DJ Ready D Enters Cape Town Mayoral Race As People’s Movement for Change Candidate

DJ Ready D Enters Cape Town Mayoral Race as People’s Movement for Change Candidate. Cape Town’s political landscape is heading into another competitive local election, with parties increasingly turning to prominent community figures to win over voters. Among the latest names to enter the race is veteran DJ, producer and broadcaster Deon “DJ Ready D” Daniels, who has been selected as the mayoral candidate for the People’s Movement for Change (PMC).

The party, founded by former Western Cape ANC leader Marius Fransman, announced Ready D’s candidacy on Tuesday evening during an event in Ottery. His nomination adds one of the Cape Flats’ most recognisable cultural figures to an increasingly crowded mayoral contest.

Ready D will face a field that already includes ActionSA’s MP and anti-drug campaigner Dereleen James, National Coloured Congress candidate Ellen Pakkies and Democratic Alliance incumbent Geordin Hill-Lewis.

Born in District Six, Ready D grew up on the Cape Flats after his family was forcibly removed during apartheid and relocated to Lentegeur in Mitchells Plain. His career took off as a member of the groundbreaking hip-hop group Prophets of Da City, helping introduce Cape Flats hip-hop to audiences beyond South Africa.

Speaking after his nomination, Ready D called for a different approach to politics.

“Let’s break the cycle of politricks in this country,” he said.

He also highlighted the gap between South Africa’s wealth of talent and the opportunities available to young people.

“Talent is everywhere. Opportunity is not. I want to help change that,” Ready D said.

The veteran artist also acknowledged the scale of the challenges facing the city, making it clear that he does not see himself as someone with all the answers.

“I cannot fix everything on my own, and I would not want to make promises that cannot be guaranteed. But I can commit to working hard, listening carefully, learning from others and seeking guidance where it is needed,” he said.

For the PMC, Ready D’s candidacy represents an attempt to move away from conventional political leadership while placing community development and opportunity at the centre of its campaign.

The party has identified unemployment, housing shortages, crime, inequality and poor service delivery among the issues it believes require urgent attention. It also pointed to Ready D’s experience in youth development, non-profit initiatives, community engagement and the creative economy as key strengths.

The PMC says it wants to build stronger relationships between communities, government, businesses, civil society and the creative sector, with young people and small businesses expected to be among the major areas of focus.

“We want to build a city where families can live with dignity, where communities are safe and empowered, where young people can see a future for themselves, and where talent is matched with genuine opportunity,” the party said.

Ready D’s entry comes as smaller political parties increasingly compete for voters who have traditionally supported the DA. The 2021 local government elections saw the DA secure 58.3% of the Cape Town vote, down from 66.6% in 2016, giving the party 135 council seats following a recount. The ANC won 43 seats, while the EFF took 10 and GOOD secured nine.

The emergence of parties including the Cape Coloured Congress, GOOD and the Patriotic Alliance has contributed to a more fragmented political environment, making smaller shifts in voter support potentially significant in determining the next council.

Fransman launched the PMC after leaving the ANC and has previously recruited former Cape Town mayor Dan Plato. The party, however, struggled to gain significant national support in the 2024 elections, receiving 5,539 votes on the national ballot.

With Ready D now officially in the mayoral race, the PMC is hoping his deep roots in the Cape Flats, cultural influence and community experience can translate into political support as Cape Town heads towards another closely watched local election.