Helen Zille

The Honourable
 Helen Zille MPL
Helen Zille – Premier of the Western Cape Province
Premier of the Western Cape
Incumbent
Assumed office 
6 May 2009
Preceded by Lynne Brown
Incumbent
Assumed office 
6 May 2007
Preceded by Tony Leon
31st Mayor of Cape Town
In office
15 March 2006 – 30 April 2009
Preceded by Nomaindia Mfeketo
Succeeded by Dan Plato
Born 9 March 1951 (1951-03-09) (age 59)
Hillbrow, Johannesburg, Transvaal Province, Union of South Africa
Birth name Otta Helene Zille
Nationality South African
Political party Democratic Alliance
Other political
affiliations		 Democratic Party
Spouse(s) Johann Maree
Children Paul Maree
Thomas Maree
Alma mater University of the Witwatersrand
Profession Journalist, Politician
Religion Protestant
Website [1]

Helen Zille (legal name Otta Helene Maree née Zille; born 9 March 1951) is the Premier of the Western Cape[1], a member of the Western Cape Provincial Parliament,[2] leader of South Africa's opposition Democratic Alliance political party, and a former Mayor of Cape Town.

Zille is a former journalist and anti-apartheid activist,[3][4][5] and famously exposed the truth behind the death of Black Consciousness leader Steve Biko while working for the Rand Daily Mail in the late 1970s.[6] She also worked with the Black Sash and other pro-democracy groups during the 1980s.[7] In the political arena, Zille has worked in all three tiers of government—as the Western Cape province's education MEC (1999–2004), as a Member of Parliament (2004–2006), as Mayor of Cape Town (2006–2009), and as Premier of the Western Cape (2009–present).

Zille's work as mayor, and in particular her successes in tackling crime, drug abuse and unemployment in Cape Town, led to her selection as World Mayor of the Year in 2008 - from a field of 820 candidates.[8][9] She was also chosen as Newsmaker of the year 2006 by the National Press Club in July 2007, and is a former finalist in the South African Woman of the Year Award.[10] Zille speaks English, Afrikaans, and Xhosa as well as German, the language of her parents.[11]

Contents

Early life and career

Early years, education and family

Helen Zille was born in Johannesburg, the eldest child of parents who separately left Germany in the 1930s to avoid Nazi persecution (her maternal grandfather and paternal grandmother were Jewish). Her father's uncle was the artist Heinrich Zille. She was educated at Johannesburg's St Mary's School, Waverley and the University of the Witwatersrand, where she obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree.

She married Professor Johann Maree in 1982, and they have two sons, Paul (born in 1984) and Thomas (1989). She is a member of the Rondebosch United Church in Cape Town.[12]

Political journalism

The Rand Daily Mail story, authored by Zille, that exposed the cover-up of anti-apartheid activist Steve Biko's death in police custody.

Zille began her career as a political correspondent for the Rand Daily Mail in 1974.[13] During September 1977, Minister of Justice and the Police J.T. Kruger announced that anti-apartheid activist Steve Biko had died in prison as the result of an extended hunger strike. Zille and her editor Allister Sparks were convinced Kruger's story was a cover-up, and Zille obtained concrete proof of this after tracking down and interviewing various doctors involved in the case.[6]

The Rand Daily Mail's lead story, headlined "No sign of hunger strike - Biko doctors", sent shockwaves through South Africa, and Kruger immediately threatened to ban the paper, while Zille received death threats.[6] Zille and Sparks were represented at the subsequent quasi-judicial Press Council by leading defence lawyer Sydney Kentridge, but the two were nonetheless found guilty of "tendentious reporting", and the paper was forced to issue a "correction". Kentridge later helped confirm the accuracy of Zille's account when he represented the Biko family at the inquest into his death. That inquest found Biko's death had been the result of a serious head injury, but failed to find any individual responsible.[14]

Zille resigned from the Rand Daily Mail along with editor Allister Sparks, after the paper's owner, Anglo American, demanded that Sparks tone down the paper's equal rights rhetoric.[15]

Anti-apartheid movement

Zille was heavily involved in the Black Sash movement during the 1980s. She served on the regional and national executives of the organisation, and was also vice-chair of the End Conscription Campaign in the Western Cape. During this time she was arrested for being in a "group area" without a permit, and received a suspended prison sentence. Zille and her husband later offered their home as a safe house for political activists during the 1986 State of Emergency, and she was temporarily forced into hiding with their two-year-old son.[7] She has known veteran Anti-Apartheid politician Harry Schwarz since she was a child.

