Helen Zille on Joburg mayoral run: 'I have unfinished business'

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Democratic Alliance (DA) federal council chairperson Helen Zille says she has unfinished business in Johannesburg as she is considering becoming the metro municipality’s first citizen.

Over the weekend, reports surfaced that Zille is considering running for mayor in the embattled City of Johannesburg in the 2026 local government elections.

HELEN ZILLE CONSIDERS RUNNING FOR JOHANNESBURG MAYOR

Johannesburg, which is South Africa’s economic capital, has been on the decline in recent years. High levels of crime, water and electricity woes, non-functional traffic lights, potholes and deteriorating infrastructure have gripped the once prestigious city of gold which has had close to 10 mayors since the 2016 local government elections.

Zille was born and bred in Hillbrow, Johannesburg, where she worked for the Rand Daily Mail as a journalist during apartheid. She has served as the leader of the Blue Party from 2007 to 2015 and also served as the Premier of the Western Cape for two five-year terms.

In an interview with Radio 702 onMonday morning, Zille said she would consider being mayor because South Africa can’t succeed if Johannesburg remains broken as it is the country’s economic capital, and it must be fixed.

“South Africa can be on the road to success but we’ve got to fix it bit by bit and I’ve always said that’s gonna start with local government. That’s why we put all our eggs into trying to win somewhere at the local level, demonstrating better governance and building from there, from the bottom up. I’ve always said that is the way to transform South Africa and that is what we’re doing,” she said.

The former Cape Town mayor said although Johannesburg is a different kettle of fish it is primarily the reason why it is much more broken than Cape Town was in 2006 when she was at the helm.

“The voters of Johannesburg have to make a choice, do they want race or do they want services? Do they want good governance? Do they want investment, jobs and a turn around that would get people out of poverty,” she asked.

‘THEY DON’T BELIEVE IN BLACK LEADERSHIP’

There have been mixed reactions to Helen Zille’s desire to run for Joburg mayor, as the metro’s former mayor and former DA member Herman Mashaba has criticised the idea.

Mashaba took to X (formerly Twitter) to express his views on the matter.

“If Helen is about fixing, let her start in Khayelitsha, Gugulethu, Michelle’s Plain, Langa, and other townships in the Cape. I cannot believe that the DA has no confidence in black leadership. They have officially abandoned their so-called Experience. They want black support, but no black leadership,” he posted.