Herman Mashaba grew up in a small village on the outskirts of Pretoria during the dark days of apartheid South Africa. Mashaba embraced independence early in life, having lost his father at the age of two. When his studies were interrupted by state security forces during the struggle against apartheid, Mashaba decided to pursue a career as an entrepreneur instead.
Over the ensuing decades he built a business empire that included companies in the cosmetics, construction, real estate, retail, energy and financial services fields. His success earned him an Honorary Doctorate in Business Administration from the Central University of Technology in 2013.
During this time, Mashaba also chaired the Free Market Foundation – a public benefit organisation founded on classical liberal principles with the aim to promote and foster an open, democratic society based on the rule of law, personal liberty, and economic freedom.
In 2015, Mashaba decided that he was no longer satisfied with being an armchair critic and entered politics as Mayoral Candidate for the City of Johannesburg for the DA, South Africa’s largest opposition party.
In the historic election of 2016, Mashaba was elected as the Executive Mayor of a 7-party multi-party coalition government with a mandate for change.
Herman Mashaba stepped-back from corporate life in order to focus fulltime on leading the City government. He has received acclaim for his hands-on approach to service delivery, innovative partnerships with the private sector, and zero-tolerance for corruption and maladministration.
Herman Mashaba corporate approach to municipal governance introduced a new era in the City as Mashaba worked to turn the corner on the decay and deterioration that had become associated with Johannesburg. In doing so he won the hearts and minds of the City’s residents, who recognised his desire to serve the residents of the City and to get Joburg working.
On the 21st of October 2019, Mashaba announced his resignation from the Democratic Alliance, and consequently as the Executive Mayor of Johannesburg, effective 27 November 2019.
Shortly after his resignation Herman Mashaba launched The People’s Dialogue on the 6th of December 2019, a platform to engage ordinary South Africans about the solutions required to fix South Africa and build a shared future for all its people.
Contact us at Speakers Inc and view our International site
Katlego Danke hails from the province of the North West having stayed throughout her childhood in places like Mafikeng, Mabopane, Garankuwa and Potchefstroom. She has however also spend some of her up-bringing in Pretoria and Johannesburg and therefore prefers to call herself a South African when asked where she comes from. This 36 year olds […]
Dr Azar Jammine matriculated at Pretoria Boys’ High School after which he did a BSc Honours in Mathematical Statistics at the University of the Witwatersrand. During the period 1970 – 75 he was employed as Investment Analyst at Senbank and subsequently at Stockbrokers Martin & Co, now JP Morgan, during which time he completed a […]
In the ever-evolving world of live entertainment, few acts manage to capture energy, charm, and musical excellence the way Me and Mr Green does. Based in Cape Town, South Africa, this high-impact live band is the brainchild of acclaimed frontman Dan Green, whose legendary performances with Me and Mr Brown made him a household name […]
Vibrant, vivacious, and unmistakably captivating, Cathy Del Mei is a powerhouse saxophonist and multi-instrumental entertainer who transforms every performance into an unforgettable experience. Whether she’s serenading guests in a luxury hotel lounge or energizing a full-house theatre crowd, Cathy brings a magnetic stage presence and soulful musicality that captivates from the very first note. With […]
The 1925 Band started in February 2011 and has grown from performing one or two shows a month to one of the most demanded bands in South Africa. 1925 Band are three incredibly talented brothers, Reno, Jeff and David-Lee Gericke, with a passion for music who sings in angelic harmony. They are interesting and gets […]
These remain the property of its owner and are not affiliated with or endorsed by Speakers Inc.
All talent fees exclude VAT, travel and accommodation where required.
Our Mission
Our Mission:
© All rights reserved 2025. Designed using Voxel
