Build One South Africa (Bosa) leader, Mmusi Maimane, has announced that his party will be on the ballot paper for the upcoming election on 29 May.
This comes after Bosa challenged the minimum requirement of signatures set by the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC). Maimane stated that Bosa would submit over 140,000 signatures to the IEC, ensuring their presence on all national ballots.
However, Maimane also expressed his intention to continue challenging what he perceives as burdensome requirements placed on new parties, which he believes favour parties already in parliament.
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He emphasized that Bosa will fight against these “unfair rules” and confront the parties that maintain the status quo. The IEC currently requires new parties to gather close to 60,000 signatures in order to contest the election.
Maimane highlighted the fact that Bosa managed to collect over 140,000 signatures, surpassing this threshold. He sees this as a testament to the party’s determination and popularity.
Maimane acknowledged that establishing a new political party has not been without its challenges. He criticized the government, the IEC, and the Constitutional Court for placing unnecessary and unjust hurdles in Bosa’s path.
One such hurdle is the signature requirement for new entrants, which the new Electoral Amendment Act has significantly increased. Maimane believes that this change aims to limit competition and political choice.
Following the May elections, Bosa leader plans to challenge the Electoral Amendment Act in the Constitutional Court.
Maimane questioned the continued support for parties that had support in 2019, suggesting that they may struggle to gather the required signatures in 2024. Bosa aims to secure over a million votes and is confident in achieving this goal.
ActionSA, another political party, has also completed its filings with the IEC to ensure its presence on every ballot paper. Michael Beaumont, the national chair of ActionSA, welcomed the challenge of gathering signatures as an opportunity to engage more South Africans about their party.
Beaumont stated that ActionSA has submitted candidate lists for the National Assembly and provincial legislatures, which reflect diversity, excellence, youth, and experience.
Political analyst Khanya Vilakazi explained that the signature requirement serves as a measure to prevent the proliferation of political parties. Vilakazi argued that having numerous parties would saturate the political system, making it difficult for voters to choose among them.
He suggested that established parties should be evaluated based on their membership value, as they have already overcome historical barriers to demonstrate their support.
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