Season 13 Episode 21

Helen Zille on fixing Johannesburg through accountability, governance, and reform

04 November 2025 · 28:10 min

In this episode of Business Talk, Helen Zille, Chair of the DA’s Federal Council and the party’s candidate for Mayor of Johannesburg, speaks with Michael Avery about her plan to rescue South Africa’s economic hub from decline. Zille explains why she decided to step into one of the toughest… political roles in the country and outlines her immediate priorities — from stabilising the city’s finances and ring-fencing utility budgets to rooting out corruption that she says has become “the system” in Joburg. She details how the city’s financial mismanagement, billing chaos, and cadre deployment have crippled basic service delivery and driven investment away.

Zille also shares her vision for restoring trust, rebuilding infrastructure, and re-establishing a culture of accountability. She discusses the importance of appointing experts to utility boards, introducing transparent billing systems, and empowering honest officials while protecting whistleblowers. Beyond financial recovery, she touches on public safety, advocating for a professional and corruption-free metro police force, and learning from Cape Town’s governance model. With a pragmatic yet determined approach, Zille makes the case for why Johannesburg can still be saved — with leadership, integrity, and political will. Show more