JOHANNESBURG, Gauteng — Build One South Africa (BOSA) has officially launched its first local government election manifesto, with party leader Dr Mmusi Maimane outlining a decisive five-point plan to tackle service delivery and governance ahead of the November municipal polls.
Held at Fairview Primary School in Johannesburg, the launch marks a significant milestone as BOSA celebrates its fourth anniversary. The party is set to contest 24 municipalities, fielding close to 800 candidates vying for council seats.
Dr Mmusi Maimane emphasized that reliable basic services, particularly water and electricity, are at the forefront of the manifesto. He warned that “water shedding” is the next economic crisis, noting that collapsing water boards and municipalities threaten both business viability and the daily lives of South Africans. He stressed that no business or school can function without these fundamental resources, and that the party is committed to resolving the municipal debt crisis with Eskom.
To drive local jobs and economic growth, the party plans to leverage digitization and artificial intelligence to streamline municipal processes, such as business licenses and building permits. Dr Maimane also highlighted the need to treat informal traders as entrepreneurs rather than criminals, proposing simplified permit applications and designated spaces for them to operate legally. For safer communities, BOSA advocates for devolving policing functions and utilizing a centralized data center to ensure the closest police vehicle responds rapidly to crime complaints.
Addressing clean government, the manifesto commits to fielding ethical, competent candidates with minimum qualifications. Dr Maimane noted that many of these candidates are community-rooted and recruited from business, the arts, and governance rather than traditional politics. He proposed partnerships with professional bodies, such as the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA), to deploy senior graduates to municipalities for hands-on administrative support.
Furthermore, Deputy Leader and Johannesburg mayoral candidate Nobuntu Hlazo-Webster highlighted plans to streamline fragmented municipal agencies. Entities including City Power, Johannesburg Water, Pikitup, and the Johannesburg Social Housing Company will be brought in-house to eliminate fragmented responsibilities, curb procurement corruption, and improve direct accountability.
On the subject of accountable leadership, Dr Mmusi Maimane acknowledged that coalition governments are an inevitable reality in major metros. He clarified that BOSA’s five-point plan will serve as a transparent negotiating pillar. Unlike pre-baked political side deals, Dr Maimane insisted that all coalition negotiations will be conducted openly, based on policy agreement rather than bargaining for positions. He noted this principled stance was the reason BOSA remained outside the Government of National Unity (GNU), as the party demanded a signed, actionable plan for governance rather than mere rhetoric.
Concluding the launch, Dr Mmusi Maimane issued a stark warning to the electorate, stating that maintaining the current status quo in municipalities “will make state capture look like a picnic.” He framed the upcoming November elections as a definitive choice between old, entrenched political ideas and a new, fresh generation of pragmatic, centrist leaders ready to rebuild South Africa’s cities.