Zille was also actively involved in the South Africa Beyond Apartheid Project and the Cape Town Peace Committee. She later gathered evidence for the Goldstone Commission which investigated attempts to destabilise the Western Cape before the elections in 1994.

Education policy work

Zille formed a public policy consultancy in 1989 and in 1993 she was offered the position of Director of Development and Public Affairs at the University of Cape Town. During this time Zille also chaired the governing body of Grove Primary School, and in 1996 led a successful challenge against government policy limiting governing bodies' powers to appoint staff.[16]

Zille was then invited by the then Democratic Party to write a draft policy for Education in the Western Cape. In 1999 she became a Member of the Western Cape Provincial Legislature, and was appointed MEC for Education.[17]

In 2004 Zille became a Member of Parliament with the Democratic Alliance (DA). Within the DA she rose to the level of deputy federal chairperson and served as national party spokesperson and spokesperson for education.

Mayoralty

2006 municipal elections and aftermath

In the 2006 municipal elections, the DA became the single largest party in Cape Town with 42% of the vote, ahead of the African National Congress (ANC). Zille was elected mayor by 106 votes to 103 on 15 March 2006, after the DA obtained the support of several smaller parties.

After assuming office, Zille's first major test of strength involved the decision by her multi-party government to revoke the appointment of the Cape Town City Manager, Wallace Mgoqi, whose term of appointment had been controversially extended by the outgoing ANC executive mayor, Nomaindia Mfeketo.[18] Zille's decision was upheld by the High Court which ruled that the extension of Mgoqi's appointment by the previous mayor had been unlawful.

Zille has faced considerable opposition and confrontation with the ANC. In September 2006, the provincial ANC MEC Richard Dyantyi, announced he planned to replace the city's political system. Dyantyi wanted to impose an executive committee system, changing the mayoral committee system. The move would have resulted in Zille being stripped of her executive mayoral powers and her power considerably reduced.

Under this policy, the winning party would not be able to assign every one of the ten seats — rather these would be allocated on a proportional representation basis.[19] The matter was later resolved, with Dyanti and Zille settling on the terms of retaining the current mayoral system whilst the ANC was provided with two additional sub-committees in areas of the city controlled by the ANC.[20]

Issues

Zille's commitments as mayor included Cape Town's role as a designated host city for the 2010 World Cup, as well as the construction and financing of the Cape Town Stadium, which hosted 8 FIFA World Cup football matches in 2010[21].

A particular concern of Zille was the problem of drug abuse in Cape Town, particularly crystal methamphetamine (tik) abuse. She called for the promotion of drug rehabilitation centres and further funding from the government to battle drug abuse, and met with local communities to discuss the issue.[22]

Zille objected to plans to incorporate the metro police into the broader police service, arguing that such a move would remove considerable power from local government and vest more control in the hands of the National Police Commissioner, Jackie Selebi.[23]

Achievements

Economic growth and employment

As mayor, Zille presided over rapid growth and development in the City of Cape Town. Gross geographic product (GGP) increased by over 12% - from R116.6 billion in 2005 under the ANC, to R130.77 billion in 2007 - two years into her tenure. During this time unemployment also declined from 20.7% to 17.9%.[24]

Under Zille, the city's debt was also cut by nearly R1 billion, which allowed capital for service delivery to be increased by 15%.[24]

