Helen Zille on her Showmax Roast and the legacy of laughter

Premiering on Friday, 16 May 2025, The Showmax Roast of Helen Zille offers a humorous and humanising look at one of South Africa’s most controversial and resilient political figures.  

Watch the trailer for the Showmax Roast of Helen Zille

In a candid conversation below, Zille reflects on the motivations behind her participation, the reactions from her family, and the importance of learning to laugh at oneself – even when the jokes are sharp. 

At your press conference on 4 April 2025, one thing you said that stood out was how much you adore your grandchildren. If we fast-forward 15 or 30 years and they watch your Roast, what would you like them to take from it? 

I’d love for them to see that I never took myself too seriously and that we could have fun. I have this image of being such a fierce and terrible person – someone unable to take a joke – and of course, that’s not true. I’d like them to know a bit more about the real me, all the different sides. Especially the fact that we need to be able to laugh at ourselves. Absolutely. 

Tell us about the day you told your sons you were doing the Roast. How did they react? 

When I told my sons, they said, “Ma, do you even know what a Roast is?” And I had to admit, “No, I don’t. What is it?” They were like, “Ma, are you crazy? You’re putting yourself out there for a toasting! You’re going to be chewed up.” I said, “That’s fine. I get chewed up every day.” Then they sent me a few Roasts to watch, and honestly, I couldn’t even understand them. I didn’t know what was funny about them! I thought, “I can never be like this – I don’t even get the jokes.” But eventually, they said, “Well, Ma, if you want to do mad things, go ahead.” 

Did you ever see yourself as the target audience for a Roast? 

Definitely not. I’m not sure how I’ll relate to the target audience either, but we’ll see. Most people only know about me through what others say, usually critics. That gives them a very one-sided and warped picture. That’s why I prefer to engage with people directly – so they can decide for themselves what kind of person I really am. 

What are your thoughts on the panel of Roasters? 

I think they’re all interesting. They’ve all made a mark in our society, they’re good at what they do, and they’re provocative. They can give a jab and take a jab, so they’ll be good sparring partners. The only people I have no clue about are The Real Housewives – Mel Viljoen and Londie London. I don’t know if they’re from Desperate Housewives or The Real Housewives. I know nothing about that world, so that’ll be new for me. But the rest I know, and I think they’ll handle this kind of exchange well. 

I heard that when you were first approached for the Roast, you thought it was a lunch invite? 

Yes! They said, “Do you want to do a Roast?” and I thought, “That’s like a Sunday lunch – sure!” It sounded like an invitation to a roast chicken. So I said yes. Only later did I realise it was something else entirely. But by then, I’d already committed. What could I do? 

Many people get nervous before a Roast. You seem totally unfazed by it all, correct? 

So much has happened in my life. I’ve been battered from every angle, cancelled countless times. If you look at my social media timeline, people are constantly being rude and carrying on. It just doesn’t bother me anymore. Some people need to be liked – I’ve gotten used to not being liked, or at least not liked in the caricature version of me that’s out there. When people meet me, they often say, “You’re not like I expected at all.” But really, what’s the worst that could happen? It’ll either be a success or a flop. So what? It’s not the end of the world. 

You’ve spoken fondly of your mother, who wasn’t thrilled about your political career. What would she have said about the Roast? 

I don’t think I would’ve agreed to do the Roast if my mother were still alive. She suffered every time someone said something nasty about me. I’d say, “Mom, this is politics,” but she’d take it so personally. She used to say I was too sensitive for politics, but the truth is she was too sensitive for me to be in politics. I’m actually relieved she never had to witness the social media era; I don’t think she would’ve survived it. I’m glad she lived in a time when the worst things people said about me were only in newspapers. 
 
The Showmax Roast of Helen Zille was part of the Laugh Africa Comedy Festival, held at the Sandton Convention Centre from 2-4 May 2025. 
 
While you wait to see how Zille handled the flames, stream last year’s The Showmax Roast of Minnie Dlamini.