Democratic Alliance (DA) federal council chairperson Helen Zille has argued that only the country’s two largest parties, the ANC and DA, are capable of governing Johannesburg effectively.
She warned that continued fragmentation of the vote would leave the city trapped in unstable coalitions that have already undermined service delivery.
Speaking to eNCA, Zille described Johannesburg’s coalition arrangements as chaotic and unsustainable.
She attributed the city’s governance troubles to voter apathy and the proliferation of small parties, which she believes prevent the establishment of a stable administration.
Johannesburg has seen nine mayors in just eight years, with shifting coalitions unable to offer consistent leadership.
The most recent example was the short-lived mayoralty of Al Jama-ah’s Kabelo Gwamanda, whose tenure relied on an uneasy alliance between the ANC, EFF, ActionSA and several smaller parties.
The current administration, also coalition-led, continues to grapple with persistent service delivery failures, including recurring blackouts, pothole-ridden roads, water shortages and deteriorating infrastructure.
Zille has called on residents to vote decisively in the next local government elections in 2026, warning that splitting support among multiple smaller parties will only prolong the instability.
She suggested that a majority government, ideally led by the DA, would be the most effective way to address Johannesburg’s long-standing challenges.
The DA stalwart has also signalled interest in contesting the mayoral position herself, framing the upcoming elections as a choice between restoring stability or allowing the city’s decline to continue.
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