A bold move in Soweto

When Helen Zille joined DA leader John Steenhuisen on the campaign trail at Eyethu Mall in Soweto this September, the message was unmistakable: the Democratic Alliance is going all-in on Johannesburg. By fielding Zille as its mayoral candidate for 2026, the DA is gambling that her experience and profile can pry the city from the ANC’s weakened grip.

Political analyst Daniel Silke believes the DA has drawn a line in the sand. “This is make-or-break,” he said. “The DA is really taking the battle to the ANC because it smells blood.”

Why Joburg matters

For decades, Johannesburg has been the jewel of South African politics, a city where winning isn’t just about numbers, but about symbolism. If the ANC loses Joburg again, Silke argues, the blow would echo nationally.

“The battle of Johannesburg may well be a battle for the heart and soul of the ANC,” he explained. With the governing party already struggling in Gauteng and other metros, its survival as a truly national force may hinge on clawing back the country’s largest urban centre.

But the ANC’s urban story is bleak. Once the dominant voice in cities, it is now viewed as a party of the rural heartlands, bleeding votes to new formations and struggling with factional divisions.

Zille’s experience as a weapon

Independent analyst Goodenough Mashego is blunt about Zille’s chances. “If she contests against Dada Morero, she will win,” he said, pointing to her track record in Cape Town and the Western Cape.

For many Joburg residents, Zille’s selling point is experience. She has governed both a city and a province, giving her credibility that few ANC candidates can match. Against the backdrop of collapsing servicesfrom rolling blackouts in Soweto to undelivered promises in Alexandraher reputation as a capable administrator may prove attractive.

Mashego also highlights a ghost that still haunts the ANC: the Alexandra Presidential Urban Renewal Project. Launched with fanfare, the project was meant to uplift one of Joburg’s most iconic townships. Instead, funds were allegedly siphoned off by the so-called “Alex mafia.” To this day, Alexandra’s overcrowding and service failures stand as a symbol of broken promises.

“The Alex mafia was a reality,” Mashego said. “The project should have been a showcase for the ANC. Instead, it became a case study in corruption.”

The DA’s “Believe in Joburg” pitch

The DA has already unveiled its campaign slogan: Believe in Joburg. It is a calculated appeal to residents who feel abandoned by both the ANC and the smaller coalition partners that have presided over a revolving door of mayors.

On social media, the move has triggered mixed reactions. Supporters praise Zille’s no-nonsense approach and see her as a steady hand in a chaotic city. Critics, particularly on X (formerly Twitter), argue that her polarising history could alienate voters who see her as out of touch with Joburg’s diverse communities.

More than 2026 at stake

Silke stresses that this race is bigger than one election. For the DA, a strong showing in Johannesburg would be a launchpad for 2029, when national power could finally be in reach. But failure would raise serious questions about Steenhuisen’s leadership and the DA’s ability to expand beyond its strongholds.

For the ANC, meanwhile, losing Johannesburg again could accelerate its slide into irrelevance in urban centres. “This is a battle for survival,” Silke warned.

The stakes for Joburg residents

For ordinary Joburgers, the political chessboard matters less than the lived reality of power cuts, potholes, and stalled development. Whether voters will “believe in Joburg” enough to hand Zille the keys to the city remains to be seen.

What is clear, however, is that 2026 won’t be business as usual. With Zille in the ring, Johannesburg is set to become the stage for South Africa’s most consequential local election since 1994.

{Source: The Citizen}

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