Maimane’s movement to help independents contest municipal polls
The One SA (OSA) movement has hit the ground running, introducing a new election model that aims to return power to voters.
The model uses provisions of section 15 (a) of the Electoral Commission Act, a mechanism that allows for the registration of an organisation or movement to participate in municipal elections without being registered as a traditional political party with political party structures.
Last year, the Constitutional Court ruled that the Electoral Act was unconstitutional, a judgment dubbed a gamechanger in the SA political landscape as it opened the door for independent candidates to stand for national and provincial elections without affiliation to any political party.
OSA director Dr Michael Louis played an instrumental role in the collective legal battle that sought to challenge the right of individuals to stand, in accordance with section 19 (3) (b) of the constitution.
OSA leader Mmusi Maimane said they were campaigning using the new model in a select number of municipalities in which governance and service delivery had ground to a halt.
The Enoch Mgijima is one such municipality, and was recently visited by Louis to assist a consortium of civic organisations in the area to identify local influential people and hopefully register them for the upcoming local government elections set for October.
Maimane said they wanted to see independent candidates succeed and that section 15 (a) enabled a citizen-led organisation to win control of municipal wards and potentially the whole municipality.
“We cannot continue to stumble along the same path, expecting political parties to fix a cartel-like system that only they benefit from.
“Our collective hopes have been dashed too many times. With elections just over 160 days away, it is vital that we explore a new and authentic way to give power back to communities,” Maimane said.
He said they were convinced their model was the solution to the political party dominance that had taken power away from the people, and was guided by the principle that communities govern as a collective for basic services to be delivered to every home.
“OSA will provide these organisations with technical expertise, management and the rollout of professionalised election campaigns, tailor made for each specific municipality.
“Historically, political parties in government tend to favour their constituents over those who did not vote for them,” the OSA leader said.
“This will depolarise and depoliticise local government, allowing for government to be controlled by citizen-led organisations and competent individuals — citizens who are honest, equipped and passionate about delivering basic services in a financially prudent and responsible manner.”