Big names, bigger questions: Who will put Joburg first?

Governance expert, Leo Maphosa, says that while political parties compete by putting forward high-profile candidates for Johannesburg’s mayoral seat, the real question remains: Can anyone rise above personal politics and prioritise service delivery?

This comes after the Democratic Alliance (DA) named Helen Zille as it mayoral candidate for the country’s economic hub.

Last week several reports suggested that the PA has thrown Kenny Kunene’s name in the hat, for the same position.

This is ahead of the much anticipated local government elections set for next year.

The once world-class metro has over the years been plagued with service delivery issues, including water outages, aging infrastructure, crime amongst others.

Maphosa says the city’s structural crises cannot be solved by a single individual and require mature coalitions.

“For me, that is the real test. Can our political parties rise above cheap politicking and instead build stable service delivery focus coalitions that put residents first?” he questioned.

“Because port walls don’t really care about party logos. Waste removal isn’t blue, green or yellow and clean water is no political color. The pros for the ANC are that it still has reach and brand recognition. Its cons are its visibility vision, its mixed messages and its declining credibility in the eyes of residents.”

The think tank maintains that Zille is statement candidate, however questions whether the DA can penetrate beyond and prove inclusive delivery.

“This mayoral contest is more than just a fight for chains of office. It’s a referendum of whether our politics can mature, whether our coalitions can hold, and whether our leaders across the ANC, DAPA, EFF, and other parties can finally make service delivery, not slogans, the beating heart of governance in the country’s economic hub.”

Maphosa added that, while names like Kenny Kunene may grab headlines, populist energy doesn’t always translate into credible governance.

Last week, ANC President Cyril Ramaphosa sang the DA’s praises, saying most well run municipalities in the country are led by the party.

These sentiments have now become a campaign slogan for the DA.

However, on the other hand, the ANC’s national chairperson has dismissed these claims, accusing the DA of focusing on white suburbs while neglecting townships.

Maphosa says these mixed signals reveal internal ANC tensions.

“Does the ANC as a party lean into a reformist posture that admits mistakes and seeks renewal through coalition pragmatism? Or does it retreat to a populist defense after they leave the experience of poor service delivery? Legally speaking, the ANC cannot wish away the reality that municipalities are constitutionally autonomous spheres of government.”

While Zille promises to restore the City of Gold to its former glory, her endorsement has sparked significant debate and criticism.

This is the @helenzille who pretends to have been a political activist during apartheid.

Helen wrote lies Rand Daily Mail about Credo Mutwa in 1976, resulting in him being beaten and stabbed, his wife raped and his children assaulted by a mob.

Helen has no struggle credentials pic.twitter.com/fceT0eMlfs

— Sentletse 🇿🇦🇷🇺🇵🇸🇱🇧 (@Sentletse) September 22, 2025

Helen Zille is the embodiment of that repulsive, entitled superiority that apartheid whites wore so comfortably. You see it in her face, her demeanour , in the way she sneers through words. Her entire posture reeks of white, colonialist arrogance. I find her truly repulsive.

— @luphumlongcayisa (@luphumlongcayis) September 22, 2025

Helen Zille is Jewish.

She & the DA are:
– Pro-Israel
– Pro-America
– Pro-Ukraine
– Pro-Capitalism
– Pro-Ramaphosa
– Anti-BEE
– Anti-BRICS

They’ve failed to fix poor areas in the Cape & purged their top Black leaders.

Vote for them if you wish, but don’t lie to us about them.

— Penuel The Black Pen (@GodPenuel) September 22, 2025

The DA and @helenzille have no interest in serving black communities!

In two instances they ensured that capable black leaders @mphophalatse1 and I were ousted out of government to stop effective and quality services from being provided in Soweto and other townships. pic.twitter.com/QMynEIzqkU

— Herman Mashaba (@HermanMashaba) September 22, 2025

This is the legacy of @helenzille in Cape Town. pic.twitter.com/r24QDlYijN

— Sentletse 🇿🇦🇷🇺🇵🇸🇱🇧 (@Sentletse) September 20, 2025

Just a reminder that Helen Zille publicly stated she regrets promoting Black people into leadership positions.

Keep this in mind when elections come around.

— Ivyn Sambo (@IvynSambo) September 22, 2025

If helen zille becomes the mayor of joburg, illegal foreigners will have everything they want. pic.twitter.com/sWV8hHhFa9

— TWAR___SA🇿🇦 (@TwaRSA26) September 21, 2025

If the people of Joburg want to elect Helen Zille as their Mayor after the DA disaster class in Tshwane, then go ahead. At least you know what you’ll get.

— Mokgaga (@Metsengwane) September 22, 2025

Written by: Lindiwe Mpanza