Helen Zille to be roasted soon
Veteran politician and Democratic Alliance federal council chairperson Helen Zille is preparing to take the heat — literally — as the next celebrity to be roasted at the 2025 Laugh Africa Comedy Festival in partnership with Showmax.
The event is set to take place this May at the Sandton Convention Centre.
Known for her unfiltered opinions and social media presence, Zille is no stranger to controversy.
Now, she’s stepping onto the Roast stage to take it all in stride — and give some back.
“I say it like it is and I get roasted on social media and in the press all the time — so why not put it on the main stage?” Zille said ahead of the show.
“If people are going to laugh, I’d rather join them, showing Africa I can dish it out as much as I take it — all under the umbrella of fun and banter.”
The Roast will feature a line-up of comedians and celebrity panellists taking humorous jabs at Zille and each other.
Speaking to Radio 702, she revealed that she’d love to have comedian Leon Schuster and EFF leader Julius Malema on the panel.
“I thought of having Fikile Mbalula, but then I realised I wouldn’t understand what he’d be saying, so I thought that wasn’t a good idea,” she joked.
Zille also reminisced about being pranked by Schuster in his 2010 film Schuks Tshabalala’s Survival Guide to South Africa. “He can pull a fast one on me and I like the challenge.”
Although she’s known for her political toughness, Zille drew a line when it comes to her personal life.
“My children didn’t sign up for my political career… they are off-limits,” she said. “You can still joke about my husband because he’s like me; it washes off his back.”
Stuart Taylor, creative director of the Laugh Africa Comedy Festival, praised Zille’s boldness in signing up:
“Selecting the right roastee is a science — it’s the fine line between a cock-up and a laugh-up and no-one walks that line like Zille. She is a heavyweight in politics and she’s also a lady, so we will handle her with care.”