Rise Mzansi, Bosa, and the Good Party say they stand a better chance at the local polls together

Political parties Rise Mzansi, Bosa, and the Good Party said that they stand a better chance at the polls if they contest under a single banner.

At a media briefing in Johannesburg on Sunday, the parties announced their merger into a new political formation called Unite for Change.

The new party will serve as an umbrella under which all three will contest the upcoming local government elections.

With just about a year until the local polls, the Electoral Commission said that there are currently over 400 registered political parties.

This number is expected to rise as the elections draw closer.

Bosa Leader Mmusi Maimane said that like-minded political parties are much stronger consolidating their resources and voter base under one umbrella.

"If you put all the parties in ward 48 and let’s assume 5 parties contest the election and each of the entities that are here, for ease of numbers; 10 votes each and another party comes and gets 12. That party wins the ward, whereas in the 3 parties together could have won the ward. Local government gives you the prospect of being able to put something on the ballot that works.”

In last year’s general elections, Rise Mzansi, Bosa and the Good Party collectively accounted for just about one percent of the vote share.