ActionSA Leader Herman Mashaba Reflects on Party’s Five Years of Progress
ActionSA Leader Herman Mashaba Reflects on Party’s Five Years of Progress. ActionSA marked its fifth anniversary this weekend, with party leader Herman Mashaba sharing insights on the organisation’s growth, lessons from past alliances, and plans for the 2026 local government elections in an interview with SABC News.
Humble Beginnings Under Lockdown Lead to Rapid Expansion
ActionSA was launched on 29 August 2020 during the height of Covid-19 lockdowns, starting as a new voice in South African politics focused on ethical leadership and service delivery. From its early days, the party has grown significantly, now boasting six members of parliament, more than 140 councillors, and representation across several provinces. In the 2021 local government elections, ActionSA secured 91 seats in six municipalities, a strong showing for a newcomer. By the 2024 national elections, it garnered 1.2% of the vote, translating to over 400,000 ballots and seats in the National Assembly as well as provincial legislatures in Gauteng, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, and North West.
Mashaba reflected on this journey, noting that everything in life has its own time. “The party launched on the 29th of August uh 2020 and immediately had to really put the measures in place to prepare for the uh 2021 local government elections for the first time,” he said. Initially planning to contest only three metros in Gauteng—Johannesburg, Tshwane, and Ekurhuleni—the party expanded to include three municipalities in KwaZulu-Natal after member input. Despite challenges like the Electoral Commission refusing to print the party’s name on ballots just weeks before the vote, forcing them to contest under a logo, ActionSA received an overwhelming reception.
Regrets Over Moonshot Pact and Strategic Lessons Learned
One of the key regrets Mashaba highlighted was joining the Moonshot Pact, a pre-2024 election alliance led by the Democratic Alliance. He believes the association cost votes, as many saw ActionSA as too close to the DA. “The moonshot pact cost us. Do I regret it at the time to really be fair? Uh the Natasha South Africans are are looking for consolidation of political parties. There’s absolutely no doubt about that and we thought we we were doing the right thing. Unfortunately because of the double dealings of the of the DA that’s what personally I was uncomfortable with,” Mashaba explained. He underestimated fears among black voters about the DA and the impact of the uMkhonto weSizwe Party’s launch.
Post-elections, ActionSA distanced itself from the DA and focused on independent growth. A major boost came from merging with the Forum for Service Delivery, adding 36 councillors overnight and strengthening presence in the North West with 22 seats. “We’ve got five councillors and there’s going to be a bi-election,” Mashaba noted about an upcoming vote in October. This move came after Forum leader Dr Mbali Ntuli approached Mashaba, impressed by ActionSA’s divorce from the DA.
No Plans for Elective Conference Amid Focus on 2026 Elections
Mashaba addressed calls for an elective conference, explaining the party’s interim constitution requires at least 60% of branches nationwide before holding one—currently at 25-30%. “The only people who are asking us to to have a political conference are not action members,” he said. The focus remains on building structures and preparing for 2026, where ActionSA will target key municipalities strategically. “Municipalities where ActionSA is going to contest, no one is going to be able to to govern without us,” Mashaba promised.
He revealed plans to announce mayoral candidates soon, starting with eThekwini, describing the pick as someone who will “shock the country” and be “another Nasiphi Moya.” For Johannesburg, an announcement is expected by February 2026. Mashaba defended Tshwane Mayor Nasiphi Moya against criticisms, calling attacks on her “evil political attacks” and “racial.” He praised her work and dismissed issues like an overpayment as unfair, noting it involved a group paid under the DA and was not addressed until recently.
Stance on Alliances and GNU: Constructive Opposition
Mashaba clarified ActionSA’s working relationships, noting they pulled out of Johannesburg’s coalition with the ANC after two months due to clashes with Mayor Dada Morero. “We are ethical leaders. We are here to serve society,” he said. In other areas, collaborations continue where they align with service delivery.
On the Government of National Unity, ActionSA turned down two ANC invitations. “You’ve got 70% of parliament what do you want us for we to neutralize us,” Mashaba recounted saying. Instead, the party positions itself as a “constructive opposition,” supporting progressive policies while challenging others. He highlighted their parliamentary impact, with six MPs “boxing above their weight” against larger groups.
Views on Party Funding and Transformation
Discussing political funding, Mashaba noted ActionSA challenged lower disclosure thresholds in court to avoid disadvantaging smaller parties. He defended higher limits, arguing they prevent administrative burdens from small donations. “We’ve got the biggest chunk of of that is to make sure that um the status quo must remain um DA must always be relevant,” he said of larger parties like the DA. Mashaba, who has donated to his party, stressed transparency and no expectations of favours from donors.
On transformation, he criticised dropping agendas under pressure, proposing “inclusive economic empowerment” to benefit black people. “The transformation of our economy to benefit black people, it’s non-negotiable for us,” he affirmed.
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