Overview

• The parties announced in Johannesburg that they will register Unite for Change with the IEC and contest the 2026 municipal elections under one banner.
• A Leaders’ Council will steer the formation, comprising Mmusi Maimane, Patricia de Lille, Songezo Zibi, Nobuntu Hlazo-Webster, Vuyiswa Ramokgopa and Brett Herron.
• The platform sets five priorities: capable and ethical leadership, local economic recovery, basic services, safety and justice, and digitisation to curb corruption.
• A national programme of town halls and community dialogues begins in October to build local structures and shape policy from the ground up.
• Leaders said current MPs and MPLs will continue under their original party brands in legislatures until after 2029, and ActionSA took part in early talks but did not join.