Born To Win, a party founded by former ANC Member of Parliament Jacob Boy Mamabolo, has announced it will prioritise combating gender-based violence (GBV) if elected in the upcoming local government elections. Speaking on the campaign trail in Seshego near Polokwane, Mamabolo said the party is consulting communities ahead of unveiling its manifesto on 1 November 2026.
“We are not going to wait for a woman to be killed for us to act,” Mamabolo said, emphasising the need for urgent and proactive measures. “We are saying that we are going to speak more about GBV because we are community leaders. We have to take responsibility also as leaders to engage our boys and men.” Born To Win is contesting all five municipalities in the Capricorn district, with Polokwane as a key target.
The party’s focus on GBV comes amid a broader national push. President Cyril Ramaphosa, on 30 September 2026, ordered urgent action on GBV, including a national recovery operation targeting unresolved murders, rapes, and serious sexual offences involving women and children. Ramaphosa acknowledged that “what we have done has not been enough. We need to do much more than what we have done.”
Other provinces like the Western Cape have already implemented safety audits and police action plans to address GBV, responding to pressure from both national and community organisations. Fatima Shaik, Executive Director of People Opposing Women Abuse, praised immediate measures announced by government but stressed the need for visible outcomes: “Women cannot continue to measure government’s response by announcements. We have to measure it by where the cases are moved, perpetrators are held accountable, dangerous spaces become safer and survivors can actually access services.”
Born To Win, launched in September 2025 and seeking to build nationally from Limpopo, also lists service delivery and restoring confidence in local governance among its priorities. Born To Win’s engagement with communities reflects a localised approach amid the urgent calls for tackling the GBV epidemic that continues to affect South African society deeply.
The manifesto launch on 1 November 2026 is expected to outline specific policies the party will implement if elected in Capricorn’s five municipalities. The party’s full candidate list and detailed strategies remain unverified at this stage.
This report is based on direct statements from Boy Mamabolo reported by SABC News and consistent with broader public records and recent national political developments. Further confirmation from Born To Win and local election data is awaited. Cape Flats News will continue monitoring developments as the elections approach.