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Zille hopes DA keeps strong run as Joburg votes are counted

Published

Democratic Alliance mayoral candidate Helen Zille said she hopes the party keeps getting good results in the local government elections. The Electoral Commission says over 19% of votes are counted.

Zille, the DA's candidate for mayor of Johannesburg, spoke in an interview as results came in. She said Johannesburg voters have shown they want to rescue the city.

She said the DA is not talking to any party about coalitions yet. If no party wins 50%, she said, the DA will weigh its options and take the least bad one.

Former President Thabo Mbeki said South Africa could see more hung municipalities. He pointed to growing political fragmentation.

Key facts

Who
Helen Zille (Democratic Alliance mayoral candidate for Johannesburg); Thabo Mbeki (former President); Electoral Commission (electoral body that reported the vote count)
What
Helen Zille, the Democratic Alliance's mayoral candidate for Johannesburg, said she is hopeful of good results as vote counting continues, and said the party would consider a coalition with the "least bad option" if it fails to win an outright majority. The Electoral Commission says over 19% of votes have been counted.
When
5 November 2026
Where
Johannesburg, South Africa
Status
Reported

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