DA says no legal advice sought on Helen Zille's eligibility to run for top job

07 October 2019 - 12:47

By ZINGISA MVUMVU

The Democratic Alliance on Monday poured cold water on reports that the party was seeking legal opinion about Helen Zille's eligibility to contest for the position of federal council chair left vacant by James Selfe.

This after Business Day reported on Monday that the party's decision last year to bar Zille from all party structures, following her controversial tweets about colonialism, could disqualify her. Zille threw her name into the hat last week for the influential position.

According to the publication, a source with direct knowledge about the matter revealed that the DA was seeking legal opinion to establish how the settlement Zille reached in 2018, barring her from leadership structures, would affect her candidature for the chairperson position.

Zille will be going head to head with Athol Trollip, Thomas Walters and Mike Waters to replace Selfe.

The DA's presiding officer of the federal council elections, Desiree van der Walt, on Monday said all candidates, including Zille, were eligible to contest for the position.

"The Democratic Alliance has taken note of incorrect reports which state that the party is seeking a legal opinion on the eligibility of one of the candidates standing for the position of federal council chairperson," said Van der Walt.

"We wish to dismiss this notion. As the presiding officer, I am satisfied that all those who have been nominated have been fully vetted and meet the criteria to stand ...

"In this light, we wish to remind all the candidates and their campaign teams of the rules of engagement, which preclude candidates from negative campaigning."