By Marcus Moloko
ActionSA president Herman Mashaba has reiterated his stance that South Africans should be prioritised in the allocation of public services, and argues that government resources should first address the needs of citizens before extending free services to foreign nationals.
Speaking during an exclusive interview on Inside Metros Podcast, Mashaba reflected on his tenure as mayor of Johannesburg. He said the city faced a significant housing backlog when he took office in 2016.
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According to Mashaba, around 300,000 people were on Johannesburg’s housing waiting list at the time, with some applicants having waited since the late 1990s for government housing opportunities.
He said the backlog made it difficult to justify extending housing benefits to foreign nationals while many South Africans remained without access to adequate accommodation.
Mashaba also addressed healthcare and education, maintaining that free public services should primarily benefit South African citizens.
“If you’re a foreigner, you cannot expect that you get free medical treatment. You must have your own insurance to come to South Africa,” he said.
The ActionSA leader added that public clinics, hospitals and schools are funded to serve South Africans. He maintains the state has a responsibility to prioritise citizens amid ongoing pressures on public resources.
Mashaba said the country had an obligation to “protect the people of South Africa ahead of everyone else” and he remains firm in his position despite criticism of his views on immigration and access to public services.
Catch the full episode on Inside Metro’s YouTube channel.
INSIDE METROS
