Bosa, Rise Mzansi, and Good Party have united to form 'Unite for Change'. Image credit: PoliticsWeb
(The Post News) – Three national political parties, Build One South Africa (BOSA), the GOOD Party, and Rise Mzansi, have formally joined forces to form a new political organisation called Unite for Change in a dramatic move that could drastically alter the opposition landscape.
Confirming earlier rumours of a merger, the announcement was made in Rosebank, Johannesburg, on Sunday, October 5, 2025. For voters fed up with what they describe as the “empty promises” and “broken” towns and communities under the current administration, the new movement is presenting itself as a believable, cohesive alternative.
A Unified Front: Not a Coalition of Convenience
It was quickly emphasized by the founding parties that this arrangement is more than just a tactical alliance. According to Nobuntu Hlazo-Webster, the deputy president of BOSA, it is a “coming together of equals” with a common goal.
Key Details of the Merger:
- New Party Status: For the 2026 Local Government Elections, Unite for Change will run under a single name, a single set of electoral lists, and a single platform after registering with the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC).
- Founding Leaders’ Council: Dr Mmusi Maimane MP (BOSA), Minister Patricia de Lille MP (GOOD), Songezo Zibi MP (Rise Mzansi), Nobuntu Hlazo-Webster MP, MEC Vuyiswa Ramokgopa MPL, and Brett Herron MPP are among the diverse and seasoned members of the new party’s council.
- Current Mandates: The founding parties (BOSA, GOOD, and Rise Mzansi) will continue to exist as separate parties even though the new party will run as a single entity in the 2026 elections. Until the present political administration term ends in 2029, sitting council members, members of parliament, and MPLs will remain in office under their current party branding.
In defence of the merger, Songezo Zibi, the head of Rise Mzansi, stated that the rationale was to optimise resources: “You can run three, four, or five campaigns, or you can run one and maximise your resources.”
Five Pillars for Municipal Upliftment
Five pressing concerns will be the focus of Unite for Change’s 2026 election campaign, which aims to repair municipalities and restore local government:
- Ethical and Capable Leadership: Promoting values-based leadership, eradicating cadre deployment, and putting an end to corruption.
- Local Economic Recovery: Putting cities at the forefront of change, with an emphasis on the digital, creative, care, and tourism sectors, in order to generate employment and growth.
- Providing dependable water, electricity, garbage collection, public transportation, basic housing, and quality healthcare is an example of Dignity Through Basic Services.
- Ensuring the Rule of Law is upheld, combating crime and corruption at their source, and mandating that all immigrants adhere to the law are all components of safety and justice.
- Digitisation: The application of technology to more intelligent resource allocation, procurement that is impervious to corruption, proactive infrastructure upkeep, and predictive planning.
A Call for Merit-Based Leadership
The new party’s structure places a strong emphasis on selecting candidates based on their qualifications. A merit-based candidate selection process that gives preference to those who are from, well-known in, and answerable to their communities is required by the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA).
“There will be one voice on the ballot paper next year, and I’m inviting people to come through to work for Unite for Change,” Dr Mmusi Maimane said, underscoring this goal. The candidates will run together. The best is what we desire.
While welcoming other political parties, well-known individuals, neighbourhood associations, and citizens to join the movement, Unite for Change has made it clear that it will not accept any organisation that aims to “capitalise on division,” placing a clear emphasis on social justice, anti-corruption, and non-racism.
“It is the old parties that have failed as a collective… new parties would not exist if the old ones were considered viable and robust,” said Patricia de Lille, a veteran politician and GOOD leader, summarising the founding spirit. This month, the party will embark on a national tour to interact with local communities and develop its cohesive policy platform.
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