ActionSA finalises shortlist for Johannesburg mayoral candidate

ActionSA’s Central Candidate Selection Committee is set to interview five senior party leaders on Monday evening who have shown interest in becoming the party’s mayoral candidate for Johannesburg.

This comes ahead of the upcoming local government elections, which are expected to be among the most fiercely contested yet. Among the five shortlisted are the party’s president, Herman Mashaba, and national chairperson, Michael Beaumont.

It is a crucial day for ActionSA in Johannesburg, as the party’s Central Candidate Selection Committee is set to finalise its mayoral candidate this evening.

Former Johannesburg mayor and party president Herman Mashaba, along with his former chief of staff, Michael Beaumont, have put their names forward. Also vying for the position are Gauteng chairperson Funzi Ngobeni, national spokesperson Lerato Ngobeni, and MP Dereleen James.

Political analyst Dirk Kotze says the selection process appears to be largely a formality to demonstrate internal democracy, adding that it is almost obvious that Mashaba will emerge victorious.

"It’s almost a given. Mashaba is the founder [of ActionSA]. So it’s almost impossible for anyone to stand against him. Secondly, he is a former mayor of Johannesburg. There isn’t any competition between him and the others, and I think they are just going through the formalities."

ActionSA is expected to officially announce its preferred mayoral candidate for Johannesburg this Saturday.