Can She Really Fix the City?

Johannesburg has become the political graveyard of coalitions. Power cuts, collapsing infrastructure, and endless squabbles in council chambers have left residents weary and disillusioned. Now, Helen Zille, one of South Africa’s most seasoned political figures, is being positioned as the DA’s champion to restore order to the country’s biggest city.

Insiders confirm Zille is likely to run for Joburg mayor, with the DA promising a strong slate of candidates across Gauteng’s embattled metros. For many in the party, Zille is seen as both a risk and a trump card.

“She is not always loved, but she is respected as someone who means business,” one DA councillor told us. Another supporter was blunter: “She’s the only person who can save Joburg.”

Fixing Jozi, One Problem at a Time

Zille herself is careful not to sound like a political messiah. “This is not a second coming, I never left,” she quipped. But she admits the urgency is real.

“Fixing the basics will be a major challenge. It took 30 years to break Johannesburg, and it won’t be fixed overnight,” she said.

From potholes and billing chaos to unstable governance, the problems run deep. Zille argues that the collapse of service delivery can be traced back to voters carving up the municipal ballot in 2021, which produced sprawling, unstable coalitions.

“The electorate divided their vote among too many small parties,” she said. “The result was chaotic councils that simply don’t work.”

Coalitions: Problem or Opportunity?

Johannesburg, Tshwane, and Ekurhuleni have all suffered under fragile coalition governments, with councils more focused on political infighting than service delivery.

But Zille insists coalitions aren’t always doomed. “The DA is in coalitions that are working well. When you hire the right people and appoint officials based on skills rather than party loyalty, delivery improves.”

Her message to voters is simple: don’t gamble on newcomers; choose parties with a proven track record in government.

DA Goes All In on Gauteng

Zille won’t be the only DA veteran in the spotlight. Former Tshwane mayor Cilliers Brink has already been confirmed as the DA’s candidate there, while in Ekurhuleni, names like Tania Campbell, Mike Waters, Lucky Dinake, and Thava Maifela are circling.

The DA knows optics matter. One caucus member admitted the party will likely need a black mayoral candidate in Ekurhuleni to balance perceptions across Gauteng’s metros.

The Shadow of the EFF and the Rise of MK

As for the broader political landscape, Zille predicts that the 2026 local elections could look very different. The EFF’s momentum, she suggests, may be waning, while uMkhonto weSizwe (MK), Jacob Zuma’s new party, may struggle to sustain itself beyond Zuma’s personal vendetta against President Cyril Ramaphosa.

“MK is a Jacob Zuma project. Once he achieves his goal of weakening Ramaphosa, the party may not have a long-term future,” Zille said.

Still, she cautions it’s too early to write anyone off. “I cannot jump the gun.”

Can Zille Really Save Joburg?

Johannesburg has been here before, mayors come and go, promising stability, only to be swallowed by the machinery of dysfunction. What makes Zille’s potential run different is her reputation. She is seen as tough, experienced, and unafraid to call things as they are.

Public reaction online has been split. Some Joburgers say they welcome a “no-nonsense leader” who could “at least fix the basics.” Others argue the city needs younger, fresh leadership rather than old political warhorses.

What’s clear is that Zille’s entry would make the Joburg mayoral race one of the most watched contests in South Africa’s 2026 local elections.

For residents tired of political chaos, the question isn’t whether Zille wants the job, it’s whether she, or anyone, can actually turn Jozi around.

{Source: The Citizen}

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