CAPE TOWN, Western Cape — National Coloured Congress (NCC) leader Fadiel Adams has outlined his party’s unique approach to the upcoming elections, emphasizing year-round community work over traditional seasonal campaigning. Speaking in a recent media interview, Adams highlighted the NCC’s core policy priorities, which include land restitution, crime prevention, and holding municipal authorities accountable for service delivery failures.
A “No Campaign” Approach and Municipal Accountability
Adams stated that the NCC does not engage in conventional electioneering, arguing that the party’s daily groundwork speaks for itself. He criticized rival political parties for only showing concern for marginalized communities during election cycles, describing their sudden interest as opportunistic.
“They see our people as voters, not as human beings. They don’t see us as people that need basic services; they see us as opportunities,” Adams said.
Highlighting the NCC’s track record, Adams pointed to the recent upgrades of City Rental Unit (CRU) staircases. He noted that these essential repairs only materialized after eight years of neglected budgets and denials, following the NCC’s persistent pressure.
Adams also detailed the party’s role in exposing corruption within a R600 million staircase tender. He named individuals allegedly involved in the corruption, including Malucus, Boy Basil Jennis, Army, and Lelum Bando. According to Adams, Basil Jennis has been suspended following the exposure, and the NCC is now directing its focus toward the city manager. Furthermore, he claimed the NCC has consistently exposed how law enforcement is sometimes used as a “stick” to beat communities rather than assist them.
Crime Prevention, Gang Violence, and Housing Evictions
Addressing the persistent issues of gang violence and economic exclusion, particularly in the Western Cape, Adams took aim at the city’s current safety strategies. He criticized Safety and Security spokesperson JP Smith for blaming the South African Police Service (SAPS) for all security failures, arguing that crime prevention is a shared municipal responsibility.
Adams highlighted a staggering lack of city-sponsored drug prevention programs in schools. He cited estimates of over 2,500 known drug outlets in the Cape Town metropole, with 400 located directly within residential units.
To combat this, the NCC has proposed aggressive municipal interventions. Adams stated that if the party holds the balance of power, they will initiate eviction proceedings against every drug and liquor dealer operating in city rental units, provided a criminal docket has been opened. He criticized the current administration for evicting non-governmental organizations and community library founders from council flats while turning a blind eye to illicit dealers.
Land Restitution and Policy Reforms
A cornerstone of the NCC’s proposed policy is a comprehensive land audit to return prime land to displaced Coloured residents. Adams criticized the Democratic Alliance (DA) for altering land allocation policies since taking power two decades ago. He argued that the shift to public tenders has eliminated the ability of lower-income residents to apply for and obtain land directly, leaving the process exclusively to wealthy developers.
When pressed on the logistical details of these policies, Adams explained that the NCC would utilize its numbers in the opposition caucus to bring motions directly to the city council for a vote, bypassing bureaucratic delays in the same manner the ruling party uses to pass tariff increases.
National Expansion and Organic Growth
Despite its strong Western Cape roots, the NCC is expanding its national footprint. Adams confirmed the party is contesting in 30 municipalities across four provinces, with 25 of those located in the Western Cape.
Addressing demographics, Adams claimed that half of the Coloured population resides in Cape Town, estimating the city’s Coloured population at 3.5 million. He emphasized that the party’s growth is “100% organic,” driven by attraction rather than promotion, and noted that the NCC operates without financial injections from corporate interests.
While acknowledging that the NCC does not aim to match the sheer size of the DA, Adams predicted that the DA’s support will soon shrink. He maintained that the NCC’s ultimate goal is to serve as a powerful, uncompromising voice for the Coloured community.
Addressing Personal Legal Allegations
When questioned about how his personal legal challenges and allegations raised in an ad hoc committee align with his strict law-and-order political message, Adams dismissed the cases as politically motivated.
He described the charges as “cooked” and orchestrated by “corrupt generals.” Adams alleged that the prosecution is deliberately delaying the process and moving the case between courts because they lack evidence. He noted that the legal proceedings are unlikely to conclude before the upcoming elections.
