The UDM welcomed 320 former members and councillors from the DA and ANC on Sunday, ahead of the local government elections on May 18.

They were formally introduced by United Democratic Movement (UDM) leader Bantu Holomisa at a press briefing in Khayelitsha, Cape Town.

"[These members] have exercised their right to disassociate themselves... because they believe that these parties no longer serve the interests of the people who elected them," Holomisa said.

"[This is] a clear indication that there is a welcome sign of maturity making way into South African politics," he said.

Holomisa said he would make the new members "feel at home" by democratically giving them an opportunity to be involved in the upcoming elections.

"They will have an opportunity to flex their election muscles at UniCity wards 40, 41, 95, 96 and 109."

The UDM said it would go "back to basics" with service delivery in municipalities, but not before first understanding the needs of the community that a councillor served.

It believed that one of the major causes of recent service delivery protests was the ANC's failure to make appropriate investments in infrastructure developments, and blaming councillors for failure by national and provincial government.

"It is common knowledge that infrastructure in rural, peri-urban and urban areas is in a state of disrepair," Holomisa said.

"A UDM council will endeavour to integrate the infrastructure of the rural communities, townships like Gugulethu, Khayelitsha, Langa, Mitchells Plain, and so on, to be on par with the country's developed areas."

The party planned to root out corruption and appoint qualified people to ensure proper administration and financial management.