DA Mayoral candidate, Herman Mashaba availed himself for public office after the unceremonious firing of former Finance Minister, Nhlanhla Nene by President Jacob Zuma.
Mashaba, a renowned entrepreneur, made the revelation on 20 May during a media lunch at The Reef Hotel in Johannesburg.
Nene is widely believed to have been fired for allegedly resisting the capture of the National Treasury by the Gupta family, who are said to have had President Zuma in their pockets.
“Then in December 2015, when President Zuma fired Minister Nene, I realised that sitting comfortably on the sidelines with my membership card in my pocket was no use to anyone. I was reminded of what Martin Luther King Junior referred to as the fierce urgency of now. And so I immediately made myself available to stand for the DA in the Johannesburg mayoral bid,” said Mashaba.
He described Johannesburg as a collapsing city which the ANC management was constantly restitching together.
He boasted that he was a successful businessman with a history of creating jobs. “I know how business works. I’ve got a 30-year track record of creating jobs. I know that with jobs, the Democratic Alliance can eradicate obstacles to opportunities and build the kind of city that everyone wants to call home,” said Mashaba.
The aspiring mayor said he would amend all bylaws and red tape that were a hindrance to businesses within 100 days of assuming office.
He also said he would turn idling city buildings in the inner-city into affordable shops.
“In the end, every part of my vision hinges upon creating jobs. It is the golden thread that connects it. With jobs, we can expand the tax base. This means more services, more homes and less crime and social decay,” said Mashaba.
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