ActionSA shifts strategy: Prioritising grassroots movements over big political alliances

Action SA says it’s less interested in partnering with big, well-known political movements and will rather seek to join forces with parties and movements that are already represented at the municipal level.

The party on Monday welcomed two more community-based organisations to stand under its green umbrella in the upcoming local government elections.

Party president Herman Mashaba says he’s particularly excited to champion the causes of the arts industry through the Creatives Congress Movement, which has now joined his party.


National chairperson Michael Beaumont says merging with the Forum 4 service delivery a year ago has been a huge shot in the arm for ActionSA, and now the Azanian Independent Community Movement, which already has seven seats in north west councils, will increase that momentum.

For now, the party registered in 2020, will retain its status so as not to lose those seats.

But it will campaign and contest under ActionSA’s banner in the upcoming polls expected to be held as early as November.

Leader of the creatives congress movement, Tshepo Mashiane, says the arts industry has been sidelined in the development of the country, and he will mobilise them to join ActionSA.

"We therefore took a conscious decision that we need to organise like it was in the case leading up to 1994. We have designed ourselves to lead the political agenda of creative citizens in South Africa."

ActionSA president Herman Mashaba has blamed the African National Congress for decimating the arts industry and says he will personally see to it that the industry thrives again.