SOUTH AFRICA— ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba has attributed his party’s performance in the 2026 local government elections to a deliberate strategy that leveraged the media’s focus on illegal immigration. Speaking at the National Results Operation Center, Mashaba outlined how the party capitalized on public discourse to achieve significant electoral gains without the need for extensive financial resources.
Mashaba explained that ActionSA’s six-point manifesto, particularly its strict stance on illegal immigration, became a central talking point during the campaign. He noted that the media’s intense focus on this issue—and the Democratic Alliance’s (DA) position on it—inadvertently provided ActionSA with daily national coverage.
“The media came to the party by mistake… your intention was to destroy us, and I took advantage of that,” Mashaba stated, thanking journalists for promoting the party while attempting to critique it. He emphasized that this media leverage was crucial for a party operating with limited resources.
Observations from the floor of the National Results Operation Center noted Mashaba’s confident physical demeanor, walking with broad shoulders and his head held high as he engaged with the press. This confidence is backed by the latest electoral data: ActionSA has officially emerged as the fifth-largest party on the national leaderboard. Furthermore, at the municipal level, the party has secured more votes than the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP).
Despite the strong showing, Mashaba expressed mixed emotions about the final tally. “I would have wanted to do better than this, but I think under the circumstances, I’m happy,” he said.
When asked to ascribe the party’s success, Mashaba utilized the metaphor of a “professional fisherman.” He explained that following the 2024 elections, he realized the need to “go to the ocean” to support his political family, assembling a dedicated team to go exactly “where the fish was.” He praised his team as gifted, committed, and ethical South Africans, allowing the party to deal with reality rather than the political “arena.” However, he cautioned that their continued success relies on the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) not “playing games” with the electoral process.
Reflecting on his personal leadership journey, Mashaba asserted that he was “not born to fail” and has never failed in his life. While acknowledging that he is human and makes mistakes, he emphasized his ability to learn from them and soldier on.
When questioned about voter demographics—specifically whether ActionSA merely absorbed township protest votes originally intended for the DA rather than the ANC—Mashaba rejected the premise. He maintained that the party’s success is rooted in its own distinct manifesto offerings and strategic positioning, rather than acting as a mere vessel for displaced voter dissatisfaction.
