As political parties gear up for South Africa’s local government elections on November 4, the African National Congress (ANC) is on the verge of revealing its candidate for the mayoral position in Johannesburg. This city is anticipated to be one of the most fiercely contested metropolitan areas in the country. Presently, Johannesburg’s leadership rests with an ANC-led coalition, under the stewardship of Dada Morero as the executive mayor.
Uncertainty surrounds Morero’s continuation as the ANC’s choice for mayor, especially after he was ousted from his role as the party’s Greater Johannesburg regional chairperson in 2025. In response, the ANC has embarked on a comprehensive process to select a candidate, following a previous nomination that did not meet national requirements. Among the potential candidates, Reverend Frank Chikane has emerged as a prominent figure after the party conducted interviews.
Meanwhile, other significant political parties have finalized their candidates for the Johannesburg mayoral race. The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) have put forward Dr. Tlaleng Mofokeng, and ActionSA has selected former Johannesburg mayor Herman Mashaba as its candidate. The Democratic Alliance (DA) has chosen Helen Zille, who previously served as both the mayor of Cape Town and the premier of the Western Cape.
Additional nominations have been announced by the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP), which has nominated Mlungisi Mabaso, alongside candidates from Rise Mzansi, Build One South Africa (BOSA), the Land Party, and Al Jama-ah. These nominations set the stage for a multifaceted electoral contest in Johannesburg.
The upcoming election is expected to center on critical issues such as service delivery, infrastructure, water, electricity, housing, crime, and local economic development. As these topics take the forefront, the mayoral race in Johannesburg promises to be a pivotal event in the local government elections.