Mashaba says Zille will “never” lead Joburg as mayoral race heats up

The political gloves are off in Johannesburg’s looming mayoral battle, with Herman Mashaba delivering one of his most direct attacks yet on rival Helen Zille.

The ActionSA leader and former mayor insists Zille will “never” become mayor of Johannesburg, arguing that she lacks support among poorer communities that make up a significant share of the city’s voters.

Speaking during an interview at his Sandton home, Mashaba claimed the political reality on the ground makes such an outcome unlikely.

“Ask the people of Khayelitsha why they will never vote for Helen Zille,” he said, referencing the township in the Western Cape. “She is not pro-poor it’s that simple.”

His comments mark the latest escalation in what is shaping up to be a fiercely contested race ahead of South Africa’s next local government elections.

A rivalry rooted in political history

The tension between Mashaba and the Democratic Alliance is not new.

Mashaba himself once served as Johannesburg’s mayor under the DA banner between 2016 and 2019 before resigning amid disagreements with the party’s leadership.

He now leads ActionSA and hopes to return to the mayor’s office this time under his own political movement.

During the interview, Mashaba recalled frequent clashes with the DA during his tenure, particularly over where the city’s resources should be focused.

“I was taken to task for focusing on poor communities,” he said. “I was asked why I was concentrating on areas that don’t contribute much in rates instead of focusing on affluent suburbs.”

For Mashaba, the issue of economic inequality remains central to the campaign.

The battle for Joburg’s poorest voters

Johannesburg is one of the most unequal cities in the world, where luxury estates exist just kilometres away from informal settlements.

Political analysts say that winning the support of poorer communities could be decisive in determining who eventually leads the city.

Mashaba believes this is where Zille and the DA face their biggest challenge.

He points to Khayelitsha, one of South Africa’s largest townships, as an example of communities that he says remain unconvinced by the DA’s policies despite the party governing the Western Cape for years.

The DA, however, argues its governance record, particularly in Cape Town shows stronger service delivery compared with many municipalities run by rival parties.

That debate is likely to become a major theme as campaigning intensifies.

Coalition politics could decide the outcome

Another factor complicating the mayoral race is the growing importance of coalition politics.

Since the 2021 municipal elections, Johannesburg has experienced a revolving door of coalition governments and leadership changes, reflecting how fragmented local politics has become.

Mashaba believes the outcome could hinge on alliances formed after the election.

He made a striking claim that divisions within the African National Congress could influence whether Zille ever becomes mayor.

According to Mashaba, there are effectively “two ANCs” one aligned with President Cyril Ramaphosa and another that refuses to cooperate with the DA.

He suggested that factions within the party would oppose any deal that could elevate Zille to the mayoral position.

Mashaba’s three coalition conditions

Looking ahead, Mashaba outlined three conditions that ActionSA would demand from any party hoping to form a coalition government with them.

These include:

• Full corruption investigations and financial scrutiny of municipal operations

• Equal service delivery across all communities, not only wealthier suburbs

• Stronger action against illegal immigration in the inner city

The immigration issue has become one of ActionSA’s most controversial and defining policies, particularly regarding Johannesburg’s struggling inner city.

Fixing a city in crisis

Beyond political rivalries, the stakes are high because of the challenges facing Johannesburg itself.

Despite having the country’s largest municipal budget about R89.4 billion annually the city continues to grapple with infrastructure failures, water outages, and deteriorating roads.

Experts estimate Johannesburg requires at least R20 billion more every year just to address its growing infrastructure backlog.

There are also concerns about financial mismanagement.

Reports suggest that around R22 billion is lost annually through wasteful or unauthorised expenditure, making corruption one of the central issues in the upcoming election.

Mashaba often points to his previous time as mayor to argue he can address those problems.

During his tenure, his administration launched an anti-corruption unit that investigated more than 5,000 cases and facilitated roughly R17 billion in investment, according to his account.

He also highlights initiatives aimed at tackling water leaks and reclaiming hijacked inner-city buildings.

“Unfinished business” in Joburg

Despite being a wealthy entrepreneur and founder of the haircare brand Black Like Me, Mashaba says his motivation for returning to politics is personal.

Standing in his Sandton home a symbol of the economic success he achieved in business he says the stark inequality visible across Johannesburg continues to weigh on him.

“Look at my home,” he said. “I have everything I need while people just down the road don’t even have running water.”

“For me, there is still unfinished business to fix this city.”

A fierce political battle ahead

With local government elections expected later this year or by early 2027, the contest for Johannesburg’s leadership is already becoming one of the most closely watched political battles in the country.

On social media, reactions to Mashaba’s comments have been sharply divided.

Supporters praised his focus on inequality and corruption, while critics accused him of turning the race into a personal feud with the DA.

What is clear is that Johannesburg, South Africa’s economic powerhouse, remains a political prize worth fighting for.

And as campaigning ramps up, the rivalry between Mashaba and Zille may become one of the defining storylines of the election season.