Checked 27 October 2026
Where the facts about this donor come from
Every fact on the donor page, with the sources we used. We save a copy of each source on the day we read it.
Who is this donor?
Who it is
LEPHATSI INVESTMENTS: listed as executive director (The Citizen, 2 Mar 2026).
The Citizen. Published 2 March 2026.
Where to look: ActionSA paragraph: "The remaining R200 000 came from Lephatsi Investment, a company for which Mashaba has been listed as the executive director."
What did the parties declare?
The IEC funding reports
This donor gave ActionSA 13 donations worth R4 647 432, as declared to the IEC. They were made between July 2025 and March 2026.
Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC). Published 28 November 2025.
Where to look: The table of donations the parties declared (section 9(1)) and the late declarations table, under the party that declared it
Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC). Published 27 February 2026.
Where to look: The table of donations the parties declared (section 9(1)) and the late declarations table, under the party that declared it
Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC). Published 29 May 2026.
Where to look: The table of donations the parties declared (section 9(1)) and the late declarations table, under the party that declared it
What has been reported?
Official records and news
Daily Maverick says Mashaba founded the hair products company Black Like Me. It says it became the biggest hair brand in South Africa.
Daily Maverick. Published 12 February 2025.
Where to look: Paragraph 1: "Herman Mashaba is a South African self-made entrepreneur, leader of the ActionSA political party, and the former mayor of Johannesburg"; body: "as the founder of the hair products company Black Like Me which became the biggest hair brand in South Africa"; "Courted into politics by the Democratic Alliance as mayor of Johannesburg, Mashaba parted ways with them three years later to form ActionSA"
Daily Maverick says the DA brought Mashaba into politics as mayor of Johannesburg. He left the DA three years later and formed ActionSA, which he leads.
Daily Maverick. Published 12 February 2025.
Where to look: Paragraph 1: "Herman Mashaba is a South African self-made entrepreneur, leader of the ActionSA political party, and the former mayor of Johannesburg"; body: "as the founder of the hair products company Black Like Me which became the biggest hair brand in South Africa"; "Courted into politics by the Democratic Alliance as mayor of Johannesburg, Mashaba parted ways with them three years later to form ActionSA"
The IEC said Mashaba gave ActionSA about R2.9 million in January to March 2026. ActionSA declared R9 910 432 in total that quarter. So he gave about 29% of it.
Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC). Published 29 May 2026.
Where to look: "ActionSA – R9 910 432.00": "Cumulative donations of approximately R2.9 million from party leader Herman Mashaba"
Daily Maverick reported that Martin Moshal gave ActionSA R5 million in January to March 2026. It said Mashaba gave most of the rest.
Daily Maverick. Published 31 May 2026.
Where to look: Section "DA’s R122m": "In the fourth quarter, Action SA received nearly half of their annual donations from online gambling entrepreneur Martin Moshal . He donated R5-million of the party’s total R11.6-million, and the majority of the party’s remaining donations came from its president, Herman Mashaba."
Daily Maverick reported in 2024 that ActionSA listed R659 000 in goods or services from Black Like Me and Style Eyes of California. Black Like Me is the firm Mashaba founded.
Daily Maverick. Published 13 March 2024.
Where to look: Section "In-kind donations": "ActionSA lists R659,000 from beauty companies Black Like Me and Style Eyes of California"
The Citizen reported that Mashaba has been listed as executive director of Lephatsi Investment. That company gave ActionSA R200 000 in 2025.
The Citizen. Published 2 March 2026.
Where to look: ActionSA paragraph: "The remaining R200 000 came from Lephatsi Investment, a company for which Mashaba has been listed as the executive director."
Daily Maverick reported in March 2024 that Mashaba has paid money into his own party in the past.
Daily Maverick. Published 1 March 2024.
Where to look: Paragraph on ActionSA: "ActionSA’s funder-in-chief from the start, online gambling mogul Martin Moshal, donating R5-million"; last paragraph: "rich politicians themselves end up forking out for their own parties – as we have seen in the past from both Herman Mashaba and Cyril Ramaphosa"
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