The comments come after Zille was quoted as saying that state capture began under former president Nelson Mandela's rule.
TimesLIVE reported she was speaking to DA members in Kempton Park when she said Mandela's "blind spot" was cadre deployment, which "set a trajectory" that was "inevitable."
Zille's comments on colonialism have repeatedly landed herself and the DA in hot water. Despite previously apologising for her comments, Zille has repeatedly defended her stance.