CAPE TOWN, May 21 (Xinhua) -- Helen Zille, leader of South Africa's biggest opposition party Democratic Alliance (DA), was officially re-elected as premier of the Western Cape Province on Wednesday.
The following is a brief introduction to the leader:
Born in Johannesburg on March 9, 1951, Zille got married to Professor John Maree in 1982. They have two sons, Paul and Thomas.
Zille attended school at St. Mary's Waverley in Johannesburg. She obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg.
A journalist by profession, Zille was an anti-apartheid activist, instrumental in voicing protest to apartheid government atrocities.
Within the DA, She held key position as deputy federal chairperson and served as national party spokesperson and spokesperson for education.
From 1999 to 2004, Zille was the Western Cape Province's education MEC (Member of the Executive Council). She was a Member of Parliament from 2004 to 2006 and Mayor of Cape Town from 2006 to 2009.
Zille took over DA leadership in 2007 succeeding Tony Leon. She became premier of the Western Cape in 2009, as the only premier from the opposition.
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