Elections 2026

Zille, a liberal stalwart running for Africa’s powerful commercial hub

Helen Zille, known as a formidable liberal thinker and governance expert, is running for the mayoral chain of Johannesburg, Africa’s most powerful commercial hub. Known for her time as the leader of South Africa’s liberal party, the Democratic Alliance (DA), and as former Mayor of Cape Town and Premier of the Western Cape Province, Zille is now geared and eager to take Johannesburg from the African National Congress (ANC).

During an intimate dinner with Zille, we asked the 74-year-old why she decided to throw her name in the ring to restore a city so broken due to municipal mismanagement and many failed coalition attempts. Zille, who used to stay here in the City of Gold during her younger days, returned recently for the mayoral bid. Back in Cape Town, she left her dear husband behind. “He is okay back there, he understands why I am doing this, and supports me,” Zille responded when asked about the big move.

Why Zille wants to return to public office

For her, running for the country’s financial and economic capital is important because, for a long time, the DA could only manage to gain and maintain power in the Western Cape. “In this election, we have to break through beyond the Western Cape, and there is a real chance that the DA will make inroads in most metros, and of course, Johannesburg, being the economic hub, is the prize.”

Having previously served at the head of both local and provincial government, she believes that her experience can rescue a city that has fallen apart. Zille served as the Mayor of Cape Town from 2006 to 2009, where she led a tough coalition between seven political parties. “It is going to be a major team effort to fix Johannesburg, but I come along with a lot of experience. I’ve previously taken governments from the ANC; I have done that twice. I have insights on how to fix things. So, experience is a magnificent thing in life and in politics, and I bring years of experience to the table.”

Zille’s Priorities

Johannesburg today is faced with several challenges, of which water is perhaps the most pertinent. The city is struggling to provide basic services such as water in the taps, leaving most residents without water for days. Failing infrastructure is largely the reason, as the city has failed to ensure adequate maintenance plans. “The most important thing is to get clean and reliable water to the people. So many suburbs sit without water for weeks; there was one for fourteen weeks without water, and that is untenable in a modern city, so fixing the water crisis is my number one priority.”

Electricity is yet another basic human right; for her, this must be protected. “Reliable electricity is my second priority.”

And the third: infrastructure. “We must fix the roads, the potholes, the traffic lights, the verges, the street lights. The whole road infrastructure is so badly broken.”

Coalition Councils

Although Zille would like to have an outright majority in Johannesburg, the chances are slim. The last time a party had a majority here was from 2011 to 2016, with Parks Tau as mayor under the ANC. Since then, it's been musical chairs.

“We never run a campaign aiming for a coalition, but if necessary, and normally it is in proportional representation systems, we must be the biggest party, and by a wide margin, and have coalition partners to put together different combinations to get 50%, and we will take the least bad option.”