POLOKWANE, Limpopo — Former Member of Parliament Boy Mamabolo is taking his newly formed political party, Born to Win, directly to the rural villages of Polokwane as he campaigns for the upcoming November 4 local government elections. Running for mayor, Mamabolo is leveraging his nearly 30-year political experience to challenge the ruling party’s historical dominance in the region.
Campaigning in villages situated just outside the Polokwane central business district, Mamabolo has made severe service delivery failures his primary focal point. He highlighted that communities of over 10,000 residents are currently left without running tap water, forcing them to rely on a single reservoir and share water sources with livestock. Additionally, he pointed to the deteriorating state of local road infrastructure, noting that residents are forced to navigate dangerous potholes daily.
“We are in the villages because the ANC is relying more on village votes,” Mamabolo stated during his campaign trail. He argued that the ruling party’s visibility and support have significantly declined in the townships and the city center. “We are here to talk to the people… give us hope, give us a chance as Born to Win. We are going to lift this area. They’re going to have walking street lines, they’re going to have tar roads. We are going to bring back dignity.”
Mamabolo, who left the African National Congress (ANC) in September of last year, cited systemic frustration and abuse within the party as his reasons for departing. He explained that despite raising critical community issues in parliamentary portfolio committees, implementation was consistently stalled. He further criticized the local municipality for ignoring community inputs during Integrated Development Plan (IDP) meetings, only to implement their own unconsulted ideas later. “We are now independent. We are running our own political party where we are taking decisions. No one can come and amend our decisions,” he said.
Political analysts have warned that poor voter turnout remains a significant challenge for the upcoming elections, meaning parties must work aggressively to mobilize the electorate. Despite the hurdles facing opposition movements in Limpopo, Mamabolo remains highly confident in his strategy.
He pointed to the ANC’s current vulnerabilities in proportional representation and ward seats, noting that the political landscape has shifted significantly with the emergence of other new parties. Mamabolo declared his intention to push the ANC’s support below 50% in Polokwane.
Addressing post-election scenarios, the Born to Win founder emphasized a collaborative approach. “We are going to work with other political parties. We’re not going to be difficult in constituting a council,” Mamabolo explained, adding that forming coalitions is necessary to prevent power from being used through the “back door” to continue corrupt practices.
