In 2006, he was elected as a ward councillor in the City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality for the Democratic Alliance.
The DA caucus managed to grow 47 to 82 members and Engelbrecht was re-elected as a PR councillor at the election.
[1] In February 2012, Engelbrecht suffered a mild heart attack after a heated argument with African National Congress councillors.
The DA retained its position as the official opposition in the province and Engelbrecht was elected to the provincial legislature.
[6] On 2 March 2021, Engelbrecht resigned from the Gauteng provincial legislature after the DA selected him to fill the late Belinda Bozzoli's seat in the National Assembly.