What you say is, oddly, one of the reasons why Max de Preez asks her to resign. "Just last night I was reading on social media how some of your supporters say: Helen is right, I’m also sick of apologising I’m white and that my white ancestors brought civilisation to Africa. That’s perhaps not what you’ve said, but that’s how it’s been understood by many, white and black". 

This is his strange argument: he agrees she's not racist and her colonialism comment was accurate, but she's being blamed for fueling white-black racial perceptions during a time of a "fundamental shift in SA politics". In fact, Du Preez and James, whom btw I think is a decent man, are asking her to be a martyr - even if technically she's innocent, in their view, of the 'racism' charge - for SA's fraught race relations, which they wouldn't ask of a black politician. 

James, why are you leaving the DA, really? Columbia is all well and good, but why are YOU deserting the DA in this time of need? A sinking ship?