The contest for political leadership of eThekwini is taking shape ahead of South Africa’s 4 November 2026 local government elections, with several major parties having already selected their mayoral candidates.
The race has drawn senior political figures from the ANC, DA, IFP, EFF, ActionSA and MK Party, while the African Transformation Movement has also entered the contest with multiple mayoral candidates.
The election campaign is unfolding against a backdrop of persistent concerns over water supply, electricity, infrastructure, unemployment and municipal service delivery in the Durban metropolitan area.
ANC’s Mayoral Choice Remains a Key Issue
The ANC has five people on its eThekwini mayoral shortlist: incumbent mayor Cyril Xaba, council Speaker Thabani Nyawose, former KwaZulu-Natal premier Nomusa Dube-Ncube, former MP Mina Soma-Lesoma and ANC veteran Maggie Govender.
Xaba, who currently serves as mayor, is also at the top of the ANC’s certified proportional representation list for eThekwini. The Electoral Commission published the party lists ahead of the election.
The ANC’s mayoral selection has attracted particular attention because the party is seeking to retain its position in one of South Africa’s largest metropolitan municipalities amid a more competitive political environment in KwaZulu-Natal.
DA Puts Forward Haniff Hoosen
The Democratic Alliance has selected former MP and councillor Haniff Hoosen as its eThekwini mayoral candidate.
Hoosen has previous experience in both municipal and national politics and was announced as the DA’s candidate in 2025.
He is also listed first on the DA’s proportional representation list for eThekwini, according to the IEC-published candidate lists.
IFP Turns to Mkhuleko Hlengwa
The Inkatha Freedom Party has chosen its national spokesperson and Deputy Minister of Transport, Mkhuleko Hlengwa, to lead its campaign in the metro.
The 39-year-old has served as an MP since 2012 and has held several prominent parliamentary responsibilities. The IFP announced his candidacy in August.
Hlengwa is also heading the IFP’s proportional representation list for eThekwini, placing him in a prominent position as voters prepare to cast their ballots.
EFF Names Hlengiwe Mkhaliphi
The Economic Freedom Fighters has selected MP and former deputy secretary-general Hlengiwe Mkhaliphi as its candidate.
Mkhaliphi is a founding member of the EFF and has previously occupied a senior leadership position within the party.
Her campaign forms part of the EFF’s wider effort to challenge established political structures in the metro.
ActionSA Enters the Contest With Zwakele Mncwango
ActionSA has chosen its KwaZulu-Natal chairperson, Zwakele Mncwango, to contest the mayoral position.
Mncwango previously served in eThekwini politics and has held leadership positions in KwaZulu-Natal. ActionSA announced his candidacy in August.
His campaign has focused on issues including municipal service delivery, infrastructure, water losses, jobs and local economic development.
MK Party Changes Its Candidate
The MK Party’s mayoral campaign has undergone a significant change since the party initially announced Zandile Hlophe-Mkhwanazi as its candidate.
Hlophe-Mkhwanazi was subsequently removed from the mayoral position and replaced by Apostle Mxolisi Phakathi.
The change created an unusual situation because Hlophe-Mkhwanazi remains first on the MK Party’s certified proportional representation list, while Phakathi’s name does not appear on that list.
The change followed allegations surrounding the party’s candidate lists, which the MK Party investigated. The allegations should not be treated as established wrongdoing unless independently proven.
Other Parties Add to the Mayoral Field
The Active Citizens Coalition has also entered the eThekwini contest, with councillor and community activist Imtiaz Syed announced as its mayoral candidate.
The African Transformation Movement has taken a different approach, announcing four mayoral candidates in eThekwini. The party said its decision was influenced by concerns about political killings in the metro and that service delivery, particularly water supply, would be central to its campaign.
Water and Service Delivery Dominate the Campaign
The political contest is taking place as eThekwini continues to face pressure over basic municipal services.
Water shortages have become one of the central issues in the campaign, with candidates also addressing electricity supply, infrastructure, sanitation, employment and municipal governance.
At a recent eThekwini mayoral debate, representatives of the ANC, DA, IFP, EFF, MK Party and ActionSA discussed the metro’s future, with water and service delivery among the major issues raised.
Voters Will Decide the Next Council
The 4 November election will determine the councillors who make up municipal councils across South Africa.
In eThekwini, those results will shape the political leadership of the metropolitan municipality and determine which parties and candidates have the numbers to influence the appointment of the next mayor.
With several parties already having named their candidates and the ANC’s shortlist still containing five contenders, the mayoral contest is set to remain a major focus of the election campaign in the weeks ahead.
