The party has undertaken a rigorous process of engaging its structures and
assessing candidates on their ability to turn around the collapse of service
delivery in Johannesburg. Following the conclusion of the formal nomination
process, the CSC invited a number of senior leaders to make themselves
available for consideration.
The following shortlist of leaders has made themselves available at the request
of the party and will be interviewed tomorrow evening:
• Herman Mashaba
• Michael Beaumont
• Lerato Ngobeni MP
• Dereleen James MP
• Funzi Ngobeni MPL
These candidates have been engaged by the party and have obliged the request
to make themselves available for consideration following an extensive period of
consultation, engagement and vetting. The profiles of the candidates are
included below.
The candidates have submitted presentations outlining turnaround plans for
Johannesburg, have undergone security vetting and will participate in this
interview phase tomorrow evening, after which final deliberations will lead to a
decision.
ActionSA is deeply mindful of the state of Johannesburg and the total collapse
of service delivery that has unfolded over the past few years under the
leadership of African National Congress, Democratic Alliance and various micro-
party mayors. The revolving door of leadership in the city has been matched
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only by a complete apathy as Johannesburg has stumbled from one disaster to
another, leaving residents in the dark, both literally and figuratively, about how
the collapse will be reversed.
ActionSA is clear that any chosen candidate will be required to lead a complex
coalition in the running of a city that ActionSA leaders have a proven track
record of fixing in the past.
ActionSA will announce its mayoral candidate at the official launch event on
Saturday, 21 February 2026.
Profile of Candidates:
Herman Mashaba (66) is ActionSA’s President and co-founder, and a self-made
entrepreneur turned political leader who defied the limitations imposed on him
by the apartheid system to build a business empire that has benefitted millions
of South Africans. He served as Johannesburg’s Mayor from 2016 to 2019,
during which time his record of turning around the city stands unrivalled. His
achievements include the highest resident satisfaction levels in the city’s
history, the establishment of the city’s first anti-corruption unit, an expanded
and more effective JMPD, the insourcing of security guards, and a first-of-its-
kind inner-city rejuvenation programme.
Michael Beaumont (41) is the party’s National Chairperson and co-founder. He
holds an Honours degree from Rhodes University and a Postgraduate Diploma
in Business Administration from Wits Business School. He served as Mashaba’s
Chief of Staff throughout his mayoralty and played a central role in translating
the change agenda into governance in the city, including leading the successful
negotiation of agreements with organised labour to stabilise service delivery
and labour relations.
Lerato Ngobeni MP (46) is ActionSA’s National Spokesperson, Parliamentary
Chief Whip and a member of the party’s Senate. She is a former councillor in
the City of Johannesburg and previously served as Chairperson of the Oversight
Committee on Environment, Infrastructure and Services, exercising direct
oversight over the city’s core utilities, Johannesburg Water, City Power and
Pikitup. Beyond public office, she served as a 2010 FIFA World Cup Manager for
the Royal Bafokeng Nation in Rustenburg, strengthening her capacity in
strategic planning, infrastructure coordination and high-stakes execution. She
holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, summa cum laude, from Johnson C.
Smith University in North Carolina, USA, and has completed the Advanced
Course in Policy Making and Analysis for Africa’s Development at the Thabo
Mbeki African Leadership Academy.
Dereleen James MP (49) is an ActionSA Member of Parliament whose political
journey emerged from her activism as Instagram · Twitter
