Ten under-30s running for South Africa's councils
From Soweto to rural Eastern Cape, young candidates from ten parties say decisions about their future should not be made without them.
Johannesburg — Youth turnout may be falling, but young South Africans are standing for office in the coming local government elections. Daily Maverick profiled ten candidates under 30, each from a different party.
The candidates
- Megan Kate Mannion (28), Good, Ward 69, Cape Town
- Zwelethu Jeza (28), ANC, Ward 4, uMdoni, KwaZulu-Natal
- Lerato Mashigo (24), Bosa, Ward 31, Tshwane
- Moshinini Lawrence Manaka (23), Rise Mzansi, Johannesburg
- Nicolaas Swanepoel (25), FF Plus, Buffalo City
- Tyron Bosman (21), PA, Ward 2, Dr Beyers Naudé, Eastern Cape
- Khadija Patel (25), Al Jama-ah, Ward 106, Ekurhuleni
- Mpumelelo Luthuli (22), ATM, Ward 46, Soweto
- Nomathamsanqa Mkhonza (26), ActionSA, Ward 18, Eldorado Park
- Kyle Jacobs (28), DA, proportional list, Johannesburg
Their politics differ, but they share a belief that the youth must move from the sidelines to shape their communities.
Mannion, a political researcher, wants rates and tariffs linked to what households earn, and published in plain language before council votes. Decisions made in council, she said, decide whether young people can afford a room, get to a job interview or walk home safely. Jeza, nominated by his community, wants to keep his focus on basic services.
Source: Daily Maverick, 25 October 2026.
