A humble start

Herman Mashaba grew up in rural Hammanskraal, in a single ‒ parent household lacking any of the stability a young child would normally require ‒ something that instilled a strong sense of personal independence from a young age.

While he may be best-known for his business ‒ savvy and subsequent success, the Mayor is all too familiar with the perils that accompany an instable household. After the death of his father, two ‒ year old Mashaba and his mother were thrust into a situation that many

South Africans are forced into. As a domestic worker, his mother was unable to provide a home to her family. This, Mashaba says, meant that they were forced to move from one house to the next ‒ usually belonging to migrant workers who left home to work in the city. Mashaba’ s own mother was oftentimes away from her son for months on end, having to live in Johannesburg to earn a living.

It doesn’ t come as much of a surprise, then, that the Mayor has placed such a premium on improving the living conditions of the poor in his city. Speaking to us about his 10 point plan for the City of Johannesburg, Mashaba makes it clear that his move into the political sphere was one inspired by his own past ‒ and the will to“ use political office to give young South Africans the same opportunities that [ he ] had, to make a success of themselves.”

While many may have been sceptical of this list, making it out to be little more than empty promises, the subsequent months showed promising results. At the State of the City Address in May of this year, nine months after taking office, Mashaba pointed to specific steps that had been taken to improve matters in the City. His office’ s aim, the Mayor says, is“ to be in tune with the people they serve.”

Social change This month, it has been a full year since Mashaba took office as Mayor. From the outset, it was clear that this administration would be focused on bringing about sustainable change to those who need it most, or as the Mayor puts it, be“ pro ‒ poor.” The emphasis has been squarely placed on providing much ‒ needed, and better utilised, funding to those most vulnerable to economic shocks. This starts with two core issues: unemployment and education.

As Mashaba points out, the issue of education is not wholly within reach of local government, but steps can be taken to bring about meaningful change within the City. This involves the improvement of Early Childhood Development, in partnership with the Hollard Foundation. Admitted to the University of the North in 1979 to study a degree in public administration and political science, Mashaba is passionate about growth and the fact that“ education was the key to making a better life” for himself. It is this yearning to learn and grow that led to him establishing his successful business, Black Like Me, in 1985.

AUGUST 2017 SA Real Estate Investor 9