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.