DA Federal Council chairperson Helen Zille has drawn attention to ongoing infrastructure failures in Johannesburg by sharing a video of herself swimming in a large water-filled pothole caused by a repeatedly bursting pipe.
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“Here we are, with a free and wonderful Saturday afternoon swim. I can even do the backstroke over here… backwards doggy paddle,” she said.
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Helen explained that the issue has persisted for three years, disrupting residents who struggle to access their homes, and criticised failed repair efforts that worsened the problem.
“This pool has been here on and off for three years. It’s the result of a burst pipe, it kept bursting again and again. Neighbours can’t get out of their driveways. People ask for the council to come and fix it, they came and fixed it with a front end loader and burst the pipe again. This is what people have to live with in the city of Johnnesburg,” she said.
She later responded to reactions on social media with a tongue-in-cheek Facebook post, joking about calls for her to enter the Commonwealth Games.
“Good morning, Joburgers . I’ve seen the calls for me to enter the Commonwealth Games this year. My team and I will certainly give it some thought,” she wrote.
“In the meantime, I’ll be training right here in Johannesburg, with all the new pools opening up across the city every week,” she continued.
The video comes as Helen campaigns as the DA’s mayoral candidate for the 2026 municipal elections, where she has pledged to fix basic services, improve infrastructure, create jobs, and tackle corruption.
According to The Citizen, Political analyst Andre Duvenhage said the stunt has generated significant attention and momentum for Helen’s campaign, while highlighting Johannesburg’s deepening infrastructure crisis.
“This is an indication that she’s hitting the media, and we know that Joburg has fundamental infrastructural challenges, and to focus on this as a legacy of the ANC is definitely going to benefit her campaign. I have no doubt about it.
“It’s interesting that the DA and other parties are focusing on basic service delivery. Potholed streets are becoming a symbol of the inability of the ANC to govern and to deliver services in a proper way,” Andre said.
He added that while the stunt strengthens Helen’s visibility, it does not guarantee electoral success, noting that coalition politics could still determine the outcome even if the DA emerges as the largest party.
Andre also pointed to research suggesting many Johannesburg residents believe the DA could govern better, but warned that this sentiment does not necessarily translate into votes, as voter turnout remains a key factor.
First published by African Insider
Compiled by Betha Madhomu
Also see: Ntsiki Mazwai protests against Helen Zille’s Johannesburg mayorship
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