JOHANNESBURG, Gauteng — The Democratic Alliance Johannesburg campaign held a decisive mass rally at the Nasrec Expo Centre, delivering its final pitch to voters just weeks ahead of the 2026 Local Government Elections. Headlined by DA mayoral candidate Helen Zille, the event centered on the “Now or Never” theme, urging residents to choose a path of recovery over what the party describes as the economic hub’s impending collapse.
Addressing the crowd, Zille emphasized that the city is at a critical juncture. “We can, through our political choices, turn it round, and it’s now or never,” Zille stated, warning that without the right leadership, the city faces complete collapse. The party’s platform heavily prioritizes basic service delivery, tackling persistent water shortages, electricity instability, and deteriorating road infrastructure.
DA Deputy Campaign Manager and MP Thamsanqa Mabhena highlighted the stark contrast between Johannesburg’s current governance and the DA’s track record in the Western Cape. Pointing out that the Nasrec venue itself suffered a full-day power outage prior to the rally, Mabhena used it as a microcosm of the city’s infrastructure decay. He noted that while Johannesburg has replaced fewer than 20 kilometers of water pipes, Cape Town has replaced 156 kilometers. Furthermore, Mabhena highlighted that the Langa township in Cape Town boasts more functional streetlights than the affluent Sandton district in Johannesburg.
Expanding on the economic benefits of DA governance, Zille countered criticisms regarding a “trust gap” with diverse demographics. She argued that the party’s policies directly benefit the poor, citing that over the last decade, Cape Town added 120,000 jobs—more than the combined total of all seven other South African metros. “Poor people are much better off and have the prospects of getting out of poverty where the DA governs,” Zille asserted, dismissing the trust gap as a mere projection by “elite journalists.”
Despite polling projections suggesting a hung council, the DA is campaigning aggressively for an outright majority (50% plus one). Mabhena criticized coalition governments as inherently “unworkable” and prone to “extortionist” tactics by smaller parties demanding unnecessary concessions. However, Zille offered a nuanced view on power-sharing, referencing a successful seven-party coalition the DA led in Cape Town in 2006. She maintained that any future coalition arrangement would be evaluated solely on whether the DA could “govern well.”
The rally also touched on national political tensions. Zille addressed recent friction with the ANC, specifically responding to sentiments from ANC Secretary General Fikile Mbalula regarding a review of their relationship following a Constitutional Court ruling. Zille firmly stated that the DA has not been “captured by the ANC” and will continue to oppose the ruling party in court when they fail to adhere to the rules.
The DA’s final push follows a rigorous campaign that officially kicked off on September 20, 2025. Over the past year, party leadership claims to have canvassed all 135 wards and 870 voting districts across the city. With the November 4 elections looming, the Democratic Alliance Johannesburg team maintains that voters hold the ultimate power to either stabilize the metropolis or allow its continued decline.
