Where the facts about ActionSA come from

ActionSA is on the IEC's list in 102 of 257 councils. These include all 8 metros and every council in Gauteng and North West.

Make water security a priority and cut avoidable power outages. Collect refuse regularly and set clear standards for fixing potholes. Pass funded budgets based on money councils can really collect. Act on audit findings and work to recover stolen public money.

Water: ActionSA promises to make water security a top goal. It would do this in each council it runs. Water security means there is enough safe water. In its own words: “ActionSA will make water security a priority in every municipality we govern.”

Electricity and power cuts: ActionSA promises that councils would make their power networks stronger and have fewer outages that could be avoided. It says it would maintain and gradually replace ageing substations, transformers and cables. It also says it would tackle illegal connections, meter tampering and electricity theft. In its own words: “ActionSA will strengthen municipal electricity networks and reduce avoidable outages.”

Rubbish: ActionSA promises that rubbish will be picked up often, on a set plan. This would be in both formal and informal areas. In its own words: “We will provide regular, scheduled refuse collection across formal and informal communities”

Toilets and sewage: ActionSA promises to work step by step so that each home has safe sanitation. This means safe toilets and sewage. In its own words: “We will progressively work towards safe and dignified sanitation for every household”

Roads: ActionSA promises to set clear rules for how potholes are fixed. This also goes for other road damage that is a danger. In its own words: “We will set clear standards for repairing potholes and other dangerous road defects.”

Building houses: ActionSA promises to back site-and-service projects. These are plots with basic services, such as water and toilets. It also promises to back homes that people can afford to buy or rent. In its own words: “We will support site-and-service development, affordable ownership and rental opportunities”

Informal settlements: ActionSA promises to support upgrading informal settlements where they stand. This is where the land is safe and fit for it. In its own words: “Where land is safe and suitable, we will support progressive in-situ upgrading and improve basic services”

Title deeds: ActionSA promises to clear the council paperwork backlogs that stop people who qualify from getting title deeds. A title deed is the paper that shows who owns a home. In its own words: “We will address municipal administrative backlogs that prevent qualifying residents from receiving title deeds”

Crime: ActionSA promises that council law officers will work more with community policing forums. At these forums, the police and the people of an area meet. In its own words: “We will strengthen cooperation between municipal law enforcement and legitimate CPFs”

Metro police: ActionSA promises to grow council law enforcement step by step. This would be based on how many people live there and local needs. In its own words: “We will progressively increase municipal law-enforcement capacity according to population, local enforcement needs”

Local jobs: ActionSA promises that short-term council job schemes will give useful work experience. They would also give chances to move up. In its own words: “We will ensure temporary municipal employment programmes provide useful work experience and opportunities to progress”

Business and growth: ActionSA promises to make council rules and processes simpler. It would do this where they hold up investment. In its own words: “We will simplify unnecessary municipal requirements and processes that delay investment and make it harder to do business.”

Corruption: ActionSA promises to try to get back public money. This is money that was stolen or lost in a way that broke the law. In its own words: “Where public money has been stolen or unlawfully lost, ActionSA will work to recover it.”

Audit results: ActionSA promises to act on what audits find. It also promises to aim for clean audits. A clean audit means the Auditor-General found no serious problems. In its own words: “We will strengthen financial controls, act on audit findings and work progressively towards clean audits”

Wasteful spending: ActionSA promises to cut council spending that is not needed, such as travel, too much catering and conferences. It says this also covers luxury vehicles and VIP protection. It says public money must be spent "on services for residents, not political perks and privileges". In its own words: “We will reduce spending on unnecessary international and domestic travel, excessive catering, conferences”

Coalitions: ActionSA promises to work to build stable coalitions. It says stability will never be a reason to accept corruption. In its own words: “ActionSA will work to build stable coalitions, but stability will never justify tolerating corruption”

Budgets: ActionSA promises to pass funded budgets. These would be based on the money councils can really collect. In its own words: “We will adopt credible, funded budgets based on revenue municipalities can realistically collect.”

