Herman Mashaba’s life is the kind of story that South Africa’s democratic narrative was supposed to make possible: a poor Black child from the apartheid era who built a business empire under the system’s nose, became a city mayor, fell out spectacularly with his party, and then founded a new political movement from scratch. Whether you admire his directness or find his views about immigration and governance uncomfortable, Mashaba is one of South Africa’s most genuinely independent political personalities — a man who has never been entirely at home in anyone else’s political structure.
Herman Mashaba Biography
| Full Name | Herman Mashaba |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | 13 June 1959 |
| Place of Birth | Hammanskraal, Transvaal, South Africa |
| Nationality | South African |
| Ethnicity | Sepedi (Northern Sotho) |
| Occupation | Businessman, Politician |
| Wife | Carol Bouwer (married 2004) |
| Known For | Black Like Me hair products; Mayor of Johannesburg (2016–2019); founder of ActionSA; anti-immigration stance |
Early Life and Business Career
Herman Mashaba was born on 13 June 1959 in Hammanskraal, north of Pretoria, in what was then the Transvaal. He grew up in poverty in apartheid South Africa, where his educational and economic opportunities were severely limited by the system. Despite these constraints, he demonstrated early entrepreneurial instincts, and in 1985 he co-founded Black Like Me — a hair care company specifically aimed at Black South African consumers, in a market that the established (White-owned) consumer goods industry largely ignored.
Black Like Me became one of South Africa’s commercial success stories: a Black-owned brand that captured significant market share and grew into a nationally recognised business. Mashaba sold his stake in the company in 1995, around the time of South Africa’s democratic transition, having built a business career that proved what the apartheid system had tried to deny: that Black South Africans, given the space, were entirely capable of building and running successful enterprises.
Political Career
Mashaba joined the DA and stood as its mayoral candidate for Johannesburg in the 2016 local government elections. The DA under his candidacy won 38 percent of the vote — enough, with coalition partners, to take the mayorship. He became Executive Mayor of Johannesburg, governing South Africa’s economic capital with a controversial but energetic style.
His tenure as mayor was marked by a strong focus on service delivery and a particularly hard line on undocumented immigration — a position that won him support from some quarters but drew accusations of xenophobia from others. His relationship with the DA deteriorated significantly after Helen Zille reasserted influence within the party following the DA’s 2019 national election results. In October 2019 — the same week Mmusi Maimane resigned — Mashaba resigned from both the mayorship and the DA.
ActionSA
In 2020, Mashaba launched ActionSA, his own political party, which grew rapidly to become a significant player in Gauteng politics. ActionSA contested the 2021 local elections with notable results in Johannesburg and Tshwane, and has continued to grow as a voice for South Africans who want neither the ANC nor the DA. In 2026, Mashaba declared his candidacy for the Johannesburg mayorship — competing directly with Helen Zille of the DA, in a contest that illustrates how dramatically both their paths have diverged since they were in the same party.
Personal Life
Herman Mashaba is married to Carol Bouwer, a well-known South African television presenter. They married in 2004. Carol has built her own successful media and events career and has been an active presence in his political journey.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Herman Mashaba?
He is a South African businessman and politician, founder of Black Like Me hair products, former Mayor of Johannesburg, and founder of the ActionSA political party.
What is Black Like Me?
It is a South African hair care brand co-founded by Mashaba in 1985, targeting Black consumers in a market long dominated by White-owned companies. It became one of the country’s commercial successes in the pre- and post-apartheid era.
Why did Mashaba leave the DA?
He resigned in October 2019 following the DA’s disputed election results and the reassertion of Helen Zille’s influence within the party, which conflicted with his vision of the party’s direction.
Who is Herman Mashaba married to?
He is married to Carol Bouwer, a South African TV presenter and businesswoman. They married in 2004.
What is ActionSA?
It is a South African political party founded by Mashaba in 2020, which has grown as an independent voice particularly in Gauteng, attracting voters looking for alternatives to both the ANC and the DA.
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