Julius Malema Questions Helen Zille’s Bid for Johannesburg Mayoral Post Amid Cape Town Crime Crisis

• Julius Malema fired a shot at Helen Zille, making note of her bid to be the Johannesburg mayor
• Malema made the speech at the Economic Freedom Fighters 2nd Plenum of the 3rd National People’s Assembly (NPA)
• The EFF leader highlighted crime and poverty in Cape Town, noting that the Democratic Alliance runs the city

Byron Pillay, a Briefly News journalist, has dedicated a decade to reporting on the South African political landscape, crime, and social issues. He spent 10 years working for the Northern Natal Courier before transitioning to online journalism.

GAUTENG - Julius Malema has questioned why Helen Zille thinks she is worthy of leading the City of Johannesburg.

Zille, the chairperson of the Democratic Alliance’s (DA) Federal Council, is the party’s mayoral candidate for Johannesburg for the 2026 Local Government Elections. The elections will be held at the end of 2026 or early in 2027.

Read also

Western Cape police launch manhunt after three men shot dead in Gordon's Bay, South Africans react

While Zille is confident about winning the mayoral race, the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader believes the DA’s track record in the Western Cape should serve as a warning.

Malema made his comments about Zille and the DA at the EFF’s 2nd Plenum of the 3rd National People’s Assembly (NPA) on 30 January 2026. The event was held at the Birchwood Hotel & OR Tambo Conference Centre in Boksburg, Gauteng.

What did Malema say about Zille?

Speaking at the event, Malema noted the situation with crime in the Western Cape. The Commander-in-Chief of the Red Berets said that week after week, the country witnessed mass shootings in the City of Cape Town, noting that it was led by the DA. Malema said there was no solution to that crisis.

“The first question Helen Zille must be asked is what is her party doing about crime in the City of Cape Town, that now she thinks she is worthy of leading the City of Johannesburg?” Malema stated.

The EFF leader also fired a shot at the DA, saying that the party failed the poor in the Western Cape.

Read also

EFF respsonds after JDA CEO Themba Mathibe arrested for possessing large sums of money

“The former Mayor of Cape Town, Helen Zille, who leads the DA today, wants to be the Mayor of Johannesburg, leaving behind the dead bodies in Cape Town where the DA has failed the poorest of the poor,” he said.

He also urged his members to campaign hard ahead of the elections, saying no place should be off limits.

Other news about Malema and Zille commenting on each other

Briefly News reported that Zille and Malema are no strangers to taking cheap shots at each other, but there have been times when they also agreed with each other.

• In 2021, Zille accused Malema of trying to get the elections postponed by hosting a large rally that went against COVID-19 regulations.
• Julius Malema made fun of the DA's Federal Chair on social media, making comments about her use of Botox.
• In 2025, the DA's Zille supported the EFF's Malema, as he called for the South African troops to be withdrawn from the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Source: Briefly News