City of Tshwane: Leads the group of parties that runs the council. Mayor: Nasiphi Moya (ActionSA). ActionSA was part of the DA-led coalition in Tshwane until September 2024. Then it withdrew its support. On 26 September 2024 it backed the ANC's motion of no confidence against DA mayor Cilliers Brink, a vote to remove him, Daily Maverick reported. ActionSA now leads the coalition (the group of parties that run the council) with the ANC and the EFF. The council elected Moya as mayor on 9 October 2024, by 122 votes to 86. News reports in August 2026 described tensions between the partners. The coalition was still in office on 12 October 2026.

City of Johannesburg: Has seats, but is not in the group that runs the council. ActionSA held the speaker post from August 2024. The speaker runs council meetings. On 25 June 2025, the council removed ActionSA's speaker, Nobuhle Mthembu. In January 2026, ActionSA abstained in a no-confidence vote against Mayor Dada Morero of the ANC. This means it did not vote either way. On 29 January 2026 its caucus leader said ActionSA would not "entertain political manoeuvring by parties in a coalition that appears incapable of working together". We found no report of it rejoining.

City of Ekurhuleni: Has seats, but is not in the group that runs the council. Daily Maverick reported on 4 May 2026 that ActionSA is not part of the ANC-led coalition with the PA and the NFP. This is a minority coalition, which means it has less than half the seats. ActionSA was in the earlier coalition of the ANC, EFF, ActionSA and PA. The mayor changed the mayoral team in February 2026. ActionSA then turned down posts, the Sowetan reported on 18 Feb 2026. Its candidate for mayor in 2026 is Xolani Khumalo.

eThekwini: Has seats, but is not in the group that runs the council. ActionSA holds 4 seats. In July 2024 the IFP, ANC, DA and NFP extended their working arrangement to the city. ActionSA was not part of it. In September 2024 the DA turned down the ANC's offer of posts and said it would stay in opposition. In October 2026 the IFP's mayoral candidate said the DA still holds three executive committee seats. Its leader Zwakele Mncwango nominated a rival to the ANC's Cyril Xaba for mayor. No source from 2025-2026 states its role.

City of Cape Town: Has no seats there. Won no seats in 2021.

Nelson Mandela Bay: Has no seats there. Won no seats in 2021.

Buffalo City: Has no seats there. Won no seats in 2021.

Mangaung: Has no seats there. Won no seats in 2021.

Daily Maverick reported in March 2024 on the coalition in Newcastle. A coalition is when parties join to run a council. This one is IFP-led. Daily Maverick said it was "supported by" ActionSA, Team Sugar, the DA and the FF+. ActionSA has 3 seats there. In January 2025, ActionSA said its councillor Zwe Nxumalo had been elected council chief whip. A chief whip is the councillor who organises councillors for council votes. No major news outlet reported this. A TimesLIVE report from August 2026 quotes a letter from a former aide. The letter calls him chief whip. The same report names him as ActionSA's candidate for mayor of Newcastle.

ActionSA told the IEC about 19 donations worth R17 347 432, from July 2025 to June 2026.

Gifts over R100 000 from one donor, named in the reports: R14 186 000. Smaller gifts, R100 000 or less from one donor (names not published): R1 538 306. Membership fees and levies: R6 018 986. From the Political Representatives Fund: R3 933 654. From Parliament and provincial legislatures: R19 991 254.

April to June 2026. The IEC said: “ActionSA declared donations totalling R5.5 million, comprising R5 million from Mr Martin Moshal and R500 000 from Siyaya Free To Air TV (Pty) Ltd.”

April to June 2026. The IEC said: “The Commission has identified a compliance matter relating to the Siyaya Free To Air TV donation. While ActionSA has made its declaration, the corresponding declaration by the donor remains outstanding. The Commission has accordingly issued the necessary direction to address the non-compliant disclosure.”

January to March 2026. The IEC said: “ActionSA declared total monetary donations of R9 910 432.00. Key donations included: R5 million from businessman Martin Moshal; R1 million each from Siyaya Free to Air TV (Pty) Ltd and African Equity Corporation (Pty) Ltd; and Cumulative donations of approximately R2.9 million from party leader Herman Mashaba.”

