WATCH | Mashaba snubs new coalition: ‘ActionSA is no minority!’

Johannesburg – Herman Mashaba, leader of ActionSA, has confirmed that his party will not join the newly announced coalition, Unite for Change, formed by Build One SA (BOSA), the GOOD Party, and Rise Mzansi.

The coalition, announced in Johannesburg on Sunday, aims to contest the 2026 local government elections under a single banner, offering South Africans an alternative focused on ethical leadership, improved service delivery, job creation, and inclusive governance.

While the three parties will continue to operate independently for now, they plan a full merger after 2029.

According to The Citizen, the coalition’s leaders told the media that they had invited ActionSA to come on board.

[MEDIA STATEMENT 💬]

We proudly announce the launch of Unite for Change, a new political party and movement that will campaign in the 2026 Local Government Elections under one shared banner.#UNITEFORCHANGE pic.twitter.com/Cl0taqIVqI

— RISE Mzansi (@Rise_Mzansi) October 5, 2025

However, Mashaba said his party does not see itself as a minority force, noting that ActionSA is the third-largest party in Gauteng and felt the coalition failed to recognise this.

“These are people that I like and admire, but, unfortunately for us, as ActionSA, it does not make sense because we are not a minority party.

“How can anyone think ActionSA is a small party? We are the third-biggest party in Gauteng. How can you disregard that, and that is what they did not want to recognise,” the report quoted him as saying.

Meanwhile, speaking toEWN, Mashaba said he is willing to run for Johannesburg mayor again, following his 2016–2019 tenure.

He noted, however, that this would only happen if ActionSA is unable to identify a young, suitable, and capable candidate for the position.

ActionSA plans on contesting atleast 42 municipalities in the upcoming local government elections.

In 2021, the party contested only 6.

Herman Mashaba, ActionSA President, said the party has to be strategic. TCG pic.twitter.com/Yod4urWCCW

— EWN Reporter (@ewnreporter) October 4, 2025

“In the event we don’t find someone, Herman Mashaba is still available. Fortunately, enough I’ve still got some energy. Obviously, I don’t have age on my side, I am 66 but the energy is there.

“If I have to serve, by the time I am 70, I will ask the party to let me go back into the private sector and enjoy my life instead of doing this terrible job,” said Mashaba.