The battle lines for the 2026 local government elections are being drawn in South Africa’s largest metro. ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba and DA bigwig Helen Zille will face off in what is shaping up to be a high-stakes contest for the soul of Johannesburg.
Mashaba was officially unveiled as ActionSA’s mayoral candidate at a dramatic campaign launch at the Orlando Community Hall in Soweto yesterday. The historic venue was transformed into a bold political stage, dominated by a striking green-and-white boxing ring at its centre. This can be seen as a symbol of the party’s message that it is ready to step into the ring and fight for the residents of the City of Gold.
Speaking to party supporters, Mashaba unveiled “Operation Fix Joburg” as ActionSA’s plan to rescue the beleaguered city from what he described as a deepening crisis and collapse.
“Today, I launch a campaign built on one commitment. To fix the city. To clean up government. To restore order. To grow the economy, to protect the vulnerable,” he said.
He outlined five priorities: fixing basic services, ending corruption, restoring law and order, reviving the economy, and delivering dignity through accountable governance.
Citing progress made during his previous mayoral term, Mashaba said the campaign offers a credible, action-driven plan to stabilise finances, rebuild infrastructure and restore Johannesburg’s functionality.
“As residents of Johannesburg, we cannot give up on this city. I believe Johannesburg can be fixed. This is our war; this is our city,” he said.
He also acknowledged the family of the late Warrick “DJ Warras” Stock, who were present at the event. Stock was gunned down in December after a reported altercation with syndicates that hijack buildings in the CBD. “In his honour, we renew this commitment. The clean-up of our inner city will continue. Criminal syndicates will not dictate the future of Johannesburg.”
Mashaba’s re-entry into the mayoral race sets up a direct confrontation with Zille, the DA’s federal council chairperson and former party leader. The DA has formally chosen Zille as its candidate, signalling a strategic push to reclaim influence in Gauteng’s economic hub by fielding one of its most experienced leaders.
She has previously served as premier of the Western Cape and mayor of Cape Town, building a reputation within her party as a tough administrator. Her campaign is being framed as a bid to stabilise local governance in a city battered by service delivery failures, infrastructure decay and financial strain.
The contrast between the two candidates is already defining the race. Mashaba, a businessman-turned-politician and founder of ActionSA, is positioning himself as a hands-on reformer. Zille, a seasoned political strategist, is presenting herself as a steady and experienced leader capable of restoring order to a fractured council.
Johannesburg’s political landscape has, in recent years, been defined by shifting coalitions and fragmentation in the city council.
No single party has enjoyed outright dominance, resulting in frequent changes in mayoral leadership and policy direction.
Against this backdrop, the 2026 contest is likely to be fiercely competitive, with governance of the country’s economic engine at stake.
The ANC, historically the dominant force in the metro, has yet to announce its mayoral candidate.
The absence of an official ANC contender at this stage adds further intrigue to the race, leaving space for Mashaba and Zille to define the early narrative.
A message of support was also delivered by March-on-March founder Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma, who shares a strong stance against illegal immigration with ActionSA.
She traced Johannesburg’s origins to the discovery of gold in 1886, which drew foreign fortune-seekers to the city, arguing that black South Africans were reduced to labourers in their own land during that era.
Drawing a parallel with the present, Ngobese-Zuma said history appears to be repeating itself, claiming that foreign nationals were once again “milking” the City of Gold while poor South Africans struggle.
