South Africans are all too familiar with political parties that are slow to act against allegations of impropriety, or worse, simply sweep them under the rug. We promised to run towards accountability, not away from it.
Recent events in the City of Tshwane have put that core value to the test—and we have not hesitated to act.
Taking Swift, Decisive Action
Following concerning allegations that surfaced at the Madlanga Commission—including claims regarding city tenders and untested WhatsApp exchanges involving the City’s CFO—we immediately drew a line in the sand. We fully supported Executive Mayor Dr Nasiphi Moya’s decisive step to suspend MMC Kholofelo Morodi pending a full investigation, giving the Mayor the space to urgently protect and uphold the integrity of the City’s institutions.
Simultaneously, we initiated our own comprehensive internal probe. We made it clear: we treat any allegation of corruption or unethical behavior with the utmost gravity. We promised that if the investigation revealed any involvement by our members, the strongest possible action would be taken without delay.
Integrity Without Exception
True to our word, that process has now concluded. Following a thorough, procedurally fair disciplinary hearing where all evidence and representations were considered, the Gauteng Provincial Executive Committee (PEC) officially terminated the membership of Kholofelo Morodi. The conduct in question was found to be fundamentally inconsistent with our values and brought the Party into disrepute.
"ActionSA takes matters of integrity, accountability, and ethical conduct with the utmost seriousness, particularly where public office and public trust are concerned. Members of ActionSA are held to these standards without exception."
This is exactly what clean governance looks like in practice. We maintain a strict distinction between party and state, empowering our leaders in government to do their jobs while holding our own members to uncompromising ethical standards.
We are not just talking about fixing South Africa; we are demonstrating the ethical leadership required to actually do it. ActionSA is a party that chooses the rule of law and institutional accountability over political convenience.
In the heart of Gauteng, a factory that once symbolized industrial stability is preparing to go silent. The announcement by British American Tobacco South Africa (BATSA) to close its Heidelberg manufacturing plant is more than just a corporate headline – it is a devastating indictment of a government that has allowed the illicit economy to thrive at the expense of law-abiding businesses and South African workers.
For ActionSA, this is the inevitable result of “legislative delinquency.” As 230 direct jobs and countless indirect livelihoods vanish, we are witnessing the tangible consequences of a state that has lost control of its borders and its tax policy.
South Africa is currently trapped in a dual reality. While the legal economy struggles with stagnant growth, unable to dent a 12-million-person unemployment crisis, the illicit economy is booming. Growing at over 6% annually, criminal networks are flooding our streets with illegal cigarettes, alcohol, gold, and counterfeit goods.
The numbers are staggering. In the tobacco sector, illicit trade now commands an estimated 75% of the market. When a legal pack of cigarettes must retail for at least R35 to cover taxes, it cannot compete with illegal packs sold for R5. Similarly, one in five alcoholic drinks sold in South Africa is now illicit, priced nearly 40% lower than legal alternatives.
ActionSA has been the lone, consistent voice in Parliament warning that aggressive “sin taxes” have backfired. By pushing excise duties well above inflation, the government has inadvertently handed a massive price advantage to criminals.
Since 2019, total excise revenue from cigarettes has plummeted from R14 billion to just R9 billion, while the fiscus loses an estimated R100 billion annually across the broader illicit economy.
ActionSA refuses to accept the managed decline of South Africa’s industrial base. We are leading the charge for a common-sense approach to economic protection:
The closure of the Heidelberg plant is a warning shot. Without a strong, principled opposition to challenge these “policy own-goals,” more industries will follow.
ActionSA stands as the only party proactively fighting the “cancer of illicit trade.” We are committed to building a tax and enforcement regime that attracts investment, drives growth, and – most importantlyprotects the jobs of South Africans. By supporting ActionSA, you are investing in a movement that chooses the rule of law over criminal prosperity and economic growth over state-sponsored failure.
I stand before you today in a boxing ring, because that is exactly what this moment is. Johannesburg is in a fight for its future. I am stepping back into the ring to take back our city. Not for spectacle. Not for drama. But because this city needs a fighter who knows what it takes to win.
Herman Mashaba has been announced as ActionSA’s candidate for mayor of Johannesburg in the 2026 local government elections.
The venue, Orlando Community Hall, was chosen for its symbolic significance as the location where the Diphetogo (Changes) Programme was launched. This programme paved the way for tangible improvements in electricity, water, roads, healthcare, and the fight against crime and corruption in the City of Johannesburg.
