Johannesburg mayoral candidate, Helen Zille, kayaking on a flooded road in Dobsonville.
Image: Instagram
As Helen Zille’s campaign to become the next mayor of Johannesburg continues, the Democratic Alliance (DA) leader is fast becoming a social media sensation.
Zille was recently spotted in Dobsonville, Soweto, filming her latest canvassing video - but it was a candid, behind-the-scenes moment that captured public attention.
A local passerby in a taxi filmed Zille rafting on a flooded road on April 14, 2026. The clip, later shared by @user44587710874190, quickly trended online.
“Helen Zille 😂😂,” said the social media user.
Zille responded to the viral moment, commenting: “behind the scenes 😄 Thanks for capturing this.”
Zille’s unconventional approach to canvassing has sparked mixed reactions from South Africans online.
Commenting on the video, netizens shared a range of views:
@t_swele said: “Just publicity, no economic transformation, land redistribution and inclusive growth.”
@malume_knox said: “She’s sending a message if you don’t get it forget it.”
@bongehshange said: “I like her sense of humor.”
Whilst @z_yandasdiary added: “Mxm. This is serious, her PR team is working overtime!”
In another circulating clip, taxi passengers can be heard calling the leader a “sgebengu”, accusing her of capitalising on residents’ struggles.
Zille also shared her own version of the Dobsonville visit, posting a video of her kayaking through the flooded street.
“Canvassing by boat… 🚣 #BelieveInJoburg #Zille4Mayor,” she captioned the post.
During the visit, she spoke to a local female resident who revealed that the flooded road had been in that condition for six years due to a blocked drain.
Following the attention generated by the video, the city reportedly sent a team to clear the drain.
This is not the first time Zille’s campaign tactics have gone viral.
Recently, she shared a video of herself swimming in a flooded pothole on Balder Road in Douglasdale, highlighting Johannesburg’s infrastructure challenges.
“Here we are, with a free and wonderful Saturday afternoon swim,” Zille says in the clip, half-satirical, half-searing.
Moments later, she dips her head underwater, joking about searching for fish - a visual metaphor for the daily realities faced by residents.
From kayaking in Dobsonville to swimming in potholes, Zille’s campaign has blended humour with political messaging - a strategy that continues to divide public opinion.
While some see her actions as creative and attention-grabbing, others argue they trivialise serious service delivery issues.