PRETORIA, GAUTENG — The Born to Win (BTW) party is positioning itself ahead of the 2026 Local Government Elections, navigating a highly contested political landscape as smaller factions fight for a place at the municipal table. With just 10 days remaining before South Africans head to the polls, more than 500 political parties are preparing to contest the elections, creating crowded ballots in some of the country’s largest metropolitan areas.
While major political parties dominate the airwaves, smaller organizations like Born to Win are attempting to translate local concerns into votes and, ultimately, seats in the council. The party is led by its founder, Boy Mamabolo, who is attempting to carve out a distinct political identity.
However, the party’s leadership faces notable scrutiny regarding its political origins. Mamabolo is a known breakaway from the African National Congress (ANC), having previously been part of the very political administration he now criticizes. This background has prompted pressing questions from the electorate and media regarding why voters should trust his new political vehicle to deliver different results from the established players.
During a recent media engagement aimed at highlighting the value propositions of smaller parties, Mamabolo was asked to address his ANC history and explain why voters should believe his administration would be any different. Unfortunately, before the Born to Win leader could respond to the question and outline his specific municipal strategies, the broadcast experienced technical difficulties and lost connectivity, leaving his answers to the electorate’s concerns unanswered in this instance.
Despite the interruption, Born to Win remains one of the dozens of smaller parties on the ballot, reflecting the fragmented and dynamic nature of the upcoming municipal race.
