Godzille enters the fray: Let the local government elections games begin

“When a toxic leader from outside takes over the mayoral position in a municipality, the effects can ripple through nearly every aspect of local governance and community life.”

That’s not my opinion, but that of ChatGTP, responding to my question as to what would happen to a municipality if a toxic leader were to parachute in and take over. And the “toxic” label was also not attached by this writer but by former Joburg mayor Herman Mashaba.

Of course, the paratrooper leader in question is none other than DA Federal Chair Helen Zille, otherwise known as Godzille to those who view her as a political version of that fearful half-gorilla-half-whale fictional monster.

And this isn’t just a dream – or a nightmare for those scared of her – it can actually happen in a matter of months. The Cape-based never-say-die disruptor can easily move in with her sister or someone like that, and qualify as a resident of the once-shiny City of Gold. Dealing with the party’s primaries – the mayoral candidate screening and interviews – would be a breeze. I wouldn’t be surprised to see her smiling assassin face on the ballot paper and the street posters. And with her GNU wheeling and dealing experience, she can easily take over the hot seat – depending, of course, on what the people say during the upcoming elections.

The crumbling city that is still Mzansi’s economic hub does indeed require some drastic shake-up, but I fear Godzille would shake it beyond repair. But let’s all just watch and see – especially those of us watching from a distance but with hopes of seeing the rot come to a stop and things turn around.

But what does this all mean? What does it say about the hordes of members and supporters of the Blue Machine who are residents in good standing in of this great city of Egoli?

It’s tempting to dismiss this whole thing as another Godzille stunt, but it has put the spanner in the GNU works. The monster, now nicely ensconced inside, may indeed begin devouring the national governing coalition and its provincial and local tentacles from within.

We are heading towards some very interesting times. Let the local elections games begin.