Crime and urban renewal

Crime declined by 90% in the city's CBD over a period of five years, which Zille attributed to collaboration between the police service, metro police and the Cape Town Partnership.[25]

Housing and service delivery

Though provincial rather than local government is tasked with housing delivery, Zille claimed that her municipality's efforts to reform housing lists and improve verification processes also allowed housing delivery to be increased from 3000 units per annum under the ANC, to 7000 units per annum between 2006 and 2008 under her administration as mayor.[24]

In an article entitled "The ANC is pro-poverty not pro-poor" published shortly before the 2009 general election, Zille pointed out that under the ANC administration no budget allocation existed for upgrading informal settlements, while in 2007 her own administration set up a dedicated budget for provision of water, electricity and sanitation. In addition to maintaining existing water and electricity subsidies, Zille also raised the subsidies on the indigent database, and ensured that electricity was supplied to informal settlements that Eskom refused to electrify, such as Happy Valley and Site B Khayelitsha.[26]

DA Leader

Election

On 15 March 2007, Zille declared herself a candidate to succeed outgoing leader of the Democratic Alliance Tony Leon. A favourite from the start, with backing from the Western Cape, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, Northern Cape, the Free State and even the Eastern Cape (regarded during much of the build-up as the stronghold of main rival Athol Trollip),[27] she was elected as the new leader by a large majority on 6 May 2007. She indicated that she would lead the party from outside Parliament, while continuing in her position as executive mayor of Cape Town.

Issues

Since becoming leader of the Democratic Alliance, Zille has challenged the ruling government on a number of issues.

Crime

Of particular concern to Zille was the government's response[28] to alarming crime statistics released in July 2007. She has accused the government of rewarding criminals by placing individuals convicted of serious crimes high up on their national parliamentary lists.[29]. Zille has said that the DA would reinstate child protection units, the South African Narcotics Bureau and the Scorpions unit, all of which have been disbanded.[30]

In August 2008, Zille announced proposals to boost the size of the police force to 250 000, employ an additional 30 000 detectives, improve detention programmes and use of information technology, and radically overhaul the justice system. She also said the party's comprehensive new crime plan would include provisions for a Victims of Crime Fund.[31]

Health

Zille has warned against the controversial National Health Amendment Bill, legislation allowing greater state intervention in private health care. She has warned that the state will destroy the system, that is rated as the fifth best of its kind in the world. She outlined the possibility that the Bill could drive away thousands of skilled medical professionals. Together with her political party, she proposed an alternative health plan, for the privatisation of state healthcare.[32][33]

Judicial independence

As DA leader, Zille has also frequently questioned judicial independence in South Africa, in light of the alleged behaviour of the Cape judge president John Hlophe in trying to influence the Constitutional Court judges to rule in favour of ANC president Jacob Zuma. She also cited racism directed towards those in the judiciary, and has criticised the perceived double standards vocally:

“ When it comes to black judges, the ANC’s subtext is different. There is an expectation that, as beneficiaries of transformation, black judges will put the ANC first. If they do not, they risk provoking the ire of the party leadership.[34] ”

On Hlophe she said:

“ [He] is the epitome of a judge who is ’in consonance’ with the ruling party. He behaves like an ANC deployee, he is tainted by shady dealings and he is not afraid to play the race card when he needs to.[35] ”

Zimbabwe

Zille has also publicly denounced the Zimbabwean regime, calling for President Thabo Mbeki to abandon his 'quiet diplomacy' policy and take a tougher stance towards the Zimbabwean president, Robert Mugabe. She has called for the South African president to publicly acknowledge that the Mugabe regime in Zimbabwe is illegal and illegitimate; to sever all formal diplomatic ties with Zimbabwe and withdraw all diplomatic representatives; to impose smart sanctions on the Zanu-PF elite, including travel bans to South Africa and the freezing of all South African assets linked to Mugabe and Zanu-PF; and to lobby for the suspension of Zimbabwe from the United Nations, the African Union and the South African Development Community.[36]

