Hendricks Questions Zille’s Bid to Take Charge of Joburg

September 24, 2026918 Views 2 min read

Al Jama-ah leader challenges Adam Habib’s endorsement of Helen Zille, accusing the DA of failing during previous periods of leadership in Johannesburg.

Al Jama-ah leader Ganief Hendricks has hit back at Adam Habib’s endorsement of Helen Zille as the candidate capable of rescuing Johannesburg, accusing the DA of having already failed the city twice. Al Jama-ah leader Ganief Hendricks has dismissed former Wits University vice-chancellor Adam Habib’s endorsement of Democratic Alliance (DA) mayoral candidate Helen Zille, declaring that she cannot “save” Johannesburg.

Habib reportedly endorsed Zille as the right person to turn around the City of Johannesburg, citing her experience and capacity to address the metro’s deepening challenges. Hendricks strongly disagrees. “The DA had two chances and failed twice. Johannesburg cannot afford a third experiment. We need DDM delivery, stability, jobs and dignity,” Hendricks said.

He launched a scathing attack on the DA’s record in Johannesburg, accusing the party of contributing to the deterioration of the city’s administration. Hendricks also took aim at Zille’s previous leadership role in the DA, claiming that the party “systematically dismantled Johannesburg’s administration” while she served as federal council chair.

“Now, she returns to finish the job and sabotage the city’s rightful vision to stand as the iconic economic beacon of Africa,” he said. Hendricks defends Al Jama-ah record Despite Al Jama-ah having held the Johannesburg mayoral position twice, with both mayors eventually stepping down following criticism from coalition partners, Hendricks maintains that his party can play a stronger role in rebuilding the city. “When the Government of Local Unity took over from the Multi-Party Coalition, the City of Johannesburg was in its worst state in history,” Hendricks said.

He pointed to strikes by organised labour over the PFMA, poor service delivery and failures across several areas of the municipality’s constitutional responsibilities. Hendricks further accused the previous DA-led coalition of suspending the city’s revenue collection strategy, leaving contractors unpaid and grounding the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) fleet. The result, he argued, was a city increasingly struggling to enforce the law and deliver basic services.

The political battle over Johannesburg comes as parties prepare for another fiercely contested local government election, with the DA seeking an outright majority. The party has made it clear that it does not want to remain in coalitions it believes do not serve residents and is campaigning for enough support to govern Johannesburg on its own.

For Hendricks, however, the choice facing voters is clear: Johannesburg needs a new direction, not a return to the political leadership he says failed the city before.