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