Mashaba claims 54 ANC wards in Gauteng metros

ActionSA says it has taken 54 wards from the ANC in Gauteng's three metros, including every ward in Tembisa.

Party leader Herman Mashaba made the claim at ActionSA's results briefing on Thursday, 5 November, blaming the ANC for failing township residents.

"So far, we've confirmed 54 wards won in the three metros, and more are still coming. I'm really proud of the teams.

"The gratitude goes to the people of Soweto, Alexandra, Orange Farm and all the other areas, including some suburban areas. We're really grateful that they gave us an opportunity, because our people have been failed by centuries of oppression and by 32 years of ANC corruption and mismanagement," Mashaba said.

ActionSA national chairperson Michael Beaumont said 16 of the wards were in Ekurhuleni and 11 in Johannesburg. He said results from Orange Farm, Alexandra and Diepsloot had not been counted yet.

The IEC has not yet confirmed the party's ward tally.

Asked how ActionSA had succeeded in townships where the DA had failed, Mashaba took aim at his former party.

"When I left my business and was invited by the DA to serve as their mayoral candidate in 2016, they flatly refused to give dignity to the forgotten people, and they fell out with me for refusing to listen to them.

"So they paid the price for that. I think that demonstrated to the people of South Africa, particularly black communities, that the ones who will benefit from the DA are the few living in the suburbs. So I think we took advantage of that.

"When they were planning my removal when I was the mayor, I decided, because the people of South Africa requested me, to form my own political party. I responded and continued. We've been unapologetic from day one that we are going to be a pro-poor government," Mashaba said.

Mashaba said he had warned Soweto residents in a letter delivered to every house weeks before the election.

"I wrote a letter, which we delivered to every house in Soweto, demonstrating to them the role they played in the liberation that everybody else is enjoying except themselves. I said to them, guys, if you don't come out and vote, and vote for ActionSA, you are going to suffer. It is self-imposed suffering. I'm so proud that they came out," he said.

He said Ekurhuleni mayoral candidate Xolani Khumalo had come to him asking for help with a foundation.

"I listened to him, and during the discussion I realised this young man needs to be given a bigger platform to serve. I said to him, you know what, I'm unemployed. I don't work. I rely on my family to support me. Give me a chance to think about it. Instead of saying yes to a cheque, I said the people of Ekurhuleni need you. The people of Tembisa need you. That's why today we've taken literally all the wards in Tembisa, the biggest voting bloc in Ekurhuleni. We've got wards in Daveyton, in Katlehong and everywhere," Mashaba said.

Later in the briefing, he described himself as "Herman Mashaba, who has lived in Atholl for almost 30 years. Herman Mashaba, who does not have to work a day in his life."

Khumalo, who won his own ward, said his priority was crime.

"I think it's rare to find a mayoral candidate who is also a ward councillor. All I have to say is that the work begins now. Our aim was to bring enough numbers in council so that we can influence and correct policy positions. Our main mission is to fight drugs, eradicate crime and make sure that Ekurhuleni is no longer declared a crime scene.

"I want to thank President Mashaba for giving me the opportunity to stand in this position, and for allowing a crime fighter to come and fight crime in that crime scene called Ekurhuleni," Khumalo said.

ActionSA Gauteng chairperson Funzi Ngobeni said the party would take on illegal immigration from council level.

"Let's thank patriotic South Africans who have come out in numbers and said we want to fix our country. We want to save this country from the illegality that's happening here. We want to save it from what this government is failing to do, which is to deal with illegal immigration.

"Many of the parties were saying to us that illegal immigration is not a competency of local government. We are going to show them that we will make sure we deal with illegal immigration, because as local government we can work with SAPS and we can work with Home Affairs. We are going to initiate all these activities so that, at the end of the day, we can have law and order in our municipalities. We can attract investment and create jobs," Ngobeni said.

He said ActionSA would hold the balance of power in Gauteng's district municipalities.

"We contested for the first time in Mogale City, Merafong and Midvaal. We might not win the wards in those district municipalities, but we are going to be a deciding factor. No government is going to be formed in the district municipalities without ActionSA," Ngobeni said.

Under the Constitution, immigration is a national function. Municipal powers are listed in Schedules 4B and 5B, and immigration is not among them.

Khumalo became known through the TV show Sizok'thola, which confronted alleged drug dealers.

ActionSA was launched in 2020.