DA’s Helen Zille promises to fix Joburg after hero’s welcome in Soweto

By Dylan Bettencourt

• Helen Zille, who wants to be mayor of Johannesburg, said she has had warm and friendly receptions in Soweto.

• DA member of the provincial legislature Mike Waters said the weekend reception showed people are ready for change.

Helen Zille received a hero’s welcome from DA supporters in Soweto over the weekend, and the party says it shows Joburg residents are tired of broken services.

DA member of the provincial legislature Mike Waters said the reception showed people are ready for change and believe the DA can fix things.

“With Helen leading the fight in Johannesburg to save the city, the DA can only go from strength to strength,” he said.

Zille, who wants to be mayor of Johannesburg, said she has had warm and friendly receptions in Soweto. She said people are politically aware and know that change means voting in a new government.

She is confident the DA can win the metro. She said all the ingredients are in play for victory.

This would be the DA’s second serious push to run Johannesburg. In 2016, the ANC lost power to a DA led coalition and Herman Mashaba, now with ActionSA, became mayor.

Zille is now gunning for the top seat. The DA says their track record in Cape Town, Midvaal and the Western Cape will convince Joburg voters.

Even President Cyril Ramaphosa recently told ANC councillors to take a leaf from the DA’s service delivery book.

But the ANC is not giving up without a fight. Analyst Khanyi Magubane said Zille has shaken the political landscape and made big promises, which has triggered a strong reaction from her rivals, The Citizen reported.

She said poor infrastructure and failing services could help Zille but warned that she cannot win Joburg without the black vote.

Another analyst, Sandile Swana, said no party can win the city alone. The DA would need to partner with either the ANC or the EFF to take control.

But Ekurhuleni DA councillor Simon Lapping said the tide is turning. He said Zille’s warm welcome in Soweto means bigger things for the party across the country.

Pictured above: DA federal chair Helen Zille.

Image source: @helenzille