DA's Helen Zille Turns Ramaphosa's Remarks into Momentum for Joburg Mayoral Bid

Mpho Dube
Sep 20
2 min read

Veteran DA leader Helen Zille

By Mpho Dube, The Editor in Chief of The Azanian

The Democratic Alliance (DA) has officially nominated Helen Zille as its mayoral candidate for the City of Johannesburg in the 2026 local government elections.

This announcement comes hot on the heels of President Cyril Ramaphosa's remarks praising DA-run municipalities for their clean audits, which Zille quickly seized on as an endorsement of the party's governance model.

Johannesburg, once a thriving metropolis, is now grappling with crumbling infrastructure, inadequate service delivery, and unstable coalitions. The city's current state of decay is a testament to the failures of the African National Congress (ANC) leadership, Zille said, adding that the DA offers a better way forward.

Accepting her nomination, Zille expressed confidence that the people of Johannesburg would rally behind her candidacy. She emphasized the need for honest, experienced, and accountable leadership, highlighting the DA's track record of good governance.

Zille's vision for Joburg includes stabilizing the city's finances, addressing the R200 billion capital infrastructure backlog, and ensuring that basic services like water, sewage, and electricity are delivered efficiently.

Zille was quick to capitalize on Ramaphosa's comments, saying, "If you don't believe me, just ask the President. With perfect timing, President Ramaphosa this week showed the boldness we've all been waiting for. There is no braver act for a political leader than endorsing his main political opponent." The DA leader, John Steenhuisen, also seized on the remarks, stating that the party's proven track record of delivering quality services makes it the best choice for Joburg.

As the DA's mayoral candidate, Zille faces an uphill battle in securing a majority mandate in the city. The DA currently holds 26% of the vote, behind the ANC's 34%. However, with her experience and reputation as a capable leader, Zille is confident that she can rally support from voters and deliver a better future for Joburg. The upcoming local government elections will be a crucial test for the DA's vision and leadership.

Speaking to the SABC, Ramaphosa said he was simply citing what Auditor-General Tsakani Maluleke had reported publicly. “When I spoke about what we need to do, I referred to her reports which she issues every year... She looks at all our municipalities and, in some areas, she has found clean audits,” Ramaphosa said.

He added that municipalities in the Western Cape had clean audits according to the AG, but stressed: “Clean audits do not mean clean streets, best governance. It’s a compliance issue. There are a number of ANC-run municipalities that have clean audits. We need to look at this issue in a comprehensive way.”