MMUSI Maimane and his small political party are dreaming big.
On Tuesday, 1 August, the Build One South Africa (Bosa) leader unveiled the party's first 24 candidates to stand for election.
The members will contest for National Assembly and provincial legislature elections under the Bosa banner.
Maimane said those selected are "community candidates" because it is the public that choses them.
"This is the first grouping of candidates who have successfully been through our unique and robust candidate selection process which seeks to attract new talent, fresh ideas and valuable skills and experience into South Africa’s lawmaking bodies," he said.
Maimane said unlike other parties, Bosa does not pick the candidates based on party members climbing up the party rankings or patronage – they go through an online endorsement system.
"If a candidate is unable to get 1 000 signatures from the public, it means that they public has rejected them, which means that they cannot be a candidate of the party," said Maimane.
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He said that the purpose of "this extensive recruitment process" is to ensure each candidate is properly vetted, so that only suitable candidates end up on the ballot with the support of their constituency and the endorsement of Bosa.
He said that Bosa believes that fixing the leadership and skills shortage in government is the first step to "Build One South Africa".
Maimane said: "We have called on passionate, skilled, and ethical South Africans to stand up and serve their country in government. In terms of race, it is 18 black Africans, two coloured and four white people. In terms of gender, it is 10 women and 14 men.”
Of the 24 candidates, eight are younger than 35 years.
“South Africans deserve the best of the best in government: doctors, nurses, school teachers, entrepreneurs, miners, factory workers, software programmers, academics, lawyers, environmentalists, businesspeople, and governance specialists - people who work hard, know how to get things done, and want to see South Africa thrive. It is time to get rid of the corrupt dead-weight that occupy the seats of power owing to the closed party list system,” Maimane said.
