Chris Pappas has been officially announced as the Democratic Alliance’s (DA) mayoral candidate for uMngeni Local Municipality ahead of the 2026 local government elections.The current mayor of uMngeni accepted the nomination, pledging to continue the work initiated since the DA took control of the municipality in 2021.

Pappas highlighted the DA’s narrow victory in the 2021 elections, emphasizing that residents chose 'hope over decline' and 'good governance over corruption'.

Key priorities since 2021 included transparent governance, economic growth, environmental protection, community safety, and infrastructure investment.

Achievements include settling an R11 million loan, completing R6 million worth of projects, and launching community engagement initiatives like a WhatsApp line and toll-free call centre.Pappas acknowledged ongoing challenges, stressing that reversing years of neglect requires sustained effort.He warned that shifting voter support could jeopardize progress in infrastructure, job creation, and service delivery.The DA aims to build on its five-year record, with Pappas urging residents to judge the administration’s performance rather than trust promises.