‘Only Zille can save Joburg’: ex-Wits VC Habib says DA mayoral candidate perfect for the job
Former Wits University vice-chancellor Adam Habib has publicly endorsed Helen Zille as the DA's mayoral candidate for Johannesburg. Habib argues that Zille is the only candidate capable of reversing the city's decay, despite facing criticism regarding her past performance and campaign tactics.
Why it matters
The endorsement highlights the intense political polarization and the critical state of governance in South Africa's largest economic hub ahead of the 2026 elections.
Former University of the Witwatersrand vice-chancellor Adam Habib has endorsed DA Joburg mayoral candidate Helen Zille as the right person to save Johannesburg from collapse.
The 2026 Joburg mayoral race is shaping up to be one of the most fiercely contested, with political heavyweights and fresh faces competing ahead of the November 4 local government elections. Other candidates vying for the position include:
Zille’s campaign has drawn mixed reactions from the public. While some praise her for exposing the city’s severe service delivery failures and crumbling infrastructure, others remain sceptical.
Her recent campaign stunts include recording herself swimming in a water-filled Douglasdale sinkhole caused by a neglected burst pipe, as well as navigating a severely flooded Dobsonville road using an inflatable boat and a kayak.
Critics and rivals, such as Mashaba, have dismissed her tactics as mere publicity stunts.
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