Former Democratic Alliance (DA) MP Liam Jacobs has set his sights on the Cape Town mayoral seat for the upcoming 2026 local government elections in an unexpected twist in South Africa’s political arena.
Now representing the Patriotic Alliance (PA), Liam is ready to leave behind his relatively short-lived campaign in Tshwane, where his ambitions first took root.
The dynamic 24-year-old politician recently received the official endorsement from PA leader Gayton McKenzie, who publicly applauded him as the party’s candidate for the Mother City.
“Now we are playing chess, not checkers. Our mayoral candidate is Liam Jacobs. Congratulations, you have got big shoes to fill,” Gayton remarked, as per EWN.
Jacobs’s journey over the last few months has been nothing short of eventful.
After defecting from the DA, he initially aimed for the mayoral spot in Tshwane, a city where he has deep ties from his studies.
Despite his ambitions, he faced hurdles, including being sworn in as a councillor in Johannesburg and subsequently grappling with the fallout from his potential role as the MMC for Transport amid concerns regarding his experience.
His tenure in Johannesburg proved to be precarious as he was poised to replace the suspended Kenny Kunene, yet the city’s mayor Dada Morero expressed hesitation over Jacobs’s qualifications for the role.
Through Facebook, Liam said, “I feel humbled to announce that the NEC of the PA has resolved to appoint me as the mayoral candidate for the City of Cape Town and as president of the Patriotic Youth Alliance. We will be fighting for a Cape Town that works for the many and not for a select few.”
Such challenges have prompted Jacobs to pivot his political aspirations towards Cape Town, a strategic shift that could reshape the competition landscape as South Africa nears critical local elections.
First published by Cape {Town} etc
Also see:Shocker: Liam Jacobs dumps DA for Gayton Mackenzie’s Patriotic Alliance
