By: Saneliso Mlambo
Media personality, poet and author Ntsiki Mazwai has officially been unveiled as the Land Party’s mayoral candidate for Johannesburg ahead of South Africa’s 2026 local government elections. The announcement places Mazwai among a growing list of high-profile candidates seeking to lead the country’s economic hub.
The Land Party introduced Mazwai during a campaign event in Johannesburg this month as political parties continue naming their candidates before the municipal elections. The party said Mazwai’s candidacy is part of its effort to offer voters an alternative vision for governing the City of Johannesburg.
Mazwai is widely known as a media personality, poet and outspoken social commentator. Her move into frontline politics marks her first bid for executive public office, following years of commenting on political and social issues through traditional and digital media.
Johannesburg is expected to be one of the country’s most fiercely contested metros in the 2026 local government elections. Several political parties have already announced mayoral candidates as campaigning intensifies, with service delivery, infrastructure, crime and economic growth expected to dominate the election debate.
While the Land Party has formally confirmed Mazwai’s candidacy, voters will ultimately decide whether the party secures enough support to influence the composition of the next Johannesburg council after the elections.