“The lies never end” — Mashaba hits back at Helen Zille and the DA

During my term as Mayor of Johannesburg, Helen Zille and the Democratic Alliance (DA) wanted me to prioritise suburban areas — cutting grass in Sandton — while neglecting our poor and forgotten communities. When I refused, they branded me an “EFF mayor” and even held secret meetings with the ANC to have me removed.

These are the words of former Johannesburg Mayor Herman Mashaba, who has once again criticised the DA for what he describes as hypocrisy and dishonesty in dealing with Black communities. Mashaba, now the leader of ActionSA, accused the DA of pretending to care about marginalised South Africans while consistently advancing policies that protect privilege.

“Today she is claiming that the DA is concerned about Black communities,” he wrote on social media. “The lies never end.”Mashaba’s comments reignite tensions between him and Zille, the DA Federal Chairperson, whose leadership style and ideological stance have often been criticised by former Black leaders who left the party. He previously accused Zille and other DA leaders of undermining his administration and sabotaging pro-poor initiatives in Johannesburg.

Political analyst Sanusha Naidu says Mashaba’s statement reflects a long-standing rift rooted in ideological and racial divisions within opposition politics. “Mashaba has consistently positioned himself as a defender of the urban poor and Black entrepreneurs. His criticism of the DA feeds into his broader narrative of political authenticity versus elitism,” she explained.

The DA, however, maintains that it governs based on non-racialism and service delivery efficiency, denying any targeted neglect of poorer communities.Mashaba’s remarks come amid increasing political realignments and renewed debates about opposition credibility ahead of the 2026 local government elections.

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