Latest news with #HermanMashaba
The Herald
24-06-2025
- Politics
- The Herald
Gunman who opened fire at ActionSA branch launch faces additional intimidation charge
The gunman who fired shots at an ActionSA branch launch in ward 25 in eThekwini where party leader Herman Mashaba was expected to meet supporters has been charged with intimidation. This emerged in the Durban magistrate's court on Tuesday when Xolani Morgan Hadebe made his second court appearance for pointing a firearm and discharging a weapon in a built-up area. Senior prosecutor Calvin Govender said the state was opposed to Hadebe being granted bail due to safety concerns. Hadebe, who previously said he wanted to represent himself, has now enlisted private legal representative Mafika Dlamini. Dlamini said they were ready to proceed with the bail application. However, the matter was adjourned to July.
IOL News
24-06-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
'Do you need dialogue to see our roads are in shambles?': Mashaba slams national dialogue
ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba has strongly condemned the R700 million to be spent on the upcoming National Dialogue as a wasteful spending Image: Itumeleng English/Independent Newspapers ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba has slammed the government's planned R700 million National Dialogue, calling it a waste of public funds and out of touch with the daily struggles faced by millions of South Africans. Mashaba made the remarks on Monday in Alexandra, where his party launched its campaign for the 2026 local government elections. 'It's really so sad when I hear our president announcing the spending of R700 million to hold talks about talks when roads are in shambles,' Mashaba said. 'Do you need a National Dialogue to know that the roads are in a bad state?' The National Dialogue, announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa's administration, is billed as a nation-building initiative aimed at addressing South Africa's persistent social and political divisions. The program includes a National Convention in August 2025 involving more than 1,000 delegates, followed by six to nine months of public engagement. An Eminent Persons Group will also be appointed to serve as ambassadors for the process, which is expected to produce a 30-year action plan focusing on jobs, inequality, education, health care, and land reform. However, Mashaba said the dialogue is nothing more than a costly public relations exercise. 'Indications are that the so-called National Dialogue is already looking like a carefully choreographed process to fool South Africans yet again,' he said. Mashaba also took aim at the government's previous initiatives, including the annual investment conferences, which he described as media spectacles with little tangible return. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading 'All we have seen are media picture-perfect announcements of claimed investor pledges amounting to hundreds of billions of rands, with nothing pointing to such pledges leading to noticeable job creation,' he said. 'No one seems to be asking how much has been spent on these conferences and what has been their return on public investment, other than fabulous media appearances for the president.' He also slammed the Government of National Unity, saying it lacks cohesion and direction. 'The GNU includes different parties pulling in different directions. No new policies have been introduced to tackle economic stagnation,' Mashaba said. Mashaba cited the latest employment data, saying nearly 300,000 people lost their jobs in the last quarter, with more than 8.2 million South Africans now unemployed and another 3.5 million who claimed to have given up looking for work. 'Expected economic growth has been revised down repeatedly, from 1.3% to 0.6%,' Mashaba said. He warned that ActionSA will monitor the National Dialogue process closely. 'If it goes ahead, we will follow the money,' he said. 'Every rand spent will be scrutinized. We will demand full transparency on how the funds are allocated, which service providers are appointed, and whether ordinary South Africans benefit - or whether this becomes another Trojan horse to benefit politically connected middlemen who add no value.' 'We refuse to stand by and let South Africans be fooled again,' he added. IOL Politics
TimesLIVE
23-06-2025
- Politics
- TimesLIVE
Alexandra residents say they feel neglected by government
Residents of Alexandra in Johannesburg say receiving basic services such as a regular supply of clean water, electricity, waste removal and proper sanitation remains a dream for many of them. On Monday, ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba launched his party's nationwide campaign aimed at improving services in local government. Residents took advantage of Mashaba's visit and laid bare their frustrations and daily struggles regarding service delivery. Lusanda Siswela, who lives along London Road in Alexandra, said they have been living in shacks for many years, but they still lack basic services. She said they had hoped to be allocated RDP houses. 'These shacks have been here for 15 years, but we still don't have electricity and water. It's winter, and we're freezing because we have no power. Paraffin and gas are too expensive. We're struggling. Our R350 doesn't even cover the cost of paraffin, and we're unemployed. The government should help us with electricity. We are voting, and we're asking for help,' she said. Illegal electricity connections are rampant and residents admit to connecting illegally to the grid, and put the blame on the government for failing to provide them with electricity. Water and its billing are also a major problem, residents said. One resident told TimesLIVE that he was charged nearly R15,000 for water usage, even though he doesn't have a water meter and doesn't know how these charges are calculated. 'Here in Alex, we sometimes go two or three days without water. It makes it hard to cook, clean and stay healthy,' said Bongani Khumalo, another resident. Youth unemployment is another major concern. Zami Vakilahle Slender said the government hasn't done enough to help young people in Alexandra. 'We haven't seen any youth programmes here in years. The youth are being neglected. Many turn to drugs because it's the only way they know to deal with things. The government doesn't care unless it's election time, and then they just make empty promises.' Health services are also not good enough. 'When we go to the hospital, we often don't get the medicine we need because the hospitals are overcrowded,' Zami added. Skanyiso Shezi said residents are losing trust in the government. 'Politicians only show up when elections are coming. They just pass by, give us free T-shirts and disappear. They don't see what we're really going through,' he said. As part of ActionSA's campaign for the 2026 local government elections, Mashaba rolled up his sleeves and filled some of the potholes in Alexandra, saying that was his way of showing that real change requires action, not just talk. Mashaba said: 'To know that the roads in Alexandra are bad doesn't need an unnecessary national dialogue.' 'ActionSA is ready to take municipalities off the path of decay and set them firmly on the road to recovery and growth,' he said. TimesLIVE
