Kunene Says Helen Zille Won’t Become Johannesburg Mayor Despite Strong Election Showing

Patriotic Alliance (PA) deputy president Kenny Kunene says he is confident that Helen Zille of the Democratic Alliance (DA) will not become the next mayor of Johannesburg, even though her party did well in the 2026 Local Government Elections.

His comments come as parties prepare for coalition talks that will decide who runs South Africa’s economic hub. The DA’s strong showing has improved its position in the city and led to talk that it could play a leading role in the next administration. Kunene, however, does not believe those gains will automatically put Zille in the mayor’s chair.

In Johannesburg, a party does not win the mayoral position simply by performing well at the polls. The mayor is chosen by the newly elected councillors, so any candidate needs enough support in the council to be voted in. Where no party has a clear majority, that support usually has to be built through agreements with other parties. This is why coalition deals could end up deciding who leads the city.

The PA could play a key part in these talks. Its councillors may provide the votes one group needs to reach the numbers required to govern.

Zille is a well-known figure in South African politics and a former DA federal leader. The possibility of her taking over the city’s top political post has become one of the main talking points since the elections.

Whoever becomes mayor will face serious challenges. These include unreliable service delivery, infrastructure problems, ongoing concerns about electricity and water supply, and questions about how the city’s finances are managed.

Kunene’s remarks add another angle to the contest and suggest that discussions and alliances may already be taking shape behind the scenes. In the end, the make-up of the new council and the agreements parties reach will decide who becomes mayor. For now, Kunene insists that Zille will not hold the office, whatever the DA’s results at the polls.

https://x.com/MDNnewss/status/2118705213477368219?a=gi_uymVItTTaDMZWgRw&s=19

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