With the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) voter registration weekend set for June, political parties’ election campaign is increasingly building up steam and momentum in the lead up to the upcoming local government election.
While the IEC announced the first voter registration weekend for 20 and 21 June 2026, Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa has yet to gazette the date for the elections.
That has not stopped political parties, with several making strategic announcements at the weekend ranging from provincial leadership roles, all the way to mayoral candidates. Other parties are also on the brink of kickstarting their election processes.
ActionSA announced the appointment of Dereleen James as the provincial chairperson in the Western Cape. This follows the party’s three-day Senate Strategic Planning meeting, where they brought together leaders from across South Africa to map out a focused and assertive election campaign.
“A respected and no-nonsense community activist, she has consistently led efforts to confront crime, drug cartels and corruption, particularly on the Cape Flats, and will now spearhead the party’s growth and campaign in the province,” ActionSA President, Herman Mashaba, said.
He also announced that Mary Phadi joined the party and will play a key role in leading and managing their campaign in Mpumalanga.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) has been on a sustained effort, announcing mayoral candidates for the Western Cape.
While Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis is expected to be announced as the party’s mayoral candidate for the City of Cape Town, DA Western Cape Chairperson, Jaco Londt, said they have finalised interviews and are just completing internal box-ticking processes before public announcements are made.
Thus far, 15 announcements have been made by the party, with this weekend seeing radio star Henricus ‘Rickey G’ Gysman being announced as their Oudtshoorn candidate.
DA Western Cape Leader Tertuis Simmers said Gysman is not just any candidate; he is the heartbeat of the community.
“For 15 years, he has been the voice in many homes on the radio. He didn’t just speak, he listened. He didn’t just broadcast, he stood up. He is a beacon of hope for a community that longs for justice and opportunity. As a man who backs down for nothing and no one, he has already proven himself as a fearless fighter against injustice and a voice for the voiceless,” Simmers said.
“Today, he stands on the threshold of a new chapter as the DA’s mayoral candidate.”
The Patriotic Alliance has also been campaigning throughout the province, with its leader, Gayton McKenzie, also visiting the municipality last week while toutting its candidates in by-elections.
Unite for Change Leadership Council Member & GOOD Secretary-General, Brett Herron, said that they are making good progress.
“We have completed a rigorous process for our Joburg Mayoral Candidate, who we will announce in April. Other mayoral candidates will follow soon thereafter (in May). Our Councillor Candidate selection process will commence next week,” Herron said.
Herron said they will announce their councillor candidates by the end of April.
“We haven’t had any real delays. We are doing something completely new – bringing parties, their leadership, their supporters and activists together. We focused on integrating our parties and their people first while we developed our campaign.
“We are very excited by the quality, capacity and calibre of candidates we have attracted.
“We’re bringing an ethical and capable leader who the people of Joburg can rally behind – linking their values, visions and dreams for Joburg to the ability to govern,” Herron said.
ANC Western Cape spokesperson Sifiso Mtsweni said that the ANC’s election preparations kick start from the 1st of April as per their timelines.
“All branch general meetings to select ward and PR candidates (proportional representation) begin on the 1st of April to the 20th of June. On the 20th of June, we will release all our ward and PR candidates.
“There have been no delays on our side; our timelines have always been that we will start in April, and by June, all our candidates across the country will be known.”
Mtsweni added that no candidates have submitted their names or positioned themselves as mayors.
“That process is purely a national function.”
Theolin Tembo
iol.co.za