Mashaba fires warning to ‘cadres’ in Joburg ahead of mayoral bid

ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba is officially in the running as his party's potential mayoral candidate in the City of Johannesburg. 

In 2016, while a member of the Democratic Alliance (DA), Mashaba was sworn in as the Mayor of Johannesburg, the first one ever from a party other than the ANC in post-apartheid South Africa.

He resigned in 2019, citing differences with DA party leadership.

"When I took over in 2016, at the time I had no knowledge of what the Mayor does, but I was keen to do something."

He says when he took over, the city was in chaos, taken over by criminal syndicates and, in his words, run by cadres, 'not in jobs because of what they knew, but who they knew'.

"We've got to put together very strong MMCs. The second order of business is to get a competent and professional city manager.

"Audit all of the cadres. Get rid of the cadres; don't play games.

"I'm personally warning all the cadres who are occupying positions because of their connections, in the event ActionSA takes over, they must run before we take over!"

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Five ActionSA leaders have been shortlisted.

The party’s candidate selection committee is expected to meet on Monday to finalise its process.

This will be followed by an announcement on Saturday confirming the party’s chosen mayoral candidate.

To listen to Mashaba in conversation with 702's Bongani Bingwa, use the audio player below: