By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) Mayoral Candidate Helen Zille launched the party’s manifesto at Johannesburg City Hall on Saturday, as the country gear up for the Local Government Elections (LGE).
The city is in a severe and deepening crisis of governance. The basic infrastructure of urban life is failing. Traffic lights do not work. Streetlights no longer function across vast areas of the city, leaving whole neighbourhoods in darkness.
Water disruptions can last for weeks, and in some instances up to a month. Roads are cratered with potholes that in places have turned into dongas and even sinkholes.
Addressing party supporters on Saturday, Zille unveiled five of her top priorities ahead of the upcoming local government elections.
- Reliable water and electricity
- Roads
- Jobs
- Law and order
- Governance
One of her ambitions for Johannesburg is to return the city to its former glory.
She said this involves turning Johannesburg back into the economic powerhouse she believes it once was and reasserting its economic dominance on the international stage.
Zille said in the last local government election in 2021, only 42,6% of registered voters in Joburg actually voted.
“In this year’s election, we need at least 80% of DA supporters to vote for us on both ballots.
“If everyone who loves Joburg works together to rescue her, we can get this great city working. iDA iyaDibanisa. iKongolose iyaHlukanisa And when Joburg works, the people of Joburg work, and when the people of Joburg work, South Africa wins, Zille said.”
Although the DA has had its own stints in governing Johannesburg over the past decade, it has placed the blame for the collapse of the city on the African National Congress (ANC) – Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) coalition.
In Johannesburg, the ANC has 91 seats, the DA 71, ActionSA 44 and the EFF 29, while the micro-parties trail behind. The Patriotic Alliance is the kingmaker party.
The Independent Electoral Commissions (IEC) plans to hold next local government elections between 2 November 2026 and 30 January 2027, with the official date to be determined by Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa.