Helen Zille Eyes Joburg Mayorship: “I Have Unfinished Business in the City of My Birth”

A personal history and a political crisis collide in Joburg’s mayoral race.

It seems Helen Zille, the former DA leader and Western Cape premier, isn’t quite finished with politics just yet. And this time, all roads might be leading her back to where it all began Johannesburg.

In recent interviews, Zille confirmed she’s seriously considering throwing her name into the ring for the City of Johannesburg’s top political job. The move, if it happens, could be one of the most talked-about comebacks in local government ahead of the 2026 elections.

“I grew up in Hillbrow. I love Johannesburg.”

Born in Hillbrow, with family still scattered across the city, Zille made it clear this isn’t just another political post for her — it’s personal.

“I have very deep roots in Johannesburg,” she told Newzroom Afrika. “I love the city. I grew up there, I worked there. I have unfinished business in Joburg. From that point of view, I’d be keen to roll up my sleeves and try get things done.”

That unfinished business may have something to do with the city’s increasingly chaotic state.

A crumbling city in need of direction

Johannesburg has, in recent years, become a symbol of South Africa’s urban decay from water crises and broken infrastructure to unstable coalitions that leave governance in limbo.

Zille, never one to mince her words, has repeatedly criticised the city’s political leadership, particularly the fragile coalitions that have struggled to maintain basic service delivery. Residents continue to complain about water cuts, power failures, and roads that look like obstacle courses.

“You can’t attract investment or keep people in the city when the basics don’t work,” Zille warned earlier this year.

Her potential return, then, isn’t just about sentimentality, it may be a mission to resuscitate a city in slow collapse.

DA’s Joburg challenge: too many cooks?

Zille won’t be the only one vying for the DA’s nod. According to her, around 13 people have applied for the party’s mayoral candidacy in Johannesburg. And while she hasn’t officially submitted her name yet, the decision lies with the party’s candidate selection panel.

“There’s a lot of talent in the DA,” she said. “The panel will decide who is best placed to get the job done, not me.”

Zille’s history in public office gives her an edge, though. She was mayor of Cape Town in 2006, where she led a multi-party coalition to govern the city. That experience could be valuable in Johannesburg’s similarly fragmented council, where no single party has a majority.

Social media stirs with reactions

The news of her possible return has sparked mixed reactions online. On X (formerly Twitter), some welcomed the idea of a “seasoned leader” coming to save Joburg, while others accused the DA of recycling old faces.

“Zille again? Is there really no one else?” one user posted. Another countered: “Say what you want, she made Cape Town work. Joburg needs that energy.”

A fresh challenge, an old battleground

If she does run and win, Zille will be stepping into a political furnace. Johannesburg is arguably the most contested city in the country, with coalitions splintering and mayoral terms often measured in months, not years.

But with her political gravitas and deep roots in the city, Zille could prove a formidable figure in what will no doubt be a brutal race.

For now, she’s talking it over with her family in the Western Cape, but if Joburg calls, don’t be surprised if she answers.

{Source: IOL}

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