Overview

• Zille accepted the nomination at a Soweto launch and pledged to improve water supply, electricity, road repairs and refuse removal.
• DA leader John Steenhuisen framed the race as a choice between “decay” and “renewal” and warned against splitting votes among smaller parties.
• The party is leveraging President Cyril Ramaphosa’s recent comments about DA-run municipalities and Auditor-General reports to argue governing competence.
• Most rivals have not announced nominees, with the ANC, EFF and ActionSA still weighing choices, though the Patriotic Alliance has named Kenny Kunene.
• Johannesburg remains under an ANC-led coalition that has seen instability and service failures, a record the DA says it will replace with professional, merit-based administration.