Herman Mashaba Says ActionSA Mayors Must Put South Africans First
- ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba addressed supporters in KwaZulu-Natal ahead of the 4 November local government elections
- Mashaba named mayoral candidates for eThekwini, KwaDukuza and Newcastle while setting out the party's key policy priorities
- The ActionSA leader warned that the party would push for mass deportations if it gains control of municipalities
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KWAZULU-NATAL — ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba has called on the party's prospective mayors to place South Africans at the centre of all governance decisions, as the party unveiled its mayoral candidates for eThekwini, KwaDukuza and Newcastle during a KwaZulu-Natal visit over the weekend.
The announcements form part of ActionSA's preparations for the 4 November local government elections, with Mashaba using the occasion to outline the party's priorities on service delivery and immigration.
Mashaba draws line on foreign interests
Speaking directly to supporters, Mashaba made clear that the candidates being presented were accountable first and foremost to South African residents.
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"We are not announcing mayors of the world to go and serve Harare, Lagos or Lahore," he said.
He also called for South Africans to be empowered toward greater self-sufficiency, reducing dependence on state support over time.
"I am not in politics to serve the world. I am here to serve the people of South Africa."
Service delivery for South Africans will be prioritised
Mashaba indicated that gaining municipal control would translate into direct pressure on national government to address illegal immigration.
"We are going to put pressure on national government to ensure that there is mass deportation of people that do not belong here. We are unapologetic about this," he said.
He argued that challenges facing municipalities — including unemployment, housing shortages and service delivery backlogs — are compounded by the presence of undocumented migrants. Referencing his tenure as Johannesburg mayor, Mashaba cited the city's housing backlog as evidence that many South Africans continue to live in difficult conditions while public resources remain stretched.
ActionSA vows tougher stance on illegal immigration
Mashaba said he had been raising concerns about illegal immigration since first taking office in Johannesburg in 2016, maintaining that the country's Constitution supports lawful migration and that the enforcement of immigration laws must be strengthened.
He was careful to distinguish between undocumented migrants and those entering through legal channels. "We want people to come here legally, and when they are here, they must respect the laws of our country," he said, adding that tourists, investors and students who comply with South African law are welcome.
Mashaba eyes Johannesburg mayoral seat
Previously, Briefly News reported that ActionSA leader and former Johannesburg mayor Herman Mashaba indicated that he may contest the city’s top job again, this time under his own party’s banner. Mashaba said he had not ruled out standing as Johannesburg mayor if ActionSA fails to identify a candidate of the calibre of Tshwane Mayor Nasiphi Moya. He made the remarks during a media briefing at Parliament on Thursday, 15 January 2026.
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Source: Briefly News
