The sky is blue for me, Elon
Helen Zille. Picture: Gallo Images
Western Cape premier Helen Zille has been on a Twitter rampage of late, retweeting numerous articles that have shown support for her in the wake of her suspension from all DA-related activities due to her tweets on colonialism.
On Saturday she also shared an old meme of a man in a protest somewhere in Africa swinging a cactus next to a burning car. However, what she wrote in the tweet divided opinion on Twitter, with most reactions leaning towards mockery of the premier.
Zille’s comments in her tweet seemed somewhat confusing and contradictory, as she started off by apparently trying to say that she was angry enough right now to swing a cactus herself.
“I need one of those right now.”
But then she seemed to change tack by writing “Tragic pic. Reminds me of the devastation in Knysna.”
Man, I need one of those right now. Tragic pic. Reminds me of the devastation in Knysna. pic.twitter.com/B9Rmh3xO7Y
— Helen Zille (@helenzille) June 10, 2017
It’s unknown what any of this had to do with the fires in Knysna, aside from the fact that there was also a bit of fire in the photograph.
The circumstances are completely different though.
Zille has been tweeting about the Cape fires for days, and continues to share messages of support, especially regarding relief efforts.
However, many on Twitter saw this particular tweet as highly inappropriate and a sign that the premier may finally be losing the plot completely.
Some felt that it was a sign of senility, while others reckoned she was just deliberately trying to irritate people. Quite a few just thought it was genuinely funny, apparently understanding the joke Zille was trying to get across.
That’s if she was trying to convey a joke of some sort.
A number of followers begged her to just stop tweeting, and there were numerous requests for her to finally bow out of politics.
Please stop tweeting I beg you
— Cllr Black 🏳️🌈🇿🇦 (@Jen24135) June 10, 2017
https://twitter.com/JGKruger/status/873416301640855552
Several Twitter users made fun of her, being variously sarcastic.
We love u Makhulu….. keep scoring own goals…..
— Mandlenkosi Radebe (@MindlosRadebe) June 10, 2017
You and Zuma…same WhatsApp group…SMH!!!
— Nothulu Vukapi (@nothulu) June 10, 2017
Granny just tweet wena babes😎 bayanya laba, bano mona
— Mr Mokomane (@Ishy_Mokomane) June 10, 2017
Girl, you need to stop tweeting.
— Carly van steezy (@coco_gee) June 10, 2017
Casey Chadwick asked her why she seemed to intent on “destroying your credibility on Twitter, has Trump taught you nothing?”
Why do you keep destroying your credibility on Twitter, has trump thought you nothing?
— Casey Chadwick (@caseychadwick00) June 10, 2017
According to one user, Zille was just having some fun by deliberately trying to irritate people.
Not a HZ fan, but keep on tweeting Helen u clearing irritating some people an they foolish enough to read an reply to your tweets lol
— Ceciel (@chvitika) June 10, 2017
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