Herman Mashaba Reflects on ActionSA’s Setbacks: “I Underestimated Zuma and Overestimated the DA”
Evident Makatwane 
ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba has admitted to major miscalculations that hurt his party’s performance in the 2024 national elections, including underestimating Jacob Zuma’s political influence and aligning too closely with the Democratic Alliance (DA).
In an interview with the SABC marking ActionSA’s fifth anniversary since its launch in 2020, Mashaba spoke candidly about the lessons he has drawn from a disappointing campaign that secured the party just 1.2% of the national vote and six parliamentary seats.
Zuma’s Unexpected Political Strength
Mashaba acknowledged that his biggest misjudgment was downplaying the appeal of Zuma’s newly formed uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party, which dramatically altered the country’s political landscape ahead of the elections.
“When MK was launched, I honestly undermined and underestimated the influence of Jacob Zuma,” Mashaba said. “I thought it was not going to happen. But clearly, South Africans proved me wrong.”
The MK Party, leveraging Zuma’s populist rhetoric and deep-rooted support, went on to draw millions of votes, especially in KwaZulu-Natal, making it one of the most disruptive forces in South African politics since 1994.
Strained Ties with the DA
Mashaba also admitted that ActionSA’s association with the DA, through the Moonshot Pact (later renamed the Multi-Party Charter), alienated many potential black voters who remain distrustful of the DA.
“Unfortunately, I did not realise how deeply black voters are scared of the DA, and our association with the DA,” Mashaba explained. “They probably thought that we were DA light… The reason they did not really vote for us in 2024 was our relationship with the DA.”
The former Johannesburg mayor recalled similar frustrations during his time in office under a DA-led coalition, accusing the party of failing to prioritise service delivery in black communities.
“I had three years of experience as mayor with the DA, and they didn’t want me to serve poor black communities,” he claimed.
Betrayal and Double Dealings
Mashaba further justified ActionSA’s withdrawal from the Moonshot Pact by pointing to what he described as the DA’s “double dealings,” accusing it of pursuing coalition talks with the ANC behind the scenes while still presenting itself as a strong opposition.
“We tried to engage the DA to push for service delivery in the townships after the 2021 elections,” he said. “But they were not interested in helping black communities. That betrayal left us no choice.”
Coalition Politics and the ANC Question
While criticising the DA for entering into a national coalition with the ANC, Mashaba has also faced questions about ActionSA’s own arrangements at the local government level.
The party previously worked alongside the ANC in the City of Tshwane and City of Johannesburg, though Mashaba denies his party is formally aligned with the ruling party in Joburg.
“Two months into working with [Mayor] Dada Morero, I immediately raised concerns with ANC national and provincial leadership,” he said. “Eventually, we pulled out completely because we don’t want to be contaminated with corruption and mismanagement.”
Despite setbacks, Mashaba insists ActionSA will continue building grassroots support by focusing on service delivery and offering South Africans an alternative to what he calls the “toxic politics of both the ANC and the DA.”
The party plans to use its sixth parliamentary seats to advocate for governance reforms, anti-corruption measures, and community-driven service delivery.
As Mashaba put it:
“South Africans are tired of being betrayed. Our job is to listen to them, learn from our mistakes, and fight harder for their trust in 2026 and beyond.”
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