Unite for Change dismisses criticisms from well-established parties

New political formation Unite for Change has dismissed criticism from well-established parties that new, smaller movements are fragmenting the vote and causing instability in coalitions where they are often the kingmaker.

The new political platform launched its candidate recruitment process for the upcoming local government elections at a gathering of supporters from RISE Mzansi, Good and Build One South Africa (BOSA) held in Parliament on Sunday.

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The parties said they will not cower to the country’s biggest parties, saying its flimsy coalition agreements rather than smaller political parties which are unsettlinglocal councils.

Collectively, the parties that make up Unite for Change attained just more than 1% of the vote in 2024’s national elections, with a total of five seats in Parliament.

But BOSA’s Nobuntu Hlazo-Webster said the emergence of new parties is because older parties have disappointed voters.

“If you look currently at what you are seeing in the Government of National Unity (GNU), the biggest problems that exist are between the two biggest parties in the GNU and so it’s not a matter of size, but a matter of governance.”

RISE Mzansi’s Vuyiswa Ramokgopa said Unite for Change is respondingto voters’ desire for politically-aligned parties to work together.

“There’s no such thing as small parties, big parties, ugly parties, beautiful parties. Every single one of these parties represents the aspirations, the desires and the fears of South Africans and they have every right to have their views represented.”

BOSA leader Mmusi Maimane said attracting candidates that represent communities trumps the notion that this new amalgamated party should hold an elective conference to determine its leadership.

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