Zille vows to put Johannesburg on a path to recovery

Campaign pledge: fix services first

According to The Citizen, Zille made the comments during an interview with Itumeleng Mafisa on The Citizen’s The Movement podcast. She is campaigning to become Johannesburg’s mayor ahead of the 4 November local government elections.

Zille said restoring basic services including water, electricity and waste removal would be her priority if elected. She told the podcast she would seek to have funding for those services ring-fenced and said the city’s financial position had to be addressed before expecting rapid visible improvements.

No 100‑day miracle

Zille warned residents not to expect the city to be fixed within her first 100 days in office. She said the initial work would include discussions with the National Treasury, the presidency and the Auditor‑General as part of stabilising Johannesburg’s finances.

Jobs and business confidence

She rejected the idea that government alone creates the most sustainable jobs, arguing that businesses create employment when they have confidence in local services. Zille said reliable water, electricity and sanitation are critical because businesses are leaving Johannesburg due to unreliable services; she pointed to Midvaal as an area that has attracted businesses under DA governance.

Political strategy and coalition questions

The DA leader outlined a plan to win support in townships by appealing to voters who back constitutionalism, non‑racialism and the rule of law, and by emphasising market‑based economic policies and investment. She said the party is polling strongly and believes an outright majority remains possible, and that the DA needs 490 000 supporters to vote DA on both ballots.

Zille avoided setting out coalition non‑negotiables before the election results are known. She defended plans to partner with private companies to improve municipal services, saying such arrangements would be partnerships rather than handing over municipal control, and that competition could improve efficiency and reduce costs.

Commitment and accountability

Zille addressed questions about her commitment to Johannesburg, saying she had left her home and family to campaign in the city. She warned that another unstable coalition could leave Johannesburg facing further decline and urged DA councillors to respect public money, avoid unnecessary expenditure and only travel overseas when it directly benefits Johannesburg.

Production credits

According to The Citizen, the piece was compiled by Shaun Holland, Head of Multimedia. The podcast producer was Caslian Scott; the camera operator was Caslian Scott; and the video editor was Shaun Holland.