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

As South Africa approaches the 2026 local government elections scheduled for November 4, political parties are intensifying their efforts to finalize and announce their mayoral candidates for the country’s major metropolitan municipalities.

The Democratic Alliance (DA) has confirmed that Geordin Hill-Lewis will continue to lead their campaign in Cape Town, following his recent election as the party’s national leader. Hill-Lewis has emphasized a platform focused on safety, job creation, and infrastructure development.

Meanwhile, the African National Congress (ANC) is in the final stages of its candidate selection process. Reports indicate that Reverend Frank Chikane has emerged as a leading contender for the Johannesburg mayoral candidacy, as the party seeks to unify its structures ahead of the contentious race.

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), led by Julius Malema, have officially unveiled their slate of mayoral candidates across various municipalities. During a recent manifesto launch and anniversary celebration in Limpopo, Malema stated that the party has fielded its strongest possible candidates to address service delivery challenges and municipal funding issues.

Other parties, including ActionSA and the Good Party, are also actively campaigning, with candidates such as Brett Herron and others entering the fray in key metros. As the election date nears, the focus remains on how these candidates will address issues of inequality, housing, and urban management in South Africa’s largest cities.