ActionSA narrows its 2026 election focus as Mashaba confirms selective municipal contest

ActionSA is heading into the 2026 local government elections with a slimmer, more intentional strategy. Instead of spreading itself across hundreds of wards nationwide, the party says it will only contest selected municipalities as part of a renewed “quality over quantity” approach.

A new political partnership takes shape

At the weekend announcement, ActionSA confirmed it is merging with two smaller parties: the Azanian Independent Community Movement and the Creatives Congress Movement. Both will now fall under the ActionSA banner for the 2026 polls.

The merger signals what some analysts have called a shift toward coalition-style politics ahead of the elections, with smaller organisations pooling resources in hopes of breaking through in competitive metro areas.

Mashaba admits past mistakes

Party leader Herman Mashaba did not mince his words when reflecting on ActionSA’s 2021 performance. He told supporters that the party had tried to be “everything to everyone,” a move he believes diluted its impact.

“We made a mistake and we learn from our mistakes as human beings,” he said. “We’re not going to repeat the same mistake, trying to be everything to everyone because we end up being nobody.”

Mashaba confirmed that a final list of municipalities will be announced by June, but he assured supporters that Johannesburg, Ekurhuleni and Tshwane remain central to the party’s strategy.

Local context: Why Gauteng metros matter

Johannesburg, Ekurhuleni and Tshwane have spent years locked in fragile coalition governments, constant motions of no confidence and a carousel of mayoral changes. Service delivery backlogs, financial instability and political infighting have frustrated residents to the point where many are desperate for alternatives.

For Mashaba, focusing on Gauteng’s big metros taps directly into the party’s origin story. Johannesburg was where he first served as mayor, and it remains ActionSA’s strongest base.

What voters are saying

Reaction online has been mixed. Some residents praised the decision as a realistic acknowledgment that national expansion will take time.

On X, one Joburg resident wrote: “Finally, a party that learns from mistakes. Focus on where you’re strong, not everywhere at once.”

Others questioned whether limiting its footprint could weaken ActionSA’s national influence. Another user commented: “Selective contesting sounds smart, but will it hurt their visibility outside Gauteng?”

A cautious but calculated move

Mashaba’s decision marks one of the first major strategic announcements ahead of the 2026 local government elections. With coalitions now shaping nearly every major metro, ActionSA’s more focused approach could help the party consolidate power where it already has traction.

Whether the move pays off will depend on how effectively the merged structures organise on the ground and whether frustrated urban voters believe the party can offer better stability than the current political environment.

For now, ActionSA is betting on depth rather than breadth, hoping that fewer but stronger campaigns might secure the influence it struggled to capture the last time around.

{Source: SABC News}

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