ActionSA Recruits Expelled MK Leader Mary Phadi and Activist Dereleen James for Major 2026 Election Push

Herman Mashaba taps former MK leader Mary Phadi and activist Dereleen James for ActionSA's 2026 campaign. See the new leadership map for Mpumalanga and Western Cape.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 28, 2026, 9:55 AM EDT

Source: The information in this article was sourced from IOL

Strategic Mobilization Following Senate Summit

ActionSA is significantly scaling up its organizational capacity ahead of the 2026 local government elections. Following a three-day Senate strategic planning meeting, party leader Herman Mashaba announced a series of high-profile appointments designed to capture the vote of citizens disillusioned by failing infrastructure and rising crime. Mashaba, who is also the party's mayoral candidate for the City of Johannesburg, emphasized that the new leadership structure is focused on taking an "assertive campaign" directly to South Africans who feel abandoned by established political entities.

Recruiting Experience from Mpumalanga

A central figure in this new strategy is Mary Phadi, the former Mpumalanga provincial leader for the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party. Phadi has been appointed as ActionSA’s provincial campaign manager for Mpumalanga. Mashaba described her as a "grounded organiser" with the community roots necessary to navigate the province's unique struggles. Her move to ActionSA follows a contentious legal battle with her former party, which resulted in a court ruling confirming her expulsion and removal from the provincial legislature in late 2024. Despite this history, ActionSA views her tactical experience as a mechanical necessity for growth in the region.

Strengthening the Western Cape Presence

In the Western Cape, the party has appointed Member of Parliament Dereleen James as the provincial chairperson. James is widely recognized as a "no-nonsense" community activist, particularly known for her work confronting drug cartels and gang violence on the Cape Flats. By placing a high-profile activist at the helm of the Western Cape campaign, ActionSA aims to position itself as the primary alternative for voters concerned with lawlessness and corruption. Mashaba highlighted her proven track record of standing at the forefront of community struggles as the defining factor for her promotion to this senior leadership role.