October to December 2025. In the IEC's statement, "both instances" means these ActionSA declarations and a late R2 million declaration by the ANC. The IEC said: “Two donations of R 200 000 and R 220 000 were received by ActionSA on 5 and 8 August 2025, respectively, but were only declared to the Commission on 31 January 2026. These constitute late declarations under the Act. [...] In both instances, the Commission has issued directives in terms of section 15(1) of the Act. The affected parties have been afforded 30 calendar days to submit written representations setting out reasons for this non-compliance.”

October to December 2025. The IEC said: “ActionSA declared cumulative donations amounting to R 1 467 000, which includes two late declarations totalling R 420 000. A substantial quantum of the declared donations was received from the party’s leader, Herman Mashaba, whose cumulative donations amount to R 1 267 000. A further R 200 000 was received from an entity called Lephatsi Investment (Pty) Ltd.”

October to December 2025. The IEC said: “All donations declared by ActionSA during this quarter were monetary and no in-kind donations were reported.”

July to September 2025. The IEC said: “Two disclosures, ActionSA and Democratic Alliance (DA) were compliant while the other two, African National Congress and Inkatha Freedom Party are deemed not compliant.”

July to September 2025. The IEC said: “ActionSA submitted two monetary declarations. Both donations were made by party leader Mr Herman Mashaba. The combined value of donations for the quarter amounts to R470,000.00.”

Lerato Ngobeni, an ActionSA MP, said this in a party statement. ActionSA says General Rudzani Maphwanya, head of South Africa's defence force, made promises while meeting Iran's military chief. ActionSA says only the President or the foreign affairs department may speak for South Africa abroad. It wants Parliament's defence committee to call him and the defence minister to explain. It says unplanned moves like this weaken South Africa in the world. In its own words: “In an increasingly volatile and polarised world, South Africa cannot afford a foreign policy conducted on a whim.”

Herman Mashaba, the ActionSA leader, said this in a podcast interview reported by EWN. He was talking about the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians. He said he wants the conflict resolved, but South Africa's own problems are more urgent. If he became president, he said, he would not get involved in it. He means home must come first. In its own words: “I'm not going to be distracted right now, to put out the fire in my house when the lives of my family are at risk.”

Lerato Ngobeni, ActionSA's chief whip in Parliament, said this in a party statement. A chief whip organises a party's MPs. Taiwan has a liaison office in Pretoria, which keeps contact between Taiwan and South Africa. The government wants the office to move to Johannesburg, and says it may choose where such offices go. ActionSA calls this a kind of bullying and wants the government to change course. In its own words: “ActionSA expresses deep concern over the South African government’s concerted efforts to force the relocation of the Taiwanese Liaison Office from Pretoria to Johannesburg.”

Lerato Ngobeni, ActionSA's national spokesperson, said this in a party statement. She means China should not decide how South Africa treats Taiwan's representatives here. She recalls that Nelson Mandela stood up to pressure from both the US and China. ActionSA wants the government to reject every foreign attempt to set its foreign policy. The statement does not say what China did about Taiwan's office. In its own words: “ActionSA believes that the South African government must refrain from capitulating to any foreign power, specifically China in this instance, regarding how to treat its diplomatic guests, namely the Taiwanese.”

Herman Mashaba, the ActionSA president, said this in a party statement. The US was about to add a tax of 30 or 40 percent on South African goods. Such a tax on goods from another country is called a tariff. He means nobody was in the US capital to bargain for South Africa. He says farm and car exports to the US employ over 100 000 people. In its own words: “currently South Africa has no Ambassador or trade team in Washington to negotiate on behalf of the country.”

Alan Beesley, an ActionSA MP, said this in a party statement. US President Trump had just announced a tariff of 30 percent on all South African goods sold to the US. A tariff is a tax on goods from another country. ActionSA means the US is punishing South Africa for siding with countries the US sees as enemies. It wants President Ramaphosa to share a clear plan to limit the harm. In its own words: “it reflects a political response to South Africa’s alignment with nations that the United States regards as pariah states or adversaries.”

