Pity the fool who dons the poisoned chalice of Johannesburg's mayoral chain.
DA federal chairperson Helen Zille's announcement that she is considering running for mayor in the city of tarnished gold has been met with a broad range of reactions.
The polarising politician is either loved or hated, yet her vast experience and steely resolve would count in her favour when it comes to running the once-great metropole that has fallen on hard times.
Zille was mayor of Cape Town from 2006 to 2009, taking the DA from 41% in a seven-party coalition to an outright majority in every election since. So she has proved her political manoeuvrability. But that was almost 20 years ago, and Johannesburg is a very different beast to tame.
Should she go all the way, and should the DA manage to wrest back control of the city in the next local government elections, a mammoth, almost insurmountable task will await her.
Africa's economic hub is in ICU, stricken with endemic corruption and lawlessness at every turn, almost non-existent service delivery and decimated infrastructure. It is fast reaching a point of no return, and reversing the rot will be a gargantuan job — far beyond the capabilities of just one person. It will take an army, working together with support from every quarter, to even move the dial.
Johannesburg is a prime example of how political coalitions can bring a city to its knees. It has had 10 mayors in the past decade. Some offered a glimmer of hope, others were instantly forgettable, a few were hopeless embarrassments. None stayed in power long enough to see even a fraction of their vision come to fruition before they were cast aside, expendable pawns on a political chessboard.
If we need evidence that no compromise is too great for political parties who want to control the puppet strings, look no further than former mayors Kabelo Gwamanda and Thapelo Amad, the Al-Jama-ah members who stumbled into the role as kingmakers in an ANC-EFF alliance.
Amad lasted just over a year before resigning to avoid being defeated in a motion of no confidence, while his successor Gwamanda resigned amid allegations that he was involved in a funeral policy scam. These appointments were the work of people who put party politics and personal power above the needs of the city's residents. Service delivery was not even on their list of priorities.
Zille's track record in the Western Cape may be enough for people to give her a chance. After all, she can hardly do worse than some of the city's recent mayors.
Political games like these will thwart Zille if the DA does not have an outright majority. She will immediately have a target on her back and will need to manage this while trying to save a city in crisis.
Does she have the energy — and the stomach — for such a challenge? Would she be doing it for the right reasons, or are her public musings just the last kicks of a seasoned political leader trying to stay relevant?
Zille's track record in the Western Cape may be enough for people to give her a chance. After all, she can hardly do worse than some of the city's recent mayors.
But perhaps the most telling part of Zille considering such a challenge at the age of 74 is that it once again exposes the party's succession crisis.
Where is the new blood, the young DA leaders moving up the ranks and making a name for themselves? The party's Gauteng caucus leader Belinda Kayser-Echeozonjoku does a solid job, but does not have the experience — or seemingly the nerve — to grab the reins and lead Johannesburg into a new era.
While Zille may still have a few more good years ahead of her, the party's longevity will ultimately depend on young leaders who can take it into the future and broaden its support base by growing its inclusivity and diversity.
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.