Mashaba Victory Expected in ActionSA

Herman Mashaba is highly likely to be fielded as ActionSA’s mayoral candidate.

While ActionSA’s Central Candidate Selection Committee has finalised interviews for its Johannesburg mayoral candidate, the process appears more symbolic than competitive. The shortlist features high-profile figures, including National Chairperson Michael Beaumont, Funzi Ngobeni, Lerato Ngobeni, and MP Dereleen James. However, they stand alongside party founder and former Johannesburg Mayor Herman Mashaba.

Political analyst Dirk Kotze suggests the outcome is already a foregone conclusion, viewing the internal race as a strategic display of party protocol rather than a genuine contest. Kotze argues that Mashaba’s history and leadership make him the only viable choice for the position.

“It’s almost a given. Mashaba is the founder of ActionSA. So it’s almost impossible for anyone to stand against him. Secondly, he is a former mayor of Johannesburg. There isn’t any competition between him and the others, and I think they are just going through the formalities,” Kotze remarked.

As South Africa prepares for highly contested local government elections, this selection process serves to solidify the party’s structure ahead of the official announcement.

The Johannesburg mayoral candidate will be formally revealed on Saturday, 21 February 2026.