Johannesburg – The ANC has denounced the settlement between the DA and Western Cape Premier Helen Zille over the latter's colonialism tweets as an "unadulterated defence of white supremacy and privilege".
At a media briefing on Tuesday morning, Zille apologised "unreservedly" to South Africans who were offended by her colonialism tweets. She also apologised for her remarks made trying to justify the tweets.
DA leader Mmusi Maimane also told the media that Zille would step down from all her roles in the party which include; Federal Executive, Federal Council and Provincial Council.
"The real character of the DA will always prevail as it has in this instance," ANC spokesman Zizi Kodwa said on Tuesday.
"Zille is guilty by all accounts of blatant racism," he said.
Kodwa called the settlement "an unprincipled, hypocritical and meaningless token offered to what is hoped is a gullible public and once again unmasks the true character of the DA as a racist party, constituted of unrepentant and unreformed bigots led by a caretaker leader with no real power".
"Helen Zille is not the first leader of the DA to praise and pray for the return of apartheid colonialism and other systems which oppressed the black majority in this country," Kodwa said.
"Dianne Kohler-Barnard, Chris Roberts and many other leaders of the party are apartheid apologists and rabid racists exposed for their blatant disregard and disdain for our country’s reconciliation and nation building project."
The statement goes on to say that "there is no political will within the DA to rid the party of racism because indeed the party itself is founded on racism and the protection of white privilege".
"The DA has missed an opportunity to give effect to their now clearly meaningless statements about transformation and inclusiveness," he said.