ActionSA said this in a statement from its president, Herman Mashaba. Sanctions are penalties one country puts on another, such as limits on money or trade. The US decided to aim its sanctions on Zimbabwe at the leaders of Zanu-PF, not the whole country. ActionSA says this will ease life for Zimbabweans and ease pressure on South Africa next door. It blames South Africa's ruling party for backing Zanu-PF leaders. In its own words: “ActionSA welcomes the decision by the United States (US) to replace the two-decades-old sanctions against the Zimbabwean people with sanctions targeted at Zanu-PF leaders”

ActionSA called for de-escalation of the conflict in the Middle East. It said civilians on both sides must be protected. In its own words: “Now, more than ever, it is crucial for the global community to unite in calling for a de-escalation that will pave the way towards a lasting cessation of hostilities.”

ActionSA voted against the Special Appropriation Bill, a bill for extra state spending. The bill held money for SANRAL, the roads agency, and for the ICJ case. ActionSA MP Alan Beesley said the ICJ money should be spent at home first. Parliament's unrevised record writes ICJ as "RCJ" here. In its own words: “In terms of the request to approve the RCJ expenditure, Action SA would like to stress that charity should start at home.”

The Citizen reported that ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba said South Africa could not afford to anger big trade partners over Russia's war. He said this after the US said arms were loaded onto a Russian ship, the Lady R. In its own words: ““At a time where our economy is already struggling, the reality is that we cannot afford to alienate major trade partners by becoming complicit in Putin’s war,” he tweeted.”

In a debate on Parliament's China trip report, ActionSA called the government's treatment of Taiwan unfair. It said the DA, as part of the government, shares the blame. In its own words: “the mistreatment of Taiwan by this GNU government, and I reiterate that includes the DA, is appalling, counterproductive, and unjust.”

ActionSA told the IEC about 3 donations from the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung, from July 2021 to December 2022. All of them were goods or services, not money. The IEC called it "a foreign entity and political foundation that is closely associated with the Christian Democratic Union of Germany (CDU)". The Konrad Adenauer Stiftung, or KAS, is a German foundation. The IEC calls it "a German foundation known as Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS) NPC". It pays for workshops and training for two South African parties, the IFP and BOSA. KAS also runs a scholarship with SAIIA, the South African Institute of International Affairs, a think tank. In 2017 a DA MP told a Parliament committee that all German foundations' money for South African parties "came from the Bundestag", Germany's parliament. That is in notes of the meeting by PMG, a group that publishes Parliament's records. So a German foundation linked to a German party paid for things ActionSA used, in its first two years. The IEC said these gifts followed the law.

South African parties may not take money from foreign governments. They may take money from foreign organisations only to train members or develop policy. This is limited to R5 million a year.

Taipei Liaison Office in the Republic of South Africa (Taiwan). The Taipei Liaison Office is Taiwan's office in South Africa. It works for Taiwan's foreign ministry, which publishes its website and gives it a ministry email address. Taiwan set up the office after South Africa ended diplomatic ties with it in January 1998. In 2025 South Africa's foreign minister said it must leave Pretoria, under the One-China Policy, the Cape Argus reported. So these whisky gifts and the study trip came from Taiwan's government, through its office. One whisky gift is in both the 2025 and 2026 registers, so it shows up twice. ActionSA has spoken against the plan to move this office out of Pretoria. It said South Africa must not give in to China over how it treats Taiwan's representatives.

Tax Justice Network Africa (Kenya). Tax Justice Network Africa, or TJNA, is a group of organisations from across Africa, based in Nairobi, Kenya. It runs APNIFFT, a network of African MPs working on tax and money taken out of countries illegally. TJNA's list of funders includes Finland's foreign ministry and the Gates, Ford and Open Society foundations. In July 2026 the Hewlett Foundation in the US gave it $1,400,000 over three years. So the trip was paid by APNIFFT, which TJNA runs, and TJNA's funders are named above. TJNA or APNIFFT also paid for trips by ATM and MK MPs. ActionSA MP Lerato Ngobeni lists her APNIFFT role as "SADC Coordinator and Continental Deputy Chairperson". The trip and its hotel stay are each in both the 2025 and 2026 registers, so they show up twice.

