Democratic Alliance (DA) Johannesburg mayoral candidate Helen Zille has accused ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba of allowing EFF leader Julius Malema to influence major decisions in the City of Johannesburg during Mashaba’s tenure as mayor.
Speaking in an interview with eNCA, Zille said the tensions between her and Mashaba stemmed from disagreements over how he managed the coalition government while the DA governed Johannesburg with support from the EFF.
Zille alleged that Mashaba allowed Malema to influence decisions involving City Power and the city’s fleet tender, claiming that he did so to retain political support and remain in office.
“He allowed Julius Malema to dictate major decisions and capture City Power and dictate the fleet tender and do all kinds of things that were in the interest of Julius Malema and his front companies. Herman wanted to stay in power and he needed Julius Malema’s support to do that,” Zille said.
She further alleged that Mashaba appointed former senior police official Shadrack Sibiya to head the City’s anti-corruption unit at Malema’s instruction.
Zille said she had objected to the appointment, but Mashaba allegedly told her that it was the price they had to pay to remain in power.
“My view was good coalition management is not staying in power at all costs. And we have a difference in that, but surely that shouldn’t run into a vendetta over decades,” she said.
Zille added that she had not publicly attacked Mashaba or ActionSA during the current election campaign, despite his criticism of her.
The remarks come amid tensions between the DA and ActionSA as political parties begin coalition negotiations following the 2026 Local Government Elections.
Mashaba has repeatedly ruled out working with Zille as Johannesburg mayor, while ActionSA has raised objections to her candidacy.
Malema has also threatened legal action over Zille’s allegations. He said he had instructed his lawyers to demand that she retract her remarks, warning that he would sue her for R1 million if she failed to do so.
The allegations made by Zille regarding Malema’s influence over decisions in the City of Johannesburg have not been independently established in the reports cited.
