Build One South Africa (BOSA) has announced its Deputy Leader, Nobantu Hlazo-Webster, as its mayoral candidate for the City of Johannesburg ahead of the 2026 Local Government Elections.
BOSA Leader Dr Mmusi Maimane made the announcement during a media briefing in Rosebank on Wednesday, as the party outlined its preparations for the November 4 elections.
Maimane also announced BOSA’s mayoral candidates for other metropolitan municipalities.
Political newcomer Martha Moshiga will contest the City of Tshwane, while Roger Solomons has been named the party’s mayoral candidate for the City of Cape Town.
In Ekurhuleni, BOSA has selected Lungelo Chiume, son of the late veteran actress Connie Chiume, as its mayoral candidate.
Maimane says BOSA is building a political alternative focused on practical solutions rather than what he describes as old political divisions and games.
“At the heart of our campaign is a commitment to speaking to the growing constituency of South Africans who want politics to move beyond old divisions and political games, and towards practical solutions that improve their lives,” Maimane said.
The party will contest 24 municipalities across five provinces, fielding a total of 794 candidates.
BOSA says its campaign will focus on functional local government, reliable basic services, safe communities, economic opportunity and accountable leadership.
Maimane says local government is where citizens directly experience whether government is working.
“It is where they experience whether the water runs, whether the roads are maintained, whether infrastructure works, and whether their communities are safe,” he said.
The party is targeting the country’s five metropolitan municipalities, with 122 candidates in Johannesburg, 112 in Tshwane, 92 in Cape Town, 83 in Ekurhuleni and 61 in Mangaung.
BOSA says 37% of its candidates are under the age of 35, while women make up 45% of its candidate list.
Maimane says the party deliberately selected municipalities where it believes it has an electoral base and an opportunity to grow its support.
“We are targeting places where we have the support to compete, the leaders to win, and, most importantly, the opportunity to make people’s lives better,” he said.
BOSA will contest municipalities in Gauteng, Western Cape, Limpopo, North West and the Free State.
In Gauteng, the party will contest the City of Tshwane, Mogale City, Merafong City, Rand West City, Ekurhuleni and Lesedi.
In the Western Cape, the party will contest the City of Cape Town, Kannaland, Oudtshoorn and Beaufort West.
In Limpopo, BOSA will contest Greater Letaba, Maruleng, Blouberg, Molemole, Polokwane, Lepelle-Nkumpi, Elias Motsoaledi, Fetakgomo Tubatse and Greater Giyani.
It will also contest JB Marks and the City of Matlosana in the North West, as well as Mangaung in the Free State.
Maimane says many of the targeted municipalities need political change, with some facing poor performance and the prospect of coalition governments after the elections.
“Many of these municipalities are among the poorest-performing local governments in the country. Many are also either currently hung councils, or are predicted to be come 4 November with no single party winning an outright majority,” he said.
He says BOSA intends to play a stabilising role in municipalities where coalition governments are likely.
“BOSA aims to play the stabilising role in those municipalities where coalitions are inevitable,” Maimane said.
The party says its candidates have been selected from the communities they seek to serve and include teachers, engineers, social workers, lawyers, healthcare workers, small business owners, journalists, financial professionals, traditional leaders, students and skilled tradespeople.
Maimane says the candidates bring professional experience and an understanding of the challenges facing communities.
“They are South Africans who have lived and worked in the communities they now want to serve. They bring real-world experience, professional skills and a commitment to solving the everyday problems that residents face,” he said.
BOSA says its manifesto is in its final stages and will focus on job creation, efficient municipalities, the eradication of corruption and waste, and reliable service delivery.
The party will officially launch its local government election manifesto on Thursday, September 4, 2026.
Maimane says the upcoming elections are an opportunity for voters to demand a different approach to local government.
“This election is an opportunity for South Africans to choose a different kind of local government. We are asking citizens to lend us their vote and together we can build one South Africa from the ground up,” he said.
The Independent Electoral Commission’s deadline for political parties to submit their final candidate lists is Friday.
