Zille and Anele Mdoda in explosive on-air clash: ‘When were you elected spokesperson for black people?’

Helen Zille

Cape Town – A radio interview between Democratic Alliance Federal Council Chairperson Helen Zille and broadcaster Anele Mdoda erupted into a fiery exchange that has since gone viral on social media.

The tension began when Anele asked Zille to address concerns some Black voters might have about her mayoral bid for Johannesburg — framing the question as reflecting listener feedback and online conversations.

Zille pushed back sharply, asking: “Anele, when were you elected as the spokesperson for black people? You weren’t.”

Anele responded directly, pointing to Zille’s online presence and the criticisms she receives, saying: “You are on Twitter (now X) every day. You see what people say about you, babe! People don’t trust you to have the interests of Black people at heart.”

At another tense moment, Zille rejected what she called a blanket assumption, arguing that social-media chatter was being mistaken for the voter roll and insisting that claims of corruption or distrust required firmer evidence.

“You say you’re not insulting me. That is an extremely insulting insult. It is a deep insult to say that the DA is corrupted that I’m corrupt,” she said in the exchange. Clips of that line have been shared across platforms.

Social media reacted strongly.

On X, a post from the Anele and the Club account read: “Anele and Helen had a HEATED exchange today on #AneleAndTheClubOn947. What are your thoughts on it?”

Elsewhere, users criticised Zille’s tone. One account tweeted: “Oh HELEN ZILLE got real DISRESPECTFUL in that interview … I honestly expected Anele to coddle her but no, she dragged her oh breakfast …”

Article written by