Herman Mashaba’s biography, fact, career, awards, net worth and life story

Intro South African businessperson
Is Businessperson
From South Africa
Type Business
Gender male
Birth

26 August 1959, Hammanskraal, City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality, Gauteng, South Africa

Age 61 years
Star sign Virgo
Politics Democratic Alliance
Education
University of Pretoria

Herman Samtseu Philip Mashaba (anglicized from Tsonga spelling Maxaba) is a South African entrepreneur, politician and the former Mayor of Johannesburg. He is the founder of the hair product company Black Like Me. He is famous in South Africa for his life story: growing up and struggling against poverty and the Apartheid government to open his own hair business, which became the biggest hair brand in South Africa, making him a millionaire. He publicly backed Mmusi Maimane in the Democratic Alliance leadership race. He wrote the autobiography Black Like You and recently he wrote his new memoir “The accidental mayor”. Philosophically, he is a libertarian and “capitalist crusader” whose highest value is “individual freedom.”

On 22 August 2016, Mashaba was elected Mayor of Johannesburg by the first sitting of the city council following countrywide local government elections. He announced his resignation on 21 October 2019. He left office on 27 November 2019.

Early life and career

Mashaba was brought up in near-poverty in GaRamotse in Hammanskraal, north of Pretoria by his sisters while his absent domestic-worker mother worked to provide for the family.

His older brother dropped out of school at 15, going from one unsubstantial job to another. Mashaba realised that acquiring an education would be crucial for him to break out of the cycle of poverty. He graduated from high school but did not complete his tertiary education.

From a young age, he was a strategic thinker – he bought a car without having a license and drove out of the dealership without ever having learned to drive. He drove himself from one selling job to another, in the process confirming for himself that he was a natural salesman with an unswerving instinct for business. He started selling “SuperKurl” African hair-care products and became their number-one earner. He soon realised that these products excited him and that he wasn’t content to be just an employee.

His company, Black Like Me, was launched on Valentine’s Day in 1985 with a R30,000 loan from his friend, businessman Walter Dube.

Mashaba is also a music lover. After five years of secret lessons, he revealed himself as a pianist.

Politics

From 2012 until May 2014, Mashaba served as chairman of the Free Market Foundation (FMF). He stepped down from his position when he joined the Democratic Alliance as an “ordinary card-carrying member”, citing the need for the Foundation to remain politically impartial.

Mashaba announced in December 2015 that he would accept a nomination to stand as a Democratic Alliance mayoral candidate for the City of Johannesburg in the 2016 local government elections. The other possible DA candidate was Rabelani Dagada.

Mayor of Johannesburg

In the municipal election on 3 August 2016, the ruling party, The African National Congress, lost their majority in Johannesburg, taking only 44.12% of the vote with the Democratic alliance taking 38.33%. The Democratic Alliance entered into conversations with the Economic Freedom Fighters to form a coalition. Whilst the EFF declined the offer, they agreed that they would vote for Mashaba as the Mayor of Johannesburg, despite misgivings.

On 22 August 2016, Mashaba was sworn in as a Johannesburg City Councillor. Later that day, he was sworn in as the Mayor of Johannesburg, the first non-ANC Johannesburg mayor since 1994. On 21 October 2019, he announced his resignation as mayor because of differences he has with DA party leadership. His resignation took effect on 27 November 2019.

Labour

Mashaba has characterised the ANC’s post-Apartheid labour laws as “draconian”.

He led a Constitutional Court challenge by the FMF, arguing that Section 32 of the Labour Relations Act is unconstitutional. The FMF argued that the bargaining council process reduces competition, as smaller businesses may not be able to afford the higher wages agreed on between larger businesses and unions, contributing further to South Africa’s unemployment rate.

Post-mayoral career

Mashaba formed The People’s Dialogue, a medium to interact with ordinary South Africans and discuss social and civil issues, which launched on 6 December 2019, and closed on 29 February 2020. He has also said that he is willing to run for Mayor of Johannesburg under a different party banner. He added that he would be forming a political party in early 2020.

Public profile

Allegations of xenophobia

See also:Xenophobia in South Africa

Mashaba has made numerous public comments and actions that have been considered xenophobic and have been linked to incidence of xenophobic attacks and anti-migrant sentiment. He has said South Africa has “nothing to apologise for” in reference to xenophobic violence occuring during his tenure as Johannesburg mayor While its said Mashaba leaves a xenophobic legacy he has has attended a sensitivity on diversity by the Human Rights Commision.

You May Also Like

Rhys Wakefield’s net worth, biography, fact, career, awards and life story

Rhys Wakefield Net Worth: Rhys Wakefield is an Australian actor who has a net worth of $3 million dollars. Born in 1988 in Cairns, Queensland, Australia, Rhys Wakefield studied at the McDonald College of Performing Arts and appeared in a handful of school plays and Shakespeare performances. He also studied at the Zenith Theatre before making his on-screen debut in a credited role in 2000’s “Bootmen”. He went on to appear in “Don’t Blame Me” before landing a part as Lucas Holden on Australian soap opera “Home and Away”. Wakefield’s portrayal of his character earned him a 2006 nomination for a Logie Award for Best New Talent. Several of his scenes were later found to be in violation of Australia’s broadcasting code and forced the show to change its rating to PG. He stayed on the program until 2008. That year, he scored a role as Thomas Mollison in 2008’s “The Black Balloon”. To date, it’s one of Wakefield’s most recognizable roles. He was nominated for an AACTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role for the part. Wakefield’s other TV and film credits include “Rita”, “A Relative Stranger”, “After the Dark”, “The Purge”, “Nobody Walks”, “Endless Love”, “Clearing the Air”, and “A Man Walks Into a Bar”.
Read More

Eva LaRue’s net worth, biography, fact, career, awards and life story

Eva LaRue net worth and salary: Eva LaRue is an American actress and model who has a net worth of $4 million dollars. Born in Long Beach, California, Eva LaRue, also known as Eva Marie LaRuy, began her acting career when she was in elementary school, and began competing on the pageant circuit when she was a teenager. Throughout the late 80s, she appeared in guest starring roles on such shows as, “The Barbarians”, “Dangerous Curves”, “Charles in Charge”, “Perfect Strangers”, “Married… with Children”, “Crash and Burn”, “They Came from Outer Space”, “Dallas”, and “Dark Justice”. In 1993, she was cast in the role that would bring her the most widespread fame, as Dr. Maria Santos Grey on “All My Children”. She played the role until 1997, and again from 2002-2005. She also returned to the show twice more in 2010 and 2011. She co-starred on the popular series, “CSI: Miami” from 2005-2012. In total she appeared in 152 episodes of the series. Eva LaRue was married to actor John O’Hurley from 1992 – 1994 and then to actor John Callahan. She married Joe Cappucio in 2010. They divorced in 2014.
Read More