The Democratic Alliance (DA) has officially unveiled Hellen Zille, Chairperson of the Federal Council, as its mayoral candidate for Johannesburg in the upcoming Local Government Elections in 2026. This announcement was made by DA Gauteng Provincial leader Solly Msimanga at a rally in Soweto on Saturday, 20 September. Msimanga expressed significant enthusiasm for Zille’s selection, assuring thousands of DA supporters that the party is prepared to instigate substantial change in the city.

Solly Msimanga was highly critical of the current leadership in Johannesburg, stating that the city's mayor lacks direction, the municipality is bankrupt, and it is currently under administration. He described Johannesburg as being in a state of disrepair, emphasizing that change is inevitable and essential for attracting investors, which necessitates strong financial oversight. Msimanga also responded to President Cyril Ramaphosa's recent controversial remarks by asserting that the DA does not have time to educate councillors from other parties on proper governance or morals, dedicating their focus and energy solely to improving residents' lives through effective project delivery. He viewed Zille's nomination as a pivotal moment for the country's economy.

Hellen Zille accepted her nomination, acknowledging the urgent need for intervention to restore effective governance in Johannesburg. She articulated that, under its current leadership, Johannesburg symbolizes the heavy burden that poor governance places on its people. Zille further emphasized via an X post that local government transcends ideology and grand ideals, focusing instead on profound responsibility and acting as the front line of service delivery.

Speaking at a spirited rally at Eyethu Mall in Soweto, Zille intensified her critique, describing Johannesburg as “a symbol of poor governance” under the African National Congress (ANC) and vowing to “wrestle our city back from a criminal mafia.” The 74-year-old, who previously served as Western Cape premier and DA federal council chair, promised residents that a DA-run Johannesburg would ensure efficient services and restore pride to the embattled metropolis, which is grappling with severe water shortages, crumbling roads, and an estimated R200 billion infrastructure backlog.

Casting herself as the city’s “daughter” due to her Johannesburg upbringing, Zille outlined specific pledges. These included stabilizing the city’s R86 billion budget, meticulously addressing water leaks responsible for nearly half of billable losses, and implementing “honest, accountable leadership.” She declared, “We will not let Joburg’s taps stay dry. We won’t accept brokenness as the new normal.” This rally took place under a crisp autumn sky, with blue DA flags waving among the crowd. The DA previously governed Johannesburg in 2022 before coalition fractures led to a return of power to the ANC and smaller parties. Zille’s nomination, described as a “bold move” by DA leader John Steenhuisen, leverages her reputation, having won the prestigious World Mayor Award in 2008 for her leadership in Cape Town.

Adding significant weight to the DA’s claims, President Cyril Ramaphosa himself acknowledged the superior performance of DA-led municipalities. Speaking at a service delivery roll-call for over 4,000 ANC councillors at FNB Stadium on 15 September, Ramaphosa admitted it “pained” him that DA-led municipalities, such as Cape Town and Stellenbosch, consistently outperform ANC-run ones in audits and service delivery. He urged his party to study these successful models for improvement, a concession that Zille swiftly utilized as a rallying cry, stating, “If you don’t believe me, ask President Ramaphosa.”

The President’s admission spurred introspection within the ANC. ANC National Chairperson Gwede Mantashe called for internal reflection, noting that while ANC councillors often excel in political mobilization, they frequently fall short in management. Auditor-General reports consistently indicate that only a small fraction of South Africa’s 257 municipalities achieve clean audits, with ANC-led councils disproportionately affected by poor financial management and service delivery failures.

DA spokesperson Willie Aucamp welcomed Ramaphosa's overture, highlighting Gauteng’s Midvaal municipality, a DA stronghold that has achieved 11 consecutive clean audits, in stark contrast to the neighboring ANC-run Emfuleni, which is plagued by debt and profound service delivery failures. Aucamp stated, “The difference is night and day. We’re open to working with the ANC to improve municipal performance.” Political analyst Dr. Sipho Malada described Ramaphosa’s acknowledgment of DA models as “necessary,” given years of municipal collapse under ANC oversight. This unusual public dialogue ahead of local elections signals either a potential willingness for cross-party cooperation or sophisticated political posturing in the intensified battle for voter confidence.