By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Build One South Africa (BOSA) leader Mmusi Maimane launched the party’s manifesto in Fairview, Johannesburg Central Business District (CBD) on Saturday, 05 September 2026.
South Africa’s local government system faces severe operational paralysis, with over 60% of the country’s 257 municipalities classified as “at risk” or distressed due to systemic financial mismanagement, political infighting, and crumbling infrastructure.
The party’s manifesto focuses on five priorities:
- Basic services and Municipal administration,
- Jobs and Local Economic Growth,
- Transport,
- Community Safety and
- Accountable Local Government.
Maimane said its candidates had been selected and vetted with an emphasis on professional experience, qualifications and the skills needed to govern.
Its candidate pool includes teachers, engineers, social workers, entrepreneurs, healthcare workers, lawyers, journalists, financial professionals, community activists and skilled tradespeople.
The party pledged to improve the reliability of water, electricity, sanitation and refuse collection, maintain accurate indigent registers and introduce published turnaround times for pothole repairs and other road maintenance.
Its economic proposals include municipal incubation funds for youth-led businesses and township enterprises, simpler licensing requirements for small and informal businesses, releasing suitable municipal land and buildings for enterprise development and creating local jobs databases.
BOSA also wants stronger Metro Police and community safety infrastructure and more integrated public transport linking rail, buses, bus rapid transit systems and taxis.
Maimane said the party was ultimately asking voters to place greater weight on whether politicians could be trusted to govern and account for public resources.
Maimane’s vision for Bosa stemmed from the One South Africa Movement, an organisation he launched after he resigned from the Democratic Alliance (DA) in 2019.
BOSA, which turns four this year, will contest in 24 municipalities, with close to 800 candidates vying for seats on councils across the country.
The party said it will field candidates in Johannesburg, Tshwane, Ekurhuleni, Cape Town and Mangaung making up the bulk of its candidate lists for the 4 November 2026 local government elections.
Read the full manifesto here:https://bosa.co.za/.