Kobe, Ms. Malebo Patricia. Name of Sponsor: Taiwanese Government | Description of Journey: Flight, Ground Transport and Accomodation From Cape Town to Taipei, Taiwan | Purpose of Travel: Business - Invited to be part of a delegation from South Africa for various political engagements

Letlape, Doctor Tebogo Kgosietsile. Name of Sponsor: Taipei Liason Office South Africa | Description of Journey: Exploratory Trip | Purpose of Travel: To Learn about Governance model,Parliamentary Procedures and Systems of Government.Lessons on their National Health Insurance.Job creation and mnagement of their Economy in particular leading in technology development. Navigation and Management of Regional Politics including The One China Policy. Dates 17 March to 22 March2025

Ngobeni, Ms. Lerato Mikateko. Name of Sponsor: Flights Accommodation Ground transport Meals | Description of Journey: Exploratory Trip to Taiwan | Purpose of Travel: Courtesy trip undertaken by the leadership of ActionSA to learn more about Taiwan's governance model, economic policies, and innovation-driven growth, democracy and development and better understanding of Taiwan's views on geopolitical developments in East Asia and globally. Given South Africa' =s stance on Taiwan and continued pressure on the Liaison Office in Tshwane to be relocated to Johannesburg, the visit presented a valuable opportunity to engage in discussions that transcend diplomatic constrains and focussed mainly on mutually beneficial areas of ideas exchange and cooperation.

Ngobeni, Ms. Lerato Mikateko. Description: 2 bottles of signature Taiwanese Kavalan Whiskey to sample | Value: +-R1200 per bottle | Source: Taipei Liaison Office, South Africa

Ngobeni, Ms. Lerato Mikateko. Name of Sponsor: Flights Accommodation Ground transport Meals | Description of Journey: Exploratory Trip to Taiwan | Purpose of Travel: Courtesy trip undertaken by the leadership of ActionSA to learn more about Taiwan's governance model, economic policies, and innovation- driven growth, democracy and development and better understanding of Taiwan's views on geopolitical developments in East Asia and globally. Given South Africa' =s stance on Taiwan and continued pressure on the Liaison Office in Tshwane to be relocated to Johannesburg, the visit presented a valuable opportunity to engage in discussions that transcend diplomatic constrains and focussed mainly on mutually beneficial areas of ideas exchange and cooperation.

Ngobeni, Ms. Lerato Mikateko. Description: 2 bottles of signature Taiwanese Kavalan Whiskey to sample | Value: +-R1200 per bottle | Source: Taipei Liaison Office, South Africa

Trollip, Mr. Roland Athol Price. Description: Bottle of Taiwanese Kavalan Single Malt Whisky | Value: R 1 000 | Source: Taiwanese Liason Office in South Africa

Trollip, Mr. Roland Athol Price. Description: International Study Trip to Taiwan [17/3/2025 to 23/3/2025] | Value: Exact Value Unknown but included: 1. Return Airfares 2. Accommodation 3. Meals 4. Ground Transportation | Source: Taiwanese Government

Trollip, Mr. Roland Athol Price. Description: Bottle of Kavalan Single Malt Whiskey | Value: R1 500 | Source: Taiwanese Deputy President

Kobe, Ms. Malebo Patricia. Name of Sponsor: Futurelect | Description of Journey: Flight, Ground Transport and Accomodation From Cape Town to Kenya, Nairobi | Purpose of Travel: Business - Invited to be Guest Speaker at Futurelect Graduation Ceremony

Letlape, Doctor Tebogo Kgosietsile. Name of Sponsor: Kenya Private Sector Alliance | Description of Journey: Travel Return Flight Johannesburg to Nairobi 07 April to !2 April 2026 | Purpose of Travel: Address Kenya Private Sector and Kenya Parliament Health Committee on Proposed Tobacco Amendment Bill for Kenya and SA

Letlape, Doctor Tebogo Kgosietsile. Description: Hotel Stay Nairobi Kenya | Value: 800 US Dollars | Source: Kenya Private Sector Aliance

Ngobeni, Ms. Lerato Mikateko. Description: APNIFFT/TJNA Steering Council Meeting, Nairobi, Kenya My Role: SADC Coordinator and Continental Deputy Chairperson APNIFFT is a flagship initiative coordinated by the Tax Justice Network Africa (TJNA). Its primary goal is to empower African legislators by providing a platform to strategise, exchange knowledge, and strengthen their capacities to address illicit financial flows and tax injustices across the continent. Through this platform, members engage in advocacy, dialogue, and debates on critical economic development issues, including illicit financial flows (IFFs), tax justice, debt, and domestic resource mobilisation (DRM) in Africa. | Value: +-1500 USD 2 day travel, accommodation and per-diem | Source: Tax Justice South Africa

