South Africans Sceptical as Helen Zille Prepares to Restore Joburg as DA’s 2026 Mayoral Candidate

• The Democratic Alliance's newly elected mayoral candidate for Johannesburg is ready to hit the streets
• Helen Zille said that she has been preparing her whole life to lead Johannesburg and is ready to restore the city
• Zille was unveiled as the new Johannesburg mayoral candidate ahead of the 2026 local elections on Saturday, 20 September 2025, in Soweto

The 74-year-old Helen Zille, who was born and bred in Johannesburg, said that she is ready to restore the city. Zille was unveiled as the new DA mayoral candidate of Johannesburg on Saturday, 20 September 2025, at an event in Soweto.

New mayoral candidate of Joburg

The 74-year-old, who serves as the party’s federal council chairperson, accepted the nomination on Saturday, 20 September 2025. Zille will represent the DA in the 2026 local government elections, with the party describing her as an experienced leader positioned to restore stability and confidence in the City’s future.

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Zille has been in Cape Town for many years. She led the city as mayor for three years before serving as premier of the Western Cape from 2009 to 2019.

At her unveiling, she spoke about her connection to Cape Town and said her career had prepared her for this new responsibility. With the local government elections just over a year away, she added that she is ready to begin campaigning.

What did South Africans say?

Social media users shared their opinions regarding Helen Zille's new role.

@JBBMabena said:

I repeat, I am pro-Black pro-multicultural SA, but Black leadership has failed us across Southern Africa. Out of frustration, I will experiment with my vote and back Zille even though, I hold the DA in contempt. I miss the Jhb of the early 90s, when I could party downtown, hit Rocky St, then walk home without fearing robbery or murder.

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@kmphathe said:

"Maybe she will do better we deserve better than we are currently experiencing."

@m_kobene said:

"A BIG NOOOOOOOO. In Western Cape e.g. there's persistent inequality. Western Cape is a benchmark for inequality. Service delivery has been delivered to more affluent areas, and it has neglected poorer communities, particularly in informal settlements."

@Magatsheni90722 said:

"I genuinely believe she can make good mayor based off of her integrity. Sometimes we need to be honest about these things. The ANC has itself to blame."

@BanjoBob337 said:

"Unfortunately, due to entrenched interests and corruption I don’t see how Joburg can be turned around… maybe I’m too pessimistic."

@NguluvheKhulu said:

"Hellen Zille will have a fierce competition if the ANC fields Thabo Mbeki and the MKP fields Jacob Zuma as the mayoral candidates, they have an unfinished business to complete as they were both recalled prematurely by the ANC NEC."

DA open to working with ANC to improve its service delivery

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In another article, Briefly News reported that the Democratic Alliance said that it was open to joining forces with the African National Congress for the sake of communities.

ANC president Cyril Ramaphosa recently admitted that the DA had a better track record with service delivery.

Source: Briefly News