThusi/status/842315670519967744
“Because African heritage was savage and improper- yet our land is good enough. GO TO SINGAPORE THEN.”
She has since apologised for the tweet “that may have come across as a defence of colonialism. It was not”.
Following her comments, DA leader Mmusi Maimane says he has referred Zille to the party’s disciplinary structures for investigation.
This is how Twitter has responded:
https://twitter.com/MbalulaFikile/status/842297701568020480
https://twitter.com/MbalulaFikile/status/842294210657173504
No Helen Zille, colonialism did not bring 'development' to Africa. It brought oppression, exploitation, racism, poverty, etc, etc, etc. pic.twitter.com/mz9oqp19df
— Ulrich Janse van Vuuren (@UlrichJvV) March 16, 2017
https://twitter.com/TerriStander/status/842291661917036544
Hebanna, Helen Zille wants us to appreciate buildings and piped water over land? The buildings are on our land, the land comes with water 🙄
— Thobakgale Pheladi (@bubu_pearl) March 16, 2017
Everything out of Helen Zille's mouth is consistent trash, I don't even get surprised anymore 🙄 her whole account is just spam 😒
— Nalie ❄️ (@nalie_zm) March 16, 2017
Helen Zille is the reason other provinces don't trust the DA.
— A 🌐 (@ArrieMTB) March 16, 2017
No matter how you try to spin it, sugar coat or defend it, fact remains that Helen Zille is the DA. The DA is Helen Zille.
— Thabi (@ThabiMaasdorp) March 16, 2017
Helen Zille keeps showing you her true colours and people get shocked every single time 😕
— Mologadi (@Trixx_Ray) March 16, 2017
https://twitter.com/dlakza/status/842275393252036609
Helen Zille's claim to fame is fighting apartheid judiciary to have Biko story told. How ironic that today she says it was independent?
— Xhanti Payi (@XhantiPayi) March 16, 2017
Somebody please take Helen Zille's phone from her and tell her to pic.twitter.com/dzdHgG33Le
— Cruise Queen |👑Mak_G Darasimi🐐🐐❤ (@Da_MaK_G) March 16, 2017
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