ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba has reinforced his party’s tough stance on immigration as the November 2026 local government elections draw near. He has described the upcoming vote as a crucial moment where South Africans must decide between having controlled borders or facing continued disorder at the country’s entry points. His message sparked a quick and harsh response from EFF leader Julius Sello Malema.
On the social media platform X, Mashaba posted that South Africa needs to pick between “restored border control or continued chaos at our borders,” and he included the #VoteActionSA tag along with a campaign video called “A Choice.” The post reached more than 32,000 people and was part of ActionSA’s wider campaign strategy leading up to the elections, which has focused heavily on changing immigration policies.
I realised you are foolish when you can't think and talk at the same time. It is not a condition, ke Bo tlaela Shem.
— Julius Sello Malema (@Julius_S_Malema) May 3, 2026
Malema hit back with a cutting remark, saying: “I realised you are foolish when you can’t think and talk at the same time. It is not a condition, ke Bo tlaela Shem.” His response, which used local township language, seemed to suggest that Mashaba cannot think clearly and speak at the same time. This comeback also attracted significant attention online.
The exchange shows how the rivalry between these two political figures is growing stronger, and immigration has become a major point of disagreement as the country heads toward November’s elections. Mashaba, who has been named as ActionSA’s candidate for mayor of Johannesburg, has made illegal immigration a key focus of his campaign, saying he will enforce stricter rules if his party wins.
Mashaba has not backed away from his position on border control, saying that like other developed nations, South Africa cannot allow people to cross its borders freely and that anyone who comes to live in the country must do so through proper legal channels.
Those who oppose him, particularly the EFF, have repeatedly said that ActionSA is using fear about immigrants to win votes in the elections. Looking at what Mashaba has posted on X over time shows that his political approach has shifted, which has led some to question whether his positions are consistent as the 2026 elections get closer. As November approaches, the argument between Mashaba and Malema on social media shows that immigration will continue to be one of the most heated and divisive topics during the campaign period.