Political debate

In June 2008, she challenged the president of the ANC and the 2009 presidential candidate, Jacob Zuma to a public debate on ten key issues such as the arms deal, disbanding of the Scorpions, the situation in Zimbabwe, HIV/Aids and labour legislation.[37][38] Zuma has since declined to participate. She has since requested a public debate again:

“ Zuma said earlier in the year that he was willing to debate anything, with anyone, at any time. Yet, he ignored my challenge for a debate on the future of the Scorpions and he is refusing to debate me now.[39][40] ”

Campaign against drug and alcohol abuse

Eight members of a group called the People's Anti-Drug and Liquor Action Committee (PADLAC) were arrested on Sunday 9 September 2007 outside the Mitchell's Plain police station. Zille was then arrested when she visited the police station to investigate. The group had been distributing pamphlets in the campaign against the abuse of alcohol and drugs in Cape Town. Police have alleged that she supports vigilante groups opposed to drug abuse. She appeared in the Mitchell's Plain Magistrates Court later that week for contravening the Regulation of Gatherings Act. Zille is expected to sue the Minister of Police for wrongful arrest.[41] On Tuesday 11 September 2007 Zille appeared briefly before the Mitchell's Plain Magistrates Court together with a group of ten persons who had been arrested with her.[42]

On Sunday 30 September 2007 it was reported that senior intelligence sources, who were unhappy with the ANC's plans to subvert state institutions to do ANC bidding, had leaked information to Zille that operatives with weapons were infiltrating PADLAC with the ultimate objective of bringing down the leader of the opposition.[43] On October 23, 2007, Zille was acquitted of all charges brought before the Mitchell's Plain Magistrates Court on the grounds that the prosecution's case against her and nine other defendants did not stand a chance of succeeding. Zille has reiterated her intention to sue the South African Police Services (SAPS) branch in the Western Cape for wrongful arrest.[44]

On March 8, 2008], Helen Zille took her anti-drugs campaign to Johannesburg, leading a protest march. Marchers wore DA t-shirts, bearing the message No to drugs and save our children.[45]

United Nations

In April 2008, Zille was asked to address the UN in New York on population and development, offering her experience and lessons as mayor of Cape Town.[46]

World Mayor award

Zille was nominated as one of 820 world mayors and was winner of the 2008 World Mayor award in October 2008.[47]

“ Helen Zille is a passionate and very hard-working mayor who has stood up to enormous bullying to push for improved service delivery in her city. — www.worldmayor.com ”

There was controversy when the ruling ANC used its majority in the National Assembly to block (without notice) a motion by the Democratic Alliance acknowledging Zille's achievement in winning the 2008 World Mayor award.[48]

Premier of the Western Cape

2009 election

The 2009 general elections presented Zille with her first major electoral contest as leader of the DA. She was selected as candidate for Premier of the Western Cape, and her party succeeded in winning a 51.23 percent of the province's vote. Zille was installed as Premier, and replaced as mayor by Dan Plato. Nationally, the DA gained significant ground as official opposition, winning 16.66 percent of the vote, and increasing its tally of seats in both houses of Parliament to 77.

Row with Jacob Zuma

In May 2009, shortly after being elected Premier, Zille wrote a letter to the Cape Argus newspaper that was accidentally copied by her spokesperson to the left-wing Sowetan newspaper.[49] Responding to criticism from gender lobby groups and the ANC over her all-male provincial cabinet, Zille stated in the letter that the ANC had never even been led by a woman, and that its leaders set bad examples on gender issues. She cited South African President Jacob Zuma's "deeply sexist views", accused him of being a "womaniser", and condemned him for putting "all his wives at risk of contracting HIV" by having unprotected sex with an HIV positive woman. Zuma, a polygamist, admitted in his rape trial that he had known that the woman with whom he had had sex was HIV positive.[50]

