Build One South Africa leader Mmusi Maimane has urged voters facing the upcoming polls to give newer political outfits like his a chance.
Maimane maintains voters have been deprived of a choice and made to think that their choices are limited.
However, he says this is a thing of the past.
“The old politics has made political survival the priority. South Africans need politics that makes their survival, their livelihoods and their future the priority. For years, we have been told that our choices are limited.
“We are told that the ANC is the only party with the experience to govern. We have seen where that has led. We are told that the DA is the only credible alternative. Yet its own decisions raise serious questions about what that alternative means when the negotiations begin.”
Maimane criticised sentiments that votes for newer political parties are wasted votes.
“I reject that argument completely. A wasted vote is not a vote for a new party. A wasted vote is a vote cast without asking whether the party you support will deliver the future you want.
“If you believe that the old politics has failed you, why would you automatically return to it? They do not own your vote. They are not entitled to your vote. If you are unhappy with the choices the established parties have made, you should never be discouraged from choosing something new.”
He was addressing the party’s final campaign event in Finetown alongside Bosa’s Johannesburg mayoral candidate, Nobuntu Hlazo-Webster, on Thursday.
Despite making the case for newer parties, the Bosa leader insisted that they needed to offer a serious alternative.
“South Africa needs a new vision under a new political leadership. But being new is not enough. A new party must offer a serious alternative, with clear priorities, credible candidates and a commitment to accountability. That is why we founded Build One South Africa. We did not establish Bosa to become another version of the old politics. We established it because we believe South Africans deserve an alternative that puts their interests first.
“We are not asking you to vote for us simply because we are new. We are asking you to examine what we stand for, look at the candidates we have put forward and decide whether our offer deserves your support.”
Following their electoral debut in the 2024 national and provincial elections, Maimane’s Bosa will be contesting the local government polls for the first time this year across 24 municipalities in five provinces, with almost 800 candidates standing for election.
“We have done this because we believe that the future of South Africa cannot be left to the same established parties and the same political calculations. We want to build a movement that takes the problems of ordinary people seriously and treats public office as a responsibility.”
He vowed that if the party garners enough votes to participate in municipalities, its representatives will tackle the issues facing voters and their families.
“Municipalities must deliver value for money. Residents must be able to see what their money is paying for. Budgets must prioritise essential services and infrastructure. Roads, water systems and electricity infrastructure must be properly maintained. Waste must be managed. Local businesses must be supported. And when municipalities fail, residents must be able to hold those responsible to account. This is what local government should be about.”
TimesLIVE
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