Politics / Southafrica

Herman Mashaba's Campaign for Johannesburg Mayor

timeslivevideo • 2026-03-01T07:49:57Z

Source material: Herman Mashaba on the race for Joburg mayor, foreigners, Helen Zille & Sibiya

Summary

Herman Mashaba, former mayor of Johannesburg, discusses his candidacy for a second term, emphasizing the city's critical role in South Africa's economy. He expresses concern over the current state of Johannesburg, describing it as 'broken' and lacking effective leadership. Mashaba believes that the upcoming local government elections are pivotal for addressing the city's challenges. Mashaba highlights the importance of accountability and effective governance, citing his previous success in addressing corruption and improving revenue collection during his tenure. He criticizes the current leadership for failing to manage essential services and infrastructure, which he claims has led to widespread dissatisfaction among residents. He outlines his plans to restructure city entities for better efficiency and accountability, emphasizing the need for a professional public service. Mashaba also addresses the issue of illegal immigration, arguing that it exacerbates job scarcity for South Africans and contributes to the city's decline. Mashaba critiques the political instability caused by coalition politics, particularly blaming Helen Zille for the city's challenges. He asserts that her actions have significantly impacted Johannesburg's governance and stability, leading to a decline in service delivery and investment.

Perspectives

Herman Mashaba discusses his candidacy and plans for Johannesburg.

Herman Mashaba's Campaign

Criticizes current leadership for failing to address Johannesburgs issues
Emphasizes the need for accountability and effective governance
Proposes restructuring city entities for improved efficiency
Highlights the impact of illegal immigration on job availability
Blames Helen Zille for political instability in Johannesburg
Advocates for inner-city development to facilitate affordable housing

Opposition to Mashaba's Views

Questions the feasibility of his plans without addressing systemic issues
Challenges the assumption that removing undocumented foreign nationals will solve housing problems
Critiques reliance on past successes as a basis for future governance
Highlights potential bureaucratic resistance to proposed changes

Neutral / Shared

Acknowledges the complexities of urban governance in Johannesburg
Recognizes the challenges of coalition politics in the current political landscape

Metrics

other

three years into my tenure

duration Mashaba served as mayor before removal

This indicates the instability in leadership that may affect governance.

I left three years into my tenure as mayor

other

five years old

age of Mashaba's political party

A younger party may struggle to establish a strong political presence.

our party is only five years old

leadership

Nassipi Mojia is now providing the kind of leadership

leadership quality in Johannesburg

Effective leadership is essential for addressing urban challenges.

Nassipi Mojia is now providing the kind of leadership that is going to make my grandchildren actually proud for being who they are.

coalition

running a seven-way coalition arrangement

complexity of governance

Coalition dynamics can significantly impact governance effectiveness.

running a seven-way coalition arrangement dependent on our survival on the EFF voting with us on an issue-based.

inequality

the inequality in my country

social issues in South Africa

Addressing inequality is crucial for social stability.

the inequality in my country, and if I look at this inequalities, this has been made in inequalities.

revenue

record-breaking revenue collection USD

revenue collection during Mashaba's tenure

This indicates the potential for financial recovery under effective leadership.

we used to have every month record-breaking revenue collection.

MMC_firings

fired three of my MMCs units

actions taken to combat corruption

This reflects a commitment to accountability in governance.

I fired three of my MMCs.

arrests

over 900 individuals

number of arrests made for fraud and corruption during Mashaba's tenure

This demonstrates a commitment to accountability in governance.

I fired and I arrested over 900 people in the three years for fraud and corruption.

Key entities

Companies

ActionSA • action SA

Countries / Locations

SouthAfrica

Themes

#coalition • #current_debate • #election_survey • #opposition • #accountability • #actionsa • #affordable_housing • #anti_corruption • #city_management • #corruption_fight

Timeline highlights

00:00–05:00

Herman Mashaba is campaigning for a second term as mayor of Johannesburg, emphasizing the city's critical role in South Africa's economy. He believes that the upcoming local government elections are pivotal for addressing the challenges facing Johannesburg.

Herman Mashaba, the former mayor of Johannesburg, is seeking a second term after being removed from office due to what he describes as evil forces plotting against him. He emphasizes that Johannesburg is South Africas economic heartland, and without a functioning city, the entire country suffers
Mashaba acknowledges that his party, ActionSA, is still establishing a national presence. However, he insists that leadership in Johannesburg is crucial for the partys future, especially as the city faces significant challenges
He expresses urgency regarding the upcoming local government elections, framing them as a defining moment for the country. This election presents a chance to address the pressing issues plaguing Johannesburg

05:00–10:00

Herman Mashaba emphasizes the importance of Johannesburg for South Africa's economic stability and expresses pride in his party's leadership. He believes that effective governance is crucial for the city's future and acknowledges the challenges faced in coalition politics.

