2026 Local Government Elections: Who is running for mayor in Cape Town, Johannesburg, Durban and other metros?

With the 2026 local government elections approaching, political parties are finalizing their mayoral candidates for South Africa’s major metropolitan municipalities. The African National Congress (ANC) has indicated a shift in strategy, aiming to announce its mayoral candidates well ahead of the polls to strengthen its campaign efforts in key metros like Johannesburg, Tshwane, and Ekurhuleni.

In Johannesburg, Reverend Frank Chikane has emerged as a prominent front-runner for the ANC’s mayoral candidacy. The party is working to solidify its leadership choices to maintain or regain control in these critical urban centers.

Meanwhile, the Democratic Alliance (DA) continues to focus on its strongholds. Geordin Hill-Lewis, the current Mayor of Cape Town, has been elected as the leader of the DA, signaling the party’s intent to leverage its governance record in the city to expand its influence nationally. The DA has expressed confidence in retaining control of Cape Town, positioning the city as a model for its broader political ambitions.

As the election date nears, the competition for mayoral seats across the country remains intense, with parties balancing internal selection processes with the need to present clear leadership alternatives to voters in South Africa’s most populous metros.