2026 local government elections: Who is running for mayor in Cape Town, Johannesburg, Durban and other metros?

As South Africa gears up for the 2026 local government elections scheduled for 4 November 2026, political parties are intensifying their campaigns and unveiling their mayoral candidates for the country’s major metropolitan municipalities.

In Cape Town, the race is becoming increasingly competitive. Incumbent mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis is seeking re-election representing the Democratic Alliance (DA), which is campaigning on its record of governance in the city. However, the party faces challenges from other contenders, including Brett Herron of the Good Party and candidates from ActionSA and the Patriotic Alliance, as an outright DA majority is no longer considered guaranteed.

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) have also made significant moves, with party leader Julius Malema announcing their slate of mayoral candidates during the party’s 13th-anniversary celebrations and manifesto launch at Thohoyandou Stadium. The EFF has fielded senior leadership figures for key metros, emphasizing a platform of improved service delivery and increased municipal funding.

While the DA and EFF have solidified their candidate lists, other major parties, including the African National Congress (ANC), are in the process of finalizing their selections for the upcoming polls. The 2026 elections are viewed as a pivotal moment for South African municipalities, with parties focusing heavily on addressing service delivery challenges and infrastructure needs across the country’s urban centers.