Note to Editors: These remarks were delivered this morning in Rustenburg by ActionSA President, Herman Mashaba, at the announcement of the expansion of the ‘Green Umbrella’ in North West.
Ladies and gentlemen, fellow South Africans, Actioners, distinguished guests, members of the media, and everyone listening to this online,
Dumelang, Good morning!
I thank you on behalf of ActionSA for gathering here this morning as we chart the next steps in our journey to expand ActionSA’s Green Umbrella – a movement that is not just about growing party, but about transforming South Africa for every citizen, in every community.
When we launched ActionSA, we did so with a dream: a South Africa where hope and prosperity are not privilege of a few, but the birthright of all. The Green Umbrella is our commitment to this vision – a symbol of unity, inclusivity and progress. It is a promise that no community will be left behind, and that together, we will build a nation defined by ethical leadership and service delivery for all South Africans.
Expanding the Green Umbrella is not about vanity or numbers. It is about impact. It is about ensuring that our reach translates into real, tangible improvements in the lives of our people – whether in bustling cities or rural village.
We are not here to simply paint the country green. We are here to propose alternative approaches for delivering cleaner, safer, and more prosperous communities for all South Africans, black and white, rich and poor. We are here to create partnerships between communities, to foster innovation, and to build bridges that unite us in our diversity.
We also believe that we cannot build strong bridges between communities and heal festering historic wounds while some remain poor and underserved and others continue to thrive, often at the expense of the former and unaware of the existential challenges they face daily.
Today, I am proud to welcome our newest member, Mr Jeremia Ofentse Kombe, from Botho Community Movement, who has accepted to join ActionSA under the Green Umbrella growth trajectory as we approach the upcoming Local Government Elections.
We are pleased as ActionSA to now have two Councillors in this strategic municipality of Rustenburg. Our other Councillor is Thamzile Phanuel Nkwe, under the Bojanala Municipal District, who became part of the Green Umbrella from Forum 4 Service Delivery earlier this year.
We are also proud to add another Councillor in the Northwest Province. ActionSA now boasts a strong 26 Councillors in this province alone, represented in 13 Municipalities.
These representatives are not just numbers – they’re passionate leaders and activists who share our values and our vision.
ActionSA, which is only 4 years old, now boasts 134 councillors, five members of provincial legislatures, and six members of Parliament.
Expanding the Green Umbrella also means ensuring that we represent the aspirations of all South Africans who want this country to work, which is why ActionSA is proud to have developed a suite of policies that will put South Africa on a path of inclusive growth and prosperity.
Economic Prosperity for All:
We envision a South Africa that prioritises the implementation of innovative and decisive economic policies that expand opportunity and empower businesses to create jobs.
There must be ample economic opportunities to provide households with the dignity that comes from earning an income, minimising the need for social grants. This is a South Africa in which every individual has access to economic opportunity and the freedom to achieve economic prosperity, in whichever way they may define that.
In the South Africa we propose, poverty, unemployment, and inequality must no longer haunt our nation. No one must view upward mobility as only possible for others and not themselves.
Economic growth must therefore be inclusive, sustainable, and provide access to opportunity and prosperity for all South Africans.
This can only be possible in a competitive, market-based economy. The state’s role must be to create a conducive environment for investments and growth. For this to happen we need the kind of political commitment that will lead to long-term prosperity of South Africa. ActionSA is committed and unapologetic about the reservation of #Spaza4Locals for South Africans. We are not prepared to sit back and watch our local SMMEs being taken over by illegal foreigners.
Social Justice:
Here, our vision is that of a South Africa that is healed from the wounds of its past, in which the circumstance of someone’s birth no longer impacts on their chance of achieving prosperity and upward social mobility.
In this South Africa, inequality, poverty, and unemployment and the racial manifestation of those challenges are no longer hallmarks of our society. It must be a nation where all South Africans are not only equal on paper, but genuine counterparts in a dynamic and vibrant economy.
For this to happen, we consider economic justice to be the key to achieving social justice and non-racialism in South Africa, so that we can build an inclusive society.
