Former Western Cape Premier and current DA Federal Council Chairperson Helen Zille recently joined Martin Bester on Jacaranda FM’s flagship breakfast show, Breakfast with Martin Bester, for a candid and thought-provoking conversation about Johannesburg, the state of leadership, and South Africa’s future.
The interview offered listeners rare insights into Zille’s values and vision as she steps forward as the DA’s mayoral candidate for Johannesburg in the 2026 local government elections.
Johannesburg Today
While acknowledging the city’s enduring charm, Zille is frank about its current challenges. “It’s a phenomenal place, but it needs love, a lot of love,” she says. “We have to move away from this dangerous idea that certain neighbourhoods belong to certain nationalities. That mindset is eating away at our social fabric.”
For Zille, governance remains Johannesburg’s biggest challenge. “People get the government they vote for,” she explains. “When voters split their votes across many small parties, you end up with unstable coalitions that can’t deliver. Johannesburg has 270 council seats, and you need 136 votes to govern effectively. Without that, you face chaos, backroom deals, corruption, and short-term politics instead of proper service delivery.”
What’s Broken – and How to Fix It
Zille does not shy away from critiquing the city’s current state. “Johannesburg is in deep, deep trouble. The city has a budget of R89 billion, but it’s never funded properly,” she tells Bester. “Entities like City Power are draining billions from the coffers instead of delivering. And there’s a massive over-employment problem – someone told me there are 500 people in the mayor’s office. When I was mayor of Cape Town, I had 10.”
Despite the challenges, she believes the city can be rebuilt with the right priorities. “My first focus would be water – you can’t live without it. Then electricity reticulation, fixing roads, streetlights, and traffic lights, and reclaiming public spaces from drug addicts and petty criminals. We must revive our small CBDs into thriving job-creating hubs again.”
On Cancel Culture
Zille spoke openly about controversy and cancel culture. “If you don’t subscribe to cancel culture, you don’t get cancelled,” she laughs. “I’ve been cancelled a few times, I even wrote a book about it. But I won’t bend the knee to it. I always try to be decent, but there are people who spend their lives looking for reasons to be offended. Context matters. I once covered my head out of respect for a cultural custom, and people screamed ‘cultural appropriation.’ It was absurd. Respect shouldn’t be controversial.”
Leadership and Accountability
Zille’s political philosophy is rooted in meritocracy. “We can’t fix the city if we’re constantly hiring people based on patronage or connections,” she says. “Everywhere I’ve governed, I’ve focused on merit, the best person for the job, whether they’re 25 or 75.”
Johannesburg’s Future
Her love for Johannesburg is clear, as is her realism. “It took 30 years to break Johannesburg, and it’s going to take time to fix it,” she says. “But it’s doable. There are still beautiful, thriving parts of this city. We just need stable leadership, clear priorities, and a government that remembers what service delivery actually means.”
Looking ahead, Helen Zille remains hopeful. “Joburg’s got heart. If we can bring that heart back into how it’s run, with accountability, care, and courage, then we can turn it around. It’s not going to be easy, but nothing worth doing ever is.”
Open Conversations Matter
The interview has sparked discussion among listeners nationwide, highlighting the importance of honest, open conversations about the challenges and opportunities facing South Africa’s cities.
Check out the interview with Helen Zille below – you can also listen to the interview on the Jacaranda FM website.
Listeners can catch Breakfast with Martin Bester weekdays between 06:00 and 09:00 on Jacaranda FM.
Watch this space for updates in the General News category on Running Wolf’s Rant.
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