Helen Zille does it again with petty pothole ploy [video]
Has Helen Zille lost the plot over potholes? Take a look at the 75-year-old's latest PR ploy in her mayoral campaign...

Helen Zille has pulled another PR stunt involving a pothole in her quirky campaign to run for Johannesburg mayor.
This comes after the former Democratic Alliance leader was filmed drag-racing a car and arriving at a recent rally in a “Gusheshe”.
HELEN ZILLE PLEDGES TO FIX POTHOLES
In a video posted on her social media platforms, Helen Zille poked fun at the City of Johannesburg’s history of failing to prioritise pothole repairs.
The 75-year-old and a group of colleagues were seen sitting on the edge of a pothole of a massive pothole, which they had decorated with balloons and banners.
She said in the clip: “In Joburg, potholes don’t get filled, they get names. And some even have birthdays
The group then burst into singing Happy Birthday to the hole in the road, which they claimed was three years old!
Helen Zille went on to pledge to prioritise repairing potholes should she be elected as Johannesburg’s next mayor
By the end of our first five-year term, potholes will be fixed within 72 hours of you reporting them. Traffic lights will work, not just for photo opportunities and ribbon cuttings, but every day. For people who use our roads.
“If maintenance is done shoddily, we will hold the people who did it accountable and make sure that there are consequences. We will commit proper budgets to maintenance and care for the infrastructure that serves you”.
STAKING THEIR CLAIM
Helen Zille’s comments come after images of filled potholes in Johannesburg and Tshwane – bearing the logo of the DA – went viral on social media.
“The DA is so petty, and I love it!” commented one social media user. Another added: “The DA is unnecessarily dramatic and annoying”.
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About this article
- Length
- 296 words · 1 min read
- Published
- October 21, 2026
- Byline
- Megan van den Heever
- Source
- South African