Herman Mashaba
- Birth name: Herman Samtseu Philip Mashaba
- Born: 26 August 1959
- Place of birth: Hammanskraal, Gauteng, South Africa
- Nationality: South African
- Main activity: Politician, entrepreneur
- Political party: ActionSA
Herman Mashaba is a South African politician, entrepreneur and the current president of ActionSA, a party he founded on 29 August 2020. He was the Mayor of Johannesburg from 2016 to 2019. He is the creator of the hair product company Black Like Me. He is well-known in South Africa for his background: he grew up in near poverty, and claims to have fought against the apartheid government to start his own hair business, which became the largest hair brand in South Africa, making him a millionaire. He supported Mmusi Maimane in the Democratic Alliance leadership race. He wrote the autobiography Black Like You and his chief of staff, Michael Beaumont, published a biography called The Accidental Mayor in 2020. Mashaba identifies himself as a libertarian and “capitalist crusader” whose highest value is “individual freedom.”
Career Path
- Salesman - SuperKurl (1980s)
- Co-founder - Black Like Me (1985)
- Executive Chairman - Leswikeng Group of Companies (2004)
- Non-executive Director - Phatsima Diamond Corporation (2005)
- Non-executive Director - Longkloof Studios (2006)
- Non-executive Director - Free Market Foundation (2007)
- Non-executive Director - Business Leadership South Africa (2012)
- Member - Democratic Alliance (2014-2019)
- Mayor of Johannesburg - City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality (2016-2019)
- President and founder - ActionSA (2020-present)
Personal Life
Herman Mashaba is married to Connie Mashaba, who is also his business partner. They have three children: Khensani, Rhulani and Luyanda. He lives in Johannesburg, South Africa.
