JOHANNESBURG, Gauteng — Build One South Africa (BOSA) is gearing up to contest in 24 municipalities across five provinces in the upcoming local government elections, party leader Dr Mmusi Maimane announced during a recent media briefing. With the November 4 ballot approaching, Dr Maimane emphasized that the vote will serve as a critical referendum on the future of municipal governance in the country.
With approximately 70 days remaining until election day, BOSA is putting the final touches on its message to the electorate. Dr Maimane described the upcoming vote as a definitive turning point for the local sphere of government, calling it South Africa’s midterm election and a “D-day for this administration.” He stressed that the election will not only judge the current administration’s track record but will also answer the pressing question of what the future of local government will look like.
“As Build One South Africa, we are building that alternative,” Dr Maimane stated. “We are that alternative that will bring the fourth leg to local government in order to hold it steadily.”
Marking its first time contesting local government elections, BOSA has rapidly expanded its footprint since its establishment in late September 2022. Following its participation in the 2024 South African general election, the party successfully secured two seats in parliament. Now, it is scaling its operations to compete in 24 local municipalities across five provinces, including the Western Cape, Limpopo, North West, and the Free State.
During the briefing, Dr Maimane firmly rejected claims that BOSA is merely a small political party. “People say, ‘Hey, BOSA, you are small.’ I say, ‘No, we are new,’” he explained. “There is a difference. New means you are the future. You are the new alternative. That is why you can contest in 24 local municipalities across five provinces.”
A cornerstone of the party’s strategy is a fundamental shift away from traditional political norms, prioritizing professional municipal management over political patronage. Dr Maimane emphasized that municipalities must be run professionally, not politically. To achieve this, BOSA is adopting a community-driven candidate selection model.
“BOSA’s model is heavily reliant on communities themselves being able to say, ‘I have nominated candidate X,’” Dr Maimane noted. He clarified that the party does not rely on internal “comradeship” or tenure to dictate candidacies. Instead, BOSA is actively seeking to recruit professionals from various communities, asking residents to nominate credible and competent individuals to represent the party at the local government level.
Looking ahead, Build One South Africa is scheduled to officially deliver its election manifesto next week Thursday. Meanwhile, all political parties face an imminent deadline, with this Friday, August 28, marked as the final day to finalize and submit candidate lists to the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) for the upcoming local government elections.