Helen Zille Sounds Alarm On Joburg’s Finances As She Launches Mayoral Bid

Zille Takes Aim At Joburg’s Finances

Helen Zille has entered Johannesburg’s political stage with a bold warning: the city’s books don’t add up. Speaking at a DA rally in Soweto over the weekend, where she was officially unveiled as the party’s mayoral candidate for the 2026 elections, Zille said a budget review revealed worrying irregularities, from duplicated jobs to chronic underfunding for maintenance.

“It’s unbelievable that Joburg spends less than 1% of its budget on maintenance,” she told supporters. “Cities around the world aim for 8%. This is why infrastructure is collapsing, and residents are paying the price.”

Her words struck a chord with many Joburg residents frustrated by potholes, water outages, and failing municipal services. On social media, DA supporters praised her focus on financial discipline, while critics accused her of politicking ahead of elections.

Experience Vs Age Debate

At 74, Zille’s candidacy has sparked debate about whether she is too old for the role. She brushed off the criticism, saying her energy and experience outweigh the concerns. “I’ve been through the toughest battles in governance. What matters is not age, but whether you have the drive and skill to fix what’s broken,” she said.

Zille’s track record in Cape Town, where she served as mayor and later as Western Cape premier, is central to her campaign pitch. She credits her leadership there for stabilising city finances and improving service deliveryan approach she hopes to replicate in Joburg.

A City In Crisis

Johannesburg has become a cautionary tale for urban mismanagement. Years of political infighting, short mayoral tenures, and collapsing infrastructure have left residents feeling abandoned. From electricity disruptions to garbage collection woes, Joburgers often say they get little value for the rates and taxes they pay.

Zille is positioning herself as the candidate who can restore credibility, promising to focus on job creation, infrastructure investment, and service delivery. But critics argue her diagnosis is too simplistic, pointing out that governance failures stem not only from budget allocations but also from entrenched corruption and weak coalition politics.

DA And Gauteng Government Clash Over Malnutrition

Adding to the heated political atmosphere, the Gauteng Department of Social Development accused the DA of spreading misinformation about child malnutrition. The DA had claimed on social media that millions of children are going hungry due to the department’s centralised food distribution programme.

Teddy Gomba, the department’s spokesperson, hit back, calling the claims “a manipulation of statistics” designed to score political points.

This clash highlights how both service delivery and social welfare will be central battlegrounds in next year’s elections, with residents caught between party promises and government denials.

Looking Ahead To 2026

Zille’s candidacy signals that the DA wants to fight hard for Johannesburg, South Africa’s economic hub and a symbol of the country’s urban challenges. With elections just a year away, the political drama in Joburg is set to intensify, and voters will have to weigh Zille’s promises against the ANC and other parties’ competing visions.

For now, the spotlight is firmly on whether Zille’s alarm about the city’s finances can galvanise voters who are desperate for stabilityand whether her experience will be enough to convince them she is the person to deliver it.

{Source:SABC News }

Follow Joburg ETC on Facebook, Twitter , TikTok and Instagram

For more News in Johannesburg, visit joburgetc.com