The stakes could not be higher.
Johannesburg is bracing for a political clash that could redefine South Africa’s urban future come the 2026 local government elections.
The city is not just any metro; it is the country’s economic engine and a bellwether for national politics.
Finance MMC Loyiso Masuku’s victory on Friday, with 184 votes to incumbent African National Congress (ANC) mayor Dada Morero’s 149, is more than an internal “reshuffle”; it signals a fight back by a party grappling with declining voter confidence and mounting pressure ahead of 2026.
The new regional chairperson and the first female to hold the position celebrated her historical victory donned in a party t-shirt depicting the late Winnie Madikizela-Mandela.
She sang her signature song, “Sifuna Women On Top” [we want women to lead] with her supporters.
For now, the ANC in Johannesburg has “put a woman on top”, probably as a last resort to reclaim lost ground, especially among women and young voters.
In the other corner stands Helen Zille, the seasoned but also controversial Democratic Alliance (DA) heavyweight who insists on clean governance and has a sharp rhetoric.
Her promise to fix Johannesburg a la Cape Town resonates with frustrated residents tired of below-par services.
She is buoyed by her experience as a former Cape Town mayor, which culminated in her winning the World Mayor prize in 2008, beating over 800 candidates worldwide.
She is also a former Western Cape premier.
The DA’s federal chair is banking on this track record to convince voters that she can replicate Cape Town’s turnaround in the city of gold.
Her campaign slogan, “Fix Joburg Like Cape Town,” taps into nostalgia for competent governance and clean streets, contrasting sharply with Johannesburg’s current state of decay.
But critics argue that Joburg’s challenges are far more complex than those faced by Cape Town back in the early 2000s.
The two opponents will also have to face stiff competition from ActionSA and the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), among others.
Masuku bears the mammoth task of rescuing a liberation movement in freefall.
If she wins, her tenure will be tested by the same systemic problems that sank her predecessor: coalition instability in council, financial mismanagement, and the ever-present perception of corruption.
A dark cloud still lingers from her involvement in the controversial PPE procurement graft saga during the Covid-19 pandemic.
If Masuku can stabilise the region, improve service delivery, and reconnect the ANC with its grassroots, she may become the face of the party’s urban revival.
If she fails, her election will be remembered as a desperate gamble by a party in decline.
*The author of this article is Getrude Makhafola, a former journalist and commentator. The views expressed by Getrude Makhafola are not necessarily those of The Bulrushes
