Multi-party split: Good, Rise Mzansi, and BOSA to contest polls separately

The Good Party, Rise Mzansi, and Build One South Africa (BOSA) will no longer contest the polls under one umbrella, at least for now.

The parties announced in October last year their decision to consolidate under the banner “Unite for change” and to contest elections under one party.

But the parties announced at the weekend that the move has now been abandoned before this year’s local government elections.

United for change was launched in October last year and listed its key goals for fixing municipalities like selecting ethical leadership and professionalising local government.

Unite for change national leaders’ council, which includes the three-party leaders Patricia de Lille, Songezo Zibi and Mmusi Maimane, have said over the past five months, the parties have taken significant steps towards this goal while preparing for elections.

They said while “Significant ground has been covered in this regard”, it has become clear that merging three parties, their structures, and activist’s needs more time “Due to its intensity and complexity”.

The parties had also opened their online selection process for candidates the 2026 candidates.

The parties have now determined that the best option is to contest the 2026 local elections individually and pursue consolidation afterwards.