Zille’s Joburg mayoral bid ignites political fury among rival parties

By Rafieka Williams

The Democratic Alliance’s (DA) decision to field Helen Zille as its Johannesburg mayoral candidate has drawn praise from some pundits, but rival parties vying for control of South Africa’s economic hub remain unconvinced.

RISEMzansi, which campaigned aggressively in Johannesburg during the national elections, criticised the move, saying that Zille is out of touch with the realities faced by residents on the ground.

“The idea that someone who doesn’t even pay rates in the city of Joburg and hasn’t lived here for over two decades believes they are more suited to lead the city than any of its own residents is an insult to us all and we should reject that suggestion with the contempt it deserves,” RISEMzansi national chairperson Vuyiswa Ramokgopa said.

DA leader John Steenhuisen announced Zille as the party’s mayoral candidate over the weekend. Zille is a former Western Cape premier and mayor of Cape