Patriotic Alliance (PA) Cape Town mayoral candidate and city councillor Cheslyn Daniels has been arrested following an alleged domestic dispute in Belhar, with police confirming that a second person was also detained.
Western Cape police said Belhar police opened a case of common assault linked to domestic violence and an alleged contravention of a court order following an incident in Koeberg Street at about 6.30pm on Saturday, 8 August 2026.
According to police spokesperson Captain FC van Wyk, a 33-year-old man and a 30-year-old woman were subsequently arrested in Kensington. Both suspects were detained and are expected to appear in the Bellville Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday, 11 August, reports Cape Times.
Police also confirmed that a child who was involved in the incident was returned to his mother.
The exact circumstances surrounding the alleged assault and the alleged breach of the court order have not been disclosed by police.
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PA leadership acknowledges arrests
The arrests were publicly acknowledged by PA leader Gayton McKenzie, who informed party supporters that Daniels and his wife, Devenay Rayners, had been arrested.
McKenzie indicated that the incident followed an argument involving people close to him but said he was still awaiting a full briefing on what had happened. Police have not independently confirmed the detailed circumstances described in social media commentary surrounding the dispute.
The Patriotic Alliance and Daniels had been approached for comment on the arrests and whether the party would take any internal or precautionary action. No detailed response had been provided at the time of the initial reports.
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Cheslyn Daniels is PA’s Cape Town mayoral candidate
The arrest comes at a politically sensitive time for Daniels, who has been announced as the Patriotic Alliance’s candidate for mayor of Cape Town in the upcoming local government elections.
Daniels is also a serving City of Cape Town councillor representing Ward 56. The PA has been campaigning aggressively to expand its support in Cape Town, with Daniels recently calling on party supporters to focus on winning control of the metro.
For now, however, the allegations remain allegations. Neither Daniels nor his co-accused has been convicted, and the matter has yet to be tested before a court.
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