DA Joburg Mayor Candidate Helen Zille: 2026 election, ANC, Action SA, illegal immigration, GNU

Helen Zille returns to SMWX for a conversation with Dr Sizwe Mpofu-Walsh about her campaign to become Johannesburg’s mayor and how she would tackle the city’s financial and service-delivery crises. She outlines proposals to fix the billing system, make procurement transparent and ring-fence water and electricity revenue, while working with Treasury and the presidency on Johannesburg’s recovery. Zille also weighs the DA’s coalition options, questions whether an ANC partnership could tackle corruption, rules out a deal with MK and proposes extending the Madlanga Commission’s work to Johannesburg. From her digital-first campaign and viral pothole swim to immigration, policing and the DA’s leadership transition, the discussion explores both the campaign trail and the challenges of governing. Looking beyond the local elections, she reflects on the Government of National Unity, the ANC’s declining dominance and what the Phala Phala controversy could mean for Cyril Ramaphosa’s future.