We don’t need a long list of political parties, says Maimane at Unite for Change launch
Build One South Africa (BOSA) leader Mmusi Maimane has taken aim at South Africa’s crowded political field
Image: Picture: Timothy Bernard / Independent Newspapers
Build One South Africa (BOSA) leader Mmusi Maimane has taken aim at South Africa’s crowded political field, saying the country doesn’t need “a long list of parties”.
Maimane made the comments during the launch of the Unite for Change campaign in Kliptown, Soweto, saying the nation’s problems are few but urgent and require political unity rather than fragmentation.
Unite for Change is a new political formation resulting from the merger of BOSA, GOOD, and Rise Mzansi. The party plans to contest next year’s local government elections.
"We decided to come together, not just these three parties, but also because we want to invite more people. We want to invite organisations, we want to invite civil society. And today, still, we make the same invitation to say, South Africa does not need a long list of parties," Maimane said.
He added that the party aims to bring together competent, ethical leaders who are connected to their communities, focusing on improving service delivery.
According to the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC), there are currently 508 registered parties, with 295 able to contest national elections and 404 registered at the provincial or municipal level.
"Our problems are not a hundred or four hundred, as there are many political parties who are registering for the elections. Our problems are few. Therefore, it needs all of us to work together so we can defeat our problems. That's why we say, let us unite. But we don't just unite. We unite for change," he added.
Maimane also criticised the current government, saying it has failed to deliver consistently on basic services such as water, sanitation, and electricity.
"I'm sick and tired of... I'm sick and tired of people being hungry in South Africa. But worst of all, I'm sick and tired of being governed by crooks. When you turn your TV on, you don't even know what's happening".
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