The Good, Bosa, and Rise Mzansi parties have merged into a new single entity, Unite for Change (UFC). By pooling their resources and running as a single party in the 2026 local elections, the UFC hopes to offer a credible and unified alternative to the major players like the ANC and DA. How do you think they will fare?
2 Likes
A step back, I think… each of those leaders brings their dirt with them making the unified set worse off than the originals….
3 Likes
I personally am excited at the idea of the collaboration but realistically i doubt that this will make a noticeable dent.
4 Likes
With the inexorable decline in ANC support from the black middle class, the new entity is capable of attracting a small but significant vote. (If leadership squabbles don’t derail it.)
But the DA is also slowly picking up urban black voters. It will be interesting!
3 Likes
Mergers and coalitions are signs of a maturing democracy. I hope this coalition is indicative of that, rather than a hidden, short-termist agenda.
4 Likes
I agree , less parties in the election means less wasted votes
5 Likes
Reminds me too much of the formation of COPE. It might not be too long before there are serious clashes between the leaders.
1 Like
An interesting development. BOSA and Rise have very similar policy platforms, whilst Good differs in some important respects from the other two. This notwithstanding, they could, if they win some council seats in the local election, leverage their joint strengths into a 2 to 5% party in 2029. If they do that, they could find themselves as one amongst a few potential kingmakers in GNU 2.0.
7 Likes
Collaboration is the becoming the much needed new normal.
Question is: will they be able to agree on a party manifesto?
2 Likes
This “merger” makes sense as their are no real ideological differences. Time for Patricia to retire though. However, this merger may add low single digits to their current combined support. I would be more excited if the DA was part of this. But I guess egos (both from the DA and UFC) still stand in the way.
3 Likes
Coalition Governments and collaboration agreements havn’t worked in the past. Parties exist and are chosen by people for the mandate expressed by the party. Also, organizations function better when there is one leader, especially in South Africa where parties are formed around personalities as opposed to anything else. If this is a true merger then a single party should be formed with a clear mandate, leadership and organizational structure. This has potential but will fall apart at the first sign of a crack.
2 Likes
It’s time for De Lille to call it a day. A brave activist, she has proven to be inept as a bureaucrat. The advantage for the other two is that she’s happy to be second fiddle as long as there’s a job in the offing, evidenced by her willingness to be part of a corrupt govt.
3 Likes
“G”ood, “Rise, “a”nd “B”osa = GRaB - for the loot from the taxpayers.
They will implode as 3 leaders vie for top feeder at the trough.
This was the first thing that crossed my mind. But we know why cope happened and what happened to it. This UFC is an idea that happens at a time when there is a gap for such an idea, sounds more like a parallel Gnu with one goal, to unseat Anc or the Gnu. Maybe if somebody told us what is the big picture behind its formation except that all hate Anc?
The leaders of this new “party” are not known as people who can work or stand together. Is there any kind of manifesto?
Just another rats and mice party getting its snout into the feeding trough. Like them or not only the DA has the depth and administrative ability to run a major campaign. I find their principles very acceptable but unfortunately politics needs very charismatic leaders and as competent as the top DA leaders are charisma is definitely not one of them.