As South Africa gears up for the 2026 local government elections, a political storm is already brewing — and it’s all centered around one familiar name: Helen Zille.

The former Western Cape premier has made it clear that she’s considering a bid to become the next mayor of Johannesburg, but not everyone is on board with the idea.

Helen Zille Looks to Fix Johannesburg from the Ground Up

In a recent interview with Radio 702, Zille opened up about her interest in running for mayor of Johannesburg.

Born and raised in Hillbrow, Zille isn’t exactly a stranger to the city.

She worked there as a journalist for the Rand Daily Mail during the apartheid era.

Now, decades later, she says Johannesburg — the economic engine of South Africa — is too important to let fall apart.

Zille explained that real change starts at the local level.

“South Africa can succeed, but we have to fix it piece by piece. That begins with local government,” she said.

“Winning cities like Joburg gives us the chance to show what good governance looks like.”

MK Party Isn’t Buying It — and They’re Making Noise

But Zille’s remarks didn’t land well with everyone. The uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party quickly hit back at her potential candidacy, dismissing it as “nonsensical.”

The party says the idea of someone from Cape Town leading Johannesburg shows a lack of respect for local talent and community understanding.

MK’s spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndhlela didn’t hold back.

“Why would we consider someone who’s unfamiliar with Joburg’s unique challenges when we have many capable men and women right here?” he asked.

MK Party Points Fingers at the ANC and Dada Morero

The MK Party didn’t just go after Zille — they also had sharp words for the ANC and current (and frequently absent) Johannesburg mayor Dada Morero.

According to the party, Morero’s lack of leadership has pushed the city into chaos, and his failure is now paving the way for someone like Zille to think she could step in and save the day.

“Dada Morero and the ANC should hang their heads in shame,” said Ndhlela, accusing them of emboldening someone he described as a “white supremacist” by creating a leadership vacuum.

“We Have More Than Enough Black Leaders,” Says MK

Ndhlela also pushed back hard on the Democratic Alliance’s long-standing claim that it “doesn’t see colour,” pointing to governance patterns in Cape Town as proof of racial bias.

“The DA governs differently depending on the racial makeup of the area — that’s clear,” he said.

He stressed that Johannesburg has no shortage of qualified black candidates who are more than ready to step up and fix the city.

“We won’t accept that the failures of the ANC should now be fixed by people who don’t reflect the majority of Johannesburg residents,” he said.

The Bigger Question: Can Zille Actually Fix Joburg?

Whether you support Helen Zille or not, one thing is clear — Johannesburg is in trouble.

With infrastructure decay, service delivery issues, and leadership gaps, the city desperately needs a turnaround.

Zille believes she’s got what it takes. Her critics say she’s out of touch.

So what do you think? Could Zille be the leader Johannesburg needs to get back on track? Or is it time for local leadership to rise up and take the reins?