Zille's condemnation of Zuma's behaviour was then used by the Sowetan as the basis of a front page story entitled "Zuma an AIDS risk". The paper stated that Zille had "launched an extraordinary new attack" on Zuma.[51] This heralded a wave of attacks on Zille from both the ANC and a number of its left-wing alliance partners. The ANC Youth League claimed Zille was racist, and that her all-male cabinet consisted of "boyfriends and concubines so that she can continue to sleep around with them". The claim, made without substantiation, drew the ire of the DA, who are in the process of consulting their lawyers over a possible defamation suit.[52] The Umkhonto we Sizwe Military Veterans Association restated the Youth League's sex claims, and warned it would launch "a political programme aimed at rendering the Western Cape ungovernable".[53] The ANC also criticised Zille, but distanced itself from the remarks of its Youth League, stating that they were "deeply embarrassing".[54] In response, Zille claimed that the Sowetan and other publications had manufactured the row, and given off the impression that both sides had been spoiling for a fight, even though she had done nothing more than write a factual letter to a newspaper. She also claimed that the whole row exemplified South Africa's warped approach to gender issues:

“ [T]he (male) gender commissioner has remained silent about the extreme sexism of the ANC Youth League and the Umkhonto we Sizwe War Veterans Association that both accused me of appointing men to my Cabinet in return for sexual favours. Contrast the commissioner's silence on this issue with his vocal threats to take me to court to impose quotas on the Western Cape Cabinet. His obsession with quotas is actually a useful diversion from the real issues that oppress women in South Africa.

Have you ever heard the gender commissioner challenge the assumption, still held by millions of South African men, that multiple unprotected sexual encounters are their right? This is the worst manifestation of South African patriarchy, and it is encouraged by the behaviour of some leaders. It is also the main reason why we cannot bring the AIDS pandemic under control and why women bear the greatest burden of this disease. I will keep making these points no matter how much outrage it elicits. Denial and political correctness are far easier than challenging deep-rooted cultural norms of sexual dominance that are the root cause of gender oppression.[55]

 ”

Land dispute

In May 2009, Zille accused the ANC of asset-stripping. She related to the transfer of 1 000 hectares of provincial land in the Western Cape to a national body. The transfer was signed off by the former premier Lynne Brown on 21 April 2009, the day before the national elections. Zille has alleged that the deal was done "secretly, in bad faith and with an ulterior motive". The ANC responded by claiming that the land deal had been publicly tabled in Parliament several times over the years and there was nothing sinister about it.[56] Zille later said that she would call for a review and rescindment of the agreement and would lodge a dispute at an intergovernmental relations meeting,[57] but the matter was resolved in January 2010, when the ANC's Minister of Human Settlements, Tokyo Sexwale, agreed to return the land to the province before the matter could be taken to court.[58]

2011 municipal elections

Shortly after securing the Premiership of the Western Cape, Zille mentioned that her party's preparations for the 2011 local government elections would begin immediately. Following its success in Cape Town, the Democratic Alliance aims to lead a multi-party coalition to victory in other cities in the country, including Pretoria, Johannesburg, Port Elizabeth and Ekurhuleni.

