Willie Spies is the Freedom Front Plus (FF+) mayoral candidate for the City of Tshwane in the 2026 local government elections, setting the stage for a tough battle with the Democratic Alliance (DA) over control of the metro. This was confirmed by official party announcements in February and later reports in September that confirmed Spies’s formal swearing-in as a proportional representation councillor ahead of the polls.
Spies, who previously served as an FF+ Member of Parliament from 2004 to 2009, brings a legal background, having represented AfriForum in prominent cases related to minority rights and place-name disputes. His return to frontline politics marks a strategic move by the FF+ to grow its influence in one of Gauteng’s most critical metros.
The local political landscape in Tshwane is shifting, with recent polls placing the DA at around 43% support, while the FF+ is polling at approximately 8%, giving them a combined potential majority if an alliance is formed. However, experts caution that these figures reflect only a snapshot and the final election outcome remains uncertain.
FF+ leader Corné Mulder has made clear the party’s preference for a coalition with the DA to govern Tshwane. At a media briefing in late September, Mulder emphasised coalition government based on policy rather than power politics, stating, “I said from the beginning that my first choice would be to have a coalition in Tshwane between the Democratic Alliance and the Freedom Front Plus.” He also challenged the DA to publicly confirm they would not form coalitions with the ANC in Tshwane, a challenge that has reportedly gone unanswered.
Willie Spies echoed the policy-focus sentiment, telling Daily Maverick, “For us, it’s not an issue of power politics. It’s policy politics.” He added, “There is more tolerance towards diverse political views,” signalling FF+’s intent to broaden its local voter base and negotiate principles with potential partners.
The stakes in Tshwane are significant. The DA aims to secure an outright majority to avoid coalition complications in governing the metro, a goal increasingly clouded by FF+’s growth and the likelihood of hung council results. The FF+ hopes to leverage this to become an influential kingmaker, with Spies leading their campaign and Grandi Theunissen also positioned as a key party figure in the metro’s political contest.
Political analysts see Tshwane as a bellwether for coalition-style politics becoming a permanent feature across South Africa’s metropolitan councils. The FF+ surge could compel the DA to negotiate coalition agreements that may reshape governance dynamics well beyond 2026.
As the campaign intensifies, Cape Flats.co.za will continue monitoring developments, including any responses from the DA to coalition challenges and updated polling data. The final outcome in Tshwane remains undecided, but it is clear the FF+ under Willie Spies’s leadership is a key player reshaping the electoral contest.