Herman Mashaba on taking a stand and joining the DA
South African's are well documented moaners. And in line with being big complainers, we are often criticised for failing to do anything about our complaining. The adage that we simply can't complain if we aren't willing to do anything about it, could not be more true. When you consider the numbers of individuals who chose not to vote in the country's most recent elections, in contrast to the discontent that we are made so well aware of with frequent strike action, it is clear that along with discontent there is a complacency and an apathy that permeates our nation. It truly is up to active to citizens to contribute to their communities in the hopes of seeing the changes that they so desperately seek.
An example of a citizen taking action is Herman Mashaba, who has just made a very public stand. Mashaba, founder of cosmetic company Black Like Me, and chairman of the Free Market Foundation (FMF) has made waves in the media, with his decision to join the Democratic Alliance and step down from his position at the FMF. It is admirable that Mashaba has chosen to take an active stand as a member of a party who he believes can make the political changes that he wants to see delivered. He was unhappy with the election results, and decided to take action. We need more business leaders in our country who choose to make a stand with their affiliation, in order to inspire others to be more active. – LF
ALEC HOGG: Businessman Herman Mashaba announced yesterday that he would step down as the Chairman of the Free Market Foundation because he's joining the Democratic Alliance Party as an ordinary, card-carrying member. He joins us on the line from Eastern Cape. Herman, that's where you are at the moment?
HERMAN MASHABA: Yes, I'm in Port Elizabeth. I'm just about ready to board a flight back to Johannesburg.
ALEC HOGG: I'm glad we could catch you. Why do you have to resign as the Chairman of the Free Market Foundation, when you are just going to be an ordinary Party Member at the DA?
HERMAN MASHABA: Alec, I already had these discussions when I went to announce this to my colleagues on the Board on Sunday, just really to get them to understand the risk of the detractors who can really use my DA membership as a platform to attack the Free Market Foundation, as a DA political wing. That is something that I requested my Board to be sensitive about, that as much as I have resigned from the Board of the Free Market Foundation as a Chairperson, I will still be a fully paid member and I will still financially, support the organisation because the organisation is doing a sterling job. At the same time, I think, Alec, I'm sure all of us as South Africans, can understand that our people out there, in our communities, our families: every time we talk to them about their voting patterns they will tell you they don't have an option.
I thought that I must walk the talk, so that when I discuss political issues with my family and with the people that I come across, they'll be 'guys, please we've got to really do something about the future of this country'. We cannot really motivate them on the basis of t-shirts and food parcels. We have a bigger challenge in our country. Obviously, over the last two months or so, listening to political debates and preparing for the elections, without any doubt, the DA is the one party that comes closer to all of my political aspirations. They might not really be perfect but at the same time, I don't really expect the world to be perfect. There is no political party anywhere in the world that will really satisfy anybody's full aspiration. If I really look at the political parties in this country, without any doubt, the DA comes closer to really fulfilling some of my aspirations.
ALEC HOGG: Herman, one understands that and one understands that you have these views but why is it necessary – and I really get to this… You are just an ordinary person… We all have political views. Hopefully, everybody watching this went and voted. Why then do you have to make that public? Can't you? Unless you're going to go to Parliament or unless the DA has approached you and said 'Mr Mashaba, we'd like you to play a role'.
HERMAN MASHABA: It's interesting, in my life, I've never obviously really spoken to Helen Zille. The only person in the DA that I know reasonably well – not really so close – is Mmusi and I've always admired him at a distance. Actually, it is interesting. I've been in a conference here in P.E. for the first time. When I left now – coming to the airport – I received a message from Helen Zille to welcome me to the Party so obviously, she must have been given my contact details. I'm a citizen of this country, 20 years in our democracy. I take it that our democracy is so mature that it can really allow us to change this year because this year, for us as South Africans who really belong to different parties… I strongly believe, I really hold very strong views and I think we will be having another election in two years and five years etcetera, and I believe I'd like to really play a role in unchaining this fear of our people.
GUGULETHU MFUPHI: Herman, the timing of this move also comes at a poignant time, after the elections. Is this as you intended?
HERMAN MASHABA: Well, the thing is I was obviously extremely disappointed with the results outcome and honestly, I can't really sit back here at a dinner party to really complain and ask questions as to why people vote the way they do. I believe the people vote where they do because as far as they are concerned, they don't have an alternative. Are people out there in the communities happy? You know people are very unhappy and for as long as some of us don't come out to really express our political affiliation, we are failing them and that is really what I thought to myself, as a non-political person. I have the right because I'm a full citizen of this country, for people to actually really know my political affiliation.
ALEC HOGG: Herman, are you going to become more involved in politics, now that you've made this very public statement?
HERMAN MASHABA: At the least, on a short-term basis Alec, I'll get into politics, is when I meet Alec, and you tell me you don't have an alternative or you're not happy with what's happening. I will show you; here is the Party that I belong to. Please try them. I'll play in that space. I will not really be an active politician. I'm sure Alec; you know my knowledge of politics is very dangerous. I'm a Capitalist. I'm a businessperson. I want to really make sure that this country, from a political point of view; we put parties in place that would obviously look after the interests of this country. In addition, for politicians in this country to understand that they are civil servants, and I believe the DA has the potential to really deliver on that.
ALEC HOGG: Herman Mashaba, you are the first South African I've heard who says 'my knowledge of politics is really dangerous'. I thought we all knew exactly how politics works here, but thank you.
HERMAN MASHABA: Yes, I can tell you it is very dangerous, but one thing is that I'm really happy to learn. At the same time, not even really learn but it is just that I think I would like and I believe our democracy has matured. When you look at United States, look at all the democracies. Businesspeople are happy to express their feelings including here, in South Africa. Look at all these businessmen who are members of the ANC. They go out, attend the functions, and give them money in public. Who has a problem with it? What therefore stops other black businesspeople from belonging to other parties? I think I really need to make sure that this country adopts that culture.
ALEC HOGG: Herman Mashaba is the Executive Chairman of Lephatsi Investments and an interesting discussion indeed.