The One South Africa (OSA) movement has announced that it will support, train, equip and campaign for independent candidates standing for ward councillors in the 2021 local government elections.

A Constitutional Court judgment has opened the way for South African independent candidates to run for positions in the municipal elections.

In a media briefing, on Monday, following a two-day sitting of OSA’s national council, the movement’s founder Mmusi Maimane explained that OSA will not be on the ballot paper and independents will not be candidates for the movement.

“We have committed to building a South Africa that is fair, that is reconciled and that is prosperous for all,” Maimane said, adding that many South Africans are tired of more political parties participating in elections.

Maimane said this was not a change of colours but a change of government and governance. 

“We have to give South Africans something that is new and that is fresh,” Maimane said.

Despite commissions, such as the Zondo Commission of Inquiry into State Capture, Maimane said many South Africans were disempowered.

“We have normalised what has become abnormal,” he said.

He stressed that the OSA movement was not a political party and assured that it would not become one.

While the movement cannot provide support to all independents across the country, in the coming days it will ask South Africans to identify candidates in wards they believe OSA should support.

The movement has also been approached by the communities in the municipalities that are failing to deliver basic services.

“I am tired of people who are not interested in the people, but only their votes.  We will ensure that the best candidate will represent a community,” Maimane stressed.  

A school of governance, established by the organisation, will also offer leadership and local governance training to the approved candidates.

Selected candidates will also be trained and capacitated by the Chandler Institute of Training in Singapore, beginning in March.

On the postponement of elections, Maimane said his organisation was against the postponement of the elections.