Politics / Southafrica
Herman Mashaba's Political Vision and Challenges
Herman Mashaba, president of ActionSA and former mayor of Johannesburg, emphasizes the importance of the rule of law in South Africa's political landscape. He reflects on recent legal challenges faced by opposition leaders and advocates for accountability in governance.
Source material: WATCH | The Lead: Full interview with Action SA's Herman Mashaba on coalitions, Zille, & Ray Charles
Summary
Herman Mashaba, president of ActionSA and former mayor of Johannesburg, emphasizes the importance of the rule of law in South Africa's political landscape. He reflects on recent legal challenges faced by opposition leaders and advocates for accountability in governance.
After achieving significant success in the 2021 municipal elections, where ActionSA became the sixth largest party, the party has since faced challenges, including a drop in national poll standings. Mashaba acknowledges strategic miscalculations, particularly regarding collaboration with the DA.
Mashaba discusses his political journey, highlighting skepticism from family when he transitioned from the DA to founding ActionSA. He admits that rapid expansion and collaboration with the DA were significant errors that impacted their electoral success.
He expresses strong opposition to Helen Zille's potential return to the DA, emphasizing the need for integrity in political negotiations. Mashaba outlines ActionSA's initiatives to engage smaller civic associations and increase their public office representation.
Perspectives
short
Herman Mashaba
- Advocates for the rule of law and accountability in governance
- Emphasizes the importance of integrity in political negotiations
Helen Zille
- Criticized for perceived dishonesty and collusion with the ANC
- Represents a political rival that Mashaba refuses to engage with in debates
Neutral / Shared
- Acknowledges past mistakes in political strategy and collaboration
- Highlights the need for community engagement and grassroots initiatives
Metrics
other
eighth place in the national 2024 polls rank
current national polls
This decline indicates a significant drop in political support for ActionSA
you then shifted a little bit down to eighth place in the national 2024 polls.
other
150 units
of public office bearers
This indicates ActionSA's growing influence and representation in local governance
you've managed to boost your numbers. I think nationally to 150 public office barriers
other
over 50 units
of new councillors acquired by ActionSA since 2021
This indicates ActionSA's growing influence in the political landscape
we've acquired over 50 counsellors
other
over 300,000 units
housing backlog in Johannesburg when Mashaba took office
This backlog highlights the urgent need for housing solutions in the city
over 300,000 housing backlog
other
22,000 units
permanent jobs created during construction phase
Job creation is essential for economic recovery and community stability
create 22,000 permanent jobs
other
32 billion ZAR
investment expected from private sector development
This investment could significantly boost the local economy
an investment of 32 billion rents
other
44 units
of seats held by ActionSA after the 2021 elections
This indicates ActionSA's significant presence in local governance
Action essay was the third biggest political parties with 44 seats.
other
104 units
of seats held by DA when Mashaba was mayor
This highlights the DA's dominance in the coalition landscape
DA at the time when I was the mayor, we were 104 of us.
Key entities
Timeline highlights
00:00–05:00
Herman Mashaba, president of ActionSA, discusses the party's past electoral successes and current challenges in South Africa's political landscape. He acknowledges strategic miscalculations that have impacted their standing in national polls.
- Herman Mashaba, president of ActionSA and former mayor of Johannesburg, highlights the critical role of the rule of law in South Africas politics, especially amid recent legal challenges faced by a prominent opposition leader
- After achieving significant success in the 2021 municipal elections, where ActionSA became the sixth largest party with over half a million votes, the party has since fallen to eighth place in national polls
- Mashaba reflects on the partys strategy, admitting that contesting in six municipalities was a miscalculation that stretched their resources too thin
- He also recognizes that their partnership with another political party during the elections was a major error, as it led to underestimating the difficulties they encountered
05:00–10:00
Herman Mashaba reflects on his political journey and the challenges faced by ActionSA in the current political landscape. He acknowledges past mistakes, particularly regarding collaboration with the DA and the misjudgment of voter sentiments.
