The Democratic Alliance (DA) and ActionSA have expressed their readiness for the upcoming 2026 Local Government Elections, which President Cyril Ramaphosa confirmed will be held on November 4.

The date was confirmed during the President’s Coordinating Council meeting in Boksburg, setting the stage for what is expected to be a highly contested, critical election for South Africa's municipalities and metros.

DA national campaign manager Ashor Sarupen said the 2026 elections are "make-or-break" for many of the nation's smaller towns and municipalities.

"The urgency of getting towns and cities working is immense, and that is why this local government election is so important for South Africa," he stated.

Sarupen announced that the DA has been “first out of the blocks” to present its mayoral candidates, selected through a “rigorous” process, to ensure the highest calibre.

And many more DA Mayoral Candidates are set to be announced, he added.

He stated that the DA’s election campaign has already directly engaged and interacted with over 2.5-million voters.

ActionSA National Chairperson Michael Beaumont welcomed the announcement of the election date, and said it allows the party to "fix what others have broken."

Beaumont argued that citizens are “rightfully angry” at the state of municipalities, where service delivery has collapsed, and financial mismanagement is rampant.

“... basic services are in perpetual collapse, criminals run rampant, finances are in disarray, and accountability is amiss as politicians sit in air-conditioned offices, insulated from the problems they've created,” he stated.

Beaumont assured that ActionSA is ready to contest the elections, claiming that the party has proven that where it governs, the basics are done right, and services are delivered.

“In the City of Tshwane ActionSA Mayor Dr Nasiphi Moya has proven her credentials in fixing what her predecessors have broken. Candidates like Herman Mashaba and Athol Trollip have proven credentials of leading metros in the only times in which those cities prospered, and emerging candidates like Xolani Khumalo and Mary Phadi, and many others to join them, will follow in these steps in their municipalities,” he said.

Beaumont emphasised that while mayoral candidates will provide the party’s vision for fixing broken municipalities, ActionSA will equally focus on putting forward ward candidates who are leaders in their communities.