Good Party leader and Minister of Tourism, Patricia de Lille, was in attendance at the launch of Lukhanyo as the Rise Mzansi City of Johannesburg Mayoral Candidate.
Image: Rise Mzansi/Supplied
While their attempt to operate as under a single banner, Unite for Change, did not work out the first time around, the GOOD Party and RISE Mzansi have announced the unification of their campaigns into a new political partnership ahead of the 2026 Local Government Elections (LGE2026).
The announcement, made on Friday, will deepen the two parties' relationship. In a joint statement, they said they share a common vision for a modern, social democratic South Africa rooted in justice, accountability, inclusion and human dignity.
“We are united by the belief that ethical leadership and capable government must go hand in hand; and that political renewal is not only possible, but necessary.
“The well-being of millions of South Africans – the dignity of families, the safety of neighbourhoods, the opportunities available to young people, and the reliability of basic services – can no longer be entrusted to political parties whose record in government has exposed old habits of patronage, division, dysfunction and neglect,” they said.
“South Africans deserve municipalities that work. Municipalities that are clean, safe, financially stable, development-focused and governed with empathy, professionalism and integrity.
“It is on this foundation of shared values and shared purpose that our two organisations have formally entered into a strategic Cooperation Framework for the 2026 Local Government Elections,” they said.
“This partnership represents more than electoral cooperation. It is a deliberate step toward building a new political future in South Africa – one that places people ahead of political ego, and long-term national renewal ahead of short-term partisan interests.”
The parties said that their agreement will allow them to combine their strengths, coordinate campaigns, and put forward the strongest possible candidates and leadership teams in municipalities across the country.
Previously, in October last year, along with Build One SA (BOSA), they had announced plans to work together, however, in April, they found that such a fear proved too challenging.
At the time, they said: “While significant ground has been covered in this regard, it has become clear that integrating three political parties, their structures, and their activists needs more time due to its intensity and complexity. It cannot be implemented effectively under the pressure of an election campaign.”
Elaborating on Friday’s announcement, GOOD party secretary-general Brett Herron, said that this arrangement continues from where they left off, and that "there wasn’t enough time before the LGE2026 to integrate all our parties and adequately launch a recognisable new political party - Unite for Change".
“The new arrangement is an important step in the consolidation of progressive political movements for 2029, but contests 2026 under existing and better-known party names: GOOD and RISE.
“We don’t compete with each other; our members and candidates integrate into each other's structures and campaigns, and we run a nationally coordinated campaign. We’ve adjusted the consolidation strategy into more realistic, incremental and strategic stepping stones,” Herron said.
The partnership has already gotten off to an eager start with GOOD Leader & Minister of Tourism, Patricia de Lille, being on hand for the announcement of Lukhona Mnguni as their mayoral candidate for the City of Johannesburg on Saturday.
RISE Mzansi leader, Songezo Zibi, also MP, said: “Our candidate is highly educated, both here in South Africa and overseas. Our candidate has travelled the world, learning and absorbing while also sharing and teaching about the South African experience.
“He is an internationalist who is as articulate about the issues of the inner city of Johannesburg as he is about the plight of Palestinians under Israeli apartheid settler occupation and genocide, or the Congolese who suffer under a different type of genocide driven by global greed for their minerals.
“We have respected the people of Johannesburg by bringing them a mayoral candidate worthy of their time, worthy of their attention, worthy of their votes, and worthy of their confidence,” Zibi said.
De Lille said: “Lukhona embodies the Joburg of 2026, not 1986, and he represents the Joburg of the future. His leadership of the powerhouse City of Joburg will hand the baton to the next generation of leaders where it rightfully belongs.
“We must thank him for being willing to step up, step forward and walk his own talk. It is easy to be an armchair critic. It is courageous to respond to this hour of need in Joburg by saying I am willing and able to serve.”
“Young South Africans must lead. Thank you Lukhona. People of Joburg this is what they call a once in a generation opportunity. Don’t miss the opportunity to be better served.”
In terms of how far their process is for Cape Town mayoral and councillor candidates, Herron added: “Candidate assessments are currently underway and we will make announcements soon. Certainly by early June.”