HELEN ZILLE WILL NOT BECOME JOHANNESBURG MAYOR AS DA FACES EXCLUSION FROM CITY GOVERNMENT, WITH ANC SET TO APPROACH ACTIONSA, MK PARTY AND EFF FOR COALITION TALKS
The political battle for control of the City of Johannesburg is intensifying following the 2026 local government election results, with Helen Zille’s ambitions of becoming mayor facing a major obstacle.
Despite the DA emerging as the leading party in Johannesburg with 34.84% of the vote, the party could find itself outside the city’s governing coalition if other political parties unite against it.
The ANC, which secured 20.26%, is expected to explore possible coalition arrangements with ActionSA, which received 16.27%, the MK Party on 5.58%, and the EFF on 6.52%.
Such an arrangement could potentially give these parties enough numbers to form an alternative governing coalition and shut the DA out of Johannesburg’s government.
The big question now is whether ActionSA, MK Party and the EFF will be willing to work with the ANC to keep the DA out of power.
For Helen Zille and the DA, winning the most votes may not necessarily translate into governing Johannesburg.
Johannesburg’s political future could now depend on coalition negotiations.