The role of the state must be to reduce the barriers to human development caused by Apartheid-era discriminatory policies and the inequality and exclusion perpetuated by the successive post-apartheid governments.
Equitable economic and social justice mechanisms must ensure equality of opportunity, even if they cannot guarantee equality of outcomes.
That means that everyone must have the same opportunity to succeed, even if the state cannot guarantee individual success.
We unapologetically support the empowerment of black South Africans, but not through failed BBBEE policies.
But economic interventions are only one part of a holistic package of socio-economic interventions required to build an inclusive and just society. Education, healthcare, professional public service, energy security, corruption, climate and environment, law and order and foreign affairs policies all have an impact in promoting economic and social justice.
The Rule of Law:
ActionSA will bring a South Africa where respect for the rule of law is universal and entrenched in our society, and where our laws are enforced to protect the rights of all people without fear, favour, or prejudice. In this South Africa, our communities will no longer be ravaged by crime, and our police and other law enforcement agencies make criminals live in fear, rather than law-abiding citizens.
By this we mean that our security forces and laws must ensure that criminals do not violate the rights of law-abiding citizens in South Africa. We must ensure that our communities are safe, and that our people can live a life without fear of criminality. Our criminal and civil justice system will be reformed to ensure the efficient prosecution of criminals and the just and swift resolution of civil matters. Acts of criminality will face stringent consequences.
While we believe criminals should be afforded an opportunity for rehabilitation with the help of our correctional services system, we will not prioritise the rights and freedoms of criminals over those of law-abiding victims. Corruption must be declared Public Enemy One. We must also declare war against drug syndicates responsible for destroying the future of our Youth and distrust our families and our way of life.
Professional Public Service:
Our vision is that of a South Africa served by a capable, streamlined, politically independent state that delivers high quality services to its residents in a cost-effective and timely manner. In this version of South Africa, state institutions are managed and staffed by highly qualified, ethical, and committed public servants who operate with a high degree of professionalism, care, and sense of duty.
This means that state institutions will operate free from political interference or cadre deployment. They will exist solely to fulfil the state’s development mandate through delivering services with pride to its customers, the people of South Africa. The state’s ultimate goal should be to provide the services and foster the necessary environment for socio-economic prosperity and upward mobility, rather than being directly involved in job or income creation.
Ladies and gentlemen, our Green Umbrella is not just about ActionSA. It is about building a coalition of the willing – a broad alliance of community leaders, activists, and small parties who share our vision for ethical governance and sustainable development. We invite all who are committed to service delivery, clean governance, and a greener future to join us.
As you can see, we believe in the power of partnership. Affluent communities will be encouraged to reach across and support their less-served counterparts, fostering innovation and best-practice exchanges that uplift all. Poor communities also have a vital role to play in shaping solutions that work on the ground, ensuring that change is sustainable and inclusive.
Our call to Action is that as we prepare for the 2026 local government elections, our mission is clear: grow the Green Umbrella, mobilize more communities, and ensure that ActionSA is represented in strategic municipalities across South Africa. We must be ready to hit the ground running, to deliver ethical and consistent service delivery from day one.
This is not a journey we can walk alone. We need every South African who wants decisive change and believes in a better future for all to join us – whether as a member, a supporter, or a partner in in other ways. Wherever you are, please reach out to your nearest ActionSA branch or find us through our website so that we can talk about ways we can walk together.
As someone who grew-up in hardship, who built a business from the boot of my car, and who has always believed in the power of individual freedom and collective action, I am deeply committed to this cause. The values that shaped my journey – from factory floor to the Johannesburg mayor’s office – are the same values that drive ActionSA today: integrity, hard work, and relentless focus on results.
Let us remember that expanding the Green Umbrella is not just about ActionSA – it is about building a South Africa that works for all. It is about building a country where every child can dream, where every community can thrive, and where our natural heritage is preserved for generations to come.
Let us therefore be unstoppable in our pursuit of this vision. Let us grow the Green Umbrella, not for ourselves, but for the millions of South Africans who have been waiting in vain for a better life, since the dawn of our democracy, and who deserve a lot better than what has been dished out to them.
Thank you. Ke a leboga!
