Cape Town – The Democratic Alliance’s (DA) Federal Council Chairperson, Helen Zille, is positioning herself as a contender for the Johannesburg mayoral race, pledging to restore order and efficiency in a city crippled by unstable coalitions and failing services.
According to The Citizen, the DA intends to contest every strategic metro in Gauteng, with insiders describing Zille as one of the party’s strongest prospects.
A DA councillor was quoted as saying, “Zille is not always loved, but she is respected as someone who means business.”
Zille has been firm that her potential candidacy is not a political comeback but rather a continuation of her long-standing commitment to governance.
She told The Citizen that “fixing the basics will be a major challenge,” cautioning that “it took 30 years to break Johannesburg and it will not be fixed overnight… one step at a time.” She has repeatedly criticised what she calls “chaotic coalitions,” noting that fragmented voting patterns have left metros paralysed.
As reported by IOL, she appealed to voters not to divide their ballots among small parties, warning that such decisions only result in “incredibly unstable coalitions” and “musical mayors.”
Zille said that “only the ANC or the DA can fix the problems in the City of Johannesburg — if given majority votes,” arguing that competence and expertise, not political patronage, must form the basis of local governance.
[WATCH] DA Federal Council chairperson Helen Zille says she has unfinished business in the City of Johannesburg, where she’s considering running for the executive mayor position. She claims Johannesburg is broken and must be repaired if SA is to function. pic.twitter.com/ShyaH9QCFP
— SABC News (@SABCNews) June 10, 2025
In June, she confirmed to Daily Maverick that she was seriously considering the mayoral role and had tied her decision to the DA’s application deadline of 15 June. She explained that her focus would be on stabilising Johannesburg’s finances and addressing years of mismanagement.
Political analysts have said her candidacy signals a broader DA strategy to demonstrate leadership in Gauteng ahead of the 2029 general elections. According to Professor Kedibone Phago of North-West University, “If the DA is able to stabilise Johannesburg under Zille’s leadership, it could reshape the party’s national appeal.”
Zille has remained consistent in her message that rebuilding Johannesburg requires realistic expectations and persistence. As she reiterated, “It took 30 years to break Johannesburg… one step at a time.”
For now, she has positioned herself as the DA’s clearest option for Johannesburg, and whether voters give her the decisive mandate she seeks will determine not only the city’s future but also the DA’s strength heading into the next national election.
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Compiled by Lisabeal Nqamqhele
