Herman Mashaba

Herman Mashaba
Name	Herman Mashaba
Birth date	29 August 1959
Birth place	Pretoria, Transvaal, Union of South Africa
Nationality	South African
Occupation	Businessman; Politician
Known for	Founder of Black Like Me; Mayor of Johannesburg (2016–2019)

Herman Mashaba is a South African entrepreneur and politician known for founding the hair-care company Black Like Me and for serving as Mayor of Johannesburg. He became prominent in South African business and South African politics through high-profile engagements with corporations, civic organizations, and political parties. Mashaba's career spans interactions with businesses, civic institutions, and public offices across the Gauteng region and national arenas.

Early life and education

Mashaba was born in Pretoria during the late Union of South Africa era and grew up in a household that experienced the effects of Apartheid policies in the Transvaal. He attended local schools in Pretoria and later pursued vocational training and entrepreneurial mentorships that connected him with operators in the retail and wholesale sectors. Early influences included encounters with traders from the Soweto and Alexandra townships, links to small-business networks in Johannesburg, and professional development programs associated with chambers such as the Black Business Council and advocacy groups like the Black Management Forum.

Business career

Mashaba founded the hair-care brand Black Like Me, growing it from a single barbershop model into a franchised retail and manufacturing enterprise that engaged with supply chains, franchising systems, and retail distribution channels across South Africa and neighboring markets. His business dealings brought him into contact with corporations and institutions including suppliers in the beauty industry, franchise associations, and commercial partners in cities such as Durban, Cape Town, and Port Elizabeth. Mashaba's tenure as an entrepreneur involved negotiations with banks like the Standard Bank and the First National Bank, interactions with investment groups, and participation in trade forums hosted by entities such as the Johannesburg Stock Exchange and sectoral bodies. He received business recognition from local industry awards and civic organizations including the South African Chamber of Commerce and engaged with mentorship networks tied to the Small Enterprise Development Agency and the Industrial Development Corporation.

Political career

Mashaba entered partisan politics after a period of civic activism and public commentary on issues affecting urban governance, municipal service delivery, and small-business development. He affiliated with political movements and contested roles through a party that emerged as a national opposition force, working alongside figures from national parties such as the Democratic Alliance and engaging with opposition coalitions that included actors from the Economic Freedom Fighters and other formations. His political platform emphasized anti-corruption measures, municipal reform, and economic empowerment, bringing him into policy debates with representatives from the African National Congress, civil society groups like the Corruption Watch, and research centers including the South African Institute of International Affairs.

Tenure as Mayor of Johannesburg

Elected Mayor of Johannesburg, Mashaba led the municipal administration through a period of coalition governance, forming alliances with multiple parties and civic movements. His mayoralty confronted municipal issues involving urban infrastructure, electricity distribution managed by entities such as City Power, water provisioning linked to utilities in Ekurhuleni and Tshwane, and public transport discussions involving Rea Vaya and road networks across Gauteng. Mashaba initiated administrative reforms targeting procurement practices, oversight mechanisms, and fiscal management working with municipal finance institutions, auditors, and provincial oversight bodies. His tenure featured public disputes with provincial officials linked to the Gauteng Provincial Government and national departments, and interactions with oversight institutions like the Public Protector and the Auditor-General.

Post-mayoral activities and controversies

After leaving the mayoral office, Mashaba remained active in national politics, civic organizations, and media commentary. He founded or supported movements and platforms that critiqued incumbents in the African National Congress and debated policy with think tanks, universities, and advocacy groups such as the Helen Suzman Foundation and the Institute for Justice and Reconciliation. His post-mayoral period involved legal challenges, ethics inquiries, and public controversies relating to statements on immigration and business regulation that drew responses from organizations including Amnesty International, the South African Human Rights Commission, and political opponents from the Economic Freedom Fighters and the African Christian Democratic Party. He engaged in litigation and administrative reviews involving municipal records, party disciplinary processes, and media complaints handled by bodies like the Press Council of South Africa.

Personal life

Mashaba's personal profile includes family ties, community involvement, and participation in philanthropic activities oriented toward entrepreneurship and skills training. He has been associated with charitable initiatives and mentorship programs in townships such as Soweto and Alexandra, and with educational collaborations linked to vocational colleges and training providers. Outside public life, he interacts with cultural institutions, faith-based communities, and business networks across South Africa and has been the subject of profiles in national media outlets and business publications.

Category:South African businesspeople Category:Mayors of Johannesburg Category:1959 births Category:Living people