By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The Social Research Foundation (SRF) conducted a polling in the first quarter of 2026, which shows the Democratic Alliance (DA) holds a narrow lead over the African National Congress (ANC) in Gauteng.
In the broader Gauteng province, the DA leads the ANC with 37% to 31%.
The poll showed that 60% of Gauteng voters would support the DA candidate for mayor, Helen Zille, rising to 65% among Johannesburg voters. The poll also showed only 39% of Johannesburg voters intended to vote for the DA.
ActionSA receives 7%, while the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) register 5%.
“That’s the highest number of votes the party has ever achieved in the city,” said campaign manager Nicole van Dyk.
Van Dyk added that the DA will not enter a coalition with the ANC in Johannesburg.
“We would only align with parties that share our principles. And those principles are good governance and no corruption.”
Zille began her political career as a party advisor before serving in the Western Cape provincial legislature and securing a seat in the National Assembly in 2004.
After this, she became the executive mayor of Cape Town, serving for three years before transitioning to the Western Cape Premier.
She stepped down from her leadership role in the DA in 2015, handing the mantle to Mmusi Maimane. She later served as the party’s Federal Council Chairperson.
Meanwhile former DA leader and minister of Agriculture John Steenhuisen made serious allegations against new leader Geordin Hill-Lewis, and former leader Tony Leon.
Since taking office as the Minister of Agriculture, he has faced several high-profile controversies, administrative problems, and legal challenges.
The ongoing management of a severe Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) outbreak has drawn immense criticism from the agricultural sector.
Steenhuisen’s department has been widely criticised for maintaining exclusive state control over vaccine distribution.
He told News24 that he was promised that if he stepped down as leader of the DA, he would remain as Agriculture Minister to finish his work against FMD.
“The deal was that I would stand down as leader, but that I would remain on as Minister of Agriculture. A word was given, and a word was broken, “he said.
He also accused Resolve Communications, a PR firm run by former DA leader Tony Leon, of driving a campaign against him and his chief of staff.
“A company chaired by a former DA leader and led by a former DA CEO was pivotal in criticising me and my chief of staff, relentlessly driving public narratives,” he said.