References

  1. ↑ "Applause as Zille secures premiership". IOL. 6 May 2009. http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?art_id=nw20090506124045976C370668. Retrieved 6 May 2009. 
  2. ↑ Zille leaves mayor's post Post. 30 April 2009}}
  3. ↑ "World's best mayor Helen Zille says award a boon for democracy". http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/236972,worlds-best-mayor-helen-zille-says-award-a-boon-for-democracy.html. 
  4. ↑ "Helen Zille". http://sahistory.org.za/pages/people/bios/zille_h.htm. 
  5. ↑ "Profile: Helen Zille". BBC News. 2009-04-15. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7998328.stm. Retrieved 2010-05-04. 
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 "Steve Biko's legacy lives on - Zille". http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=6&art_id=vn20070909111739807C780534. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 "Helen Zille (St Mary’s School 1962 to 1968)". http://www.stmarysschool.co.za/alumni/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=86&Itemid=36. 
  8. ↑ "SA mayor scoops 'world best' award". IOL. http://www.int.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=13&art_id=nw20081013183015560C642733. Retrieved 2008-10-13. 
  9. ↑ "Helen Zille, Mayor of Cape Town, wins the 2008 World Mayor Prize". http://www.citymayors.com/worldmayor/world-mayor-2008-results.html. 
  10. ↑ "Woman of the Year 2003 finalists". 30 July 2003. http://www.southafrica.info/women/womanoftheyear03.htm. Retrieved 2007-04-10. 
  11. ↑ "Helen Zille Biography". http://www.whoswhosa.co.za/Pages/profilefull.aspx?IndID=3528. 
  12. ↑ "Tutu commends Christian communicators in justice struggle". http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/7780. 
  13. ↑ "Who's Who: Mrs Helen Zille". http://www.whoswhosa.co.za/Pages/profilefull.aspx?IndID=3528. 
  14. ↑ "Steve Biko: XI - The Verdict". http://www.sahistory.org.za/pages/library-resources/online%20books/biko-no46/xi-verdict.htm. 
  15. ↑ "The Zille to weaken Zuma's grip". http://news.scotsman.com/world/The-Zille-to-weaken-.5182707.jp. 
  16. ↑ "Redeploying teachers set for revival". Dispatch. October 16, 1997. http://www.dispatch.co.za/1997/10/16/page%2019n.htm. 
  17. ↑ "Helen Zille (St Mary's School 1962 to 1968)". http://www.stmarysschool.co.za/alumni/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=86&Itemid=36. 
  18. ↑ "...the best Cape Town mayor in decades... ?". CapeInfo. April 2006. http://www.capeinfo.com/Surveys/Interviews/Helen_Zille.asp. 
  19. ↑ "Leon says Mbeki behind plan to oust Zille". SABC News. September 22, 2006. http://www.sabcnews.com/politics/the_parties/0,2172,135339,00.html. 
  20. ↑ Maclennan, Ben (November 1, 2006). "Zille keeps the reins in Cape Town". IOL. http://www.int.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=13&art_id=qw1162328763828B242. 
  21. ↑ "Matches played at The Cape Town Stadium during the FIFA 2010 football World Cup". Wikipedia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cape_Town_Stadium#Matches. 
  22. ↑ "Zille to meet with Lentegeur community". IOL. June 22, 2007. http://www.int.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=15&art_id=nw20070622143126837C328439. 
  23. ↑ Ensor, Linda (28 July 2007). "The battle for Metro cops". Business Day. http://www.businessday.co.za/Articles/TarkArticle.aspx?ID=2910746. Retrieved 2008-02-22. "According to her (Zille), Selebi was presiding over a police force that was steadily losing its ability to deliver on its mandate, and his control should not be extended." 
  24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 24.2 Zille, Helen (11 January 2009). "DA: Zille: Extract from a speech by the leader of the Democratic Alliance at Bela Bela in Limpopo (11/09/2009)". http://www.polity.org.za/article/da-zille-extract-from-a-speech-by-the-leader-of-the-democratic-alliance-at-bela-bela-in-limpopo-11092009-2009-01-11. Retrieved 26 February 2009. 
  25. ↑ Zille, Helen (8 April 2008). "Urban Governance, Lessons Learned and Challenges Ahead". http://www.capetown.gov.za/en/mayor/Documents/Mayor%20Speeches/ZILLE-04-07-SPEECH-UN_COMMISSION_ON_POPULATION_AND_DEVELOPMENT-%20RELEASED%20VERSION.pdf. 
  26. ↑ Zille, Helen. "ANC is pro-poverty not pro-poor". http://www.politicsweb.co.za/politicsweb/view/politicsweb/en/page71619?oid=117599&sn=Detail. 
  27. ↑ Majova 2007.
