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Helen Zille's Apology Taken With A Pinch Of Salt On Social Media

Is it genuine? Really? 🤔
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By 

Engagement Editor, HuffPost South Africa

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MUJAHID SAFODIEN via Getty Images

Helen Zille is not going anywhere, not now.

The Western Cape premier called a press conference with Democratic Alliance (DA) leader Mmusi Maimane which caused speculation that she would resign from her position. She didn't. Instead, Zille apologised for her colonialism tweets even though she fought for months not to. After the briefing, she even told eNCA journalist Thulasizwe Simelane her view had changed.

Zille responded to a question by HuffPost SA about why she made an about-turn on this decision. She said she had reflected and a better argument to her initial thoughts had been reflected and she is committed to the agenda of the DA.

Maimane and Zille presented a united front even though the reasons Zille put forward for why she should not be suspended appeared to suggest that the two of them were divided and did not see eye-to-eye on how to move forward.

No matter how united they appeared, however, some users of social media just aren't buying it.

1.
Twitter
SA is really a joke, what now of all those who maintained that Zille was right & that the perverted discussion colo… https://t.co/LROpwKnxzJ
2.
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What is the DA hoping to achieve? #Zille https://t.co/ugMaZZtqCB
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Just wait, #HelenZille is like #DonaldTrump, she will be back on twitter soon, trolling us and the rest of South Africa.
5.
Twitter
.@MmusiMaimane and DA aren't serious: a slap on the neocolonial wrist of Helen Zille. The DA are playing games ahead of 2019. Miss chances
6.
Twitter
"Offense is taken because of the origin of the speaker" sentiment is rubbish. So #Zille apology not unconditional after all.
7.
Twitter
Your apology is not genuine. @MmusiMaimane had to drag it out. #Zille
8.
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Really......Zille that's what you call an apology.... MXM #Zille https://t.co/PF1ucTEgfJ
9.
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judging frm the awkwardness between #Zille and Mmusi in the presser, this issue hasn't been resolved and a lot is coming.
10.
Twitter
@ShanduMul They probably threatened to remove her as premier and this was the compromise. No doubt, she still belie… https://t.co/t4TsnJzQ4F
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#MmusiMaimane trying to explain why #Zille is still the WC Premier https://t.co/laxkB0owJA
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So #Zille is basically telling Maimane to keep his DA and she will keep her Western Cape. Damn Mugabe's tendencies ! https://t.co/7zdEQ0d0ld
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#Zille half hearted apology. Am i the only who heard her says she got flack coz she is white and that we just too damn sensitive?
14.
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Zille to "step down from DA decision making" but she remains Premier. We're not kids https://t.co/GY4LOuGu9m
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#Zille all for show - she will forever be DA backend class https://t.co/OFRT901wCn

Meanwhile on eNCA...

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