Staff Reporter.
The DA on Monday morning announced its mayoral candidates for the country’s five major metros ahead of the upcoming local government elections, scheduled for 27 October 2021.
The official opposition nominated DA Gauteng MPL and spokesperson on social development, Refiloe Nt’sekhe, as its mayoral candidate for the City of Ekurhuleni.
Current Tshwane Mayor Randall Williams was nominated to continue his term of office and for the City of Johannesburg, the party nominated its councillor Dr Mpho Phalatse.
For Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality (NMBM), the DA nominated current mayor Nqaba Bhanga.
DA MP and finance spokesperson, Geordin Hill-Lewis, was nominated for the City of Cape Town ahead of the incumbent mayor, Dan Plato.
The party made the announcements during a press briefing in Nelson Mandela Bay.
DA leader John Steenhuisen said the party spent a year on its candidate selection process, which included extensive interviews, practical assignments and assessments done by independent panels.
“We’ve long held the view that if we want to fix SA, we have to start by building a capable state. This means governments that are made up of fit-for-purpose individuals, who are not tainted by corruption and who are committed,” he said.
Steenhuisen also challenged the ANC to reveal the names of its mayoral candidates, saying they believe that voters should be given enough time to interrogate the candidates.