It is fascinating to observe the seeming lull that most South Africans seem to have fallen into, following the 2024 general elections and the subsequent formation of the Government of National Unity (GNU). All attention seems to have turned to the extent to which various Ministers from former opposition parties, now in the GNU, can extract concessions from the African National Congress (ANC) to bring the difference they proposed into governance. 

It is known that their hands have been tied by ANC legislation, some of which was cunningly introduced in the months leading to the elections. This constitutes the existing laws they must implement within existing budgets. It is no wonder that the ANC continues to behave and to talk as if nothing has changed and that it is still the sole governing part of South Africa. 

We should hope, of course, that for the sake of South Africa, the former opposition parties do not get too comfortable in their cushy jobs and become blasé, failing to use the little rooms of manoeuvre they have to bring about the systemic changes that are needed to help the country recover and strengthen.

In truth, the work that must be done to ensure that South Africa never ends up where it has been, over most of the past three decades, has not yet started, certainly not by any measure. The simple questions that none of the parties in the GNU should be asking, but are not, are:

Why did it seem so easy to weaken and repurpose South Africa’s democratic institutions to suit the aims of criminals inside and outside the state?

What reforms are needed to help these institutions - including the Chapter 9 Institutions, the criminal justice system, and State-Owned Entities - recover and deliver effectively on their respective mandates without fear, favour, or prejudice, cushioned against toxic, treasonous, interference by politicians out to defend and enhance individual and partisan interests?

How should needed institutional reforms – including the reduction of excessive powers vested in the presidency – consider that South Africa has irreversibly and will, for the foreseeable future, remain in the domain of multiparty coalition governance at all levels?

Given the failures and abuses of the originally well-intended race-based corrective policies over the years – especially the possibility of them becoming counterproductive if they remain as they are into perpetuity, without clear impact measurements - what must be done to foster a more inclusive socioeconomic development that is not anchored solely on pigmentation?   

I believe that the post-2024 election era should not be allowed to simply be one about “new faces, same policies, and same approaches to governance”, else we would be the proverbial fools, doing things the same way repeatedly while hoping for different outcomes. 

We must have the courage to ask the questions above, specifically to understand how things were aided and abetted to get so bad, as well as to be clear about what must be done to ensure that we never find ourselves with the same situation again. We should not forget the adage “power corrupts and absolutely power corrupts absolutely.” As things stand, anyone can be elected to high office, go rogue, and we shall have no power to stop them. It is time to wake up.

As we enter 2025, as ActionSA, we intend to focus our combined energy on several areas that we believe need attention. These are,      

The consolidation of credible membership numbers and launch of party branches across South Africa. We believe this is the only way we shall get to grow our footprint and ideological influence for progressive socio-political and economic change that will improve the lives of more communities. 

⁠The identification of strategic municipalities to contest in 2026 to ensure we utilise our resources cleverly and make needed impact at grass root level. If we succeed, we shall make it harder for competing parties to form local governments without ActionSA in them. We believe that to make a difference, ActionSA must be present in local governments around the country, represented by capable men and women who are dedicated to its drive for more inclusive, responsive and effective governance. We have begun to do this in Tshwane, working in well managed collaboration with our coalition partners.   

⁠To identify and attract smaller parties that share our values to join forces with ActionSA. Our aim is to deepen collaboration with like-minded parties, especially those that enjoy proven presence on the ground and demonstrate genuine interest in making a difference for the residents of municipalities across the country. We will not enter or remain in abusive coalition arrangements that work against the interest of the communities they’re meant to serve or the ethical leadership principles we hold dear.   

⁠To continue communicating the long-tern dangers of identity politics. ActionSA was founded on non-negotiable principles of inclusivity. This has not changed. We shall therefore not accept any discrimination based on race, ethnicity, religion, gender identity, disability, etc., all of which are known grounds for all manners of discrimination. They’re also characteristics that are spread throughout our diverse population and must be deliberately excluded if we are to grow a truly inclusive country.

Expand our leadership influence in places like the much-troubled Johannesburg and Ekurhuleni Metros, where we believe we can still make a difference and help reverse the tide of negative media coverage. We believe that the economy of South Africa will not begin to recover in a sustainable way while Gauteng’s key Metros remain in their current state, moving from one management disaster to another. If invited, ActionSA is ready to play its part.

Propose a fresh approach to tackle South Africa’s ‘Tripple Challenge’ of Poverty, Inequality, and Unemployment, by continuing our calls for more developmental support for SMMEs, including locally owned Spaza Shops (consistent with ActionSA’s initiative of #Spazas4Locals, which has been widely embraced by government and others following recent spades of child deaths) and a thriving private sector. 

ActionSA supports a thriving mixed economy in which government plays its part by creating an enabling policy and safety environment to attract local and Foreign Direct Investments. We believe that government cannot reasonably be expected to be a sole creator of mass employment. If properly enabled through appropriate legislation and, where necessary, incentives, a thriving private sector can contribute meaningfully to the creation of opportunities for jobs and feeder businesses into its vast value chains.        

Finally, I believe that leadership must be grounded on clear principles and values. There must be transparency in decision making and determination to root out all forms of abuses of resources and position, irrespective of the rank and identity of the wrongdoers. An injection of a new way of doing things is necessary if there is to be change in the governance of our municipal governments, else the incumbents - administrative and political - will only be driven by the need to hide imbedded abuses from exposure and possible criminal investigation, instead of opening themselves to long-term recovery and growth. 

ActionSA is ready to serve.

Written by ActionSA President Herman Mashaba