CAPE TOWN, Western Cape — As voters prepare to cast their ballots in the November 4 local government elections, the newly registered Home of Independence party is stepping into the spotlight on the Cape Flats. Contesting eight wards across communities like Bishop Lavis, Hanover Park, Tafelsig, and Manenberg, the political group is campaigning on a platform to drastically reduce crime, eliminate unemployment, and resolve the area’s inadequate housing crisis.
Historical Scars and Daily Struggles
Residents in these areas have long expressed feeling marginalized, noting that they are often perceived solely through the lens of gang violence. However, the root causes of these issues are deeply historical. Many of these communities were established during the apartheid era as a result of the government’s Group Areas Act and forced removals. Decades later, the scars of this unjust system remain visible in the extreme poverty, hunger, and joblessness that plague neighborhoods like Bishop Lavis.
Locals report that children are frequently going hungry and missing out on school education, leaving many young people wandering the streets without meaningful supervision or support. In Manenberg, residents point out that a lack of funds for higher education leaves many young people at home with no income. This financial desperation often pushes them toward drug smuggling or gang affiliation just to afford basic necessities, while others are reduced to scavenging for bottles and cans on the roadsides to feed their families.
In Hanover Park, the daily reality is defined by a terrifying level of gun violence. Residents describe a climate of fear where walking to church or local destinations is considered a life-threatening risk, forcing them to rely on rides or ride-sharing services just to navigate their own neighborhoods safely.
A Grassroots Vision for Change
Enter the Home of Independence (HOI), which originated as a grassroots community organization before transitioning into a registered political party. The organization’s founder, Cobian May, is a local business owner who notes that after serving in various other political parties, he realized that existing leadership had consistently neglected these communities.
May has introduced a targeted 100-day policy aimed at immediately alleviating unemployment.
“My 100-day policy in council is first of all, any person that has been without work for three months will get a stipend or their salary every day because I want them at work the next day,” May explained. He emphasized that the plan is straightforward: creating jobs directly reduces crime by removing the financial need to steal or rob.
Comprehensive Community Solutions
Beyond immediate job creation, the Home of Independence party is advocating for the establishment of a 24-hour day hospital to address critical healthcare shortages in the wards. The party’s broader focus encompasses economic growth, quality housing, and improved municipal services across the eight wards they are contesting, which also include Valhalla Park, Tafelsig and Kalksteenfontein.
Driven by the belief that traditional political leaders have left communities “high and dry” after election cycles, May says his approach is highly localized and action-oriented.
“We are going to take this thing street by street, light by light, pothole by pothole, and one job at a time,” May stated, signaling a hands-on approach to representing the forgotten voices of the Cape Flats and translating grassroots frustration into tangible political change.