  28. ↑ "'Bland' government ducking the facts — Zille". IOL. July 7, 2007. http://www.int.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=15&art_id=vn20070707091152431C921713. 
  29. ↑ "Zille: ANC rewards crime". http://www.mg.co.za/article/2009-01-23-zille-anc-rewards-crime. 
  30. ↑ "Zille: Heroin easier to buy than hamburgers". http://www.mg.co.za/article/2008-03-08-zille-heroin-easier-to-buy-than-hamburgers. 
  31. ↑ "Conquering fear, commanding hope: the DA's criminal justice plan". http://www.da.org.za/?p=28. 
  32. ↑ "South Africa: Zille Says Health Bill Will Drive Skills Away". allAfrica. June 10, 2008. http://allafrica.com/stories/200806100145.html. 
  33. ↑ "Let private sector run state hospitals — DA". IOL Online. June 9, 2008. http://www.int.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=125&art_id=nw20080609123952178C266385. 
  34. ↑ Zille, Helen (13 June 2008). "ANC cultivating a 'compliant judiciary'". Moneyweb. http://www.moneyweb.co.za/mw/view/mw/en/page86?oid=210912&sn=Detail. 
  35. ↑ "Hlophe rocks Zille’s faith in judges". Sunday Times. June 13, 2008. http://www.thetimes.co.za/News/Article.aspx?id=784709. 
  36. ↑ "STATEMENT BY HELEN ZILLE". The Zimbabwean. June 24, 2008. http://www.thezimbabwean.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=13635:statement-by-helen-zille&catid=35:zimbabwe%20opinion%20and%20analysis&Itemid=64. 
  37. ↑ "Will Zuma debate against Zille?". IOL. June 20, 2008. http://www.int.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=6&art_id=vn20080620114107524C471772. 
  38. ↑ "Zille challenges Zuma to public debate". SABC. June 20, 2008. http://www.sabcnews.com/politics/the_parties/0,2172,171819,00.html. 
  39. ↑ "Zuma refuses to meet with Zille". SABC. June 25, 2008. http://www.sabcnews.com/politics/the_parties/0,2172,172097,00.html. 
  40. ↑ "Zille reminds Zuma of statement". IOL. June 25, 2008. http://www.int.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=13&art_id=nw20080626114212346C109992. 
  41. ↑ "Another apartheid era arrest for Zille". Daily Dispatch. http://www.dispatch.co.za/2007/09/10/SouthAfrica/adrug.html. Retrieved 2007-09-09. 
  42. ↑ "Zille in court". IOL. http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=6&art_id=nw20070911095031215C574934. Retrieved 2007-09-11. 
  43. ↑ "Intelligence sources unhappy with ANC plans". Sunday Times. http://www.sundaytimes.co.za/News/Article.aspx?id=574153. Retrieved 2007-09-30. 
  44. ↑ "SAfrica drops charges against opposition head Zille". Reuters. http://africa.reuters.com/wire/news/usnL23741565.html. Retrieved -2007-10-23. 
  45. ↑ "Zille leads Jo'burg anti-drugs march". Mail&Guardian. http://www.mg.co.za/articlepage.aspx?area=/breaking_news/breaking_news__national/&articleid=334191. Retrieved 2008-03-08. 
  46. ↑ "Helen Zille to address the UN". iafrica. http://iafrica.com/news/sa/642715.htm. Retrieved 2008-03-08. 
  47. ↑ "World Mayor 2008The final shortlist". World Mayor. http://www.worldmayor.com/contest_2008/world-mayor-vote.html. Retrieved 2008-06-13. 
  48. ↑ "ANC blocks motion praising Zille's world mayor award". Politicsweb. October 23, 2008. http://www.politicsweb.co.za/politicsweb/view/politicsweb/en/page71654?oid=107458&sn=Detail. 
  49. ↑ "Zille shifts blame: Premier says aide was not meant to send letter". http://www.saelections.co.za/articles/4594/zille-shifts-the-blame-premier-says-aide-was-not-meant-to-send-letter. 
  50. ↑ ""Zille in 'racist' Zuma HIV attack"". BBC News. 2009-05-12. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8045981.stm. Retrieved 2010-01-05. 
  51. ↑ Anna Majavu. "Zuma an AIDS risk". http://www.sowetan.co.za/News/Article.aspx?id=997557. 
  52. ↑ "MK veterans threaten Zille". http://www.sowetan.co.za/News/Article.aspx?id=999104. 
  53. ↑ "MK veterans threaten Zille". http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=13&art_id=nw20090513131259625C990157. 
  54. ↑ "ANC distances itself from ANCYL comments - Mantashe". http://www.politicsweb.co.za/politicsweb/view/politicsweb/en/page71654?oid=128869&sn=Detail. 
  55. ↑ "Helen Zille answers her critics". http://www.politicsweb.co.za/politicsweb/view/politicsweb/en/page71619?oid=129162&sn=Detail. 
  56. ↑ Fingers pointed in Cape land row Voice of the Cape
  57. ↑ 'Secret' ANC land deal illegal - Zille Cape Argus. 23 May 2009
  58. ↑ Cape land transfer dispute resolved Eyewitness News

