Mashaba: ActionSA mayors must put South Africans first, not serve Harare or Lagos

ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba said his party’s mayoral candidates must put South Africans first and not act as representatives of other countries, the party said while announcing candidates in KwaZulu-Natal over the weekend.

Serving South Africans is primary, Mashaba says

Speaking in KwaZulu-Natal where ActionSA announced mayoral candidates for eThekwini, KwaDukuza and Newcastle, Mashaba said the party will focus on the needs of South African residents. He told supporters:

“We are not announcing mayors of the world to go and serve Harare, to go and serve Lagos, to go and serve Lahore… we are unapologetic as a political party. I am not in politics to serve the world. I am here to serve the people of South Africa.”

Illegal migration and service delivery

Mashaba linked illegal migration to pressure on municipal services, saying South Africa faces backlogs in unemployment, housing and other services. Recalling his time as Johannesburg mayor, he said he dealt with a substantial housing backlog and contrasted that with what he described as a national approach that seeks to ‘‘take care of the world.’’

On enforcement, Mashaba said ActionSA will press national government on immigration once the party controls municipalities after the 4 November local government elections. He said:

“We are going to put pressure on national government to ensure that there is mass deportation of people that do not belong here. We are unapologetic about this.”

Rule of law and ubuntu

Mashaba said the rule of law should guide responses to illegal immigration and urged a temporary reprioritisation of ubuntu. He said:

“I have said to South Africans, please, we have been abused for a long time that we must apply ubuntu, and I call upon all actioners across the country – we must suspend ubuntu for now; let us put priority on the rule of law.”

He added:

“Every time there is an issue, they are saying no, we must have ubuntu. What about the ubuntu of 54% of South Africans? If we are applying the principles of ubuntu, why should we not start with South Africans?”

Legal standing and migration policy

Mashaba said that while South Africa was built by migrants, people who come to the country must do so legally and respect South African law. He said he had raised concerns about illegal immigration since his election as Johannesburg mayor in 2016 and that he had been reported to the South African Human Rights Commission at that time.

ActionSA’s KwaZulu-Natal announcement came as the party named its mayoral candidates for three municipalities ahead of the November election. Mashaba said the party wants visitors, investors and students to come legally and contribute to the country, but insisted municipal leaders must prioritise South Africans when delivering services.