Mashaba comeback potentially on the cards as ActionSA finalises Joburg mayoral race
Herman Mashaba, leader of ActionSA, amid speculation over whether he could contest the Johannesburg mayoralty after the party finalised its nominations process.
Image: Phando Jikelo / Inependent Media
ActionSA has confirmed that it has finalised its internal nominations process for its Johannesburg mayoral candidate and is expecting to announce the nominee in February, but the party is not ruling out party leader Herman Mashaba as a contender.
“ActionSA has concluded its internal nomination process, and plans are underway to announce our candidate in February,” national spokesperson Matthew George told IOL News.
“We are confident that the individual we put forward in the next month will be the most qualified and competent candidate, who will represent the best interests of the residents of Johannesburg.”
In a sit-down interview with IOL News in November last year, Mashaba indicated that he would consider contesting the mayoral position ahead of the 2026 local government elections if the party could not identify a suitable candidate.
Mashaba said that if ActionSA failed to find someone with the same “qualities” as City of Tshwane Mayor Dr Nasiphi Moya and the party’s Ekurhuleni mayoral candidate, Xolani Dlamini, he would be willing to step in himself.
This followed ActionSA’s opening of nominations for its Johannesburg mayoral candidate in preparation for the 2026 elections.
Nominations closed at the end of November 2025.
The contest for Johannesburg’s mayoral seat is intensifying as the elections draw closer.
At this stage, only two candidates have officially entered the race: DA federal council chairperson Helen Zille and Patriotic Alliance candidate Kenny Kunene, who currently serves as MMC for transport in the metro.
Johannesburg continues to struggle with severe service delivery challenges, including water and electricity shortages, potholes, deteriorating infrastructure, uncollected refuse, and non-functioning streetlights and traffic signals.
The ANC has not yet confirmed whether it will retain incumbent mayor Dada Morero or nominate another candidate.
Zille previously served as mayor of Cape Town and as Western Cape premier.
Independent political analyst Goodenough Mashego said ActionSA was likely to nominate Mashaba as its mayoral candidate.
“Mashaba has been a mayor of Joburg, and by all indications, when he was mayor, things were moving,” Mashego said.
“There was a coalition, and there were other voices influencing decisions, but the city appeared more functional.”
He added that Mashaba’s experience in business and governance strengthened his appeal.
“He started a business from scratch, so running a city cannot be that difficult for him,” Mashego said.
Mashego said Mashaba’s nomination would significantly affect Zille’s prospects.
“Not that ActionSA will necessarily win outright, but Helen Zille hopes to become mayor through a coalition government that might exclude ActionSA,” he said.
“If the council has to choose between Helen Zille and Herman Mashaba, smaller parties are more likely to support Mashaba.”
Mashego said ActionSA was unlikely to perform strongly in other metros.
“Ekurhuleni is not going to do well. Tshwane might not do well. But Johannesburg should be their crown jewel, where they want to demonstrate their ability to govern, or where Mashaba can finish what he started.”
Another political analyst, Solly Rashilo, said the February announcement was largely a strategic branding exercise.
“By delaying until then, ActionSA ensures it gets the last word after the DA’s Zille announcement has cooled off, allowing the party to launch its campaign with maximum momentum heading into the Easter period,” Rashilo said.
He said ActionSA’s recent “Legacy Tour”, which highlighted Mashaba’s past achievements in Johannesburg, strongly suggested he would be the candidate.
“This was classic pre-campaign positioning for a specific candidate rather than a general party advertisement,” Rashilo said.
“Opening nominations allows Mashaba to ‘respond to the call of the people’ in February, giving his candidacy the appearance of a popular draft rather than an executive appointment.”
Rashilo said ActionSA supporters view Mashaba’s previous term as one of relative stability, marked by decisive action against hijacked buildings and corruption.
“His return signals a ‘return to order’ for a city widely perceived to be in decline under ANC-EFF-PA coalitions,” he said.
“A Mashaba versus Zille contest creates a heavyweight race that could drive voter turnout and position ActionSA not as a small party, but as a primary contender for the mayorship.”
simon.majadibodu@iol.co.za
IOL Politics