So Helen Zille is back, stronger and more powerful than ever before.
I seriously thought that she would be taking a break, soaking up the sun and allowing the DA to evolve into something new and different.
I have previously expressed my general admiration for her and her work as Premier of the Western Cape.
Prior to that, she was party leader and even Cape Town Mayor.
This weekend, she ticked all the party’s leadership boxes by getting herself elected as chairperson of the DA’s Federal Executive Council.
So not only is she back, but this now essentially makes her the big chief of all the party’s bosses, including Mmusi Maimane.
It is going to be interesting to watch what happens going forward and how these two are going to work together.
While Zille has said that she plans to “stay in her lane” and deal only with the DA’s processes and functions, she has also been critical of Maimane’s leadership in the past.
If all the rumours and conjectures are true, there will be fireworks ahead for the party.
Personally I think Zille should’ve recognised that it’s time for fresh, bold new ideas and bowed out gracefully.