EKURHULENI, Gauteng — Build One South Africa (BOSA) has officially named Nongelo Chiume as its Ekurhuleni mayoral candidate, setting the stage for a fierce contest in the November 4 local government elections. The announcement, which took place during a meet-and-greet event on the East Rand, introduces the prominent arts administrator to the political frontline as the party seeks to dismantle systemic corruption and revitalize the Gauteng metro.
From the Arts Sector to the Political Frontline
Nongelo Chiume brings a distinctly non-traditional political background to the race. He is a multi-award-winning arts administrator, brand strategist, and the son of the late legendary South African actress Connie Chiume. For over two decades, Chiume has worked extensively across the arts, culture, and community development sectors, notably serving as the national secretary-general of the South African Arts and Culture Youth Forum.
BOSA Deputy Leader Ntuthuko Hlazo-Webster, who officially unveiled Chiume to the crowd, emphasized that the candidate’s extensive grassroots experience makes him uniquely qualified for the role.
“When I look at Nongelo Chiume, what stands out is not only his achievements but a full commitment to serve,” Hlazo-Webster stated. “For more than two decades, he’s worked across South Africa’s arts, culture, and community development sectors. He has been a participant that serves. He has been an organizer. He has been a servant leader.”
Mmusi Maimane Defends Political Novices
Addressing the fact that Chiume is a political novice, BOSA Leader Dr. Mmusi Maimane fiercely defended the party’s strategy of fielding non-politicians. Maimane argued that traditional political credentials are no longer a guarantee for effective leadership, pointing out that career politicians have often lost touch with the daily struggles of ordinary citizens.
“Democracy can never be distant from the people,” Maimane told supporters. “Let’s make politics possible for non-politicians. Because in other words, half of the problems we have in this country is because politicians have brought us here.”
Maimane dismissed critics who view a lack of political history as a weakness. “Others say that means you are weak; I say it means we are strong. It means South Africans want to solve their problems.”
He also used his platform to reject racial division, recounting a past coalition negotiation where a leader demanded that Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) jobs be allocated strictly based on race. “I said if that is how you think, you are not fit to serve all South Africans,” Maimane recalled. “We are not racist. We are not xenophobes. We are proud South Africans.”
A Radical Anti-Corruption Blueprint
Ekurhuleni has recently faced intense scrutiny over governance failures, with critics pointing to the metro’s entanglement in various state capture commissions, including the Zondo and Mkhize commissions. Dr. Maimane outlined a robust strategy to clean up the metro, starting with a strict separation of political and administrative influence.
“Half of the problem of Ekurhuleni is that politicians were running the city,” Maimane explained, noting that politicians should provide oversight rather than deciding who gets tenders. He warned that “incompetence is the seedbed of corruption,” making the city vulnerable to criminal networks exploiting state resources, including the controversial use of “blue light” directives to protect corrupt figures.
To combat this, BOSA proposes introducing blockchain technology to track the flow of public money, making lifestyle audits seamless and transparent. “Transparency is the antidote of corruption,” Maimane asserted, promising to lift the veil on secret council dealings.
Chiume’s Vision: “Innovation for Prosperity”
Accepting the candidacy, Nongelo Chiume did not mince words about the current state of the metro, describing Ekurhuleni as a “crime scene” that requires urgent judicial accountability and systemic reform. He pledged to prioritize basic service delivery, fix broken roads and streetlights, and restore the public’s trust.
“To the many communities who are still waiting… you have not failed. Government has failed you,” Chiume told the gathered supporters. “Ekurhuleni has not failed because its people lack ambition or because the young people lack talent. It is because our communities have been failed by people.”
Chiume emphasized that he will not be an “armchair” politician, promising to be deeply rooted in the streets. His economic plan, dubbed “innovation for prosperity,” focuses on boosting investor confidence and reversing the decline of the city’s manufacturing sector to create much-needed jobs.
“We are builders, and us being builders means that we need to be on the ground,” Chiume said. “Our approach is really not to dwell on much politics but on getting things done.”
BOSA’s Broader Metro Rollout
The Ekurhuleni announcement is a key pillar of BOSA’s broader strategy for the November 4 local government elections. The party has already finalized its mayoral candidates for other major metropolitan areas. Deputy Leader Ntuthuko Hlazo-Webster will lead the party’s charge in Johannesburg, while national spokesperson Roger Solomons has been named the candidate for Cape Town.
BOSA is also expected to announce its mayoral candidate for the City of Tshwane in the coming weeks, completing its lineup for South Africa’s key economic hubs.