Helen Zille, the DA’s Federal Council chairperson and former Cape Town mayor and Western Cape premier, has revealed a meticulously thought‑through vision for Johannesburg, aiming to arrest the city’s decline and rebuild its foundations. Central to her proposal is the urgent stabilisation of the city’s finances, which currently face a daunting R200 billion capital infrastructure backlog against an R86 billion annual budget. Zille acknowledges that resolving these issues will demand more than five years of sustained effort.
Her plan is anchored in rebuilding trust and functionality. She commits to “fixing traffic lights, water supply, electricity, sidewalks, and litter” to improve daily life and halt the exodus of residents and investors businesstech.co.za. Zille insists these improvements begin with assembling a competent senior team, cracking down on corruption, setting clear targets, and measuring performance—all within a coalition framework.
Zille emphasises a whole-of-society approach. She calls on every resident who “decently pays rates and taxes to hold government accountable” and contribute to turning the city around businesstech.co.za. She hopes her return will also reverse the “brain drain” by attracting skilled South Africans home to rebuild Johannesburg—the economic hub of the nation .
Acknowledging political headwinds, Zille expects obstruction from Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi and ActionSA’s Herman Mashaba—who has already invoked the racial card. Nevertheless, Zille affirms her focus is on beating poverty, not fanning racial tensions .
She remains undecided about formally running but has until 13 June to make her choice. Political observers and citizens are watching closely—supporters highlight her efficiency record in Cape Town and Western Cape, while critics question the DA’s coalition strength in a fractured Johannesburg .
Zille’s pitch is clear: with stabilised finances, capable leadership, measurable goals, and active citizen involvement, a broken Johannesburg can be fixed. She pledges to “restore service delivery and functionality,” confident that once achieved, “the city will fly.”
