DJ Ready D Enters Cape Town Mayoral Race as PMC Candidate for 2026 Local Elections
- Hip-hop pioneer DJ Ready D officially entered the Cape Town mayoral race as the People's Movement for Change candidate
- Born in District Six and raised on the Cape Flats, Ready D spent over four decades in music before turning to politics
- Ready D will face incumbent DA mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis and other established political figures in the contest
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One of Cape Town's most beloved cultural figures is swapping the decks for a very different kind of stage. Deon 'DJ Ready D' Daniels, the hip-hop legend and four-time South African DMC champion, has been unveiled as the mayoral candidate for the People's Movement for Change (PMC) ahead of the 2026 Local Government Elections.
The announcement was made in Ottery, where the PMC officially presented Daniels as their choice to contest the Cape Town mayoral seat. His deep roots in the city formed a central part of the party's pitch, with organisers pointing to his decades of work in music, broadcasting and community development as the foundation of his political appeal.
From the Cape Flats to city politics
Daniels grew up in District Six and came of age on the Cape Flats, two communities that shaped his identity long before fame found him. He became a household name as a DJ, producer, broadcaster and founding member of the groundbreaking hip-hop group Prophets of da City, performing on international stages throughout his career.
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According to News24, his decision to join the PMC earlier this year was not made overnight. Daniels has described it as a carefully considered move, one he wants to approach with humility and a genuine commitment to serving ordinary residents. His focus areas include empowering small and micro businesses, tackling youth unemployment and creating meaningful opportunities for young Capetonians.
He has also spoken candidly about wanting to break what he calls the cycle of ‘politricks,’ arguing that his background in the creative sector gives him a different lens through which to approach governance and community development.
A crowded and high-stakes race
Ready D enters a competitive field. He will go up against incumbent Democratic Alliance mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis, ActionSA's Dereleen James and National Coloured Congress candidate Ellen Pakkies, among others.
The race carries particular weight because Cape Town's coloured electorate is widely regarded as a key battleground. The DA took 58.3% of the city vote in the 2021 local elections, a notable drop from 66.6% in 2016, which has opened a window for smaller parties to chip away at its support base.
The PMC has signalled that culture, sport and entertainment will feature prominently in its platform, insisting that young people deserve a genuine seat at the table rather than being treated purely as a vote bank come election time.
For Ready D, the 2026 contest represents one of the most significant pivots of his life, trading a legendary entertainment career for the unpredictable terrain of local government politics.
Temudzani Gabriel joins ActionSA
Veteran Muvhango actor Gabriel Temudzani officially joined ActionSA, with party leader Herman Mashaba sharing the news on X.
Mashaba welcomed the Limpopo-born star in Tshivenḓa and posted photos of the actor receiving his party membership.
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Source: Briefly News
