WATCH | Mashaba admits blunder — underestimated Zuma, regrets DA pact

Cape Town – ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba has admitted he miscalculated ahead of the 2024 elections, underestimating Jacob Zuma’s popularity and the strength of the MK party.

“When MK was launched, I actually honestly undermined and underestimated the influence of Jacob Zuma. I said, ‘No, this is not going to happen,’” Mashaba said.

In an SABC interview marking ActionSA’s fifth anniversary, he said the party’s poor showing — just 1.2% of the vote and six parliamentary seats — was also due to mistrust among black voters over ActionSA’s ties with the DA.

Mashaba expressed regret over joining the Moonshot Pact, accusing the DA of “double dealings” with the ANC and failing to deliver services in black communities.

He also reflected on his strained time as Johannesburg mayor under the DA, saying the party resisted serving poor areas.

While criticising the DA-ANC coalition, Mashaba admitted ActionSA briefly partnered with the ANC in Tshwane and Johannesburg but pulled out, insisting the party does not want to be “contaminated” by the ANC.