Helen Zille
Chairman of the Federal Coucil of the Democratic Alliance
Name:
Otta Helene Maree
Born:
Hillbrow, Johannesburg, 1951
Birth Parents:
German
Most of Zille’s direct relatives died in Minsk, Auschwitz and Buchenau during Nazi occupied Germany according to a major research project Helen commissioned from the Yad Vashem Research Centre on a visit to Jerusalem in Israel. Zille's parents narrowly escaped in 1934 and 1939 before settling in South Africa.
Zille opposes Western Cape independence
Because the Western Cape is the most important basis to get DA candidates into a coalition with the ANC after the General Election in 2024.
Zille firmly believes in unprotected borders
"We will not chase fellow Africans out of SA. We will work with them to legalise their stay in the country."
21 March 2024, source.
Zille opposes community solidarity and safety programs
CapExit Referendum
When asked publicly, Helen has consistantly stated that she supports a referendum on Western Cape independence, but in reality, she absolutely opposes the idea and does everything in her power to obstruct and avoid a democratic, public referendum.
Multi-Party Charter
Cape Independence
Absolutely opposes the idea of an independent Western Cape. She frequently threatens supporters with civil war and society collapse, but in reality, it would simply only end her prospects to create a political union with the ANC after the General Election in May 2024.
Leaked Audio:
"I'd rather make tough demands on Cyril Ramaphosa's ANC, and force to unite under them, and go into coalition with them... that should be our aim for the next election."
Helen Zille has been planning a political union with the ANC since 2014 that will finally come to fluition after the General Election 2024 — and will last a generation.
What has Zille said about Western Cape independence?
Western Cape independence is not practically possbile.
The Burning Platform, 12 November 2020
We cannot have independence in the Western Cape without civil war.
Centre For Risk Analysis, 29 April 2021
Cape independence is frankly, not realistic politics.
Centre For Risk Analysis, 29 April 2021
We do not support secession. We love South Africa, the whole of South Africa.
BizNews, 27 September 2022
Well, it might be quite a good idea if it was feasible, but I'd like to ask you how it's going to be feasible?
Interview with Renaldo Gouws, 16 November 2020
I really cannot understand, at all, how it could happen without a civil war, and B, I cannot understand how it can be maintained and sustained.
The Burning Platform 12 November 2020
What Helen says in public:
"One thing we support them on very fully is the right to hold a referendum, and currently the premier does have the power to, theoretical power, to call a referendum, but only in terms of national legislation which does not exist, and so we are all in favour of having that national legislation tabled so that referenda can be held by provinces."
What Helen does in reality:
When the Cape Independence Advocacy Group (CIAG) formally requested a referendum in October 2023, the DA-run Provincial Government denied the request, citing that "they don't like the idea."
When asked to table referendum legislation, it was delayed by 720 days.