Helen Zille in the Running

The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Gauteng has confirmed that Helen Zille, the party’s federal council chairperson, was interviewed for the position of Johannesburg mayoral candidate. Gauteng DA leader Solly Msimanga said interviews and assessments had been completed but stressed that no final decision had been made.

“There’s no decision, interviews were conducted, and a whole lot of tests were done. We will wait for the processes to be completed,” Msimanga told IOL.

Zille Responds

Zille acknowledged that she was part of the interviews but insisted she is not officially a mayoral candidate. “I am not the DA mayoral candidate; only six candidates have been interviewed, but none of us know who the candidate is,” she said.

This comes after weeks of speculation, with Zille previously admitting she had considered the role but was weighing the personal and political implications with her family.

Why Joburg Matters

Johannesburg, South Africa’s largest city and economic hub, is in deep crisis. Residents face rolling water shortages, power cuts, collapsing infrastructure, and rising rates. Years of corruption, poor maintenance, and political instability have eroded service delivery.

The mayorship has become one of the toughest jobs in local politics, with frequent leadership changes undermining long-term solutions. Current mayor Dada Morero of the ANC has promised to restore stability, but public frustration remains high.

The Bigger Picture

The DA’s candidate selection comes as parties gear up for the next round of local government elections. For the DA, winning Johannesburg would be both a symbolic and strategic victory, cementing its urban governance credentials in a city plagued by service collapse.

For Zille, a return to frontline executive office would mark a significant shift from her current national role, raising questions about leadership renewal inside the DA.

{Source: IOL}

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