Cape Town election 2026: Leaders focus on housing, crime and service delivery

The 2026 local government elections in Cape Town and the Western Cape saw political leaders focusing on various key issues. Affordable housing, gang violence, service delivery, and political change were prominent topics as parties pitched their policies to voters.

DA leader Geordin Hill-Lewis defended the city's record on affordable housing, suggesting that increasing supply required reducing unnecessary red tape. He also emphasized releasing more city land for housing projects, stating his pride in releasing more city-owned land than ever before in Cape Town.

GOOD Party leader Patricia de Lille called for municipal budgets to prioritize poorer communities and redress historical inequalities. She proposed using publicly owned land to create housing opportunities closer to employment and urged South Africans not to lose faith in democracy despite public frustration with government.

ActionSA mayoral candidate Dereleen James put youth development at the center of her crime strategy, highlighting the importance of investing in education and community development to prevent gang violence and unequal access to municipal services. She emphasized keeping young people in school and establishing Local Drug Action Committees.

Freedom Front Plus leader Corne Mulder expressed confidence in his party's prospects, predicting the DA would fall well below 50% in the Western Cape. He also highlighted the party's campaign and optimism about electoral results.

The United Democratic Front (UDF) returned to electoral politics, with UDF president Andrew Marx outlining the organization's agenda during the elections.