Keypoints:
- Zille to head DA’s Joburg push
- Local polls set for late 2026 to early 2027
- ANC faces pressure after losing majority
SOUTH Africa’s main opposition, the Democratic Alliance (DA), has chosen veteran activist Helen Zille to lead its drive to seize control of Johannesburg in next year’s local elections.
The announcement on Saturday sets the stage for a high-stakes contest as the African National Congress (ANC), which has governed nationally since the end of apartheid, fights to retain influence in the country’s economic hub.
Elections seen as test for ANC
The local elections, scheduled between November 2026 and January 2027, will be a critical test for the ANC after it lost its outright parliamentary majority in 2024. The party began its current administration of Joburg in August 2024 but has faced criticism for failing to stem the city’s decline.
Zille highlights city’s challenges
Accepting the DA’s nomination in Soweto, 74-year-old Zille said Joburg reflected the impact of poor governance. ‘Joburg is South Africa’s most devastating example of what bad government can do to great people,’ she declared, pledging to restore essential services and economic vitality to the metropolis of nearly five million residents.
Zille, who served as Cape Town mayor from 2006 to 2009 and has chaired the DA’s federal council since 2019, said her career had prepared her for the challenge. ‘I am deeply indebted to the Democratic Alliance for entrusting me with this enormous responsibility. I believe my whole life and every previous job has been preparing me for this,’ she added.
Ramaphosa remarks boost DA confidence
Zille also referenced recent comments by President Cyril Ramaphosa, who told ANC representatives this week that DA-run councils often outperformed those led by his own party. The remark has bolstered the DA’s claim that it can provide more efficient governance.
With Joburg’s crumbling infrastructure, high unemployment and mounting crime, the DA hopes Zille’s experience and national profile will sway voters seeking change.
