Afrika Mayibuye Movement mayoral candidate Themba "Skeem GP" Nzimande has defended his bid to lead the City of Ekurhuleni following a tense television interview in which he reportedly struggled to explain how he would address the metro's financial problems, corruption and poor service delivery. According to IOL, the candidate faced difficult questioning about his plans for running the municipality.

South African political party Afrika Mayibuye has defended its decision to field Themba "SkeemGP" Nzimande, an ex-convict, as a mayoral candidate. According to SABC Politics, the party is facing fierce public backlash following the announcement of Nzimande's candidacy. The party has stood by its choice despite the criticism from the public over his criminal record.

According to SABC Politics, the United Democratic Movement has named Yongama Zigebe as its mayoral candidate for Johannesburg. The announcement positions Zigebe as the party’s hopeful for the city’s mayoralty, but the provided report gives no further details on the selection process, timing of an election, policy platform, opponents, or reactions from other parties.

South African hip-hop artist DJ Ready D has announced he will run for mayor of Cape Town in the 2026 local government elections. According to The Citizen, the musician shared the personal and emotional motivations behind his decision to enter politics. Ready D, a prominent figure in South Africa's hip-hop scene, is the latest entertainer to seek public office, though further details about his campaign platform or party affiliation were not provided in the report.

South Africa's Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) has named deputy minister Mkhuleko Hlengwa as its candidate to lead its mayoral bid for eThekwini, the metropolitan municipality that includes Durban. According to TimesLIVE, the party unveiled what it calls a "two-horns" strategy, pairing Hlengwa with Sikhakhane at the helm of the campaign. The announcement positions the IFP's leadership team ahead of its push to contest control of the key KwaZulu-Natal metro.

Roger Solomons from the Build One South Africa (BOSA) party has been announced as the mayoral candidate for Cape Town. He expressed his desire for opportunities to be accessible throughout the city.