Independent Media columnist Eusebius McKaiser tore into Helen Zille on Twitter on Wednesday after the DA leader mocked his academic credentials. In a series of Tweets McKaiser accused Zille of embodying the "worst of whiteness" and of being a "racist". He then went on to outline his stellar intellectual and academic accomplishments.
On Tuesday McKaiser had published a long critique on IOL online - headlined "Zille showing ANC tendencies" - of the Western Cape cabinet's decision to put a halt to the provincial government's renewal of subscriptions to the Cape Times, allegedly for shoddy journalism. In a Twitter thread reacting to the piece David Bullard described McKaiser as having a "wildly inaccurate CV. Oxford degree.....yeah right?" Zille in turn asked: "Did @Eusebius doctor his degree??"
@lunchout2 @DominicFollett @ALETTAHA Did @Eusebius doctor his degree??
— Helen Zille (@helenzille) March 18, 2015
McKaiser attended Oxford University in the United Kingdom, on a Rhodes scholarship, from 2003/2004 to 2007/2008, studying towards a DPhil in Philosophy. The insinuation that he may have falsely claimed to have completed this degree provoked an outraged reaction from McKaiser. He tweeted:
No Helen Zille I don't have a doctorate. Now can we please tell voters how that fact changes the reality that you are shrill, and arrogant?
— Eusebius McKaiser (@Eusebius) March 18, 2015
And:
Helen Zille was brilliant in the early years after Tony Leon departed. Right now however she is the worst person to lead the DA further
— Eusebius McKaiser (@Eusebius) March 18, 2015
And:
If Helen Zille wants your opinion she will give it to you. And like all political bullies she attempts to use crude waspish ad hominem
— Eusebius McKaiser (@Eusebius) March 18, 2015
And:
Helen Zille represents the worst of whitness - assuming a monopoly on all issues; arrogant resistance to critique & incapable of reflecting.
— Eusebius McKaiser (@Eusebius) March 18, 2015
And:
Frankly the answer to the book I wrote - 'Could I Vote DA?' - I simple: No. Nor for as long as it has a leader who reminds me of baasskap.
— Eusebius McKaiser (@Eusebius) March 18, 2015
And:
The ANC is a GIGANTIC disappointment after twenty years of democracy. Guess what their biggest trump card is: the DA led by an Helen Zille.
— Eusebius McKaiser (@Eusebius) March 18, 2015
And:
Helen Zille thinks - like many liberal whites - that reporting the death of Steve Biko makes them immune to the vestiges of racism.
— Eusebius McKaiser (@Eusebius) March 18, 2015
And:
Well I'm afraid a liberal past doesn't meant you're incapable of less violent racism than a racist farmer. You're a variation on the them.
— Eusebius McKaiser (@Eusebius) March 18, 2015
And:
If the DA ever wants to grow it's base beyond its core then it must take the opportunity to stop Madam Zille imploding a solid brand.
— Eusebius McKaiser (@Eusebius) March 18, 2015
And:
But I don't expect to be heard clearly and calmly. You know why? Because black voters who think annoy the fuck out of Helen Zille.
— Eusebius McKaiser (@Eusebius) March 18, 2015
And:
End of critique of Zille. Now let's see what others in he DA do to reign her in. If not we have to choose between the ANC and the DA.
— Eusebius McKaiser (@Eusebius) March 18, 2015
A short while later, before posting a link to his IOL piece, McKaiser commented again:
If you missed a mini-essay I wrote that occasioned Helen Zille choosing ad hominem jibe over counter-argument kindly see link in next tweet.
— Eusebius McKaiser (@Eusebius) March 18, 2015
And then:
If you missed a mini-essay I wrote that occasioned Helen Zille choosing ad hominem jibe over counter-argument kindly see link in next tweet.
— Eusebius McKaiser (@Eusebius) March 18, 2015
A number of hours later, following a weights session in the gym, McKaiser outlined his CV to Zille in a further series of Tweets.
Ok. I'm high on gym so feel like demonstrating black excellence. And scaring white liberals again. So allow me to tell you my CV Madame.
— Eusebius McKaiser (@Eusebius) March 18, 2015
And challenged her to compete:
And let's compete Helen Zille. Black excellence vs Helen Zille. Here goes...
