Julius Malema says Helen Zille is the DA’s mayoral candidate because she is white

EFF leader Julius Malema said that Helen Zille is the DA’s mayoral candidate in Johannesburg because she is white.

He shared this view during a debate The Political Arena: Elections 2026 debate hosted by Arena Holdings at Wits University.

Malema referenced Zille’s age, which, he said, would have disqualified candidates if they were black. She is 75, the oldest candidate in the field.

Helen Zille has repeatedly dismissed concerns that her age was a barrier to her serving as mayor, citing the longevity of women in her family.

Commenting on passing the baton to a younger generation, she said that they competed against her and lost.

Malema dismissed this view, arguing that she only achieved the candidacy because she was a white person.

“My grandmother, at Helen’s age, would not have even been considered for mayor. But the colour of her skin is what brings her forward,” he said.

“My grandmother would have been easily dismissed and told that she was too old and could not hold any position.”

He said that other parties select younger leaders because they are looking towards the country’s future.

Malema also criticised Zille for moving her political focus from Cape Town to Johannesburg.

He argued that she belongs to Cape Town and has no understanding of how Johannesburg functions or what its residents need.

He further claimed that Zille and the DA failed in Cape Town, pointing to persistent high crime rates, poverty, and service delivery failures in poor areas.

He questioned why voters should trust her with Johannesburg if her party struggled to manage Cape Town.