JOHANNESBURG - Democratic Alliance Federal Council chairperson Helen Zille has sparked debate online after posting a video of herself swimming in a water-filled pothole in Johannesburg.
In the clip shared on social media, Zille jokingly calls it a "free Saturday afternoon swim," even attempting a backstroke while highlighting what she says is a long-standing service delivery failure.
According to residents, the large pool of water is the result of a burst pipe that has repeatedly been repaired, but keeps bursting again.
Zille said the stunt was meant to draw attention to the deteriorating state of infrastructure in Johannesburg, an issue she's placed at the centre of her campaign as the DA's mayoral candidate for the 2026 local government elections.