DA unveils WC mayoral hopefuls ahead of 2026 polls

DA Western Cape leader Tertuis Simmers says the DA is ready to “get to work” on service delivery, safety and jobs. The Democratic Alliance has announced its first tranche of mayoral candidates in the Western Cape, saying the party is ready to “get to work” and offer voters a choice focused on service delivery, safety and jobs ahead of the 2026 local government elections. DA Western Cape leader Tertuis Simmers says the party’s candidates would take its “offer of hope” to residents across the province and build on what the DA calls its record in municipalities where it already governs.

“This marks the DA’s readiness to get to work, delivering reliable basic services, safeguarding communities, rooting out corruption and providing more job opportunities,” Simmers said. The party named eight candidates for mayoral positions across key municipalities and district councils: Simmers said the DA uses what he described as “the most democratic and rigorous mayoral candidate selection process” to ensure candidates are “fit-for-purpose”. “Where we govern, these candidates will build onto our track record of delivery.

Where we do not govern, these candidates represent an opportunity for voters to get their towns working like only the DA can,” he said. Positioning the party against its main rival, Simmers added. “There are only two parties big enough to govern municipalities in the Western Cape: the DA or the ANC.” He framed the upcoming election as a stark choice for voters. “Jobs or decline, safety or chaos, delivery or decay, and good governance or continued corruption.” According to the DA, the candidates will begin a nine-month campaign across their communities, supported by the party’s national, provincial and regional leadership structures.