Frans Cronjé: Zille for Joburg - best in decades move with potential to flip SA politics on its head

Political scientist Dr Frans Cronjé unpacks South Africa’s rapid transformation, Helen Zille’s potential mayoral bid, ANC factionalism, and looming US tariffs. In conversation with Alec Hogg, he highlights both crisis and opportunity, urging bold leadership and investment reforms to steer the nation towards recovery and sustainable growth..Sign up for your early morning brew of the BizNews Insider to keep you up to speed with the content that matters. The newsletter will land in your inbox at 5:30am weekdays. Register here.Support South Africa’s bastion of independent journalism, offering balanced insights on investments, business, and the political economy, by joining BizNews Premium. Register here.If you prefer WhatsApp for updates, sign up to the BizNews channel here.The auditorium doors will open for BNIC#2 on 10 September 2025 in Hermanus. For more information and tickets, click here..Watch here.Listen here.BizNews Reporter .In a compelling return to BizNews TV, political scientist Dr Frans Cronjé joined Alec Hogg to explore pivotal developments in South Africa’s socio‑political landscape. From seismic shifts in urban governance to international trade tensions, Cronjé laid bare the dynamics reshaping the nation’s trajectory..A nation on the move – Peaceful but rapid changeCronjé opened by observing that South Africa is undergoing a peaceful yet chaotic transformation. Unlike many post‑colonial emerging markets, these changes are primarily market‑driven. From rooftop solar installations to private road freight and security provision, he noted the retreat of the state has encouraged the private sector to fill the vacuum. “The pace of change is lightning fast,” he remarked, emphasising that, while growth is volatile, the trajectory remains cautiously optimistic..Helen Zille: Johannesburg’s game‑changer.One of the most compelling topics was Helen Zille’s potential candidacy for Johannesburg’s mayoralty - what Cronjé dubbed “the biggest political chess move in the country in more than a decade.” With the local elections anticipated in early 2027, Zille would have well over a year to campaign. Given the city’s deteriorating infrastructure - from potholes and unreliable water supply to erratic electricity and rampant urban neglect - Cronjé believes her toughness suits the challenge. “When you don’t have water every week... toughness becomes an asset.”A Zille victory, he asserted, could deliver a dramatic swing in voter sentiment. If she successfully launched a modest recovery, especially in historically ANC‑aligned peri‑urban middle‑class areas, it could foreshadow a significant national shift. Cronjé speculated that the ANC could drop into the low 30s, while the DA might soar into the 40s by the 2029 election - a reversal of 2024’s status quo..The ANC’s factional civil service.Turning to military and police affairs, Cronjé dissected the bombshell revelations from Lieutenant‑General Mkhwanazi’s press conference. He described it as symptomatic of a broader cadre deployment problem: deeply entrenched political allegiances within senior civil and security service ranks. Quoting veteran academic James Myburgh, Cronjé emphasised that this politicisation risks undermining the neutrality and professionalism essential to good governance. “Without a politically neutral civil service... that is one of the consequences.” The crisis marks more than a scandal - it’s symptomatic of institutional rot..US tariffs: A wake‑up call.Shifted to international affairs, the discussion turned to the looming 40% US tariffs on South African products - 30% base and a further 10% due to BRICS affiliation. Cronjé called the tariffs “absurd and tragic”. He stressed that the US remains keen on a grand trade and investment agreement with South Africa, citing the country’s attractive investor environment, resource endowment, and strategic geopolitical position.However, Cronjé pointed out several stumbling blocks. Low fixed investment (roughly half the emerging‑market average), high unemployment, volatile politics, and burdensome capital‑arrival taxes undermine investor certainty. He cited American concerns about South Africa's expropriation framework potentially deterring capital and called for exemptions for US firms. Without addressing these, the tariffs are unlikely to be lifted.Moreover, Cronjé suggested that, while automotive and agricultural sectors will feel pain, the tariffs may open a broader opportunity. Once investment is reopened, the country’s electricity surplus, rich mineral base, and potential for infrastructure renewal could catalyse rapid growth. Yet such a turnaround demands active diplomacy - South Africa must “show up” in Washington with conviction..Politics, jobs and public discontent.Cronjé concluded with a reflection on recent elections, noting that South African voters remain centrist and pragmatic. With people focused on their material circumstances, a stagnant economy with dismal growth and no reform inevitably provokes political consequences. He urged that while change now depends heavily on Helen Zille’s potential impact in Johannesburg, national recovery ultimately hinges on restoring investor confidence and delivering jobs.Dr Frans Cronjé’s analysis paints a picture of a nation at a critical juncture. Peaceful societal shifts, leadership experiments at municipal level, institutional reforms - or lack thereof - and external economic pressures all converge. With deliberate strategy, active reform and high‑stakes political gambits, South Africa could pivot from decline to resurgence. Yet without resolve, it risks drifting further into economic stagnation and political crisis.As Cronjé aptly put it, the path forward is clear - but South Africa must choose to walk it.

Frans Cronjé: Zille for Joburg - best in decades move with potential to flip SA politics on its head

Related Stories