Many South African politicians only want to make easy money

While many enter politics with the goal of serving the public, many politicians in South Africa do not share that motivation – far from it.

Speaking ahead of the 2026/27 local government elections, Helen Zille, chairperson of the Democratic Alliance’s (DA’s) Federal Council, described one of the major challenges in coalition governance as confronting those who see office primarily as a vehicle for personal or corporate gain.

“It is very, very difficult because some people are not in politics to serve the public, to eradicate corruption and to make a city better,” said Zille.

“They are in politics because they spot an economic opportunity,” bleeding the taxpayer of billions of rands.

Zille drew a parallel with organised crime, noting the similarities between opportunistic political actors and the mafia.

“Just like the mafia getting into positions of power, they are trying to do the same thing here,” she said.

“They want to get into positions of power to take key decisions that will put their companies on the outside, in the pound seats to get the critical tenders and contracts.”

Zille said that this is particularly difficult when managing a fragile coalition.

She recounted her experience in Cape Town, where coalition negotiations with smaller parties that held the balance of power were often shaped by economic interests rather than public service.

In 2006, after the DA narrowly seized control of Cape Town in a razor-thin election, Zille found herself leading a fragile seven-party coalition.

Among the smaller players was the Africa Muslim Party (AMP), holding just three seats but wielding the decisive balance of power.

The party’s key figure, Badih Chaaban, sought the economic development portfolio, a powerful position that oversaw tenders, contracts, and public infrastructure projects, particularly those related to preparations for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

With his own company operating outside government, allegations against Chaaban included rigged subletting, inflated tenders, and kickbacks tied to World Cup preparations.

This ranged from his control over the city’s public open spaces, such as the prime Greenmarket Square, to his personal advantage through rigged tenders and subletting schemes.

He denied these allegations, but Cape Town cancelled his 15-year lease on 83% of Greenmarket Square over R3.3 million in unpaid rent.

“He wanted the economic development portfolio for the party so that his company outside could get control of all the Cape Town city’s public open spaces,” said Zille.

“This was to swing through tenders and contracts before the World Cup to his company’s advantage. I saw that happening, and I fired them from the government. We had to renegotiate a new coalition.”

According to Zille, this pattern of opportunism often undermines coalition stability, but firing them quickly could help nip it in the bud.

“I’m afraid it’s not always possible to spot what’s happening and to fire people, which is what we have going to have to do more and more in the places where we get into government.”

Small parties carry weight – Zille

Kingmaker politics is completely undemocratic – Zille

In Johannesburg, she explained, the DA has previously had to navigate coalitions where smaller parties wielded disproportionate influence over council decisions.

“Every time they do a new agreement they demand an extra pound of flesh. We weren’t going to do the politics of extortion and bribery, and the ANC is very good at that,” she said.

Zille also explained that coalition governance is always a balancing act. “A coalition is never good. There’s never a good option in a coalition. You can only ever choose the least bad,” she said.

This, she said, makes it especially critical to ensure that parties with an opportunistic approach do not gain the leverage to direct contracts or positions for private gain.

Watch Helen Zille’s full interview with Newsday