Mashaba unfazed by contender Zille in bid to reclaim Joburg mayorship

ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba said Helen Zille running as the Democratic Alliance (DA)’s mayoral candidate for Johannesburg will have no bearing on his bid to return to the mayor’s office.

The fight for the country’s economic hub is heating up, with ActionSA set to announce its mayoral candidate for the city of gold on Saturday.

Five senior ActionSA leaders, including Mashaba, were interviewed on Monday night by the party’s central candidate selection committee ahead of the Johannesburg local government election campaign.

ALSO READ: ActionSA finalises shortlist for Johannesburg mayoral candidate

He has thrown his hat in the ring to reclaim the City of Johannesburg’s mayoral chains.

Mashaba is one of five ActionSA members who were interviewed to become the party’s mayoral candidate for Johannesburg, but political analyst Dirk Kotze said it’s obvious that Mashaba will be the selected candidate.

“It’s a given. Mashaba is the founder and it’s almost impossible for anyone to stand against him. He is also the former mayor of Johannesburg, and there is no competition in the party.”

Mashaba said he’s not threatened by Zille’s campaign to become the city’s mayor.

“I’m dealing with someone who [she] when looks at me doesn’t see a 66-year-old man, but sees a boy, which makes it easy for me because I was never a boy.”

Meanwhile, the African National Congress (ANC) and the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) have yet to announce their mayoral candidates, while Kenny Kunene will lead the Patriotic Alliance (PA)’s campaign.