DA leader Mmusi Maimane announced on Saturday that Western Cape Premier Helen Zille, a former party leader, has been suspended from the DA following her controversial tweets about colonialism.
Regardless of the suspension, she remains premier.
While Zille later apologised, the former DA leader was adamant her views on colonialism were misconstrued.
She added that there were many “falsehoods” in relation to the series of tweets sent out on lessons learnt from her recent visit to Singapore.
The South African Human Rights Commission initiated an investigation into the saga and provincial commissioner André Gaum said the probe was in response to several complaints from across the country.
Meanwhile, amid growing calls for a greater law enforcement presence, Zille has announced plans to divert R3 million from a provincial government project to assist in the deployment of a stabilisation unit in Lavender Hill.
Gang violence in the area forced the closure of four schools and a local clinic last week.
Zille spoke on Friday, in Child Protection Week, at a meeting between the SAPS, law enforcement agencies, the Western Cape Education Department and school principals from the Steenberg area, to discuss a “specified, detailed strategy” for the safety of children in the community.
“Though it is not the province’s mandate at all, I have taken R3 million from a provincial project to transfer to the city, so director Robbie Robberts can deploy a stabilisation unit,” Zille said.