ActionSA Welcomes Botho Community Movement in Expansion of the Green Umbrella in North West
Note to Editors: These remarks were delivered this morning in Rustenburg by ActionSA President, Herman Mashaba, at the announcement of the expansion of the ‘Green Umbrella’ in North West.
Ladies and gentlemen, fellow South Africans, Actioners, distinguished guests, members of the media, and everyone listening to this online,
Dumelang, Good morning!
I thank you on behalf of ActionSA for gathering here this morning as we chart the next steps in our journey to expand ActionSA’s Green Umbrella – a movement that is not just about growing party, but about transforming South Africa for every citizen, in every community.
When we launched ActionSA, we did so with a dream: a South Africa where hope and prosperity are not privilege of a few, but the birthright of all. The Green Umbrella is our commitment to this vision – a symbol of unity, inclusivity and progress. It is a promise that no community will be left behind, and that together, we will build a nation defined by ethical leadership and service delivery for all South Africans.
Expanding the Green Umbrella is not about vanity or numbers. It is about impact. It is about ensuring that our reach translates into real, tangible improvements in the lives of our people – whether in bustling cities or rural village.
We are not here to simply paint the country green. We are here to propose alternative approaches for delivering cleaner, safer, and more prosperous communities for all South Africans, black and white, rich and poor. We are here to create partnerships between communities, to foster innovation, and to build bridges that unite us in our diversity.
We also believe that we cannot build strong bridges between communities and heal festering historic wounds while some remain poor and underserved and others continue to thrive, often at the expense of the former and unaware of the existential challenges they face daily.
Today, I am proud to welcome our newest member, Mr Jeremia Ofentse Kombe, from Botho Community Movement, who has accepted to join ActionSA under the Green Umbrella growth trajectory as we approach the upcoming Local Government Elections.
We are pleased as ActionSA to now have two Councillors in this strategic municipality of Rustenburg. Our other Councillor is Thamzile Phanuel Nkwe, under the Bojanala Municipal District, who became part of the Green Umbrella from Forum 4 Service Delivery earlier this year.
We are also proud to add another Councillor in the Northwest Province. ActionSA now boasts a strong 26 Councillors in this province alone, represented in 13 Municipalities.
These representatives are not just numbers – they’re passionate leaders and activists who share our values and our vision.
ActionSA, which is only 4 years old, now boasts 134 councillors, five members of provincial legislatures, and six members of Parliament.
Expanding the Green Umbrella also means ensuring that we represent the aspirations of all South Africans who want this country to work, which is why ActionSA is proud to have developed a suite of policies that will put South Africa on a path of inclusive growth and prosperity.
Economic Prosperity for All:
We envision a South Africa that prioritises the implementation of innovative and decisive economic policies that expand opportunity and empower businesses to create jobs.
There must be ample economic opportunities to provide households with the dignity that comes from earning an income, minimising the need for social grants. This is a South Africa in which every individual has access to economic opportunity and the freedom to achieve economic prosperity, in whichever way they may define that.
In the South Africa we propose, poverty, unemployment, and inequality must no longer haunt our nation. No one must view upward mobility as only possible for others and not themselves.
Economic growth must therefore be inclusive, sustainable, and provide access to opportunity and prosperity for all South Africans.
This can only be possible in a competitive, market-based economy. The state’s role must be to create a conducive environment for investments and growth. For this to happen we need the kind of political commitment that will lead to long-term prosperity of South Africa. ActionSA is committed and unapologetic about the reservation of #Spaza4Locals for South Africans. We are not prepared to sit back and watch our local SMMEs being taken over by illegal foreigners.
Social Justice:
Here, our vision is that of a South Africa that is healed from the wounds of its past, in which the circumstance of someone’s birth no longer impacts on their chance of achieving prosperity and upward social mobility.
In this South Africa, inequality, poverty, and unemployment and the racial manifestation of those challenges are no longer hallmarks of our society. It must be a nation where all South Africans are not only equal on paper, but genuine counterparts in a dynamic and vibrant economy.
For this to happen, we consider economic justice to be the key to achieving social justice and non-racialism in South Africa, so that we can build an inclusive society.
