Helen Zille
Nkosana Khumalo – Democratic Alliance federal chairperson Helen Zille has launched a scathing attack on the African National Congress’s Black Economic Empowerment policy, calling it a mechanism that enriches a small circle of politically connected elites while leaving the broader population in poverty. In a recent interview, Zille described how the ANC has turned BEE into a closed loop of self-enrichment, leading to crumbling infrastructure and failed service delivery across South Africa.
This comes as the DA unveils a bold new billboard campaign and prepares to table a bill in Parliament to scrap BEE in favour of an inclusive economic policy aimed at tackling poverty head-on.
The announcement has ignited heated debates ahead of the 2026 local government elections, particularly in key battlegrounds like Johannesburg, where Zille is the DA’s mayoral candidate. With polls showing a tight race between the DA and ANC in the city, Zille emphasised the need for real change to address unemployment, poor services, and corruption. The DA’s proposal shifts focus from race-based empowerment to targeting poverty and creating opportunities for all, arguing that this approach better addresses the lingering effects of apartheid.
DA’s Billboard Campaign: Highlighting BEE’s Failures
The DA kicked off its campaign with a striking billboard that reads: “BEE made ANC elites rich and left SA poor. Choose real opportunities for all. Vote DA.” Zille explained the message during the launch, stressing that South Africa is running out of time and must urgently replace broad-based black economic empowerment, which she says only benefits a select few.
In her words, “The ANC has various sites of struggle if I can call it that. There’s the ANC as a party. There’s the ANC in government and there’s the ANC in business. And they all work with each other. The ANC in government gives tenders to the ANC in business. They then get a kickback. Of course, the ANC in business then gives some of that money to the party and then the party deploys cadres again into government. So it’s a self-enriching little circle and that is what is making the economy collapse service delivery collapse because often times when the ANC in government gives tenders and contracts to the ANC cadres in business they don’t finish the contracts they do work that is subpar and the infrastructure collapses and the result is the same poor people don’t get water they don’t get electricity they don’t get refuge removal or sewage They get more unemployment and poverty because they don’t get jobs because no one will invest where the ANC is allowing the city to crumble.”
This critique points to widespread issues like unfinished projects, substandard work, and collapsing infrastructure, which Zille links directly to the misuse of BEE. The billboard serves as a visual call to action, urging voters to support the DA’s vision for inclusive growth that prioritises job creation and poverty alleviation over elite enrichment.
Shifting Focus: From Race to Poverty in Economic Policy
Zille argued that the ANC uses race as a “fig leaf” to hide corruption, while the DA’s policy aims to empower the poorest communities. “And that is why we say we’ve got a policy that will open opportunities for all because we say unemployment and poverty are the worst problems in South Africa. And if you say race, the ANC will continue using that as a fig leaf to enrich themselves. If you say let’s target poverty then you are talking about really getting to where the worst legacy of apartate still exists very strongly and to give everybody a leg up out of that situation. That is our policy to empower the very poorest and those who are dispossessed and have no jobs and to deal with the legacy of apartate. We very committed to dealing with the legacy of apartate through tackling poverty, not allowing the ANC to abuse race to enrich themselves.”
The DA plans to table a bill in Parliament to replace BEE with a merit-based system that promotes economic inclusion for all. This includes ending preferential procurement based on race and instead focusing on need, skills, and anti-corruption measures. Supporters say this could boost investment by creating a fairer business environment, while critics argue it ignores ongoing inequalities from apartheid. The proposal comes amid reports of low investment due to perceived corruption, with the DA claiming their approach would lower unemployment where they govern.
Johannesburg in the Spotlight: Infrastructure Woes and Political Battles
As the DA’s mayoral candidate for Johannesburg, Zille highlighted the city’s structural problems, especially bulk infrastructure. She accused the ANC of scrambling to fix issues ahead of elections, saying, “I think the ANC has got quite a strick because they know the fight is on for Johannesburg and they know that the polls are saying that we are neck and neck with the ANC in Johannesburg and they know that there’s a very strong chance of losing power in Johannesburg and competition is good. The president himself admitted it competition from the DA is good and we’re going to give them the run of their lives in Johannesburg.”
Recent efforts by Johannesburg’s ANC-led administration, under Executive Mayor Dada Morero, include cleaning up the city centre through refuse company Pikitup, fixing water reticulation pipes in areas like Sandton, and addressing dilapidated infrastructure. Ratings agencies have noted positive trends in the city’s finances, suggesting an upward trajectory. However, Zille dismissed these as last-minute fixes, pointing to deeper issues like corruption lurking just below the surface.
On the contentious issue of the city manager position, Zille revealed a brief call from ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula. “The only thing that Fikile asked me when he phoned me last week, I was in the middle of a meeting, I couldn’t talk. He said, ‘Are you going to support Floyd Brink?’ And I said, ‘No.’ That’s as long as the conversation was. I don’t think it was more than 3 seconds long.” She criticised Brink as an EFF appointee enabled by former mayor Herman Mashaba, adding that the ANC remains divided on the matter. If elected, Zille promised to advertise positions and hire the most qualified candidates to root out corruption.
ANC’s Stance and Broader Implications for 2026 Elections
The ANC has defended BEE, insisting that preferential procurement is necessary because the playing field remains uneven. They argue that scrapping it would reverse gains made in addressing historical injustices. However, some within the ANC have shown openness to discussions on revising the policy, acknowledging criticisms that it has sometimes favoured connected individuals over broad empowerment.
Zille believes the DA’s message is resonating with Johannesburg residents. “Amazingly so. And I think there’s been a big shift in attitude and I think more and more people realize that the DA makes the difference and where we govern unemployment comes down, jobs go up, poverty goes down and that’s what they want because that is the most critical issue facing South Africa today.”
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