Is Helen Zille eligible to stand for election as Joburg mayor?

The GOOD Party says it has asked its legal team to advise whether Democratic Alliance (DA) Johannesburg mayoral candidate Helen Zille is eligible to stand for election as mayor of the metropolitan municipality.

This comes after the DA launched an Electoral Court bid seeking the exclusion of GOOD, ActionSA, the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) and the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party from the proportional representation (PR) ballot, or to restrict the number of seats the parties may fill after the 4 November local government elections.

DA Federal Council Chairperson, Ashor Sarupen said the above-mentioned political parties are bending the rules, and attempting to mislead voters, by misinterpreting the law which allows the IEC to request a party to submit extra names after an election if that party wins more seats than they have candidates on their PR list.

GOOD QUESTIONS HELEN ZILLE’S JOBURG MAYORAL CANDIDACY

GOOD secretary-general Brett Herron said reviewing the relevant legislation while preparing the party’s answering affidavit had raised questions about the lawfulness of Zille’s registration in Johannesburg.

“GOOD has asked its legal team to advise whether Helen Zille’s registration in Johannesburg complies with sections 7(3) and 8(3) of the Electoral Act and, if not, what remedies are available,” Herron said.

He said Section 7(3) defines ordinary residence as the home where a person normally lives and regularly returns to after a temporary absence.

“Ms Zille has made her home in Cape Town for more than 40 years. By her own public account, her husband, his church and their retirement village are in Cape Town, she returns home regularly, and she will not commit to staying in Johannesburg if she loses,” Herron said.

He further said Section 8(3) requires voters to be registered only in the ward where they are ordinarily resident.

“Zille’s presence in Johannesburg looks suspiciously like a temporary absence from Cape Town, where she ordinarily resides, not a change of hometown,” Herron said.

“The thorough scrutiny of lists is good. If GOOD is advised that Zille’s candidacy is unlawful, it will be challenged in the appropriate legal forum.”

Zille reportedly relocated to Johannesburg in September 2025.

DA Johannesburg mayoral candidate Helen Zille says the party will focus on financial management, tackling corruption, and establishing public-private partnerships should it take control of the city. Tune in to #eNCA on #DStv403. pic.twitter.com/AgyXZ5lXsl

— eNCA (@eNCA) September 20, 2026