Helen Zille’s increasing visibility at Johannesburg’s broken traffic lights and pothole-riddled roads has raised fresh questions about whether the Democratic Alliance heavyweight is preparing to move to the city to meet residency requirements ahead of her mayoral bid.
has put questions to the Democratic Alliance regarding whether Helen Zille has relocated to Johannesburg or intends to do so, but the party had not responded at the time of publication.
Over the past few weeks, Zille has posted videos and images from across Johannesburg highlighting malfunctioning traffic signals, deteriorating roads and what she has described as a collapse in basic service delivery.
In one widely circulated clip, she is seen standing at a busy intersection where traffic lights were not working, using the moment to criticise the city’s leadership and governance failures.
The heightened public presence comes amid earlier reporting by that Zille must be ordinarily resident in Johannesburg if she is to legally contest the mayoral position in the 2026 local government elections.
While mayors are elected from among councillors, candidates must be registered voters within the municipality they seek to govern — placing Zille’s living arrangements firmly under scrutiny.
Zille, who is 74, has sought to counter criticism that she is an outsider by repeatedly stressing her personal ties to the City of Johannesburg.
In an earlier interview published by , she said she was born in Johannesburg, grew up in the city and considers it home, adding that she believes she has “unfinished business” there.
Her potential relocation would mark a significant shift. Zille is a former mayor of the City of Cape Town and later served two terms as Premier of the Western Cape, roles that cemented her reputation as one of the country’s most experienced politicians. She is currently based in Cape Town, where she lives with her husband, Professor Johann Maree, and remains active in national politics as chairperson of the DA’s federal council.
Reports have suggested the DA is exploring ways to deploy Zille to the Johannesburg council through a proportional representation seat, a move that would both embed her in the metro’s political structures and help satisfy residency requirements ahead of the mayoral race.
Johannesburg is currently governed by an ANC-led coalition under mayor Dada Morero, following years of political instability that have seen the city cycle through multiple mayors since 2016. With no party holding an outright majority, coalition politics continue to shape governance in South Africa’s economic hub.
Whether Zille formally relocates to Johannesburg in the coming months is likely to remain a central political question as the DA positions itself to challenge for control of the city in 2026.
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