Rise Mzansi and GOOD have declared that they will contest the upcoming November local government elections in an effective alliance.

This comes after the two parties, together with Mmusi Maimane’s Build One South Africa (BOSA), tried and failed to form an amalgamated vehicle, Unite For Change (UFC), to contest the coming elections on a broadly social democratic platform.

Referring to the arrangement as a “strategic cooperation framework”, it would see the two parties contesting under their own names, but each standing back where the other has a particular advantage. Members of each party would support their partner party where it was standing.

Where neither had a regional advantage, they will jointly field candidates.

“Rise Mzansi will lead the campaign in Gauteng municipalities with GOOD party members and representatives fully incorporated into their structures, while the GOOD party will head the campaign in the Western Cape with Rise Mzansi members integrated into theirs, whereas in all other contested municipal areas, both parties will implement a strict joint candidate selection process to ensure that only the most capable public representatives are put forward.”

The parties said that they were drawn together by shared values and the drive for a renewed political future for the country. Cooperation would enable them to optimise their resources and electoral outcomes.

“Our agreement enables both parties to combine our strengths, coordinate our campaigns, and put forward the strongest possible candidates and leadership teams in municipalities across the country, while maintaining our respective political identities.”

The parties said that they were determined to build trust in local government after the dysfunction that had characterised it.

In political terms, they hoped their cooperation would contribute to the political realignment of the country: “We will continue working toward deeper convergence ahead of the 2029 national and provincial elections, while remaining open to other like-minded political and civic formations who share our democratic values and reform agenda.”

“Realigning” South Africa’s politics has been a long-term goal of opposition parties. With the fall of the African National Congress from its majority status, a major element of this objective had been achieved. How this will unfold has encouraged parties to think of their futures, and whether they are positioned to thrive in the emerging environment.

The attempt to consolidate as UFC demonstrated that this is not a simple process. Each of the three parties – but particularly GOOD and BOSA – are heavily identified with a personality, and amalgamation would inevitably lead to some being subordinated to others.