Cape Town - Western Cape Premier Helen Zille was on Tuesday called out for "lying" about when exactly former Democratic Alliance youth leader Mbali Ntuli was charged for breaching the party’s social media policy.
Ntuli on Twitter refuted the premier’s claims that the former youth leader had been charged long before Zille for “liking” a Facebook post calling Zille a racist.
Ntuli was charged on May 12 following a complaint laid by DA Western Cape leader and Human Settlements MEC Bonginkosi Madikizela.
This after the party’s investigation report by DA’s member of Federal Legal Council (FLC) Alan McLoughlin finding there was no evidence to support an allegation that Ntuli’s actions “publicly opposed the party's principles or repeatedly opposed published party policies”.
The drama began when a Twitter user questioned why Ntuli was being charged so quickly while Zille was yet to appear before a disciplinary committee over her controversial colonialism tweets.
Zille was charged after she posted a series of tweets last month in which she suggested that not every aspect of the legacy of colonialism was bad.
The comments were widely condemned and resulted in disciplinary proceedings being instituted against her.
Zille responded to the question, explaining that the delay was due to the fact that Ntuli had been charged way before charges were brought against her (Zille).
She then told the user to get his “facts before jumping to false conclusions”.
@Our_DA @MmusiMaimane Why has @mbalimcdust been charged immediately while we are still waiting for @helenzille to appear before DC months later? cc @Makashule
— Lokothwayo (@LoksDhlamini) May 16, 2017
@loksdhl @Our_DA @MmusiMaimane @mbalimcdust @Makashule MBALI was charged LONG before me. Pls get yr facts b4 jumping to false conclusions.
— Helen Zille (@helenzille) May 16, 2017
Soon afterwards, Ntuli responded to Zille’s claim, denying this was the case as she was only charged on Friday (May 12).
No I wasn't Helen. I was charged on Friday. https://t.co/2CqLZogjGi
— Mbali Ntuli (@mbalimcdust) May 16, 2017
A war of words ensued, with Zille hitting back and saying that she had enquired and was told that the complaint against Ntuli had been laid months before.
@mbalimcdust I enquired and was informed that a complaint was laid months ago. If DA only charged you on Friday, they waited much longer than with me.
— Helen Zille (@helenzille) May 16, 2017
This drew a slew of comments, with users slamming Zille for lying and “playing around with words".
Users told the two leaders to stop squabbling in public, saying that this spat was costing the party its voters ahead of 2019.
Other users said the latest revelation only proved that Zille was still leading the party behind the scenes and that Maimane was merely a stooge.
@MandlaMkhize @helenzille @loksdhl @Our_DA @MmusiMaimane @mbalimcdust @Makashule Issa lie
— Habana_B (@Ultimate_Critiq) May 16, 2017
@helenzille @loksdhl @Our_DA @MmusiMaimane @mbalimcdust @Makashule I thought you had settled on babies, blossoms and bokke. Stop destroying the DA. Move on. I vote they fire you now!!!!
— Doug Reid (@Slamdougsa) May 16, 2017
@helenzille @loksdhl @Our_DA @MmusiMaimane @mbalimcdust @Makashule It is obvious now that you are still leading DA from behind, Mmusi is just a front stooge. You have long wanted to deal with Mbali
— BringBackOurLand (@SbuSheshani) May 16, 2017
@helenzille@loksdhl @Our_DA @MmusiMaimane @mbalimcdust @Makashule DA is Kissing good bye black electorate. Mwa mwa mwa
— RasKham (@KhameliP) May 16, 2017
@helenzille @loksdhl @Our_DA @MmusiMaimane @mbalimcdust @Makashule Can we please take this issue off social media. Do you enjoy playing into ANC's hands? Order please! @MmusiMaimane @JAMESSELFE3
— Ngwato M. Thobejane (@TsipaA) May 16, 2017
@helenzille @loksdhl @Our_DA @MmusiMaimane @mbalimcdust @Makashule So Helen, u have messed up "facts" about your own case. Your entitlement mentally to preferential treatment is on steroids. Why the lies?
— Africa Yearning (@africa_yearning) May 16, 2017