Herman Mashaba Backtracks On U-Turn Promise And Opens Door For The ANC

ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba has defended his party’s willingness to work with the ANC, even though he previously vowed that ActionSA would never enter a coalition with the governing party. The shift has drawn attention because it touches on one of the central promises ActionSA made to voters during its campaign, namely that it would not prop up the ANC in municipalities where the two parties compete.

Mashaba’s position reflects the practical realities of local government after the November 2026 elections. Few parties secured outright majorities in many municipalities, meaning that coalitions are likely to determine who runs councils, metros and mayoral offices. In such a fragmented environment, a party that refuses all cooperation may find itself excluded from decisions that affect its voters, while a party that negotiates may be able to influence budgets, service delivery priorities and appointments.

The case for flexibility rests on the idea that voters are more interested in outcomes than in rigid party positions. Supporters of ActionSA’s approach argue that a stable council that delivers water, electricity and refuse removal is more important than maintaining a pledge made before the results were known. They may also point out that coalition politics is normal in many democracies, and that parties routinely adjust their positions when they face the reality of a split result.

Critics, however, are likely to see the change as a broken promise. Voters who backed ActionSA because they believed it would stand firmly against the ANC may feel misled, particularly given the ANC’s poor showing and the public anger over service failures that ActionSA campaigned against. The question for many of them will be whether working with the ANC serves the same goals they voted for, or whether it risks giving the governing party a second chance to keep the same practices in place.

Mashaba’s approach also highlights a wider challenge for opposition parties in South Africa. Those that won votes by criticising the ANC must now decide whether to remain in opposition or assume responsibility for governing alongside the party they condemned. Each choice carries political risk. Staying out of government can look principled but may leave a party with limited influence, while entering a coalition can expose it to accusations of hypocrisy or compromise.

The details of any agreement will matter more than the initial announcement. Voters will want to know what conditions ActionSA has set, whether any cooperation is limited to specific municipalities, and how it plans to measure success. Until those terms are clear, Mashaba’s defence will be judged largely on whether the party can show that its change of stance delivers tangible benefits for residents.

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