Cape Town - Premier Helen Zille is on a DA fund-raising trip in San Francisco.
Zille’s spokesman, Michael Mpofu, said the premier was away on party business and left Health MEC Nomafrench Mbombo in charge as acting premier.
Zille’s DA spokeswoman, Ntomboxolo Makoba-Somdaka, confirmed the DA leader was overseas.
“The leader is abroad, currently meeting various stakeholders on behalf of the DA fund-raising in connection with the party’s preparations for the 2016 local government elections.”
An open invitation to meet Zille in San Francisco was posted on Heyevent.com.
The advert read: “Western Cape Premier, Helen Zille, will be in San Francisco on Tuesday, the 31st of March, 2015. Stephen Suzman and I are arranging a benefit for her at the home of John Newmeyer, at 2004 Gough Street, San Francisco. There is no set amount for a donation, and I would welcome all of you. Please forward this invite to as many people as you can. Please RSVP on this invite and also at [email protected]”.
Zille has been relatively quiet on social media, her latest tweets mostly asked for help with her hotel wi-fi. Zille tweeted on Wednesday: “Can anyone tell me why, on a hotel wi-fi, I can receive e-mails, but can’t send them? What is a 550 Administrative prohibition? How to fix it?”
South Africans living in San Francisco have been commenting on Facebook about Zille’s visit to the US.
Mano G Thanos @ManoThanos posted a picture of him and the premier on Facebook on Wednesday after the event.
“Eish this was a super fantastic event!! How special it was to be in the same room with Helen Zille. I pinched myself!! Helen was ever so friendly and sociable and mingled with the very full crowd of San Francisco Bay Area Saffas, chatting away. She was one of the guests, unpretentious and real. This was a real treat for us Bay Area Saffas. We met a very special lady tonight.”
Prior to the event he posted: “I am very honoured to be chosen as the caterer to the DA – Helen Zille event tomorrow in San Francisco. Here are my Blerrie Lekker Melkterts for the event. Methinks Helen Zille might have a sweet tooth smile.”