Helen Zille has officially entered the ring to contest the Joburg mayoral post.
The move has ignited accusations of political overreach and threatening to splinter the party’s already fragile provincial caucus.
Zille, the DA’s federal council chairperson, confirmed she had submitted her application before the Friday 13 deadline.
Zille confirmed to Sunday World, Zille that she is vying for the post after being lobbied by party insiders, to bring stability to the city. She argued that Johannesburg needs experienced leadership to address its failing infrastructure and broken basic services.
“In fact, I had been a canvassed from inside the party for a long time,” she said.
DA Gauteng leader Solly Msimanga confirmed that Zille’s name had not yet been formally presented to the provincial executive committee.
He insisted that the selection process would remain transparent and merit-based. “No one is deployed in the DA. Everyone who applies must go through the same competitive process. There are no exceptions.”
Msimanga stressed that no candidate had been endorsed and a decision would only be made after a thorough internal review, including vetting, written submissions, internal assignments and interviews.
Zille’s candidacy has only deepened existing divisions, with local leaders warning that her entry could spark resignations and sow disunity within the Johannesburg caucus.
One DA councillor called the development a “bolt from the blue”, and questioned Zille’s sudden pivot from her Western Cape constituency to Gauteng.
“This isn’t a chessboard, where you just move pieces around. We have local leaders with credibility. This sends the wrong message.”
The Johannesburg mayoral race is already competitive, with several candidates from within Gauteng – including caucus leader Belinda Kayser-Echeozonjoku, Solomon Maila, and former speaker Vasco da Gama – having thrown their hats in the ring.
Currently, the DA is in opposition in Johannesburg, where the ANC governs via a shaky coalition with ActionSA, the EFF, the IFP, the Patriotic Alliance, and several smaller parties. The DA is looking to lead a new coalition that can offer stability ahead of the 2026 municipal elections.
Zille’s supporters believe her leadership could bring that stability and project a sense of competence in a city plagued by constant leadership changes and poor service delivery.
Yet, provincial leaders warn her candidacy could alienate voters and undermine the progress made by younger black leaders who’ve steadily risen through the party ranks in Gauteng.
“This is not Cape Town. Johannesburg has different dynamics. You can’t drop someone in and expect it to work. Our base will feel betrayed,” cautioned a senior provincial executive member.
Despite the growing backlash, Msimanga maintained that the process would remain open and insisted that no outcome had been predetermined. “We want the best person for the job. Due process must be followed,” he said.
Meanwhile, opposition parties have wasted no time in seizing on the DA’s internal turmoil. ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba, who served as Johannesburg mayor under a DA-led coalition from 2016 to 2019, called Zille’s candidacy a slap in the face to former DA mayors like Mpho Phalatse.
“They did not support Mpho when she needed them. But now, they’re rushing to install Zille? That tells you all you need to know. They don’t believe in black excellence,” Mashaba said.
He added, “If Zille becomes mayor, the people of Soweto and Alexandra can forget about decent services.”
The ANC’s Johannesburg spokesperson, Sasabona Manganye, also criticised the DA, saying it had repeatedly failed city residents. “Every time they’ve had a chance to lead, it has ended in chaos, infighting and instability,” Manganye charged.
Johannesburg’s previous mayor, Kabelo Gwamanda, resigned after the collapse of the ANC-EFF-aligned coalition, leaving coalition partners scrambling to find a successor capable of steadying the city.
Dada Morero, ANC Johannesburg regional chair, argued that Zille’s candidacy exposed the DA’s desperation. “It’s a recognition that their local leadership has failed. Meanwhile, we’ve assembled a team of professionals with experience in both Johannesburg and Tshwane.
“We’re already making progress,” Morero asserted at a recent press briefing.
The DA’s federal executive is set to make the final call once the provincial shortlisting process concludes this week. Yet, insiders are confident Zille will be a frontrunner – her candidacy is strong enough to unsettle even the opposition parties.
