WATCH | ‘Unfinished business!’ Mashaba returns as ActionSA’s Joburg mayoral hopeful

Johannesburg – Herman Mashaba has been announced as ActionSA’s mayoral candidate for Johannesburg.

The announcement was made at the Orlando Community Hall in Soweto before hundreds of supporters on Saturday.

Mashaba previously served as Johannesburg mayor from 2016 to 2019 under the Democratic Alliance before leaving the party to form ActionSA.

[BREAKING NEWS] ActionSA unveils party leader Herman Mashaba as its mayoral candidate for Johannesburg. #Newzroom405 pic.twitter.com/9slcp5mXQW

— Newzroom Afrika (@Newzroom405) February 21, 2026

He also ran as ActionSA’s mayoral candidate in the 2021 local government elections.

Accepting the nomination, Mashaba said he has “unfinished business” in the city.

Using a boxing metaphor, he described Johannesburg as being in a fight for its future and pledged to combat corruption, incompetence, lawlessness and urban decline, promising to “fix” the city.

[WATCH] “This city needs a fighter who knows what it takes to win again,” says ActionSA president Herman Mashaba, who has been announced as the party’s mayoral candidate for the City of Johannesburg.
Mashaba said the campaign would focus on action and delivery, not personalities… pic.twitter.com/o60TxLDxP6

— Newzroom Afrika (@Newzroom405) February 21, 2026