Rise to Build One GOOD Mzansi – talks of a political merger gain ground

The 2026 local government elections could see a new political formation contesting, with numerous smaller-represented political parties in discussions for an umbrella movement.

Build One South Africa (BOSA), formed by former Democratic Alliance (DA) leader Mmusi Maimane, confirmed in a press conference that discussions among political parties are ongoing.

“Talks are quietly underway with a number of parties on possible consolidation ahead of the 2026 Local Government Elections,” said Maimane.

“An announcement is expected in the coming weeks, though the details are still being carefully worked out.”

Following this, IOL reported that RISE Mzansi, the GOOD Party, and BOSA have been part of these discussions and “are set to announce a merger into a new centrist political party.”

These parties, led by SCOPA chair Songezo Zibi, Tourism Minister Patricia de Lille, and SCOA Chair Maimane respectively, amassed a combined 340,000 votes in the 2024 general elections.

This gave them a collective five seats in the National Assembly.

Speaking about the negotiations, Maimane said that “previous elections taught us that the fragmentation of multiple political entities at the local level does not serve citizens.”

He said that local government is about delivering roads, water, electricity, sanitation, refuse removal, and other essential services.

“Achieving that, by moving beyond ideological and personality politics, will be the organising mission. Sometimes, achieving real change requires setting aside egos and old rivalries,” added the MP and BOSA leader.

“The coming weeks may bring clarity on how unity could reshape the political landscape for the future, something BOSA is deeply excited about.”

GOOD Secretary-General Brett Herron told Newsday that following the 2024 elections, “all parties have been reassessing the needs of the electorate.”

He said that the party “has been in open discussion with like-minded parties who share our priorities around social, spatial, environmental, and economic justice,” focused on how best to advance those commitments in the current political landscape.

“At this stage, we can confirm that conversations are ongoing, and we see this as the beginning of a broader project aimed at strengthening social democracy in South Africa.”

Herron cited precedent for collaboration, as in August 2024, RISE Mzansi’s Axolile Notywala stepped into a GOOD councillor vacancy in the Cape Town City Council.

Mabine Seabe, spokesperson for RISE, told IOL that the groundwork is being laid for the upcoming local elections, albeit stressing the need for discretion regarding specific details and participants involved in the consolidation pact.

“We have been talking to other political parties about coming together behind a common electoral and political program.”

Saebe told Newsday that the party will not be providing further comment on the matter.

ActionSA, formed by former Johannesburg mayor Herman Mashaba, confirmed that it was involved in the merger’s initial discussions.

However, the party that ammassed around 413,000 votes in 2024 to give them six seats in Parliament, have opted that it would be better for them to go at the 2026 elections alone.

Since 2024, ActionSA has been signing other smaller bodies under its “Green Umbrella” movement, including that of the Forum for Service Delivery.

South Africa’s history of mergers

South Africa’s political landscape has been shaped by several significant party mergers, mostly driven by the need for smaller parties to survive and for larger ones to consolidate support against the ANC.

One of the most notable examples was the formation of the DA in 2000 through a merger of the Democratic Party, the New National Party (NNP), and the Federal Alliance.

This created a stronger opposition force, with the DA quickly emerging as the primary challenger to the ANC.

Although the NNP later withdrew, briefly aligned with the ANC, and eventually dissolved in 2005, the DA’s creation set an enduring precedent for mergers as a way of pooling resources and voter bases to strengthen competitiveness.

The Freedom Front Plus (FF Plus) also pursued consolidation, though within the conservative and Afrikaner nationalist space.

Between 2003 and 2006 it absorbed parties such as the Conservative Party, the Afrikaner Eenheidsbeweging, and the Federal Alliance, creating a broader platform for Afrikaner interests.

These mergers allowed the FF Plus to maintain a stable presence in South African politics.

Another important case was the merger of the Independent Democrats (ID) with the DA between 2010 and 2014.

Founded in 2003 by now GOOD Party leader and Tourism Minister Patricia de Lille, the ID had positioned itself as an anti-corruption centrist party, but steadily lost support over the years.

The merger allowed the DA to extend its reach, particularly among voters in the Western Cape, while offering the ID continued political relevance.

Overall, the history of mergers in South Africa illustrates how smaller parties often integrate into others as a deliberate strategy to expand their base and strengthen their challenge to large parties.