Johannesburg – Former Western Cape Premier and current Democratic Alliance (DA) Federal Council Chairperson Helen Zille has opened up about her thoughts on South Africa’s future, the evolution of Johannesburg, and the state of leadership today.
Earlier this week on Jacaranda FM’s flagship breakfast show “Breakfast with Martin Bester”, Zille engaged in a candid, thought-provoking conversation with the host, Martin Bester.
From politics to nostalgia and social commentary, the interview offered listeners rare insights into Zille’s mindset and values.
She has been nominated as the DA party’s mayoral candidate for the City of Johannesburg in the upcoming 2026 local government elections.
Here are five takeaways from the in-depth conversation the Jacaranda FM DJ and Zille had on air this week:
On Johannesburg today
While Zille acknowledges the charm that remains, she is frank about how much the city has changed.
“It’s a phenomenal place, but it needs love, a lot of love,” Zille 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 her, Johannesburg’s biggest challenge lies in governance.
“The truth is that people get the government they vote for,” Zille says.
“When voters split their votes across many tiny parties, you end up with unstable coalitions that can’t deliver.
“Johannesburg has 270 council seats, and you need 136 votes to govern effectively.
“If no party reaches that on their own, you end up with chaos, backroom deals, corruption, and short-term politics instead of proper service delivery.”
On what’s broken – and what can be fixed
Zille doesn’t mince words when describing the current state of the city.
“Johannesburg is in deep, deep trouble,” she tells Martin Bester in the interview.
“The city has a budget of R89 billion, but it’s never funded properly.
“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.”
Still, Zille says 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
In classic Zille fashion, she doesn’t shy away from controversy.
“If you don’t subscribe to cancel culture, you don’t get cancelled,” she laughingly says.
“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.”
On who steps into leadership roles
Zille’s political philosophy remains rooted in accountability and 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.”
On Johannesburg’s future
Zille’s love for Johannesburg is clear, but so 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.”
As she looks ahead to potentially leading the city, her tone turns hopeful. “Joburg’s got heart,” she continues.
“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.”
The interview has since sparked discussion among listeners across the country, highlighting the ongoing importance of open, honest conversations about the challenges and opportunities facing South Africa’s cities.
*Listen to Breakfast With Martin Bester, weekdays between 06:00 and 09:00 on Jacaranda FM.
