DA’s Hill-Lewis and ActionSA’s Dereleen James unveiled as Cape Town mayoral contenders

Geordin Hill-Lewis and Dereleen James have been announced as mayoral candidates for the City of Cape Town as parties position themselves ahead of the 2026 local government elections. The announcements came amid a series of party events in Cape Town areas including Hanover Park and Delft.

Hill-Lewis seeks second term for DA

The Democratic Alliance’s federal leader, Geordin Hill-Lewis, was confirmed as the DA candidate seeking re-election in the City of Cape Town. In a speech, Hill-Lewis said meeting residents is “the best part of my day” and framed the party’s record as restoring hope to the city.

He said:

“No matter how tough our problems are, we can solve them, step by step, in the right direction. Our love for Cape Town and her people, our love for this country, made us determined to prove that we could be hopeful again.

Hill-Lewis pointed to local projects and improvements as reasons to ask voters for a renewed mandate, and pledged in a second term to focus on stronger policing, more jobs, service delivery, more affordable homes and cleaner public spaces. He said the DA would continue to build the city’s own policing capacity while national government fails in its policing mandate.

ActionSA names Dereleen James

ActionSA named Dereleen James as its mayoral candidate. The party said James gained attention for her role on Parliament’s Ad Hoc Committee investigating allegations involving KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi.

James criticised the state of housing and called for change on the Cape Flats. She said it was unacceptable that middle-class families in the city cannot afford to buy a house and said:

“We can never, ever have a situation on the Cape Flats, where people have to decide between electricity and a plate of food. I am saying to you, we cannot continue like this.”

She also said there can never be a situation where someone waits decades on the housing list, adding that ActionSA would prioritise education on the Cape Flats because “education is the most powerful tool you can use to change any community.” James named safety as her top priority, saying unsafe communities deter investment.

At her launch she described her candidacy as “the launch of the people’s voices” and said:

“I am an extension of your voice. I am saying to the residents, I am calling on the residents of the Cape Flats. I am saying to you. It is time we start building. I am calling our houses to order.”

MK Party rally in Delft

The Delft event also hosted the MK Party’s Western Cape mobilisation at the Delft Community Hall where the party’s president, Jacob Zuma, delivered the keynote address. Other attendees included First Deputy President Mandlakayise Hlophe, Second Deputy President Tony Yengeni, Secretary-General Sibonelo Nomvalo, members of Parliament, traditional healers and supporters.

Zuma spoke about the party’s formation and breakaway from the ANC, saying they established the party because they believed it is “where we are going to take ourselves to freedom.” He added:

“This is our last fight with the enemy. We are going to win. We are going to take the country.”

What to watch next

With candidates now named, parties have set out competing priorities on housing, safety, service delivery and education as they campaign in Cape Town ahead of the local government elections.