Herman Samtseu Philip Mashaba

ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba donated R2m to his party in May 2023...

These parties – including new ones such as Songezo Zibi's Rise Mzanzi Roger Jardine's Change Starts Now former ANC Western Cape leader Marius Fransman's People's Movement for Change (PMC) and Herman Mashaba's ActionSA – are entering the race adamant they can take away votes from the ANC and the main opposition the DA...

The most significant smaller parties with representation are Herman Mashaba's ActionSA the right-wing Freedom Front Plus led by Pieter Mulder and ex-jailbird Gayton McKenzie's Patriotic Alliance...

Others said that if it wants to attract black voters it would need to explain the exodus from its ranks of impressive black leaders such as Lindiwe Mazibuko Mmusi Maimane Phumzile van Damme Mbali Ntuli Herman Mashaba and Bongani Baloyi...

The Oppenheimer family's donations came in the form of a R15m ($824 000) contribution to the Democratic Alliance (DA) from Mary Slack daughter of Harry and Bridget Oppenheimer; and R10m ($555 000) from her three daughters in equal tranches for Herman Mashaba's ActionSA...

Current leaders who emerged strengthened in last year's local government elections such as ActionSA's Herman Mashaba the Patriotic Alliance's Gayton McKenzie and a long list of independent candidates are likely beneficiaries of the post-Zondo political mood...

Having eschewed both the EFF and former Mayor of Johannesburg Herman Mashaba and his Action SA party the DA now heads a shaky coalition of smaller parties running both Johannesburg and Tshwane (Pretoria)...

Others suggest that Herman Mashaba's Action SA and other small parties are more likely to capture ex-ANC voters...

Former ANC bastions such as Soweto are leaning towards new parties such as Herman Mashaba's Action SA and the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF)...

Yet there is a growing sense that ANC support is in irreversible decline and the most likely outcome of the 2024 national poll will be the ANC around 45% the Democratic Alliance on 20% the Economic Freedom Fighters 12-15%; other parties will pick up 20-25% led by Herman Mashaba's Action SA with 7% the Inkatha Freedom Party 6...

Newcomers such as Herman Mashaba's Action SA (2%) and Gayton McKenzie's Patriotic Front (PF) – and a plethora of independent candidates (10%) – make up the new more diverse political landscape...