News / Africa
Helen Zille wants to bring apartheid back to Jozi
22 Sep 2025 at 08:53hrs | 282 Views
ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba has slammed the Democratic Alliance's (DA) decision to field Helen Zille as its mayoral candidate for Johannesburg in the 2026 local government elections, accusing her of wanting to "bring back apartheid."
Mashaba said Zille, the former Cape Town mayor and current DA federal council chair, stood no chance of winning in South Africa's economic hub.
IOL reported on Saturday that Zille, 74, had enthusiastically accepted her nomination during a lively event in Soweto, where DA leader John Steenhuisen introduced her as "a daughter of the city."
Reacting to Zille's candidacy, Mashaba - who previously served as Johannesburg mayor under the DA - told broadcaster Newzroom Afrika that the city could not be led by someone he described as "racist."
"All peace-loving South Africans can understand that we cannot have such racists like Helen Zille to really be in charge of the powerhouse of this country. We have capable, ethical black leadership in this country which was oppressed for centuries … and for Helen Zille who so dearly misses apartheid, wants to bring it back to a city where 80% of the voters are black," he said.
"We are going to make sure that people of Soweto, people of Alexandra can really rest assured that this is someone who believes very strongly that people like Herman Mashaba, Dr Mpho Phalatse cannot be leaders, that they don't have ethical black leaders, she believes she is the ethical black leader."
Mashaba also criticised the DA's governance record in the Western Cape, which it touts as a model of good service delivery. According to Mashaba, the province is still plagued by poverty and underdeveloped townships.
He added that during his own tenure as DA mayor in Johannesburg, tensions arose with the party leadership over his efforts to deliver services to townships and low-income communities.
IOL reported on Saturday that in her acceptance speech, Zille said she had faced stiff competition during the DA's internal selection process.
"It is a privilege for me to accept the nomination as your mayoral candidate for this great city. I acknowledge with respect all the other candidates who gave me stiff competition for this honour," said Zille.
Throwing punches at the African National Congress (ANC), Zille said the once-glorious Joburg now symbolises the burden that bad government places on great people.
"But the good news is that in a democracy, the people have more power than their government, if they will only use it. They can vote for change. They can evict a bad government and demand better. The greatest risk facing Joburg is that her people resign themselves to the path of failure, and give up on her promise," said the former mayor of Cape Town.
"We are here to say: we will not give up. We can still change course. There is a better way.
"If you don't believe me, just ask the president. With perfect timing, President Ramaphosa this week showed the boldness we've all been waiting for. There is no braver act for a political leader than endorsing his main political opponent. Make no mistake, that is exactly what the president did. He told South Africa that the DA's election offer is better than the ANC's," she told the gathering.
Mashaba said Zille, the former Cape Town mayor and current DA federal council chair, stood no chance of winning in South Africa's economic hub.
IOL reported on Saturday that Zille, 74, had enthusiastically accepted her nomination during a lively event in Soweto, where DA leader John Steenhuisen introduced her as "a daughter of the city."
Reacting to Zille's candidacy, Mashaba - who previously served as Johannesburg mayor under the DA - told broadcaster Newzroom Afrika that the city could not be led by someone he described as "racist."
"All peace-loving South Africans can understand that we cannot have such racists like Helen Zille to really be in charge of the powerhouse of this country. We have capable, ethical black leadership in this country which was oppressed for centuries … and for Helen Zille who so dearly misses apartheid, wants to bring it back to a city where 80% of the voters are black," he said.
"We are going to make sure that people of Soweto, people of Alexandra can really rest assured that this is someone who believes very strongly that people like Herman Mashaba, Dr Mpho Phalatse cannot be leaders, that they don't have ethical black leaders, she believes she is the ethical black leader."
Mashaba also criticised the DA's governance record in the Western Cape, which it touts as a model of good service delivery. According to Mashaba, the province is still plagued by poverty and underdeveloped townships.
He added that during his own tenure as DA mayor in Johannesburg, tensions arose with the party leadership over his efforts to deliver services to townships and low-income communities.
IOL reported on Saturday that in her acceptance speech, Zille said she had faced stiff competition during the DA's internal selection process.
"It is a privilege for me to accept the nomination as your mayoral candidate for this great city. I acknowledge with respect all the other candidates who gave me stiff competition for this honour," said Zille.
Throwing punches at the African National Congress (ANC), Zille said the once-glorious Joburg now symbolises the burden that bad government places on great people.
"But the good news is that in a democracy, the people have more power than their government, if they will only use it. They can vote for change. They can evict a bad government and demand better. The greatest risk facing Joburg is that her people resign themselves to the path of failure, and give up on her promise," said the former mayor of Cape Town.
"We are here to say: we will not give up. We can still change course. There is a better way.
"If you don't believe me, just ask the president. With perfect timing, President Ramaphosa this week showed the boldness we've all been waiting for. There is no braver act for a political leader than endorsing his main political opponent. Make no mistake, that is exactly what the president did. He told South Africa that the DA's election offer is better than the ANC's," she told the gathering.
Source - iol
