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, political parties are finalizing their mayoral candidates for the country’s major metropolitan municipalities.

In Johannesburg, the African National Congress (ANC) has identified veteran Frank Chikane as a frontrunner for the mayorship following a rigorous interview process and the implementation of a new centralized selection program that allowed for the nomination of non-party members.

Meanwhile, the Democratic Alliance (DA) has solidified its leadership, having elected Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis as its leader earlier this year, positioning him as a key figure for the party’s campaign in the Western Cape.

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) have also announced their slate of candidates, with leader Julius Malema asserting that the party has fielded its strongest contenders for the metros, including senior national leaders like Godrich Gardee and Nontando Nolutshungo.

Other parties, such as the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party, are in the process of finalizing and announcing their mayoral candidates, with significant activity expected in regions like Durban.

People of our communities expect a mayor that is there not only when the taps are opened, but also if the taps run dry.

The ANC has also been conducting internal processes to select candidates for the Eastern Cape’s two metros, Buffalo City and Nelson Mandela Bay, where over a dozen candidates have been shortlisted for consideration.