JOHANNESBURG, Gauteng — The Pan Africanist Congress (PAC) has officially announced political activist, scholar, and former ANC member Thami Ka Plaatjie as its mayoral candidate for Johannesburg. This strategic nomination signals the party’s intent to fiercely contest the City of Gold during the upcoming November Local Government Elections (LGE 2026), transforming the economic hub into a major political battleground.
Ka Plaatjie’s return marks a significant moment for the PAC, as he previously served as the party’s Secretary General in the early 1990s before departing to join the African National Congress (ANC). During the candidate announcement event in Johannesburg, he was formally welcomed back into the fold alongside a wave of new recruits from the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), Rise Mzansi, and the Afrika Mayibuye Movement.
The event also unveiled mayoral candidates for the remaining seven metropolitan areas and seven secondary cities. Party leadership, including PAC Deputy President Jaki Seroke and Secretary General Apa Pooe, attended the rollout to emphasize that the party is organized, rebuilding, and ready for the people of South Africa.
According to party representatives, the newly minted candidates are not being marketed as “celebrities or political messiahs.” Instead, they are expected to lead a collective team comprising councilors, activists, professionals, and community representatives who will remain strictly accountable to the party, the citizens, and their respective municipalities.
“This is not merely an announcement, but it is about presenting individual candidates that are capable of taking the municipality forward,” a PAC spokesperson stated during the launch.
While other political parties heavily campaign on standard promises like service delivery, eradicating informal settlements, and tackling corruption, the PAC insists it is adopting a uniquely tailored approach to win over Johannesburg electorates. Party leaders highlighted the city’s distinct vibrancy and uniqueness, noting that previous local politics have often been “aloof” and “bureaucratic.”
Addressing the electorate, PAC leadership criticized the traditional political model of simply giving citizens basic services. “People do not only want to consume services. People are part of the solution,” a party representative explained. “Politics must be about economic revival, so let us bring the totality of the experience of the people into what becomes defined and characterized as local government.”
Currently, the PAC holds 44 councilors across the country and maintains representation in six metropolitan municipalities, with Mangaung being the notable exception. Despite their current numbers, the party has vowed to be a definitive game-changer in the LGE 2026, positioning itself as a viable alternative government for multiple municipalities once the November polls conclude.