Helen Zille’s expressed interest in running for Johannesburg mayor in the 2026 local government elections has drawn strong backlash from the uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MK Party), which dismissed the possibility as absurd. The MK Party argues that Johannesburg deserves a mayor who understands the city’s unique challenges and lives among its residents.
The party’s national spokesperson, Nhlamulo Ndhlela, described the idea of a Capetonian leading Johannesburg as “nonsensical” and urged citizens—particularly black residents—to reject the notion that the DA is race-blind. He insisted that credible black candidates already exist within the city, ready to take on the mayoral task.
Highlighting its recent by-election performance, MK Party stated it is prepared to “rescue” Johannesburg and restore its former standing. The party blamed the current ANC-led municipal leadership and Mayor Dada Morero for bringing the city “to its knees,” and accused them of enabling a “white supremacist narrative” by entertaining Zille’s mayoral ambitions.
Despite Zille’s record as Cape Town mayor and Western Cape premier, MK Party maintains the mayoral position should belong to someone rooted in Johannesburg. They plan to unveil a detailed roadmap outlining how they intend to rebuild the city as the 2026 elections approach.
With voices from other parties like ActionSA also expressing doubts about Zille’s candidacy, the debate underscores tension around external leadership figures and race politics in the metro