The programme for the event differed from that of other parties, involving Joburg residents, representing different sectors of society, speaking to the incontrovertible truth that the leaders with a track record of fixing Joburg reside only within ActionSA. The programme itself was an action-packed list of speakers, including Tshwane Mayor, Dr Nasiphi Moya, Ekurhuleni Mayoral Candidate, Cllr Xolani Khumalo and March-in-March movement leader, Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma.
Cities like Joburg have been failed by governments led by the ANC and the DA for many years, and the only way to break that cycle will be to unite behind the only party with leaders who have a track record of fixing Joburg.
ActionSA’s Big Green Umbrella initiative stands as one of the most ambitious and unifying projects in South African opposition politics. Designed to bring together diverse political parties, civic organisations, and community movements under a shared vision, the Green Umbrella represents a bold step toward a cohesive, values-driven alternative to the ruling establishment.
Since its inception, nine political parties have formally joined ActionSA under this growing umbrella, collectively adding over 50 councillors across seven provinces. This expansion has not only strengthened ActionSA’s grassroots representation but also established a foothold in new municipalities, extending our reach into communities previously underserved by effective opposition.
Among those who have joined are the Democratic Union Party (DUP) led by Ntate Tonic Manchidi, the Forum 4 Service Delivery (F4SD), the Magoshi Swaranang Movement (MSM), the Capricorn Independent Community Activists Forum (CICAF), the Botho Community Movement, and most recently, Azanian Independent Community Movement and Creatives Congress Movement. Each has brought with it a network of local leaders, activists, and councillors united by the principles of ethical leadership, good governance, and tangible service delivery.
The Big Green Umbrella is more than a merger strategy, it is a nation-building framework. By consolidating credible voices of reform and integrity, ActionSA is demonstrating that cooperation, not fragmentation, is the path to real political renewal. Together, we are laying the foundation for a united, people-centred alternative capable of restoring hope and accountability in every corner of South Africa.
This bold move is testament to ActionSA’s unwavering commitment to empowering community-driven leadership and creating opportunities for passionate individuals to make a meaningful impact in their communities.
President Herman Mashaba has once again shown his keen understanding of the challenges facing our nation by endorsing Xolani Khumalo – a seasoned activist and community leader – as the party’s mayoral candidate for Ekurhuleni. With Xolani’s impressive track record in fighting crime and poverty, as well as his hands-on experience in community development through the Xolani Khumalo Foundation, Action SA is sending a strong message that it is time for positive change in Ekurhuleni, and he is the ideal candidate to lead the Metro towards a brighter future.
Ekurhuleni’s youth faces numerous challenges; from drug addiction and unemployment to lack of access to quality education and economic opportunities. With Xolani Khumalo’s leadership and ActionSA’s comprehensive policies, we’re optimistic that these challenges will be tackled head-on. We envision a future where our young people are empowered with the skills and opportunities they deserve, where our communities are safe and thriving and where our municipality is run with transparency and accountability, free of corruption.
With Xolani at the helm, we’ll tap into the vibrant energy and creativity of Ekurhuleni’s youth to fuel economic growth, create jobs, and foster social development. Our mission is to provide every young person in Ekurhuleni with access to opportunities that unlock their full potential, empowering them to thrive and contribute to the city’s prosperity.
ActionSA’s GNU Performance Tracker is a comprehensive index designed to monitor and hold accountable South Africa’s Government of National Unity (GNU). The tracker is aligned with ActionSA’s core values and vision for an inclusive, prosperous, and secure nation.
Each metric in the tracker is measured against a predetermined ActionSA benchmark, informed by government targets, international best practice, and ActionSA policy recommendations. The tracker will be updated regularly, empowering citizens to see where their government is succeeding and where it is falling short.
ActionSA is taking its offer to the corners of South Africa through a network of party structures and volunteers. This offer is being well-received by many South Africans who are understandably gatvol.
However, the work of delivering a permanent campaign through such a substantial network of structures and volunteers is expensive.
Our competitors include political parties that are funded through patently illegal and corrupt methods and, as a law-abiding political party, ActionSA must work even harder to compete in such an environment.
This is where you come in. ActionSA needs your financial support to ensure that our structures are resourced with t-shirts, merchandise, campaign materials and refreshments for volunteers who often work long hours engaging South Africans.
Your support can ensure that these volunteers are capacitated to be effective in their work and to reach more households and communities.
When you donate to ActionSA you are investing in the rational growing center of South African politics and your consideration of this request is most appreciated.
Bank: Nedbank 198765
Branch: Acc Name: ActionSA
Acc #: 1211229459
SWIFT: NEDSZAJJ
Kind Regards
Herman Mashaba
