DA leader Helen Zille to step down
JOBURG – Zille intends to complete her second term as Premier of the Western Cape for which she was elected in May last year.
Democratic Alliance leader Hellen Zille has announced she will be stepping down as the party’s leader.
“I believe every political party needs renewal and fresh blood after a decade, no matter how well the incumbent team has performed,” Zille said in a statement.
Zille added that making this decision took a lot of critical thinking. She said although she believed May 2015 may be slightly too early, the greater risk is that May 2017 may be slightly too late saying, “I would rather err on the side of being ahead of my time.”
However, she intends to complete her second term as Premier of the Western Cape for which she was elected in May last year.
This term is due to end in mid-2019.
Zille added the overriding reason has been what she believes are the interests of the DA.
Speaking about her successor, Zille said, “An advantage of my late decision is that the campaign that will determine the DA’s next leader will be short and sharp, given that our elective Congress is four weeks away…”.
Chairperson of DA Federal Council –and also Shadow Minister of Correctional Services – James Selfe said in a statement Zille has delivered on the promises she made on 6 May 2007 when she was elected to lead the DA.
According to Selfe, Zille had pledged to build the opposition, govern effectively, grow the party and make it more diverse.
“In the last eight years, the DA has grown from 12 per cent of the national vote to nearly 23 per cent – from 1.9 million votes to just over 4 million, an unprecedented growth of 33.7 per cent. This is arguably Helen’s greatest legacy of all.”
According to Ward 87 councillor Amanda Forsythe, Zille’s are big shoes to fill.
“It is not easy to see her go but we are grateful for the very high standards she has set and we know that she expects us to not only meet those standards, but to exceed them,” she said.
Kelland resident and DA Chief Whip for the Caucus in Johannesburg Graham de Kock said this step shows that Zille is a great leader.
“It also shows the DA is committed to changing what it needs to and bringing together what we believe in.”
ANC spokesperson Khusela Sangoni refused to comment on the matter.
“We don’t comment on internal issues of another party,” she said.
What are your thoughts on Zille’s decision to step down?
