Is Helen Zille South Africa's 'parallel president'?

DW (English)

Helen Zille is the most powerful white woman in African politics. The chairperson of South Africa's Democratic Alliance party is also a lightning rod for controversy.

Transcript

00:00Helen Zile, the most powerful woman in African politics.

00:06In the complex landscape of South Africa's new Government of National Unity, GNU, Democratic

00:12Alliance DHA, a woman Helen Zile is sparking intense debate.

00:17Opinions on the woman with a political trajectory that has been nothing short of intriguing

00:23are divided.

00:25Zile was born in Johannesburg in 1951 as the daughter of German immigrants who fled

00:30a Nazi persecution.

00:32She started out as a journalist, exposing apartheid atrocities such as the murder of

00:37activist Steve Biko in the late 1970s.

00:41In the decade that followed, she worked for anti-apartheid organizations.

00:46Zile entered politics after the fall of the apartheid.

00:50After serving as the mayor of Cape Town for three years, she spent a decade as the premier

00:55of the western Cape province.

00:58After the African National Congress ANC and the DA entered into a coalition government

01:03in 2024, Zile was no longer an opposition politician.

01:08Analysts see her as a formidable force in South African politics.

01:14But why is she such a polarizing figure?

01:18Zile is known for her provocative statements and tweets about colonialism, race relations

01:24and political opponents.

01:26South Africans are divided on the veteran politician.

01:30Some dismiss her as a torn-deaf, ignorant, of lasting impact of apartheid and blatantly

01:36racist.

01:38Others argue that she is a voice of reason in a politically charged environment, a defender

01:43of liberal values, efficient government and intolerant of corruption.

01:48ANC Chair Gwende Mantashe recently accused Zile of acting as a parallel president in

01:55the GNU, a claim she vehemently denies.

02:00Her role in negotiating the GNU demonstrates her political acumen.

02:04It also shows the delicate balance a politician of Zile's caliber must maintain between party

02:10interests and national unity.

02:13Love her or loose her, Helen Zile is doing her part in shaping South African politics.

Category

Transcript

Recommended