@hermanmashaba
@hermanmashaba
Leader of ActionSA political party; Opposition figure in City of Tshwane municipal politics
Who Is This Person?
Herman Mashaba is a prominent South African businessman, philanthropist, and politician. He built a successful hair care empire before entering politics. He served as the Mayor of Johannesburg from 2016 to 2019 under the Democratic Alliance (DA). In 2020, he founded the political party ActionSA, focusing on anti-corruption, service delivery, and economic empowerment. As of 2025, he remains the leader of ActionSA and is actively involved in opposition politics, particularly in the City of Tshwane (Pretoria), where he critiques municipal governance and promotes youth opportunities. Recent activities include tweeting about apartheid legacies, local business support in Soweto, and upholding the rule of law in Tshwane, with posts showing engagement on urban development and political accountability.
How Credible Are They?
Herman Mashaba is a credible figure in South African politics due to his proven track record in business and public service, including tangible achievements like building student accommodations in Johannesburg's inner city. His X activity shows authentic engagement with current events, but credibility is tempered by a history of controversial tweets from 2018-2019 that sparked divisions over xenophobia and political comparisons (e.g., Trump vs. Ramaphosa). While verified and influential, his output leans toward partisan advocacy, requiring cross-verification for factual claims. Overall, he is reliable for insights into opposition politics but exhibits bias in sensitive social issues.
Assessment by Grok AI
What's Their Track Record?
Mashaba's historical accuracy is mixed; as a politician, his statements often blend factual critiques of government failures with opinionated views. No major fact-checks have debunked core claims, but he has issued no public corrections. Credibility is bolstered by his business success and mayoral tenure, where he initiated inner-city revitalization projects. However, past controversies, including xenophobic-leaning tweets (e.g., 2018 'ebolas' remark and foreigner blame in Alexandra), have led to public backlash and accusations of inflammatory rhetoric without retraction.