The African National Congress (ANC) is currently finalising its selection process for a mayoral candidate to contest the City of Cape Town in the upcoming local government elections scheduled for 4 November 2026. National party officials oversaw interviews for the Cape Metro position on Saturday, 11 July, as part of a centralised strategy to identify leadership for key strategic municipalities.
Centralised Selection Process
The party’s mayoral candidate search is being managed directly by the national leadership rather than provincial structures. Jeremiah Thuynsma, Convener of the ANC Provincial Task Team, confirmed that this initiative follows the commencement of a public and self-nomination process that opened on 22 May 2026.
The mayoral candidate interviews are being conducted directly by the national leadership. Interviews in four key strategic municipalities are being concluded while interviews in the Cape Metro candidates will take place on Saturday the 11 of July under the guidance of the ANC national officials.
The National Executive Committee implemented this structured vetting process to ensure candidates for major metropolitans meet specific ethical and professional standards. The outcome of these interviews is expected to shape the party’s electoral strategy in a municipality currently held by the opposition.
Growing Electoral Competition
The official announcement of the ANC’s candidate will mark a significant point in the build-up to the elections, which have already seen several major parties declare their intentions. The Democratic Alliance (DA) confirmed incumbent Geordin Hill-Lewis as its candidate in mid-June, while the GOOD Party announced that Brett Herron would lead their campaign on 7 June.
Build One South Africa (BOSA) has also joined the race, naming Roger Solomons as its mayoral choice on 5 July. With candidates now lining up across competing parties, the final reveal of the ANC’s choice is expected to intensify the political discourse in the Western Cape as the November ballot approaches.