How to think about the Land Party protest marches in the Overstrand

As I write, the Overstrand Municipality is going through serious turmoil. The Land Party is holding marches, and from the videos and commentary being released, it’s clear these protests are not entirely peaceful. I’m speaking out because people in the Overstrand need to understand what is unfolding. Something significant is happening here, and to me it looks very similar to what I witnessed at the University of Cape (UCT) Town in 2015 and 2016.

I was around during that time. I had studied at UCT before, and I was working nearby, so I attended a number of the marches and protests. I engaged with what was happening. What I mean is not that the timelines match, but that the Land Party’s actions echo the spirit of the 2016 Fallist revolution. So let me step back and explain what happened at UCT.

The 2016 fallist revolution at the University of Cape Town did not begin on the day faeces was thrown at the statue of Cecil John Rhodes. From the mid-2000s onward, the leadership and governance structures began entertaining ideas framed as “decolonisation” or “transformation.” Over time, these ideas were increasingly accommodated. I call the type of leadership that handles things this way the “liberal manager.” The liberal manager tends to avoid confrontation with revolutionary movements often rooted in neo-Marxist or communist thinking and instead tries to manage and appease them. The result is capitulation, and that only strengthens the movement pushing for radical change.

The core of Marxist thinking is the oppressor-versus-oppressed framework. The idea that one group must overthrow another in order to achieve liberation. History shows that revolutions built on this foundation rarely lead to the promised utopia. More often they bring instability, coercion, and long-term damage. At UCT, years of gradual accommodation built up to 2015–2016, when protests escalated dramatically: statues were targeted, buses were burned, intimidation took place, and the institution’s leadership was fundamentally shaken.

When I look at the Overstrand now, I see similar dynamics. The Land Party openly uses Marxist language and ideas. Their stated aim is to “decolonise” or transform existing structures, but in practice that means overturning the current municipal order. Their protests have increased year by year, with growing demands and pressure. Meanwhile, the current municipal leadership under the Democratic Alliance (DA) appears to respond to intimidation by capitulation. To me, this resembles the same pattern of incremental concession that preceded the explosion at UCT.

I used to vote for the DA, so this is not casual criticism. I know some will say this is fear-mongering or political. That’s not my aim. I’m warning about a pattern I’ve seen before. On one side, you have a movement pushing for structural overthrow. On the other, a leadership style focused on managing decline rather than decisively confronting the issue. The liberal manager can also be authoritarian to soft targets like the elderly and the working-class. When that balance tips, it creates a vacuum, and vacuums are dangerous.

So what should residents do?

First, stop being passive. Communities need to organise independently and take decisive action in the interests of their families and neighbourhoods. Focus on key areas: business, education, security, media, resources, and land oversight. Build local structures that are accountable to the people who live there, not dependent on strained political systems. The goal is stability and protection of what exists, especially if municipal authority weakens further.

Second, use your vote thoughtfully. If you believe current leadership is failing, then consider alternatives in the council. Some point to parties like the Freedomfront Plus as a firmer opposition voice. Being small isn’t a bad thing, its about being organized, moral and strong. Ultimately, however, no political party alone will solve this. Local organisation and civic strength matter most.

Finally, the churches cannot stand idle. Christians in the Overstrand need to pray and take this seriously. Yes, there is a political dimension to what’s happening, but it goes beyond politics. At its heart, this is also a cultural and spiritual struggle, and the church has a responsibility to recognise that and respond.