IOL News
23-06-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
Herman Mashaba fills potholes in Alexandra as ActionSA launches 2026 election campaign
ActionSA leader, Herman Mashaba works alongside community members to patch a pothole on London Road, Alexandra, as part of ActionSA's 2026 campaign kickoff. Image: X/@HermanMashaba Politicians will do almost anything to earn votes. This was demonstrated on Monday morning when ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba launched his party's 2026 local government election campaign by personally repairing potholes in Alexandra. The campaign launch took place on London Road (Vincent Tshabalala Road), where Mashaba was joined by Tshwane mayor Dr. Nasiphi Moya, Member of Parliament Athol Trollip, and ActionSA national chairperson Michael Beaumont, among others. According to the party, the campaign marks the start of an intensive, nationwide effort to 'fix local government' in South Africa, where service delivery failures have long denied residents basic services and human dignity. 'Communities like Alexandra continue to be left behind,' Mashaba told the media. 'They are left without reliable access to clean water, electricity, refuse removal, and functioning sanitation. Sadly, this is not merely a developmental failure, it is a daily violation of the basic human rights enshrined in our Constitution.' Mashaba, who previously served as Johannesburg mayor from 2016 to 2019 under the Democratic Alliance, said the collapse of local government represents one of the greatest threats to South Africa's democracy. 'This is the sphere of government closest to the people, and yet it is where mismanagement, incompetence, and corruption are most acute and most deeply felt by our communities,' he said. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading Residents in Hammanskraal were drinking contaminated water while officials 'sat on their hands,' he added. Raw sewage flows into rivers and streets in eThekwini, and schools in the Eastern Cape lack sanitation, yet municipalities spend millions on 'vanity projects.' 'In countless towns and townships, street lights are dead, roads are cratered, and families endure years without running water or power,' he said. 'These are not isolated incidents, they are symptoms of a broken society and a broken system.' Mashaba said that he did not come to Alexandra simply to recount failures, but to bring a 'message of hope, change, and action.' Alexandra residents continue to face longstanding challenges, including poor housing, inadequate sanitation, crumbling infrastructure, potholes, and sewage spills. Sewage was visible along the road during Mashaba's visit, and some potholes were filled with wastewater. After his speech, Mashaba grabbed tools and helped repair one of the potholes himself. This comes after DA federal council chairperson Helen Zille, who recently confirmed that she is considering running for Johannesburg mayor in 2026. IOL News previously reported that Zille said she has been approached by her party and is weighing the decision. Meanwhile, Johannesburg faces deep-rooted problems, including water shortages, power outages, hijacked buildings, broken traffic lights, uncollected waste, overcrowded informal settlements, and widespread crime. Over the past eight years, the city had nine mayors from various parties, with many residents saying service delivery has only worsened. Some Joburg residents previously told IOL News they prefer the leadership of current ANC Mayor Dada Morero and Mashaba over any potential DA mayor. Mashaba said ActionSA was founded in 2020, ahead of the 2021 local elections, with a clear mission, to reverse the failures of local governance and restore public trust. 'For far too long, this critical sphere of government has been brought to its knees by inefficiency, corruption, and mismanagement,' he said. 'ActionSA was born to challenge the status quo and lead a new era of ethical, responsive, and people-centered local governments.'
IOL News
17-06-2025
- General
- IOL News
Tshwane allocates R5. 3 billion to enhance public safety in the upcoming financial year
ActionSA President Herman Mashaba recently visited a Soshanguve fire station, where he briefed workers on Tshwane's plans to upgrade the facility. Image: Oupa Mokoena / Independent Newspapers The City of Tshwane's R5.3 billion budget allocation to the Community Safety Department for the next financial year, starting July 1, will enhance public safety. The budget allocation includes R3 million for upgrading three key satellite fire stations in Ga-Rankuwa, Cullinan, and Soshanguve. ActionSA President Herman Mashaba recently visited a fire station in Soshanguve, where he discovered that two out of three fire trucks have been out of commission for years, posing a risk to the local community. The station also faces other challenges, including non-functional ablution facilities, broken gym equipment, laundry machines that have been awaiting repair since last year, and a male shower without hot water. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ Section 79 chairperson for community safety, Neo Mocumi, said a significant portion of the budget, R565m, will go toward protecting municipal assets, and the Emergency Services Department has been allocated R1.7 billion. She said the budget allocations to both entities highlighted the city's commitment to securing its critical infrastructure and the crucial role emergency responders play in protecting residents. Tshwane Mayor Nasiphi Moya has constantly said the 2025/2026 budget aims to protect municipal assets, especially electricity infrastructure, which was left vulnerable to vandalism and sabotage by previous administrations. The budget, she said, is a concerted effort to reduce power outages and water disruptions that have affected communities due to years of neglect. Additionally, the city plans to recruit over 200 metro police officers through the budget allocation to strengthen its crime-fighting efforts. Mocumi stated that 21 emergency facilities are earmarked for renovation as part of the city's medium-term strategy. Three satellite fire stations have been prioritised for upgrades, with each station receiving R1m for the work. Mocumi said: 'This budget marks a significant commitment to strengthening emergency response capabilities, reinforcing public safety, and ensuring that critical services remain fully operational and responsive to community needs. With these investments, the city is not just funding services, it is safeguarding lives.' Tshwane's MMC for Community Safety, Hannes Coetzee, and TMPD Chief of Police, Commissioner Yolande Faro, recently launched a new fleet of high-performance motorcycles to bolster crime-fighting efforts in the city.
