Does the average hater (or voter, for that matter) really know anything about Helen Zille...?

Helen Zille - World Economic Forum on Africa 2009 (Photo credit: World Economic Forum)

I don't normally get involved in anything remotely related to politics.
Sure I know more or less who is who, I follow the news and I keep up to date with current affairs as far as possible, but I am by no means seriously clued up on the subject.

Recently though, I decided to start following Helen Zille on Twitter, as I think she has some interesting things to say.

Now in case you are not South African (or maybe you are South African, but have been living underground in a bunker since the NP lost the elections in 1994 :)), Helen Zille is the leader of the Democratic Alliance and Premier of the Western Cape here in South Africa.

Anyway, since she took charge of things in the Western Cape, the city of Cape Town has made huge steps forward in areas such as crime, health, education and service delivery.

Regardless of who you support in South Africa, the facts speak for themselves, and it is (or should be) common sense that someone who is making their city a better place for all, is someone who should generally be kept around, and someone who should be appreciated for all that they do.

It was with surprise then, when I started going through back and forth tweets, that I discovered just how much abuse this lady can take, especially after the Twitter row that erupted over the past few days...
Not gonna get into that one right now though - just Google "Helen Zille refugee"!

After reading some of the comments, I have to wonder just how much the haters actually know about this lady?
How about the average voter?
Is it the common view then, that Helen Zille is just some white lady who heads up the opposition?

Let me leave you with a few interesting facts to think about:

• Zille was an anti-apartheid activist, and famously exposed the truth behind the death of Black Consciousness leader Steve Biko while working for the Rand Daily Mail in the late 1970's;
  
  
• She worked with the Black Sash and other pro-democracy groups during the 1980's;
  
  
• As mentioned previously, her work as Cape Town mayor has achieved great success in tackling crime, drug abuse and unemployment;

Sounds like some solid ideals there, don't you think, haters?

Just saying...