Newly-formed political party ActionSA aims for votes at Simbithi golf day

As part of fundraising efforts in KwaZulu-Natal, newly-formed political party ActionSA held a golf day at Simbithi Country Club on November 18.

The field was capped at 72 players so that social distancing measures could be observed during the talk that evening, but golfers were in good spirits nonetheless.

Herman Mashaba, the former mayor of Johannesburg and current ActionSA leader spoke of the party’s intentions.

“We are in a country that is in big trouble under the ANC, we are more unequal today than Verwoerd could ever have dreamed of,” he said.

“Is South Africa still saveable though? I believe so, and will continue to do everything I can to be part of that change.”

A large part of ActionSA’s platform was trying to galvanise an electorate that was not voting out of apathy for what their vote means, he said.

The party had launched a countrywide ‘Act as One’ tour in an attempt to re-engage voters.

“19 Million South Africans did not vote in the last election, and the ANC won a majority with just over 10 million votes, we have to change this.”

Although the party is focused on Gauteng, given Mashaba’s history in the province, they had identified KZN as important in the lead up to the 2021 municipal and 2024 general elections.

When asked about his departure from the Democratic Alliance, Mashaba spoke of feeling removed from the party’s principles.

“I thought the DA was committed to a non-racial platform, but in reality they are not interested in committing to social justice,” he said.

“Let us now succeed in this goal, we owe it to Mandela and the future generations of this country.