Veteran DJ, producer and broadcaster Deon “DJ Ready D” Daniels is taking his influence beyond music and into politics after being announced as the People’s Movement for Change (PMC) mayoral candidate for Cape Town.
The veteran entertainer was unveiled as the party’s candidate during an event in Ottery, adding one of the Cape Flats’ most recognisable cultural figures to an increasingly competitive mayoral contest.
Ready D will go up against candidates including ActionSA’s Dereleen James, National Coloured Congress candidate Ellen Pakkies and Democratic Alliance incumbent Geordin Hill-Lewis.
From District Six to the political stage
Ready D’s political journey is closely connected to his personal history.
Born in District Six, he grew up on the Cape Flats after his family was forcibly removed during apartheid and relocated to Lentegeur in Mitchells Plain.
His name became prominent in South African hip-hop through his work with the pioneering group Prophets of Da City, which helped take Cape Flats hip-hop to audiences beyond the country.
Now, years after establishing himself in entertainment, Ready D is seeking to use that community connection in a very different arena.
“Talent is everywhere. Opportunity is not”
Following his nomination, Ready D called for a departure from what he described as the traditional political approach.
“Let’s break the cycle of politricks in this country,” he said.
One of his central messages is the need to close the gap between the enormous talent found across South Africa and the limited opportunities available to young people.
“Talent is everywhere. Opportunity is not. I want to help change that,” Ready D said.
His campaign is therefore expected to place significant emphasis on youth development, entrepreneurship and the creative economy.
Ready D refuses to promise easy solutions
Despite entering one of the country’s most closely watched local political contests, Ready D acknowledged that Cape Town’s challenges cannot be solved by one person.
“I cannot fix everything on my own, and I would not want to make promises that cannot be guaranteed,” he said.
Instead, the veteran artist said he would commit to working hard, listening to communities, learning from others and seeking guidance when necessary.
That approach could become a defining part of his campaign as he attempts to translate decades of cultural influence and community engagement into political support.
PMC targets unemployment, housing and crime
The PMC says its campaign will focus on several major challenges facing Cape Town, including unemployment, housing shortages, crime, inequality and poor service delivery.
The party believes Ready D brings valuable experience through his involvement in youth initiatives, non-profit work, community engagement and the creative sector.
The PMC also wants to strengthen cooperation between communities, government, businesses, civil society and the creative industries.
Young people and small businesses are expected to be among the party’s key priorities.
The party says it wants to create a city where families can live with dignity, communities feel safe and empowered, and young people have access to meaningful opportunities.
A changing Cape Town political landscape
Ready D’s candidacy comes as smaller parties attempt to challenge the established political order in Cape Town.
The 2021 local government elections saw the DA win 58.3% of the Cape Town vote, down from 66.6% in 2016. Following a recount, the party held 135 council seats, while the ANC won 43, the EFF 10 and GOOD nine.
The rise of parties including the Cape Coloured Congress, GOOD and Patriotic Alliance has contributed to an increasingly fragmented political environment.
That fragmentation could make smaller changes in voter support important when the next council is determined.
Can Ready D turn cultural influence into political power?
PMC founder Marius Fransman, a former Western Cape ANC leader, launched the party after leaving the ANC and has previously recruited former Cape Town mayor Dan Plato.
However, the party struggled to make a significant impact nationally during the 2024 elections, receiving 5,539 votes on the national ballot.
Ready D’s nomination could offer the party a different route to voters, particularly in communities where his cultural career and Cape Flats roots are well known.
The big question now is whether his decades of influence in South African music and youth culture can translate into votes.
For Ready D, the mayoral race represents a dramatic new chapter — and a chance to turn his long-standing message about opportunity into a political campaign.
