Build One South Africa (BOSA) announced on Thursday that it will be contesting the elections nationally and in all nine provinces on May 29, gathering 140 000 signatures, more than that required by the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC).

BOSA acting spokesperson Roger Solomons said this was double what the law required, saying the signatures would be hand delivered to the IEC on Thursday, before the Friday deadline.

Solomons averred that being a new party had not come without its challenges, between the government, the IEC and the Constitutional Court, "many unnecessary and some unjust hurdles" had been placed in the party’s path.

He highlighted that the signature requirements for new entrants was one of the more unfair hurdles which BOSA faced.

Previously, new political parties needed only 1 000 signatures of support to qualify to contest elections. However, Solomons said the new Electoral Amendment Act has “radically” hiked the number up in a “sinister effort to stymie competition and political choice”.

New parties require about 60 000 signatures – almost 60 times more signatures than previously. Solomons said this was an unjustifiably high burden.

“Over the past few weeks we have seen many new entrants struggle to meet this requirement, some even dropping out the race,” he highlighted.

Last week Change Starts Now announced that it would not be contesting the elections, citing the recent Constitutional Court decision posing barriers to newly established political parties as they faced a prejudicial logistical timetable to qualify for the ballot.

Solomons said over the last four weeks, BOSA activists, candidates and supporters across the country had asked South Africans for a mandate to stand for elections on May 29.

“Today we can announce that we have received over 140 000 signature submissions, more than double what is required by law. We are grateful to the people of South Africa for giving us this mandate and we will endeavour to run a clean and hopeful campaign to inspire millions of people who are tired of the status quo and want real change,” he said.

BOSA will field 120 candidates for the election across all lists.