Can iron lady Helen Zille win the hearts of Joburgers?

Ask those who know her and they'll tell you Helen Zille is confident, a straight talker who pulls no punches and not afraid to speak her mind. Ask her critics and they'll tell you the same – but more. Genocide denialist, racist, arrogant and an old fart are just some of those descriptions added on.

But like her or not, the 74-year-old Democratic Alliance federal chair is taking on Johannesburg. She's left her husband behind in Cape Town and upped and moved to Johannesburg to take on the battle for the city's mayoral position in next year's local government elections.

But, despite clinching the accolade of world's best mayor in 2008, she's not an endearing personality to South Africans of colour, let's just accept that. Experts say it's her personality trait. Strong, highly logical and analytical. But lacking in emotional intelligence and warmth. And politics is a personality contest, the one who is most likeable wins, right?

But Joburg residents are gatvol. The fight for the city's soul in 2026 is going to be bloody, and not a popularity contest. Johannesburg is the heart of politics. The country's economic hub with 5.5 million residents. The city contributes almost 16% to the country's GDP. And is falling apart.

Residents are desperate for political leadership that will turn the tide. Their frustrations and hardships have been weaponised by political parties over the years. Joburgers have watched in despair the growing urban decay, collapsing services, crumbling infrastructure and corruption. They are tired of fat cats lining their pockets and fighting over positions and power to stake their claim over lucrative tenders. Residents are tired of the broken promises, the political point scoring at their expense and the lies come elections. They've had enough.

For some, it can't get any worse, and so, backing Zille is their last hope at a better life.

"Im tired of this ANC now. Maybe the DA can change things for us here in Soweto like in Cape Town," says Zanele, a 32-year-old single mother of three in Soweto - the very place Zille chose to launch her mayoral candidacy. There, she somewhat reinvented herself. She ditched her signature party blue for calm creams – an attempt to 'soften' her perceived hard public image. She paraded herself as a saviour to Johannesburg residents. And, given the state of decay, disrepair, corruption and collapse of services over the years, who can blame her for touting herself as some fairy godmother bringing hope and cheer?

But not everyone's buying it. Johannesburg is a hotbed of politics and for some, she's a wolf dressed as lamb.

"The DA will never come here and tell us they will do better. They could never do better for the poor communities in Cape Town how will this gogo do better here in Joburg?" quips 35-year-old Yusuf from Lenasia, south of Johannesburg.

His criticism is echoed by many – including those critics in Cape Town. The party is often slated for its lack of affordable housing leaving over 400,000 people on waiting lists in Cape Town. This has forced the expansion of informal settlements with no basic services while the party is often accused of being anti-poor and focusing on affluent suburbs that represent what many say are 'white privileges'.

Despite the paradox in differences within the same city, the Western Cape is often considered the best run province in South Africa – with South Africans often, amusingly, describing it as a different country. And it's that sentiment that may tip the balance of favour to the DA – with Zille as mayor for Johannesburg. That desperation for change, for services, for a better life.

Against this background, Zille, in true combat character, has thrown her hat in the ring, taken on her critics, moved to Johannesburg and reminded everyone she is a "daughter of Johannesburg".

But, just as she began that reinvention, Zille exposed Zille. Asked during an interview with Newzroom AfriKa whether there was genocide in Gaza, Zille replied: "Genocide is a very big word. I haven't been to Gaza and I don't know."

Her remarks were a stark reminder of her party's silence on Gaza and where she stood on the matter. It's unleashed a torrent of criticism and political fodder for her opponents.

But, will her remarks irk enough Joburgers to the point of not wanting her as their mayor? South Africans are political sleuths. We understand world politics and we are a politically savvy nation. But we put South Africa first. Whether Zille's comments and the DA's perceived pro-Israel stance will keep it from taking Johannesburg in next year's local elections is left to be seen.

For now, the DA is confident. Perhaps over-confident in Zille. She's not likeable to many – but she doesn't give a damn. She banks on her party being better at service delivery than the ANC as their political tool.

The DA's ego was also given a boost with its recent poll which it says shows a 14 percentage point increase in support in Johannesburg, which now stands at 40% compared to the ANC's 23%.

As if that wasn't enough to trigger happy hormones in the DA, it received an extra dose recently when ANC leader, President Cyril Ramaphosa openly said DA municipalities were better run than those run by the ANC. He went on to say: "We want to go and see what Cape Town is doing."

It's the perfect campaign slogan handed to the DA. An endorsement by the ANC, the president of the country that the DA is better. It simply cant get any worse for the ANC. And those words will no doubt come back to haunt the ANC next year during their local election campaign trail. The DA, on the other hand will use it effectively. Zille already is.

But with all that, the DA may be underestimating Johannesburg. Its not Cape Town. Or Durban. And while it may be the death knell of the ANC, it may not yet be a DA victory. The politics of keeping the DA at bay, the fractious horse trading and behind the scenes negotiations will win the day - as it usually does after elections. That is likely to determine the outcome for Johannesburg in the end.

For now, Zille will want to continue her reinvention as a daughter of Johannesburg, in the hope that residents in that city will warm up to that persona.

* Zohra Teke is a freelance contributor and independent commentator. 

** The views expressed do not necessarily reflect the views of IOL or Independent Media.