Tshwarelo Hunter Mogakane
Pretoria - ActionSA president Herman Mashaba has publicly denounced claims made by controversial billionaire Rob Hersov, who told popular podcaster MacGyver Mukwevho that the party was among those he gave money to.
Hersov, who is the founder of African Capital Investments, spoke to Podcast and Chill with MacG last week, venturing into South African politics and the 2024 general elections.
When asked if he was funding any political parties, Hersov said: “I have given money to the DA, ActionSA, organisations like AfriForum and the Institute of Race Relations.”
The billionaire said he unsuccessfully tried to offer money to Gayton McKenzie’s Patriotic Alliance (PA).
Hersov said he also gave money to the director of Action Society lobby group, Ian Cameron, to institute legal action against Police Minister Bheki Cele, who had him forcefully removed in a heated debate at a community hall in Gugulethu on July 5.
Hersov denied secretly funding President Cyril Ramaphosa and EFF leader Julius Malema. But he confirmed organising an event in London where Malema was a guest speaker.
The investor reiterated his call for voters to shun the ANC in favour of the DA, ActionSA, PA, Mmusi Maimane’s new Build One SA, the IFP and others. He came close to labelling Jacob Zuma a clean politician, saying he would like to sit with him over a cup of tea. “I learnt something recently. This guy said to me, you white people have got one thing wrong. Zuma has no money. He didn’t steal anything. He let everybody else steal because he was a disaster as a president,” Hersov said.
The interview caused controversy on social media, with some saying Hersov was a visionary who loves South Africa while others believed he was simply leading a campaign of misdirection on behalf of those funding Ramaphosa.
Mashaba took to social media to “set the record straight” disputing that Hersov had funded his party, but said that the party received R20 000 as a fee for an online speaking engagement.
“I have to correct this statement by Rob that he had given money to ActionSA. The only funds received by ActionSA was R20k (that) I demanded to speak at his webinar ” said Mashaba, a former mayor of the City of Joburg.
African Capital Investments did not respond to a media request to get a response from Hersov.
Pretoria News