Khayelitsha has emerged as a focal point in the Western Cape’s municipal campaign after the Democratic Alliance (DA) this weekend unveiled ward councillor candidates for all wards in the township while the African National Congress (ANC) said it was completing its candidate lists for the province’s 30 municipalities.
High-profile DA push in Site C
DA leader and Cape Town Metro Mayor Geordin Hill‑Lewis, flanked by Deputy Federal Chairperson Siviwe Gwarube and JP Smith, the party’s Deputy Chairperson to Federal Council, revealed five ward candidates at Site C, an area the ANC regards as its stronghold. The announcement was the second round of DA candidate unveilings in just over two months as the party seeks to make inroads across Khayelitsha.
Hill‑Lewis framed the campaign in service-delivery terms, saying the DA’s candidates would represent voters “who are ready to vote for the DA” and pointing to what he described as local improvements under the party’s administration. He argued that voters in certain wards had been “badly serviced by ANC councillors” and that change was now possible.
“They (voters) have been badly serviced by ANC councillors in these wards for too long. Now is the time for change. They can see the improvement, the efforts, the investment and infrastructure we have made in Khayelitsha,” Hill‑Lewis said.
ANC response and internal process
The ANC’s provincial spokesperson, Sifiso Mtsweni, played down the DA’s unveiling. He recalled a similar DA effort in 2021 to recruit former ANC councillors and said it had not yielded results. Mtsweni asserted the ANC was confident it would field candidates who were “credible, popular, and enjoy the confidence of our people”.
Mtsweni also said the ANC was engaged in intensive internal processes alongside Tripartite Alliance partners — Sanco and Cosatu — and that a conference was under way to finalise candidate lists. He suggested the DA was attempting to encroach on its traditional bases because it was under pressure in its own support areas from parties such as the Patriotic Alliance.
- DA action: Announced ward candidates across Khayelitsha, with a visible campaign event at Site C.
- ANC action: Finalising candidate lists for the Western Cape’s 30 municipalities during a conference with alliance partners.
- Political focus: Both parties see Khayelitsha as strategically important, with the DA targeting around a dozen winnable wards.
| Party | Notable figures at event | Action |
|---|---|---|
| DA | Geordin Hill‑Lewis, Siviwe Gwarube, JP Smith | Unveiled ward candidates across Khayelitsha (including Site C) |
| ANC | Sifiso Mtsweni | Completing candidate lists at a conference with Sanco and Cosatu |
Locally, the DA has signalled ambitions to win in roughly 12 wards across Khayelitsha — a claim that reflects the party’s objective to expand its footprint in the metro. The ANC, meanwhile, emphasised its belief that the DA’s recruiting drives will not change established voting patterns within the township.
The contest in Khayelitsha is significant beyond party politics. Ward councillors determine local service delivery priorities, access to municipal budgets and the immediate relationship between residents and the metro administration. A shift in ward representation could therefore alter how quickly backlogs in water, sanitation, roads and community facilities are addressed.
As both parties accelerate preparations ahead of the municipal elections, residents can expect further candidate announcements and intensified campaigning in the township. The coming weeks will test party claims on credibility and delivery as Khayelitsha voters weigh which candidates best represent their priorities at local government level.