External links

Political offices
Preceded by
?		 Western Cape Provincial Minister for Education
1999 – 2004		 Succeeded by
Cameron Dugmore
Preceded by
Nomaindia Mfeketo		 Mayor of Cape Town
2006 – 2009		 Succeeded by
Dan Plato
Preceded by
Lynne Brown		 Premier of the Western Cape
6 May 2009 – present		 Incumbent
Party political offices
Preceded by
Tony Leon		 Leader of the Democratic Alliance
2007 – present		 Incumbent
Current Premiers of provinces of South Africa
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EC: Noxolo Kiviet
FS: Ace Magashule
GT: Nomvula Mokonyane

KZN: Zweli Mkhize
LP: Cassel Mathale
ML: David Mabuza

NW: Thandi Modise
NC: Hazel Jenkins
WC: Helen Zille
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Premiers of the Western Cape

Kriel • Morkel • Herandien (acting) • Marais • Meyer (acting) • Schalkwyk • Ramatlakane (acting) • Rasool • Brown • Zille
Members of the Western Cape Provincial Parliament
Democratic Alliance
Botha · Bredell · Carlisle · Eloff · Esau · Fritz · Geyer · Grant · Hartnick · Labuschagne · Madikizela · Majola · Marais · Meyer · Rossouw · van Rensburg · Visser · von Brandis · Walters · Wiley · Winde · Zille
African National Congress
Beerwinkel · Brown · Hani · Jacobs · Magwaza · Mbalo · McKenzie · Ozinsky · Prins · Skwatsha · Stali · Tingwe · Uys · Witbooi
Congress of the People
Bevu · Ncedana · van Zyl
Independent Democrats
de Lille · Lentit
African Christian Democratic Party
Cupido
Mayors of Cape Town

van Breda • Dié de Waal • Inglesby • Bothwick • Graaff • Dommisse • Liberman • Baxter • Smith • Hands • Lewis • Gradner • Foster • Baxter • Bloomberg • Sonnenburg • Thompson • Honikman • Gradner • Tyers • Kreiner • Markowitz • Oliver • van der Velde • Solomons • Bantom • Hill • Marais • Morkel • Mfeketo • Zille • Plato

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Liberal-leftism in South Africa
Apartheid-era political parties and groups
South African Liberal Party · Progressive Party · Democratic Party  · Progressive Federal Party · Reform Party · Progressive Reform Party  · Independent Party · Black Sash
Post-Apartheid political parties and groups
Democratic Alliance  · South African Institute of Race Relations  · Helen Suzman Foundation  · Centre for Development and Enterprise
People before and during the apartheid era
Alan Paton  · Colin Eglin  · Harry Schwarz  · Helen Suzman  · Zach de Beer  · Denis Worrall  · Wynand Malan  · Frederik van Zyl Slabbert  · Donald Barkly Molteno  · Jan Steytler
Post-apartheid people
Tony Leon · Helen Zille
Related articles
Liberalism in South Africa