Mashaba lays out revival plan for Johannesburg on The Movement podcast

Herman Mashaba set out how he would seek to revive Johannesburg if ActionSA wins power, saying he would prioritise inner-city regeneration, financial reform and accountability in city government.

Podcast forum and background

According to The Citizen, Mashaba spoke with political journalist Itumeleng Mafisa on The Citizen’s The Movement podcast about his mayoral candidacy and his plans for the city.

The Citizen reports Mashaba served as Johannesburg mayor from August 2016 until October 2019, and said his prior experience gives him an advantage in returning to office.

Core priorities: regeneration, accountability and finances

Mashaba highlighted his previous administration’s inner-city rejuvenation programme as a central priority he would restore. He said 154 properties had been awarded to private developers through long-term leases and that those projects could have generated billions in investment and thousands of jobs, but he accused subsequent administrations of failing to continue the programme.

He said he would revisit previously approved plans if elected and that officials and politicians would be held accountable for failing to implement council-approved policies. Mashaba also criticised the city’s financial position and its reliance on borrowing.

Municipal entities, wages and borrowing

Mashaba said some municipal entities function as expensive bureaucracies that slow service delivery. He told the podcast ActionSA would pursue institutional changes and conduct skills audits to address those problems.

He opposed a proposed multibillion-rand wage agreement and a loan supported by the council, arguing that residents should not bear the financial burden of maladministration and corruption.

Immigration and jobs

Mashaba discussed immigration as a major issue, saying ActionSA would make undocumented immigration a condition in coalition negotiations and that the party would seek stronger enforcement of immigration laws and mass deportation. He linked immigration to pressure on housing, employment and public services.

On jobs, Mashaba pointed to his previous inner-city programme as a model and told the podcast the programme could have created 22 000 jobs and 14 500 housing opportunities.

First 100 days and long-term goals

Mashaba said he would need 100 days to establish the city’s exact priorities. He identified restoring the inner-city rejuvenation programme, reviewing the municipality’s workforce and improving revenue collection as immediate tasks to address roads, electricity, water networks and sewer systems.

He acknowledged the city’s problems could not be solved within a single term, saying they reflect a backlog created over generations, and described his ultimate aim as to restore dignity and rebuild Johannesburg for future generations.

Production credits

According to The Citizen, the podcast production team included producer Caslian Scott, with Caslian Scott also listed as camera operator and Shaun Holland as video editor.