Helen Zille, a veteran political figure and current Federal Council Chair of the Democratic Alliance (DA), could be set for an unexpected return to the mayoral hot seat, this time in Johannesburg.
Insiders close to the DA suggest the party is strongly considering Helen to lead a turnaround in the country’s economic capital, which is facing critical service delivery failures and worsening instability, as reported by Business Tech. While no formal announcement has been made, Helen has confirmed she was approached and is weighing the offer. The final decision, she says, hinges on discussions with her family in Cape Town.
Although retired from executive politics, Helen’s potential return is already igniting debate. Known for her no-nonsense approach during her tenure as Mayor of Cape Town and later as Premier of the Western Cape, she helped drive dramatic improvements in governance and infrastructure in both roles. Her leadership earned her the prestigious 2008 World Mayor Prize.
Now, with Johannesburg’s infrastructure decaying and political leadership stuck in a cycle of instability, there’s growing pressure for someone with Helen’s experience to step in. The city’s recent track record paints a bleak picture: widespread water outages, persistent electricity failures, and a surge in crime have become the new normal. Basic services are in crisis, and residents are growing increasingly frustrated.
Political chaos hasn’t helped. Johannesburg hasn’t had stable leadership in years. Former DA mayor Mpho Phalatse, who took office in 2021 with support from a fragile coalition including the EFF and ActionSA, was removed in early 2023 through a no-confidence vote. Her resignation later that year left a vacuum the DA is now determined to fill with a heavyweight figure.
Currently, no single party controls Johannesburg. The ANC leads with 34% of the vote, the DA trails at 26%, and ActionSA follows with 16%. Any mayoral candidate will need to forge a functioning coalition to govern.
In a recent conversation, Helen made it clear she believes Johannesburg is on the brink. She pointed to failing traffic lights, uncollected waste, and entire communities going without water for weeks. She warned that no investor would commit to a city in such disrepair.
Helen argued that voters have the power to initiate change but warned that continuing to vote for parties that lack governance skills would only accelerate the collapse. She called for long-term thinking and ‘a backbone of steel’ to fix the city, citing entrenched cadre deployment and decades of neglected maintenance as major obstacles.
Behind the scenes, the DA is preparing for a full-scale push. According to Helen, the party is hand-picking its most capable candidates for Johannesburg, backing them with training and policy support. The message is clear: the DA is ready to reclaim the city, and Helen could be the one to lead that charge.
First published by Cape {town} etc
Compiled by Aiden Daries
Also see: ‘They will chew you’ – Helen Zille shares kids reaction to Showmax Roast
