Here are the Nelson Mandela Bay mayoral candidates for the 2026 polls

From tackling water shortages and improving service delivery to addressing infrastructure failures and political instability, the race to lead Nelson Mandela Bay is about more than political promises. We look at the mayoral candidates hoping to win over voters in the Eastern Cape metro.

Four candidates made the African National Congress (ANC)’s August shortlist: Babalwa Lobishe (current mayor), Andile Lungisa (former councillor and ANC NEC member), Xolani Vela (corporate executive), and Nontombi “Ntombi” Nama (deputy regional secretary). Babalwa Lobishe has been mayor since October 2024. She is a former Eastern Cape MPL and served on the mayoral committees of Ben Fihla and Danny Jordaan. She was elected as the ANC’s regional chairperson in 2021.

There was significant focus on the ANC’s candidates list for Nelson Mandela Bay regarding Andile Lungisa. However, shortly before the nomination deadline, he was told his name had been removed.

Retief Odendaal is the Democratic Alliance (DA) mayoral candidate. He was removed as mayor in May 2023, barely eight months into his term, after an ANC-led coalition deal.

Mvuleni Mapu is the MK Party’s mayoral candidate. He is a former SACP district chairperson credited with setting up the party’s first structures in the municipality.

The race to lead Nelson Mandela Bay is about more than political promises.