22 September 2025 | 11:50 CAT
2-minute read

 DA Stakes all on Helen Zille to Rescue Joburg from Decay

Johannesburg — The Democratic Alliance (DA) has formally announced Helen Zille, 74, as its candidate for Mayor of Johannesburg ahead of the 2026 municipal elections, setting the stage for what many observers say is the DA’s opportunity to reclaim South Africa’s largest city. The announcement comes amid deepening service delivery crises, waning public trust, and a shifting political landscape in Gauteng.

In this week’s Debrief Report on Radio Islam International, Qaanitah Hunter laid out the scale of the challenge, describing the situation as not simply political but fundamentally about human dignity. She painted a picture of a city where failing services have become the norm.

“The accelerated decline of Johannesburg has been something that nobody had anticipated … you’re not just seeing, you know, potholes and streetlights not working … but you’re essentially seeing an entire city left to ruin. whether you live in Lenasia, whether you live in Houghton, whether you live in Westbury. It has come to that point.”

Johannesburg has not seen a clear majority party in its city council for nearly a decade, resulting in fractious coalitions and unstable governance.

“The DA govern through coalition, the ANC govern through coalition. There has not been a majority party in Johannesburg for nine years now,” Hunter noted.

The city now faces a deteriorated infrastructure: frequent water shortages, power outages, failing street lighting, and badly potholed roads. Many residents must rely on tankers for weeks; businesses suffer from unpredictable electricity supply.

As the DA casts Zille as its standard-bearer, the party argues that her track record in Cape Town and experience in managing municipal systems place her uniquely to address Johannesburg’s urgent problems. The recent internal polling has shown the DA leading the ANC in Johannesburg (roughly 37% to 31%) since Zille’s candidacy was confirmed.

“It becomes about the lived experiences of the residents of Johannesburg that goes beyond now fundamental issues around transformation, around the DA’s anti-poor attitude, whether it is her position on the Palestine question. Because if there’s a simple hope that Helen Zille can make sure there’s water in my taps, all of those bigger questions sort of fall out of the window.

Hunter also flagged internal challenges for the DA: despite its electoral potential, the party has struggled to mobilise votes from communities disenchanted with political promises. Zille’s recognition, analysts argue is both an asset and a liability: she is widely known, but critics question the messaging around her age and whether younger, capable leadership was considered.

For the DA and Zille, the road ahead is complex. To secure control of Johannesburg, the party will likely have to win outright majority in the city council—a difficult task given the entrenched presence of the ANC, ActionSA, and numerous smaller parties. Consolidating fragmented votes, shifting the narrative from party politics to concrete service delivery, and rebuilding trust with communities that have long felt neglected are all key.

Zille has signalled that stabilising the municipality’s finances and reviving the service delivery machinery are top priorities.

Listen to the Debrief Report on Sabaahul Muslim with Moulana Sulaimaan Ravat.