- Herman Mashaba discusses his political journey, highlighting the skepticism he faced from family when transitioning from the Democratic Alliance (DA) to founding ActionSA
- He credits ActionSAs initial success in the 2021 municipal elections to a focused strategy but acknowledges that rapid expansion and collaboration with the DA were significant errors
- Mashaba notes the fear among black voters regarding the DA, which he underestimated, and mentions internal conflicts within the DA that influenced his decision to leave, including alleged collusion with the ANC
- He expresses regret over decisions made during his tenure with the DA, particularly the partys shift in focus and the effects of leadership changes on its trajectory
10:00–15:00
Herman Mashaba expresses strong opposition to Helen Zille's potential return to the Democratic Alliance, stating he would resign if she rejoins due to her perceived dishonesty. He emphasizes the importance of integrity in political negotiations and discusses ActionSA's initiatives to engage smaller civic associations.
- Herman Mashaba strongly opposes Helen Zilles potential return to the Democratic Alliance (DA), stating he would resign if she rejoined due to his view of her as dishonest
- He emphasizes his commitment to removing the ANC from power, explaining that he left his business to join the DA for this cause but became disillusioned by Zilles alleged collusion with the ANC
- While acknowledging the presence of capable individuals within the DA, Mashaba remains skeptical about negotiating with Zille and prefers to lead coalition discussions himself if needed
- Mashaba discusses ActionSAs Green Umbrella initiative, which aims to engage smaller civic associations and has reportedly increased their public office representation to 150
- He expresses openness to collaborating with the DA if the electorate demands it, but insists on integrity in negotiations based on his past experiences with dishonesty
15:00–20:00
Herman Mashaba discusses ActionSA's growth since the 2021 local government elections, highlighting the acquisition of over 50 new councillors. He emphasizes the critical housing backlog in Johannesburg and his plans to address it through expropriation of abandoned buildings.
- Since the 2021 local government elections, ActionSA has gained over 50 new councillors, establishing itself as a key player in the political arena without needing another election
- Herman Mashaba identifies housing as a critical issue, highlighting a backlog of over 300,000 housing units when he took office in 2016, which has likely worsened since then
- He intends to utilize his previous mayoral experience to address the housing crisis by expropriating abandoned buildings, potentially creating 14,500 housing units and 22,000 permanent jobs
- Mashaba references a past initiative that permitted the expropriation of properties without compensation, which he believes could greatly improve Johannesburgs housing situation
- He expresses doubts about forming coalitions with certain political figures, particularly citing trust issues with Helen Zille and emphasizing the importance of integrity in negotiations
20:00–25:00
Herman Mashaba discusses the urgent housing crisis in Johannesburg and his plans to expropriate abandoned buildings to create new housing units. He emphasizes the need for a specialized police unit to manage property regulations and address undocumented immigration.
- Herman Mashaba highlights the worsening housing crisis in Johannesburg, advocating for the expropriation of hijacked and abandoned buildings to create new housing units
- He aims to revive previously approved policies to encourage private sector participation in construction, with a goal of transforming Johannesburg into a construction hub within his first year if re-elected
- Mashaba proposes establishing a specialized unit within the local police to enforce property regulations and manage the return of undocumented immigrants to their home countries
- He criticizes the South African Human Rights Commission for allegedly prioritizing the rights of undocumented immigrants over those of law-abiding citizens, framing illegal entry as a criminal act
- His proposals raise concerns regarding potential human rights violations, especially considering South Africas historical context of xenophobia and violence against foreigners
25:00–30:00
Herman Mashaba emphasizes the need to prioritize the rights of law-abiding South Africans over undocumented immigrants, criticizing the South African Human Rights Commission for neglecting citizens in poverty. He reflects on ActionSA's growth and the challenges faced in coalition negotiations after the 2021 elections.
- Herman Mashaba stresses the importance of prioritizing the rights of law-abiding South Africans over those of undocumented immigrants, asserting that illegal entry is a criminal act
- He criticizes the South African Human Rights Commission for allegedly neglecting the rights of citizens living in poverty while focusing on the rights of undocumented foreigners
- Mashaba calls for a mandate to improve conditions in areas like Alexander, expressing dissatisfaction with government support for local residents
- Reflecting on the aftermath of the 2021 elections, he notes that ActionSA became the third largest party but encountered difficulties in coalition negotiations with the DA and ANC
- He shares an experience where the DAs delay in communicating coalition agreements hindered ActionSAs decision-making process, which he deemed unfair