Build One South Africa has unveiled two political newcomers with prominent family names as candidates for its expanding local government election campaign. The party announced Ziyeka Sisulu, grandson of anti-apartheid icons Walter and Albertina Sisulu, and Thembela Mandela, great-grandchild of former president Nelson Mandela.
BOSA said the appointments form part of its strategy to broaden representation and attract new leadership ahead of municipal elections. Party leaders introduced both candidates at a campaign event in Johannesburg, positioning them as part of a new generation entering public service.
Ziyeka Sisulu is the grandson of Walter Sisulu, former ANC secretary-general, and Albertina Sisulu, a nurse and activist known for her role in the struggle against apartheid. Thembela Mandela is a great-grandchild of Nelson Mandela, South Africa’s first democratically elected president. Both candidates will contest seats under the BOSA banner.
Party officials said the candidates were selected on merit and their commitment to BOSA’s policy platform, which focuses on service delivery, accountability, and economic reform. They added that while the surnames carry historical weight, the campaign would focus on current issues facing local communities.
The move adds new faces to Johannesburg’s political landscape as parties finalise candidate lists. BOSA has been expanding its presence in Gauteng municipalities and says it aims to offer voters an alternative focused on governance and reform. The full list of candidates and wards will be released as the election campaign progresses.
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