24 Facts About Herman Mashaba

Herman Samtseu Philip Mashaba was born on 26 August 1959 and is a South African politician, entrepreneur and the current president of ActionSA, a party he launched on 29 August 2020.

Herman Mashaba served as the Mayor of Johannesburg from 2016 to 2019.

Herman Mashaba is the founder of the hair product company Black Like Me.

Herman Mashaba is famous in South Africa for his background: he grew up struggling against poverty, and claims to have struggled against the apartheid government, to open his own hair business, which became the biggest hair brand in South Africa, making him a millionaire.

Herman Mashaba publicly backed Mmusi Maimane in the Democratic Alliance leadership race.

On 22 August 2016, Herman Mashaba was elected Mayor of Johannesburg by the first sitting of the city council following countrywide local government elections.

Herman Mashaba announced his resignation on 21 October 2019 and left office on 27 November 2019.

Herman Mashaba was brought up in near-poverty in GaRamotse in Hammanskraal, north of Pretoria by his sisters while his mother worked to provide for the family.

Herman Mashaba realised that acquiring an education would be crucial for him to break out of the cycle of poverty.

Herman Mashaba graduated from high school but did not complete his tertiary education.

Herman Mashaba started selling "SuperKurl" African hair-care products and became their number-one earner.

Herman Mashaba soon realised that these products excited him and that he wasn't content to be just an employee.

Herman Mashaba partnered with his white Afrikaner colleague at SuperKurl Johan Kriel and fellow salesman Joseph Molwantwa to launch the company, Black Like Me.

In 2002 Black Like Me launched in the UK; this meant that Herman Mashaba made history as owner and CEO of the first black-owned South African company to sell its products in the UK and international markets.

From 2012 until May 2014, Herman Mashaba served as chairman of the Free Market Foundation.

Herman Mashaba stepped down from his position when he joined the Democratic Alliance as an "ordinary card-carrying member", citing the need for the Foundation to remain politically impartial.

Herman Mashaba announced in December 2015 that he would accept a nomination to stand as a Democratic Alliance mayoral candidate for the City of Johannesburg in the 2016 local government elections.

On 22 August 2016, Herman Mashaba was sworn in as a Johannesburg City Councillor.

Herman Mashaba has characterised the ANC's post-Apartheid labour laws as "draconian".

Herman Mashaba led a Constitutional Court challenge by the FMF, arguing that Section 32 of the Labour Relations Act is unconstitutional.

Herman Mashaba formed The People's Dialogue, a medium to interact with ordinary South Africans and discuss social and civil issues, which launched on 6 December 2019, and closed on 29 February 2020.

Herman Mashaba has made numerous public comments and actions that have been considered xenophobic and linked to incidence of xenophobic attacks and anti-immigrant sentiment.

Herman Mashaba is reported to have attended a sensitivity program on diversity by the Human Rights Commission.

Herman Mashaba has repeatedly expressed his admiration for Rwanda, which he has described as a "shining example of what is possible".