Johannesburg municipality reprimands Helen Zille for ‘using city assets as campaign tools’

Helen Zille recently enjoying a “summer day”. Picture: Supplied / Helen Zille. The Johannesburg municipality has expressed dissatisfaction with Helen Zille for allegedly breaching the city’s security protocols.

MMC for Environment and Infrastructure Service Department, Jack Sekwaila, stated on Thursday night that Zille had gained entry to a Johannesburg Water facility without permission. He added that an investigation is to be undertaken to identify who was responsible for allowing the 75-year-old and her team to access the site. The former Cape Town mayor officially launched her Johannesburg mayoral campaign earlier this month, but has been on the streets since late 2025.

Since stating her claim for the top job in Johannesburg, Zille has used several of the city’s well-known shortcomings as campaign props. She has been seen filling potholes, visiting water construction sites, inspecting abandoned buildings and directing traffic at an intersection with dead traffic signals. “In light of the recent incident at the Yeoville reservoir complex, I have requested that Johannesburg Water conduct a formal investigation to identify how unauthorised personnel gained entry.

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“We will not allow political parties to use the city’s strategic assets for campaigning. “Such infrastructure should remain off-limits to political activities, and we will pursue legal action against anyone who unlawfully enters these sites,” Sekwaila stated. Zille’s team was contacted for comment, and feedback will be added when forthcoming.

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