The promise to voters Herman Mashaba keeps breaking

ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba has repeatedly promised voters that his party would not enter a coalition with the ANC, arguing that the ruling party was responsible for many of South Africa’s problems.

However, his party’s actions in Johannesburg and Tshwane, as well as his latest coalition negotiations following the 2026 local government elections, have disregarded this promise.

Mashaba first made his position very clear on 29 August 2021 during ActionSA’s first-anniversary speech in Soweto.

“The second truth is that for this destiny to be realised, for South Africa to succeed, the ANC must fail,” he said.

“The two cannot live in mutual prosperity. One must be sacrificed for the other to live. It will not be South Africa that dies.”

Two months later, at ActionSA’s final election rally on 28 October 2021, he made an even more direct commitment.

“ActionSA will never go into coalition with the ANC. We believe this because you cannot fix the problem by partnering with the cause of the problem,” Mashaba said.

He reiterated the position on 3 November 2021 at the IEC National Results Operations Centre, where he told journalists that ActionSA will never enter into a coalition with the ANC.

This was followed by a statement on X on 14 November, stating that “people voted ActionSA to get rid of the ANC.”

“ActionSA won’t help them get the keys to any municipality, no matter what is offered to us,” Mashaba wrote.

Again, in an official statement on 22 February 2023, ActionSA reiterated its firm commitment never to enter into a coalition with the ANC.

It also maintained that the party wanted to distance itself from the ANC’s governance model, which it considered fundamentally flawed.

However, the party’s approach changed after the May 2024 national elections, when ActionSA rejected participation in the Government of National Unity (GNU).

To the surprise of many of its voters, the party indicated it would consider working with the ANC on individual municipal issues.

It hit hard in Johannesburg in August 2024. ActionSA voted alongside the ANC, EFF, and other parties to elect ANC candidate Dada Morero as executive mayor.

Soon after the Johannesburg vote, ActionSA’s Nobuhle Mthembu was elected council speaker, with the support of the ANC council members.

The relationship continued into 2025, although tensions eventually emerged over the city’s budget and Mthembu’s removal as speaker.

Despite this, ActionSA still abstained from a motion of no confidence against Morero, allowing the ANC mayor to remain in office.

Still a scenario where ActionSA doesn’t work with the ANC

ActionSA’s willingness to work with the African National Congress extended into the City of Tshwane.

On 26 September 2024, all 19 of its councillors supported an ANC-sponsored motion to remove DA mayor Cilliers Brink, breaking with their Multi-Party Charter partners.

On 9 October 2024, ActionSA’s Nasiphi Moya was elected executive mayor with 122 votes, following support from the ANC.

The resulting governing arrangement included ANC representation in key mayoral committee portfolios and council leadership positions.

Now, following the November 2026 local government elections, ActionSA is again engaging the ANC over coalition arrangements in Johannesburg, Tshwane, and Ekurhuleni.

National chairperson Michael Beaumont confirmed that the party had held a meeting with senior ANC representatives.

The ANC delegation included secretary-general Fikile Mbalula and deputy secretary-general Nomvula Mokonyane.

“ActionSA has concluded a productive and mutually respectful first engagement with the ANC. During the meeting, we discussed principles around how stable and effective coalition governments could be formed,” Beaumont said.

Mashaba has defended the negotiations by insisting that any agreement must be based on ActionSA’s principles, including zero tolerance for corruption and ethical governance.

Despite these negotiations, there is still a scenario where ActionSA doesn’t work with the ANC, but it comes with an ultimatum.

Mashaba has said that he had offered DA leader Geordin Hill-Lewis a coalition arrangement under which the DA would lead Johannesburg and Ekurhuleni, while ActionSA would retain the Tshwane mayoralty under Moya.

However, Mashaba made it clear that the DA would have to appoint someone other than Helen Zille to lead Johannesburg.

“I explained to Geordin that ActionSA would really like to work with the Democratic Alliance,” Mashaba said

He added that he would not participate in negotiations with the DA if Zille remained involved.

ActionSA also refused to consider another mayoral candidate for Tshwane, with Mashaba insisting that Moya must retain her position.