CAPE TOWN, Western Cape — The National Coloured Congress (NCC) has officially unveiled its 2026 Local Government Manifesto, placing education, healthcare, safety, and the protection of women and children at the forefront of its political agenda. In a comprehensive discussion regarding the party’s vision for the upcoming municipal elections, NCC leader Fadiel Adams detailed the organization’s strategic focus on addressing the systemic marginalization of coloured communities across South Africa.
Founded in 2020 as the Cape Coloured Congress and later renamed to reflect its national ambitions, the party currently holds seven council seats in the City of Cape Town and one in the Saldanha Bay Local Municipality following the 2021 municipal elections. As the party prepares to contest 30 municipalities across four provinces, Adams outlined a radical, community-first approach to local governance.
Public Health and Drug Rehabilitation Priorities
A cornerstone of the 2026 Local Government Manifesto is the commitment to fund and build public drug and alcohol rehabilitation and recovery centers. Adams, who is a recovering addict with 20 years of sobriety, emphasized that the initiative will launch in the Cape Flats, the Northern Areas of Gqeberha, and Eldorado Park.
Adams argued that recovery is nearly impossible for the poor without state intervention, noting that the NCC will redirect municipal funds from affluent, predominantly white suburbs to finance these critical health facilities in marginalized areas.
Systemic Marginalization and Security Concerns
The NCC leader did not mince words regarding the state of safety in coloured communities, describing the Cape Flats as a “killing field” where 70 people are lost to gun violence weekly. Adams alleged that the South African Police Service (SAPS) treats areas such as Hanover Park, Mitchell’s Plain, Lavender Hill, and Nyanga as “no-go zones,” only deploying heavily reinforced units when absolutely necessary.
He contrasted this with the rapid SAPS response to recent fatalities in Johannesburg, suggesting a systemic inaction from the highest offices of government regarding coloured lives. To combat gang violence, the NCC proposes releasing municipal land in overcrowded areas like Lavender Hill to historically displaced coloured residents, arguing that reducing extreme overcrowding will alleviate the frustration that fuels gangsterism.
Political Clashes: The DA, the PA, and Policy Differences
The interview highlighted sharp ideological and strategic differences between the NCC and other political formations:
- The Patriotic Alliance (PA): While acknowledging shared goals of inclusivity with PA leader Gayton McKenzie, Adams drew clear lines. Unlike McKenzie, Adams advocates for land expropriation without compensation, identifies as a socialist rather than a capitalist, and holds distinct views on the Israel-Palestine conflict. Adams maintained that the NCC must “sweep its own street” first, focusing exclusively on coloured empowerment before addressing broader national issues.
- The Democratic Alliance (DA): Adams launched severe critiques against the DA’s local leadership, specifically targeting Cape Town’s Safety and Security Mayoral Committee Member JP Smith. Adams called for Smith to undergo a public drug test to dispel long-standing rumors of cocaine use, citing a past incident where a DA ward candidate failed a public test. In response to counter-allegations from Smith regarding gang-linked funding, Adams firmly denied any underworld financial ties, stating the NCC’s books are open and accusing Smith of deflecting attention from his own alleged underworld connections and policy failures.
Adams also criticized former Mayor Helen Zille and Saldanha Bay leadership for questioning the capacity of coloured individuals to manage municipalities, while highlighting discriminatory service delivery metrics—such as higher rates per square meter paid by the coloured suburb of Grassy Park compared to the affluent, predominantly white Constantia.
Economic Empowerment and Localized Solutions
To achieve its manifesto goals, the NCC proposes a radical localization of municipal tenders. Adams argued against outsourcing large contracts to major, predominantly white-owned businesses. Instead, the party plans to break down multi-million-rand projects into smaller, localized opportunities for community-based entrepreneurs, aiming to create local millionaires who can reinvest in their own neighborhoods.
Furthermore, the party plans to address the education crisis, noting that 7,000 coloured children currently lack school placement. The manifesto guarantees safer school precincts, improved lighting, and the revitalization of sports fields, arguing that providing children with basic recreational facilities is a fundamental right currently denied to them in favor of amenities like dog parks in wealthy suburbs.
Electoral Expansion and Coalition Stance
Looking ahead to the 2026 elections, the NCC has appointed Ellen Pakkies as its Cape Town mayoral candidate. Adams highlighted Pakkies’s powerful personal story and appointed her with a singular, focused mandate: fighting for drug rehabilitation in the council.
Despite operating with limited financial resources compared to major parties, the NCC is expanding its footprint to contest 30 municipalities across four provinces. When asked about post-election coalitions, Adams stated he is willing to work with any party—including those he personally dislikes, such as the DA—if it results in tangible interventions that save the lives of coloured children.
As the 2026 Local Government Elections approach, the National Coloured Congress is positioning itself not just as a political alternative, but as a movement demanding 30 years of corrective action for decades of systemic exclusion.
