News24 | ‘Do not vote out of habit’: Mashaba launches scathing attack on ANC governance in Limpopo

• Mashaba says a water infrastructure crisis prevents businesses from operating and farmers from irrigating crops across Limpopo municipalities.
• The ActionSA president accused ANC officials of stealing public funds through corrupt procurement while avoiding accountability.
• The former Joburg mayor also urged voters to break away from party loyalty and evaluate candidates based on delivery.
• For more political news, visit News24 Politics.

ActionSA president Herman Mashaba has launched a blistering attack on ANC governance in Limpopo, accusing the ruling party of presiding over collapsing infrastructure, endemic corruption, and betraying voters’ trust.

Speaking at the Mashupa Tsela rally in Limpopo on Friday, Mashaba told supporters the province’s residents had been left “hostage” to internal ANC politics while basic services deteriorated and public funds disappeared through corrupt procurement processes.

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With by-elections scheduled for 4 November, Mashaba positioned ActionSA as the antidote to what he described as decades of failed governance characterised by empty promises, weak accountability and a culture where political connections trump merit.

“Limpopo matters. Its people matter,” Mashaba said. “We need government that understands execution... every rand taken from the public purse is money that must produce public value.”

Water crisis at centre of economic vision

Mashaba placed water infrastructure at the heart of his economic pitch, arguing that reliable water supply was not merely a service delivery issue, but fundamental to dignity, health and economic activity.

He criticised the ANC’s failure to maintain water infrastructure across Limpopo’s municipalities, saying the crisis prevented businesses from operating, farmers from irrigating crops, and communities from accessing basic dignity.

“Water is dignity. Water is health. Water is economic activity,” Mashaba told the rally. “When water systems collapse, everything else collapses with them.”

The ActionSA leader promised his party would prioritise investment in water infrastructure alongside road maintenance, arguing that connectivity to markets and jobs depended on functional municipal systems.

Corruption accusations fly

Mashaba reserved some of his harshest criticism for what he described as systematic corruption within Limpopo’s municipalities, where public funds intended for infrastructure projects allegedly disappeared through manipulated procurement processes.

“Corruption is not victimless,” he said, continuing:

When somebody steals from a municipality, they are stealing from a community.

He accused the ANC of failing to implement consequence management, allowing officials implicated in financial misconduct to escape accountability as communities suffered deteriorating services.

Mashaba promised ActionSA would strengthen municipal financial systems, enforce transparent procurement and rebuild public trust through measurable results tied to clear timelines and responsibilities.

ANC ‘prioritises party politics over people’

The former Johannesburg mayor did not hold back in his assessment of ANC governance, accusing the ruling party of managing internal disputes, court battles and leadership contestations while neglecting the basic needs of citizens.

“They cannot manage their own internal affairs, yet we are supposed to trust them with our communities,” Mashaba said.

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He criticised what he described as the ANC’s reliance on slogans, committees and excuses instead of delivering tangible improvements in municipal capacity, infrastructure investment and service reliability.

Mashaba also took aim at ANC leaders’ handling of illegal immigration, saying some officials “faint and collapse and are still not accountable” when confronted with the issue.

Economic blueprint for Limpopo

Beyond criticism, Mashaba outlined an economic vision for Limpopo centred on enabling small businesses, supporting entrepreneurs and leveraging the province’s strategic advantages in agriculture, tourism, mining and cross-border trade.

He promised ActionSA would cut red tape, simplify regulations and ensure access to finance for startups and small and medium-sized enterprises currently blocked by bureaucracy and political gatekeeping.

“We must create an environment where ability, hard work and innovation can actually produce results,” said Mashaba.

He emphasised the need for reliable electricity, water and security infrastructure to allow businesses to scale, alongside skills development programmes targeting technical trades, technology and creative industries for young people.

Mashaba argued that economic opportunities in Limpopo should not require political connections, promising a meritocratic system where entrepreneurs could succeed based on talent and effort.

Call for voter accountability

A significant portion of Mashaba’s speech focused on urging citizens to hold elected officials accountable through active participation in democratic processes beyond election day.

He encouraged residents to attend council meetings, scrutinise municipal budgets and demand transparency from their representatives.

“Democracy gives ordinary people... the ability to hold leaders accountable,” Mashaba said.

“A candidate’s name is not enough... what matters is what happens after the cameras leave.”

He challenged voters to break with habitual loyalty to parties that had failed to deliver, urging them to evaluate candidates based on track records rather than party affiliation.

READ | ActionSA declares ‘war on broken municipalities’ with sweeping service delivery manifesto

“Do not vote out of habit, loyalty or fear of change. Look at the record,” he said.

Mashaba called for a fundamental shift in how public office is perceived, arguing that elected positions had been treated as “private property” rather than opportunities for service.

“We must rebuild the culture of public service,” he said, promising ActionSA would require ethics and accountability from all elected officials.

He emphasised that execution-focused governance meant moving beyond promises to implement clear plans with defined responsibilities, deadlines and measurable outcomes.

Elections test for ActionSA

The 4 November by-elections represent a crucial test for ActionSA’s growth beyond its urban strongholds into rural provinces like Limpopo.

Mashaba’s speech reflected the party’s strategy of positioning itself as a competent, corruption-free alternative to the ANC, appealing to voters frustrated with service delivery failures and governance dysfunction.

“On the 4th [of] November, your voice will matter,” Mashaba told supporters, urging them to vote for ActionSA.

The rally in Limpopo forms part of ActionSA’s broader campaign to establish a presence in provinces where it has historically struggled to gain traction, testing whether its message of accountability and execution resonates beyond metropolitan areas.

With unemployment, poverty and inequality remaining persistent challenges across Limpopo’s municipalities, Mashaba is betting that voters will respond to promises of transparent governance, functional infrastructure and economic opportunity over party loyalty.