MITCHELLS PLAIN, WESTERN CAPE — With just over five weeks remaining until the 2026 Local Government Elections, the newly formed One Love Alliance has officially taken its campaign to the Town Centre in Mitchells Plain. The political party, which broke away from the National Coloured Congress (NCC) in 2025, is focusing its grassroots efforts on the Cape Flats to address pressing community challenges and restore safety to local neighborhoods.
Despite being a new entrant to the political landscape, the One Love Alliance (OLA) has outlined a clear manifesto for the upcoming polls. The party promises to lower water tariffs, end persistent water cuts, prioritize local work opportunities, and ensure affordable electricity tariffs.
A Highly Contested Battleground
The Mitchells Plain area is a highly contested political battleground, with major parties including the Democratic Alliance (DA), the Patriotic Alliance (PA), ActionSA, and the NCC all vying for voter support. However, local residents indicate that their primary demand is principled leadership that takes their daily challenges seriously.
During the campaign, residents voiced deep frustration over prolonged power outages and the impact on their daily lives. One single parent of a disabled child highlighted how months of darkness in the area severely compromise safety and privacy.
Voters also criticized the cyclical nature of local politics, describing a pattern where politicians distribute t-shirts to secure votes, only to secure parliamentary salaries while leaving youth unemployment unresolved. Residents expressed that while government officials make numerous promises during election seasons, tangible action and visible improvements remain largely absent once they take office.
Tackling Systemic Inequality and Gentrification
The One Love Alliance says it is committed to helping tackle critical national issues, specifically escalating crime and inequality. The party will be contesting the elections in the Cape Metro, Buffalo City, and the Garden Route, aiming to address the social ills rife in these regions.
Dawayne Jacobs, the One Love Alliance Cape Town Mayoral Candidate, emphasized that the party’s focus extends beyond basic service delivery to address systemic barriers facing the community.
“When we look at our universities, there’s no place for our children there. When we look at the campuses and we look at what’s happening, when we look at the workplace, we look at the unemployment rate,” Jacobs stated. He also highlighted pressing concerns regarding housing, municipal rates, and the impact of gentrification on marginalized communities.
Jacobs pointed out that the Mitchells Plain Town Centre was originally intended to be an economic hub for the local population, but noted that economic control has largely been taken out of the hands of the residents.
“It’s important for us to rise up and make sure that we fight against the issues that are oppressing our people,” Jacobs concluded, urging the community to take a stand against the systemic challenges hindering their progress.
