The Economic Freedom Fighters have rejected an apology by Western Cape Premier Helen Zille for an offensive tweet about colonialism they said was “unconstitutional‚ racist and anti-black”.

The party said Zille should be removed from office for taking to Twitter to argue that “aspects of colonialism were not bad” on Thursday.

The call echoed one made earlier by the provincial African National Congress.

“We call on the DA to remove Zille from premiership following these comments as they demonstrate that she has no appreciation for our democratic dispensation‚” said EFF national spokesman Mbuyiseni Ndlozi.

“Her apology is meaningless‚ because in essence the comments on colonialism represent her true views and the company she keeps.”

Also read: The ANC calls for Zille's head: Read the full‚ no-punches-pulled statement

He said that she had apologised not because she believed her views on colonialism were wrong‚ but because her view may “hurt” others.

“It is a fact that many racist white people sit on dinner tables when black people are not there and express their cold hearted racism. This is what Helen Zille truly is; a cold hearted racist who believes that colonialism‚ which was crime against the humanity of black people‚ is not a bad thing‚” he added. — TMG Digital