Cilliers Brink Elected DA’s Tshwane Mayoral Candidate, Former Mayor Vows to Finish What He Started

• The Democratic Alliance has officially unveiled its mayoral candidate for Tshwane for the 2026 elections
• Cilliers Brink was mayor of the city from 28 March 2023 until 26 September 2024, when he was removed
• Brink said he had a renewed determination to finish the work he had started during his first term

Briefly News journalist Byron Pillay has dedicated a decade to reporting on the South African political landscape, crime, and social issues. He spent 10 years working for the Northern Natal Courier before transitioning to online journalism.

GAUTENG – Cilliers Brink has been elected as the Democratic Alliance’s (DA) Mayoral candidate for the City of Tshwane.

The decision was made at the party’s Mayoral Candidate Launch on 15 August 2025 in Gauteng.

Brink, a former mayor of the city, will contest the 2026 Local Government Elections on behalf of the DA. In announcing the candidate, party leader John Steenhuisen said that Brink was a man who had a proven track record of delivering in the city.

Read also

Dr Malusi Gigaba calls for postponement of National Dialogue, South Africans divided over his appeal

Brink accepts the party’s nomination

During his speech, Brink said he accepts the DA’s nomination to become the Mayor of Tshwane, with a renewed determination to finish the work he had started. He stated that he wanted to build a capital city that serves honest, hardworking people.

Brink served as mayor from 28 March 2023 until 26 September 2024, when the African National Congress (ANC) brought a motion of no confidence that led to his removal.

He added that South Africans and the people of the city had a common purpose to stop corruption, take back the streets from criminals, rebuild water and electricity infrastructure, and draw the investment to create jobs for young people.

“To serve that common purpose is why I am in politics.

Brink focuses on the ANC and ActionSA coalition

The former mayor stated that for decades, the ANC ran the city, stripping it of internal systems and controls, using it as a personal ATM.

Read also

Jabulani Khumalo takes MK Party to Constitutional Court, SA weighs in on latest leadership battle

He added that when the party finally lost control in 2016, they still plunged Tshwane into chaos through unlawful means. Brink continued that in 2021, the people relegated the ANC to the opposition benches once again. However, a party that had promised its voters never to work with the ANC betrayed them, handing power back to the ANC.

While he didn’t mention a name, his comments were in reference to ActionSA, whose leader, Herman Mashaba, said he would never work with the ANC. Brink stated that while ActionSA held the mayoral chain, it was the ANC who were actually running the city.

Brink fears coalition will reverse DA gains

Briefly News reported that Brink was concerned that the coalition in Tshwane would destroy the gains made by the DA.

The former Tshwane mayor expressed his concerns after he was removed via a motion of no confidence.

Read also

MK Party condemns Gayton McKenzie's racist remarks, calls for an investigation into his alleged criminal ties

He promised that the DA would fight to protect the work it did, but South Africans were not impressed.

Source: Briefly News