Mazibuko taking sabbatical: Zille

The Democratic Alliance's parliamentary leader Lindiwe Mazibuko is taking a year-long sabbatical to study in the US, according to a report.

"She's been offered a place in perhaps the most prestigious programme in politics anywhere, which is a year masters' in public administration at Harvard," party leader Helen Zille has told SABC news.

The programme at the prestigious US university, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, brought together the "brightest and best" to discuss governance, public policy and administration, she said.

"She's faced tremendous career growth... in the DA and... now she wants to reflect on what she's learnt," Zille said.

Mazibuko reportedly told Zille of her decision to quiet her DA job on Saturday. She had been the party's parliamentary leader for three years.