CAPE TOWN, WESTERN CAPE — Stepping away from the entertainment industry, former television star Melanie Du Bois is officially entering the political sphere. She has launched her campaign as a Build One South Africa (BOSA) candidate to represent two Cape Town wards in the forthcoming local government elections, citing a deep desire to secure a better future for her community and her child.
The public figure, whose career previously shifted from acting to real estate following the end of her television contract, explained that her political journey did not originally begin with BOSA. She was initially approached by a political group named PPM. Despite her extensive community outreach involving youth, women, and motivational initiatives, her first instinct was to decline the offer.
“I was like, ‘No ways. I’m not a politician. That’s just not my vibe,'” Du Bois explained. She noted that while she participated in protests in her youth, she initially felt the current political landscape was not a good fit for her.
However, conversations about the severe shortcomings of current career politicians shifted her perspective. As a single mother concerned about the lack of acting work and the bleak future awaiting her daughter, she realized that everyday citizens must step into the political arena to fix a broken system. This realization led her to Build One South Africa. She highlighted that BOSA leader Musi clarified the party’s foundational strategy: rebuilding the country by laying the “bricks” from the ground up rather than dictating from the top.
This bottom-up approach is a core requirement for the party’s ward councilors. Du Bois emphasized that BOSA seeks ordinary, deeply embedded community members. She likened the ideal candidate to an “Auntie Frena on the corner” who intimately knows her neighbors, recognizes when families are struggling, and understands how to help them access SASSA social grants.
Vying for representation in the Strand and Mitchell’s Plain, Du Bois hopes to foster a culture where citizens take matters into their own hands rather than passively waiting for government intervention. Her vision for the post-election landscape centers on aggressive job creation for the youth, expressing frustration that employment opportunities are being stripped away from young people rather than created for them.
She criticized current government priorities, stating that if elected, she would use her seat at the decision-making table to block misguided infrastructure projects. She used the example of a boundary wall, stating she would halt such construction to redirect those funds toward employment. To combat the pervasive issue of gangsterism, she proposed channeling at-risk youth into meaningful public service roles. By employing young people as traffic officers, policewomen, and teachers, the government can provide them with a sense of belonging and a steady income, effectively replacing criminal activity with nation-building efforts.
When asked about the highly debated June 30 deadline—which has sparked national protests demanding that undocumented immigrants vacate the country to free up the local job market—Du Bois urged restraint and compassion. While she firmly agrees that South African citizens need jobs, she warned that hostile protests could lead to unintended violence and harm.
She called on the public to embrace *Ubuntu*, referencing the teachings of Nelson Mandela. She insisted that while the pursuit of local employment is critical, it must never override basic human decency, urging the nation to handle the crisis with humanity so that things do not get out of hand and people do not get hurt.