The role of the state must be to reduce the barriers to human development caused by Apartheid-era discriminatory policies and the inequality and exclusion perpetuated by the successive post-apartheid governments.
Equitable economic and social justice mechanisms must ensure equality of opportunity, even if they cannot guarantee equality of outcomes.
That means that everyone must have the same opportunity to succeed, even if the state cannot guarantee individual success.
We unapologetically support the empowerment of black South Africans, but not through failed BBBEE policies.
But economic interventions are only one part of a holistic package of socio-economic interventions required to build an inclusive and just society. Education, healthcare, professional public service, energy security, corruption, climate and environment, law and order and foreign affairs policies all have an impact in promoting economic and social justice.
The Rule of Law:
ActionSA will bring a South Africa where respect for the rule of law is universal and entrenched in our society, and where our laws are enforced to protect the rights of all people without fear, favour, or prejudice. In this South Africa, our communities will no longer be ravaged by crime, and our police and other law enforcement agencies make criminals live in fear, rather than law-abiding citizens.
By this we mean that our security forces and laws must ensure that criminals do not violate the rights of law-abiding citizens in South Africa. We must ensure that our communities are safe, and that our people can live a life without fear of criminality. Our criminal and civil justice system will be reformed to ensure the efficient prosecution of criminals and the just and swift resolution of civil matters. Acts of criminality will face stringent consequences.
While we believe criminals should be afforded an opportunity for rehabilitation with the help of our correctional services system, we will not prioritise the rights and freedoms of criminals over those of law-abiding victims. Corruption must be declared Public Enemy One. We must also declare war against drug syndicates responsible for destroying the future of our Youth and distrust our families and our way of life.
Professional Public Service:
Our vision is that of a South Africa served by a capable, streamlined, politically independent state that delivers high quality services to its residents in a cost-effective and timely manner. In this version of South Africa, state institutions are managed and staffed by highly qualified, ethical, and committed public servants who operate with a high degree of professionalism, care, and sense of duty.
This means that state institutions will operate free from political interference or cadre deployment. They will exist solely to fulfil the state’s development mandate through delivering services with pride to its customers, the people of South Africa. The state’s ultimate goal should be to provide the services and foster the necessary environment for socio-economic prosperity and upward mobility, rather than being directly involved in job or income creation.
Ladies and gentlemen, our Green Umbrella is not just about ActionSA. It is about building a coalition of the willing – a broad alliance of community leaders, activists, and small parties who share our vision for ethical governance and sustainable development. We invite all who are committed to service delivery, clean governance, and a greener future to join us.
As you can see, we believe in the power of partnership. Affluent communities will be encouraged to reach across and support their less-served counterparts, fostering innovation and best-practice exchanges that uplift all. Poor communities also have a vital role to play in shaping solutions that work on the ground, ensuring that change is sustainable and inclusive.
Our call to Action is that as we prepare for the 2026 local government elections, our mission is clear: grow the Green Umbrella, mobilize more communities, and ensure that ActionSA is represented in strategic municipalities across South Africa. We must be ready to hit the ground running, to deliver ethical and consistent service delivery from day one.
This is not a journey we can walk alone. We need every South African who wants decisive change and believes in a better future for all to join us – whether as a member, a supporter, or a partner in in other ways. Wherever you are, please reach out to your nearest ActionSA branch or find us through our website so that we can talk about ways we can walk together.
As someone who grew-up in hardship, who built a business from the boot of my car, and who has always believed in the power of individual freedom and collective action, I am deeply committed to this cause. The values that shaped my journey – from factory floor to the Johannesburg mayor’s office – are the same values that drive ActionSA today: integrity, hard work, and relentless focus on results.
Let us remember that expanding the Green Umbrella is not just about ActionSA – it is about building a South Africa that works for all. It is about building a country where every child can dream, where every community can thrive, and where our natural heritage is preserved for generations to come.
Let us therefore be unstoppable in our pursuit of this vision. Let us grow the Green Umbrella, not for ourselves, but for the millions of South Africans who have been waiting in vain for a better life, since the dawn of our democracy, and who deserve a lot better than what has been dished out to them.
Thank you. Ke a leboga!