Herman Mashaba
Herman Mashaba is a South African politician and businessman who serves as the leader and founder of ActionSA, a political party he established in 2020. He is a South African national who rose to prominence first as an entrepreneur before entering politics. Mashaba built his business career as the founder of Black Like Me, a cosmetics company targeting black consumers, which he sold in 2005. He entered formal politics by joining the Democratic Alliance (DA), serving as the executive mayor of Johannesburg from 2016 to 2019. His tenure as mayor was marked by efforts to combat corruption and improve service delivery in South Africa's largest metropolitan area. Mashaba resigned from the DA in October 2019, citing concerns over the party's direction and leadership under Helen Zille. He subsequently founded ActionSA as an alternative political vehicle, positioning it as a party focused on combating corruption, creating jobs and promoting accountable governance. Under his leadership, ActionSA has contested local and national elections, seeking to position itself as a credible opposition force in South African politics. Mashaba recurs in coverage of South African politics, particularly in relation to coalition negotiations, opposition politics and municipal governance. His background combines entrepreneurial success with a focus on urban management and anti-corruption messaging. He remains an influential voice in debates about service delivery, economic policy and political accountability in South Africa.
Herman Mashaba Updates
Daily Podcast – September 30, 2026
By: Halima Frost Updated 4 hours ago Making headlines: South Africa summons US ambassador again over 'undiplomatic conduct'; Parties criticise Ramaphosa’s ‘delayed response’ to... →
President’s little-too-late address sidesteps the criminal justice failures leaving women and children vulnerable
30th September 2026 The President’s address to the nation was a little too late an attempt to respond to the consequences of the failure of our government to build a... →
Parties criticise Ramaphosa’s ‘delayed response’ to Ekurhuleni femicide crisis 
By: Thabi Shomolekae 30th September 2026 Opposition parties and civil rights organisations have criticised President Cyril Ramaphosa's recent national address on gender-based violence and... →
Parties sign Electoral Code of Conduct, commit to peaceful 2026 local elections
By: Thabi Shomolekae 23rd September 2026 Political parties competing in the upcoming local government elections have officially pledged their commitment to a peaceful, free, and fair... →
ActionSA welcomes Electoral Court ruling: An opportunity for communities to demand change
17th September 2026 ActionSA welcomes the Electoral Court’s dismissal of the African National Congress’s appeal relating to the exclusion of 181 of its candidates from... →
RISE Mzansi: Makashule Gana: Address by RISE Mzansi Chief Organiser, during the flighting of Local Government Posters in Parkview, Johannesburg (16/09/2026)
16th September 2026 We are tired of conveying our condolences; women are tired of doing everything to keep safe. We need a reset in our society; we need to restore our... →
City Of Joburg removes ActionSA billboard unlawfully in politically driven campaign
16th September 2026 The City of Johannesburg, led by its ANC MMC for Economic Development, has unlawfully removed an ActionSA billboard in Diepkloof, Soweto in... →
Official comment on joining ActionSA
31st August 2026 Throughout my life, I have always lived as a brand with constant brand attributes. Uppermost among those attributes were independence of mind and... →
The 28 000 Joburg residents adding to unemployment highlights a failed ANC government
12th August 2026 ActionSA is deeply concerned about the Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS) from Statistics South Africa that reveals that Johannesburg lost 28 000... →
Why politics matters
28th July 2026 Politics is often dismissed as something divisive, or at best, left to politicians. Many South Africans say they are not interested in politics.... →