Herman Mashaba believes Johannesburg is crucial for South Africas economic stability. He emphasizes that without a properly functioning city, the entire country suffers
He expresses pride in ActionSAs leadership, noting capable individuals ready to step in if he did not run for mayor again. However, he chose to take on the challenge due to the significance of the upcoming local government elections
Mashaba reflects on the previous local government elections, highlighting the effective leadership of Nassipi Mojia. He believes this leadership will positively impact future generations
He addresses the perception that his nomination was a foregone conclusion due to being the party founder. His experience in managing complex businesses and running Johannesburg under a coalition were key factors in his selection
Mashaba clarifies that his departure from the DA was not influenced by the EFF. He attributes his exit to internal conflicts within the DA regarding his focus on serving all communities, especially marginalized ones

10:00–15:00

Herman Mashaba criticizes the current leadership of Johannesburg, describing the city as 'broken' and 'in a mess' due to issues like dry taps and poor road conditions. He emphasizes the impact of illegal immigration on job availability for South Africans and highlights financial mismanagement as a core issue.

Herman Mashaba describes Joburg as broken and in a mess, criticizing the current leadership for failing to address critical issues like dry taps and poor road conditions
He highlights illegal immigration as a significant problem, claiming that undocumented foreigners are taking jobs from South Africans and contributing to crime
Financial mismanagement is a core issue, with Mashaba asserting that city finances cannot improve if political leaders are corrupt, referencing his own successful tenure in revenue collection
He recalls firing three of his MMCs during his term, emphasizing his commitment to fighting corruption and insisting that decisions should be guided by credible forensic reports

15:00–20:00

Herman Mashaba emphasizes the need for accountability and effective governance in Johannesburg, citing his previous success in addressing corruption and improving revenue collection. He plans to tackle the culture of non-payment for services and ensure a professional public service to restore trust in the city's administration.

Herman Mashaba describes Johannesburg as broken and emphasizes that fixing its finances is impossible if political leaders are corrupt. He highlights his previous tenure, where he arrested over 900 individuals for fraud and corruption, showcasing his commitment to accountability
During his time as mayor, Mashaba achieved record-breaking revenue collection, reaching over 17 billion rand in his third year. He attributes this success to collaboration with the private sector and enforcing the rule of law
Mashaba identifies a culture of non-payment for services among residents, including those in affluent areas. He plans to address this by reinstating accountability and ensuring proper evaluation and billing of all properties
He stresses the need for a professional public service and conducted a skills audit to ensure employees were qualified for their positions. This was part of his 10-point plan to improve governance and service delivery in the city
Mashaba acknowledges that criminal elements will exploit the system but insists that decisive leadership is necessary to tackle these issues. A strong commitment to governance and accountability will help restore order and trust in the citys administration

20:00–25:00

Herman Mashaba outlines his plans to address corruption and inefficiency in Johannesburg by leveraging his experience as mayor. He emphasizes the need for improved revenue collection and restructuring city entities to enhance operational efficiency.

Herman Mashaba emphasizes that his experience as mayor equips him with knowledge of existing loopholes and issues in Johannesburg, particularly regarding corruption and inefficiency. He plans to take immediate action against individuals previously charged with criminal offenses, warning them to leave the city if re-elected
He discusses the need for improved revenue collection, stating that reducing rates for residents can only happen once everyone pays their dues. A thorough audit of the citys financials and operations is essential to ensure promises made to residents are based on factual data
Mashaba plans to restructure city entities like Joburg Water and City Power by collapsing them into a single management structure under the city manager. This approach aims to reduce costs and improve efficiency in addressing residents issues

25:00–30:00

Herman Mashaba proposes that city entities should be directly overseen by the city manager to enhance accountability and efficiency in addressing resident complaints. He plans to present a restructuring report within the first or second council sitting if elected.

Herman Mashaba emphasizes the need for city entities like City Power and housing companies to fall directly under the city managers oversight. This structure allows for more efficient handling of resident complaints and quicker responses to issues, promoting accountability and consequence management
He reflects on his previous experience as mayor, noting challenges due to a lack of involvement in the budget preparation process. Senior managers controlled the budget and were not held accountable, which hindered effective governance
Mashaba is determined to present a report on restructuring city entities within the first or second council sitting if elected. This proactive approach aims to address inefficiencies and improve service delivery