Does Joburg Have the Resources for a Zille-Led Recovery?

Johannesburg is no stranger to political experiments, but the DA’s decision to put Helen Zille forward as its mayoral candidate has raised eyebrows and stirred debate. Party leader John Steenhuisen called her the “honest leadership” Joburg desperately needs, yet many analysts are asking the blunt question: does the city even have the money for a recovery, no matter who’s in charge?

Steenhuisen’s Pitch: “Joburg Must Work”

Announcing the nomination, Steenhuisen painted a bleak picture of Johannesburg: burst pipes, dry taps, sewage spills, rolling blackouts, potholes, and billing chaos.

“Fixing these things is the basic function of a municipality,” he said. “It’s non-negotiable. Joburg should be thriving, not barely coping.”

He argued that the DA’s turnaround of Cape Town proves the party can do the same in Joburgwith Zille at the helm.

Counting the Cost

But political analyst Piet Croucamp warned the city’s tax base has eroded to the point of crisis.

“The first instalment is R30 billion just to get water pipes flowing. To fix the whole system? R200 billion. And that’s before we even talk about electricity,” he said. “There is no money in Joburg’s tax base for that. You can’t fix what’s been destroyed.”

In other words, leadership alone may not be enough if the coffers are empty.

The Coalition Puzzle

Money isn’t the only hurdle. Politics is another.

Analyst Rene Oosthuizen argued that Zille’s divisive image could make coalition-building in Joburg nearly impossible. “The DA’s dismissal of coalition politics overlooks its essential role in fragmented landscapes like Joburg,” she said.

Croucamp added that ActionSA is growing in Soweto, with Herman Mashaba expected to contest for mayor again. The Patriotic Alliance is also expanding, often at the DA’s expense. That leaves Zille with very few natural allies.

“The question is, will she be willing to sit in the opposition benches if she loses? I think she sees this as her last big job,” Croucamp said.

The “Halo Effect” Factor

Still, Zille brings something no other DA candidate could: political capital.

Psychologist Jonathan Redelinghuys explained that her strong reputation creates a “halo effect”where voters’ trust in one leader spills over onto the party as a whole. “Think of it like a social media influencer. Their credibility rubs off on those around them,” he said.

The ANC once rode this wave with Nelson Mandela and liberation heroes, he added, but without delivery, the halo eventually fades.

Zille’s enduring visibility and track record in Cape Town and the Western Cape may boost DA candidates in other metros, even if they’re lesser known.

Zille: “Daughter of Johannesburg”

For her part, Zille cast her nomination as a homecoming. Calling herself a “daughter of Johannesburg”, she contrasted the vibrant city of opportunity she knew in 1994 with today’s Joburg, which many residents see as a place to escape.

“It was the place to be. Now, just over 30 years later, many of its own residents see it as a place to flee,” she said.

Her campaign speech may have been about Joburg, but the ripples are expected to extend across Gauteng and perhaps the country, thanks to both the halo and coattail effects.

Can She Do It?

Zille has the profile, the track record, and the determination. But Joburg’s problems are structural, financial, and political. Fixing potholes is one thing, finding R200 billion for water systems and negotiating fragile coalitions is another.

For voters, the coming election may hinge on whether Zille’s name recognition and credibility are enough to overcome the brutal realities of Joburg’s collapse.

The prodigal “daughter of Johannesburg” is back. The question is whether even she can save a city many believe is already beyond repair.

{Source: The Citizen}

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