— Eusebius McKaiser (@Eusebius) March 18, 2015
I
In matric I was the top student at Graeme College Boys High. And one of the top in the Eastern Cape in 1996. #BlackExcellence
— Eusebius McKaiser (@Eusebius) March 18, 2015
II
I got 5 distictions out of the 6 matric subjects I sat, for: English, Afrikaans, Maths, Biology, Classical Music & History. #BlackExcellence
— Eusebius McKaiser (@Eusebius) March 18, 2015
III
I got 79% for Biology robbing me of straight As. Being competitive I was miffed. Not bad for first family member to finish. #BlackExcellence
— Eusebius McKaiser (@Eusebius) March 18, 2015
IV
I went to Rhodes Univeristy. I excelled & got my first degree with distinction in Philosophy & upper second in Legal Theory #BlackExcellence
— Eusebius McKaiser (@Eusebius) March 18, 2015
V
It didn't stop there Madam Zille. I did philosophy Honours and again graduated cum laude. Fucking cool isn't it? #BlackExcellence
— Eusebius McKaiser (@Eusebius) March 18, 2015
VI
More inspiration for poor black kids following: I then enrolled for a Master's degree, Madam: In philosophy over two years. #BlackExcellence
— Eusebius McKaiser (@Eusebius) March 18, 2015
VII
Guess what! Again I had the audacity of graduating for a third time with distiction. Distiction for course work and thesis #BlackExcellence
— Eusebius McKaiser (@Eusebius) March 18, 2015
VIII
Guess what! Again I had the audacity of graduating for a third time with distiction. Distiction for course work and thesis #BlackExcellence
— Eusebius McKaiser (@Eusebius) March 18, 2015
IX
My thesis at MA level was in moral epiatemology: a defence of moral objectivity I metaethics & skewering relativism. #BlackExcellence
— Eusebius McKaiser (@Eusebius) March 18, 2015
X
Don't worry. You won't get that. I'll explain over tea when we make up. #BlackExcellence
— Eusebius McKaiser (@Eusebius) March 18, 2015
XI
I applied and won an international Rhodes Scholarship to Oxford University. Competing without white kids' social capital. #BlackExcellence
— Eusebius McKaiser (@Eusebius) March 18, 2015
XII
The Rhodes Scholarship - apologies to my clever friends! - is arguably the toughest scholarship. I remain proud. #BlackExcellence
— Eusebius McKaiser (@Eusebius) March 18, 2015
XIII
At Oxford I came undone. Lots of that journey is chronicled in 'Searching for Sello Duiker', forthcoming. #BlackExcellence
— Eusebius McKaiser (@Eusebius) March 18, 2015
XIV
I did not graduate from Oxford. I was studying initially for a Bphil and then after an and hoc exam allowed into the Dphil. #BlackExcellence
— Eusebius McKaiser (@Eusebius) March 18, 2015
XV
I worked again on moral epistemology: My PhD topic was: Can we hold racist morally accountable for their beliefs? #BlackExcellence
— Eusebius McKaiser (@Eusebius) March 18, 2015
XVI
If a racist cannot believe voluntarily then how can I hold then morally accountable? Moral judgement assumes control. #BlackExcellence
— Eusebius McKaiser (@Eusebius) March 18, 2015
XVII
Or rather that was my intuition and the chair of moral philosophy Prof John Broome supervised me. #BlackExcellence
— Eusebius McKaiser (@Eusebius) March 18, 2015
XVIII
We made good headway. I had a draft of my account of the nature of beliefs and moral judgements applied to racism. #BlackExcellence
— Eusebius McKaiser (@Eusebius) March 18, 2015
XIX
But I did not complete it. And as fellow Oxford mates know it is a harsh place at the best of times. #BlackExcellence
— Eusebius McKaiser (@Eusebius) March 18, 2015
XX
Add in my mom's sudden passing while I was there plus anxiety attacks I packed up and came back. It was right for me. #BlackExcellence
— Eusebius McKaiser (@Eusebius) March 18, 2015
XXI
But guess what Madam Zille. I still remained cpmeptitve. I worked at McKinsey for a tar and then entered media. #BlackExcellence
— Eusebius McKaiser (@Eusebius) March 18, 2015
XXII
And to the irritation of whites like you my confidence and journey continued and still do unabated. #BlackExcellence
— Eusebius McKaiser (@Eusebius) March 18, 2015
XXIII
I'm 35, have three degrees with distiction, excellent reputation for my radio work and two bestselling books out. #BlackExcellence
— Eusebius McKaiser (@Eusebius) March 18, 2015
XIV
Final boasting, promise: I also won a national debate title and am a former world debate masters champ. #BlackExcellence
— Eusebius McKaiser (@Eusebius) March 18, 2015
XXV
As a rep of the Oxford debate union I was one of the top 20 speakers I the world. #BlackExcellence
— Eusebius McKaiser (@Eusebius) March 18, 2015
Addressing Zille directly, he then stated:
So.... let me make one thing clear to you Helen Zille and anyone with whitness imbued in them: Your hegemony ends here and right now.
— Eusebius McKaiser (@Eusebius) March 18, 2015
This string of comments attracted various reactions on Twitter. Vukani Mde a senior editor in the the Independent Media group commented:
@Eusebius She's an albatross around their neck. With every passing moment in which she remains DA leader, she's effectively trolling them
— Vukani Mde (@VukaniMde) March 18, 2015
To which Zille replied:
@VukaniMde @Eusebius What a combined melt-down. Vukani, a "journalist" who dresses in ANC regalia, and his pal from Oxford.
— Helen Zille (@helenzille) March 18, 2015
Mde hit back:
@helenzille @Eusebius Hahaha! A "leader" who has this much time for Twitter. You're a pathetic joke
— Vukani Mde (@VukaniMde) March 18, 2015
Amy Musgrave commented:
@RediTlhabi @Eusebius @helenzille @VukaniMde Eusebius has never made a false claim about his qualifications. What nonesense!
— Amy Musgrave (@AmyMusgraveous) March 18, 2015
However, Tim Flack noted:
@Eusebius @helenzille @RediTlhabi @lunchout2 youve outed yourself..yet Pan Macmillan says you told them you did?#Oops pic.twitter.com/QhvJF8x9EV
— Tim Flack (@tim_meh87) March 18, 2015
Update (20/3): See a report on Eusebius McKaiser's reply on this last point here.
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