Ngobeni, Ms. Lerato Mikateko. Name of Sponsor: African Parliamentary Network on Illicit Financial Flows and Taxation (APNIFFT) APNIFFT is a flagship program coordinated by Tax Justice Network (TJNA) with an overall objective to provide an opportunity for its members, the African legislators, to strategize, learn from each other and build their capacities in tackling Illicit financial flows and tax injustice in the continent. The platform facilitates its members to undertake advocacy-related dialogue and debates in a simplified manner on Illicit Financial Flows (IFFs), tax governance, and domestic resource mobilization (DRM) in Africa. | Description of Journey: Travel to Zimbabwe Date: 16-19 September 2024 | Purpose of Travel: Attendance of the Regional APNIFFT Conference 2024 held in Harare, Zimbabwe as ActionSA new Member of Parliament.

Ngobeni, Ms. Lerato Mikateko. Description: All APNIFFT Conference Delegates were accommodated at Manna Safari Lodge in Harare, Zimbabwe | Value: Accommodation at Manna Safari Lodge = +-R2000 per day. Delegates were provided with a perdiem of USD 50 and a meal stipend of USD 25 per day to cater for their dinner and any other expenses that might be incurred at the hotel. | Source: Tax Justice Network Africa

Ngobeni, Ms. Lerato Mikateko. Name of Sponsor: African Parliamentary Network on Illicit Financial Flows and Taxation (APNIFFT) APNIFFT is a flagship program coordinated by Tax Justice Network (TJNA) with an overall objective to provide an opportunity for its members, the African legislators, to strategize, learn from each other and build their capacities in tackling Illicit financial flows and tax injustice in the continent. The platform facilitates its members to undertake advocacy- related dialogue and debates in a simplified manner on Illicit Financial Flows (IFFs), tax governance, and domestic resource mobilization (DRM) in Africa. | Description of Journey: Travel to Zimbabwe Date: 16-19 September 2024 | Purpose of Travel: Attendance of the Regional APNIFFT Conference 2024 held in Harare, Zimbabwe as ActionSA new Member of Parliament.

Ngobeni, Ms. Lerato Mikateko. Description: All APNIFFT Conference Delegates were accommodated at Manna Safari Lodge in Harare, Zimbabwe | Value: Accommodation at Manna Safari Lodge = +- R2000 per day. Delegates were provided with a perdiem of USD 50 and a meal stipend of USD 25 per day to cater for their dinner and any other expenses that might be incurred at the hotel. | Source: Tax Justice Network Africa

Letlape, Doctor Tebogo Kgosietsile. Name of Sponsor: Botswana Doctors Union | Description of Journey: Air travel from Cape town to Gaborone Botswana and return to Johannesburg | Purpose of Travel: Guest Speaker at the Annual Conference Dates 29 November to 1 December 2025

Letlape, Doctor Tebogo Kgosietsile. Description: Hotel Stay Gaborone Botswana | Value: 1500 Pula | Source: Botswana Doctors Union

Beesley, Mr. Alan David. Name of Sponsor: NXT2026 India | Description of Journey: Travel and accommodation to India | Purpose of Travel: Present paper on the Illicit Trade

Beesley, Mr. Alan David. Description: Whiskey, Clothes, Suitcase | Value: R2000 | Source: NXT2026 India

Kobe, Ms. Malebo Patricia. Name of Sponsor: Chinese Government | Description of Journey: From Cape Town to Jahannesburg, ground transport and accommodation | Purpose of Travel: Invitation to celebrate China- Africa Cultural Exchange Program

Letlape, Doctor Tebogo Kgosietsile. Description: Hotel Stay | Value: 2000 Namibian Dollars | Source: Namibian Medical Society

Letlape, Doctor Tebogo Kgosietsile. Name of the Company or Partnership: World Medical Association(Africa Region) | Type of Business Activity: Advocacy For Doctors

Letlape, Doctor Tebogo Kgosietsile. Name of the Company or Partnership: World Medical Association(Africa Region) | Type of Business Activity: Advocacy For Doctors