"Next year the DA wants to win in Gauteng. Let me tell all young people in Gauteng this: if the DA wins in Gauteng next year, we will bring the youth wage subsidy here too," Zille told about 500 supporters in Sweetwater near Orange Farm on Wednesday.
The rally was used to commemorate the one-year anniversary of the opposition party's march for the implementation of the youth wage subsidy, which resulted in clashes on the streets of Johannesburg with labour federation Cosatu.
Several members of the Democratic Alliance and Cosatu were injured last year as both parties' hurled rocks at each other.
"We marched peacefully, but Cosatu met our peaceful march with violence and threw stones at us," Zille said, while DA members injured during last year's march stood beside her.
The premier also promised to campaign the length and breadth of Gauteng to win the province in next year's elections.
"For the government you want, you need to change your vote. For the government you want, you must change your vote," she told supporters clad in blue DA T-shirts after a walkabout in the township.
"What is the use of freedom you can't use? We can give you the freedom you can use."
Zille's address was met with rapturous applause and shouts of: "Viva DA!"
Change the area
Zille – flanked by several other DA office bearers – listened intently to residents' issues, high-fived children and promised to change the area for the better if elected during her tenure.
Gauteng has been identified as the party's next target for governance after winning the Western Cape in the 2009 general election.
"I have many problems – I have no job and my home has no water or electricity. But, I think the DA can change that," Sweetwater resident Thabiso Evason said.
"The ANC makes empty promises but the DA delivers to everyone. They must make this place like they made Cape Town."
Evason's view was echoed by another resident, Madelene Radebe.
"The way the DA works is different to the ANC. The ANC has been there for many years but they only work for themselves," Radebe said.
"We have seen what they did in Midvaal and they will do it here. We need change."
Electioneering is paramount
When questioned about the DA's motives for beginning their election campaign ahead of 2014, Zille said electioneering was paramount to the party's attempts to transform the country.
"You have to contest elections if you want to win and you can't implement good policies for your people unless you win and you can't win unless you tell people what you're about and what you plan to do.
"It's very simple: we're trying to win an election. We've improved the Western Cape and Cape Town for all the people because we won elections there. There is nothing wrong with trying to extend our governance."
Zille was also confident about the party's chances of winning Gauteng.
"We achieved the impossible in Cape Town in 2006. We achieved the unthinkable in the Western Cape in 2009. We now govern 30 local authorities across South Africa and the people of Gauteng can see the future and they see it's blue."