Democratic Alliance (DA) federal chairperson Helen Zille has revealed that she is willing to take on the mayoral role in Johannesburg, outlining an urgent intervention strategy to arrest the city’s accelerating decline.
This follows the refusal of several top DA figures, including ActionSA’s Herman Mashaba, to accept the position amid deepening service delivery failures and political instability in South Africa’s economic hub.
Zille’s proposal includes restoring law and order, fixing critical infrastructure, and introducing a “coalition of the capable” to restore functionality to the fractured metro. “We are looking at competent, clean governance that can bring stability and progress to Johannesburg,” she said.
The DA has yet to officially announce its mayoral candidate. However, Zille’s move comes amid mounting pressure for decisive leadership in the city, with widespread reports of deteriorating water infrastructure, collapsing waste management systems, and increasing power cuts.
According to Zille, the plan is not just about assuming power, but about leading a “mission of rescue” with a focus on pragmatic service delivery, financial discipline, and rebuilding public trust. She stated that if chosen, she would serve temporarily—long enough to put in place a capable administration that can carry forward long-term solutions.
The possibility of Zille entering the mayoral office marks a dramatic shift in the DA’s approach, as it signals a willingness to deploy senior national leaders into crisis-hit local governments where leadership vacuums have paralysed governance.
A formal announcement from the DA is expected in the coming days as coalition discussions continue.
