By Johnathan Paoli
ActionSA has announced the merging of the party with local and regional party Forum 4 Service Delivery (F4SD) as the first of many steps in creating an alternative to the Government of National Unity (GNU) and the “Progressive Caucus” in Parliament.
ActionSA president Herman Mashaba made the announcement on Wednesday, saying the decision followed the party’s recognition that the greatest crisis facing South Africans was local government politics.
“The time has never been more important for organisations in the rational opposition centre to come together and build a growing alternative that is going to be increasingly supported by South Africans who feel let down by a failed political establishment,” Mashaba said.
He said that in the run up to the 2026 local government polls, ActionSA has begun a programme of engagement with like-minded political parties to explore opportunities to cooperate and unite.
Mashaba admitted that it was still early days, but stressed that the country was experiencing a growing political will to engage in discussions that prioritised the needs and best interests of South Africans.
He said the merger was the result of discussions with F4SD leader Mbahare Kekana since ActionSa’s refusal to join the GNU, and that he was impressed by Kekana’s vision and selflessness in putting the country’s citizens first.
The F4SD achieved the 10th position in the 2016 and 16th in the 2024 national and provincial elections, winning over 80,000 votes.
Currently the forum has 38 municipal seats in five provinces, including a mayor, eight MMCs and eight chairpersons of Municipal Public Accounts Committees, with over 42,000 members nationwide.
Mashaba welcomed the addition, saying that it brought a local element to the party’s focus.
“The Forum 4 Service Delivery brings with them an important capability that will greatly aid ActionSA’s efforts because it is an entity that is built on grass root engagement with communities. It has proven effective at this, including in rural communities, despite having very little resources,” he said.
He confirmed that the senate of ActionSA has amended the party’s interim constitution to establish the position of a deputy president and that Kekana would fill this role.
Mashaba highlighted the looming 2026 elections as a pivotal point in South Africa, indicating the need for political parties to reconnect with the lived realities of the people of the country.
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