Written by Mmusi Maimane; Build One SA
Article originally published in the September issue of JOY! Magazine
As South Africans prepare to vote in local government elections on Wednesday 4 November, the question is not only who we should vote for, but what kind of leaders we should entrust with our communities. What kind of people should we entrust with their leadership? For Build One South Africa (BOSA), the answer begins with a simple principle: public office should be about service, not power.
A different model of leadership
South Africans have become accustomed to politicians making promises during elections and offering explanations when those promises are not delivered. We have seen municipalities with substantial budgets that nonetheless struggle to provide basic services, maintain infrastructure, and create environments where businesses can thrive. BOSA believes we need to change that model. We model and promote leadership that serves.
Leadership that serves
Christianity has a distinctive understanding of leadership. Jesus did not describe leadership as an opportunity to be served. He told His disciples: “Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant” (Matt 20:26). That is more than a lesson for our personal lives. It is a powerful principle for public leadership. A councillor is elected to serve residents. A mayor is entrusted with the responsibility of managing a city. Public servants are, quite literally, servants of the public.
Competence is also service
BOSA’s approach to local government begins here: leaders should work for citizens, not expect citizens to work for them. That means being accessible to residents, responding to problems, and treating public resources as a trust rather than an entitlement. But service requires more than good intentions. BOSA believes that competence is a form of service. A municipality cannot be transformed through speeches alone. It needs leaders who understand budgets, infrastructure, procurement, economic development, and the machinery of government. That is why BOSA’s local government offering is focused on making municipalities work. It means reducing unnecessary bureaucracy so businesses can operate and invest with confidence. It means improving infrastructure and logistics. It means supporting small and township businesses that create livelihoods. It means making better use of municipal land and assets. And it means creating the conditions in which young South Africans can find opportunities rather than being forced to leave their communities to find them. The objective is to build communities that work in practice. Perhaps most importantly, BOSA believes voters should know exactly what they are voting for.
Promises with accountability
Too often, manifestos become lists of promises that disappear after election day. BOSA is taking a different approach. Its commitments are tied to clear responsibility and accountability. Voters should know what has been promised, who is responsible for delivering it, and whether it has actually been done. Public office is a position of trust. Public money belongs to the public. Public assets belong to the public. And political leaders should be able to account for how they have used the authority entrusted to them.
Leadership judged by results
For BOSA, accountability is not something that begins when a scandal breaks. It should be built into the way government operates every day. This is the kind of politics that Mmusi Maimane and Nobuntu Hlazo-Webster are seeking to build through BOSA. Maimane’s political career has been shaped by a belief that South Africa can move beyond the politics of division and dependency towards a country in which people have the freedom and opportunity to build better lives. Hlazo-Webster brings that same emphasis on effective, accountable government to the local level. Her role in BOSA reflects the party’s belief that local government needs leaders who understand that politics is ultimately about solving problems that affect people where they live. Together, they represent an important part of BOSA’s offering: leadership that is prepared to be judged by what it delivers.
The standards voters should expect
But the point is not that voters should support BOSA simply because of the individuals involved. The point is that leadership should be judged by its standards. Does a candidate have integrity? Can they manage public resources responsibly? Do they understand how to create jobs and support enterprise? Will they listen to residents? Will they serve people who did not vote for them? And, perhaps most importantly, will they allow themselves to be held accountable?
What local government should be
BOSA’s offering in these local elections is therefore bigger than a list of promises. It is an argument about what local government should be. A municipality should not merely process applications, collect rates, and issue bills. It should create an environment in which families can live with dignity, businesses can grow, entrepreneurs can build, and young people can see a future for themselves. Government should be something that works for all citizens. And that is the standard BOSA is asking South Africans to consider.
Christians have a responsibility too
Scripture calls us to pray for those in authority and to pursue justice, mercy, and humility in how we live. Our faith does not tell us to switch off when we enter the voting booth. It calls us to exercise wisdom. So, as we prepare to vote, let us look beyond the slogans and ask what kind of leadership our communities deserve.
The choice belongs to voters
Leadership that serves. Leadership that is competent. Leadership that creates opportunity. Leadership that is accountable. And leadership that understands that political office is not a privilege to be enjoyed, but a responsibility to be honoured. That is the kind of local government BOSA is offering South Africans. And ultimately, the decision about who gets to lead belongs to you.
This article appears in the September 2026 issue of JOY! Magazine. Read the digital version of this magazine here: joygifts.co.za
Click here to KEEP UPDATED on the latest news by subscribing to our FREE weekly newsletter.
> Please support Christian media and journalism in South Africa. Help us to spread the Word of God and take a stand for the truth by making a donation to our ministry. We appreciate your support. Click here to take hands with JOY! Magazine.
Date published: 18/09/2026
Feature image: Sourced from article originally featured in the September issue of JOY! Magazine
DISCLAIMER
JOY! News is a Christian news portal that shares pre-published articles by writers around the world. Each article is sourced and linked to the origin, and each article is credited with the author’s name. Although we do publish many articles that have been written in-house by JOY! journalists, we do not exclusively create our own content. Any views or opinions presented on this website are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of the company.
