Zille says she wants to rescue her home city of Johannesburg

JOHANNESBURG - The Democratic Alliance (DA) officially named Helen Zille as its mayoral candidate for Johannesburg.

The announcement was made in Soweto in front of hundreds of supporters. Zille was born and raised in Johannesburg 74-years ago.

She graduated from Wits University and worked as a journalist, at the Rand Daily Mail newspaper, which was forced to close down by the apartheid government.

She then moved to the Western Cape post democracy, where she served as Cape Town mayor for three years, before leading the province for a decade as premier .

Zille said that she is back to rescue her home city.

"It is such a privilege for me to accept the nomination as your mayoral candidate for this great city. I acknowledge with respect all the other candidates who have me stiff competition for this honour, you gave me a run for my money."