By SABC Digital News

Copyright sabcnews

Maswele Ralebona

The Democratic Alliance (DA) has named Helen Zille, aged 74, as its mayoral candidate for the City of Johannesburg in the 2026 Local Government Elections (LGE).

Zille, a former Mayor of Cape Town and Premier of the Western Cape, brings extensive experience in governance and administration to her candidacy.

This strategic decision is likely to intensify competition for the African National Congress (ANC), Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), and ActionSA, which currently represent the leading political forces in Johannesburg.

The leadership of these parties now face the challenge of identifying candidates capable of matching Zille’s proven political acumen and administrative expertise in the upcoming electoral contest.

The City of Johannesburg, like others, fell into the hands of coalitions in 2016 and 2021, which witnessed chaotic leadership changes in the past nine years with political bickering taking center stage over service delivery and economic growth.

The city’s mayoral chain has changed hands with eight politicians so far from three different parties namely, DA, ANC and Al-Jama Ah.

The mismanagement of this administration has resulted in a deteriorating Johannesburg Central Business District (CBD), the increased proliferation of informal settlements across the city, and inadequate service delivery.

Key issues include neglected potholes, water shortages, and unresolved manhole problems, with entities such as the Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA), Johannesburg Water (JW), and other service providers operating with apparent inefficiency and lack of commitment.

The introduction of Zille as the mayoral candidate for Johannesburg sends the opposition into a predicament as they scratch their heads to search for a candidate fit to take on the DA veteran. Zille’s established record includes achieving clean audits, maintaining orderly city centers, and ensuring well-maintained tourist attractions in her previous roles.

As Johannesburg, the most economically significant city in South Africa and on the African continent, grapples with governance challenges, Zille’s candidacy has been further strengthened by an unexpected endorsement from ANC and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa.

Addressing over 4 000 ANC councillors in Johannesburg, Ramaphosa urged them to emulate the DA’s effective municipal governance. This statement, met with mixed reactions within the ANC, has prompted efforts by the party to reframe its implications. Meanwhile, the DA has embraced the president’s remarks, leveraging them to bolster Zille’s campaign.

The coalition running Johannesburg needs to decide who will challenge Zille, the DA’s mayoral candidate for 2026. They must pick from the current mayor or Members of the Mayoral Committee (MMCs).

Will ActionSA bring back Herman Mashaba to run for mayor again? Will the EFF choose a strong candidate, like one of their Members of Parliament (MP), to face Zille? Is Dada Morero the ANC’s best option for Johannesburg voters, or will they put forward Dr. Snuki Zikalala, a key ANC figure, to strengthen their campaign?

The EFF could have considered their former MP and spokesperson, Dr. Mbuyiseni Ndlozi, but he’s no longer with the party and is out of the political picture. As for the current EFF MMC for Safety and Security, Dr. Mgcini Tshwaku, a chemical engineer, he often seems more focused on media attention than solving problems.

Despite his qualifications, he hasn’t shown he can handle the city’s challenges. Tshwaku is frequently involved in publicity stunts or explaining his inaction, and after more than two years in his role, Johannesburg’s roads are still filled with unsafe Siyaya and Quantum taxis. He doesn’t seem to have a clear plan to remove these dangerous moving coffins from the city roads.

Zille’s mayoral campaign for the 2026 LGE is expected to be dynamic and robust. With over two million registered voters in Johannesburg, the electorate will need to weigh Zille’s proven track record of effective municipal and provincial governance—marked by clean audits and well-maintained urban centres—against criticisms of her administration’s neglect of historically disadvantaged areas such as Khayelitsha, Langa, and the Cape Flats.

The current mayor, the ANC’s Dada Morero, has drawn attention for controversial proposals, including hiring foreign nationals for safety roles due to their language skills and advocating for rainwater harvesting through jojo tanks for households.

Johannesburg residents will face a critical decision: whether to maintain the current coalition led by less experienced leadership or to support Zille, whose tenure in Cape Town has been marred by contentious moments, including a controversial tweet suggesting that colonialism had positive aspects, which critics argue reflects an attempt to downplay her ancestors’ role in Africa’s colonial history.

Voters will need to consider these factors carefully in choosing the city’s next leader.

Maswele Ralebona is a Specialist Researcher, Politics & Governance in the SABC News Division