Maimane: Legal technicalities failed BOSA, GOOD Party, Rise Mzansi merger

Build One South Africa (BOSA) leader Mmusi Maimane said a planned merger with the GOOD Party and Rise Mzansi failed because of legal technicalities.

He said a merger of three parties, which are all represented in the National Assembly, would have been illegal.

The three parties had earlier announced their intention to contest 2026's local government elections under the "Unite for Change" banner, but decided against the move until after the polls.

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

In October, BOSA, Rise Mzansi and the GOOD Party indicated their intention to contest the local government elections under one banner.

But just five months later, the parties have reconsidered their decision and will contest individually.

Maimane said the planned consolidation couldn't materialise because of the lack of a legal framework.

He added that voters would be more familiar with the existing party brands, just six months from the polls.

“When parties are elected to go to the National Assembly, as is the case with Rise and GOOD, there is no legal framework upon which you can merge them into a single structure. It would be as a start, let alone illegal, it then becomes impractical.”

Maimane has since announced another merger with the People's Prosperity Movement (PPM), which will be absorbed into BOSA structures and will contest under the party's banner.