Herman Mashaba (born 26 August 1959) is a South African businessman, entrepreneur and politician. He is best known for founding haircare brand Black Like Me together with her wife Connie Mashaba, and for founding a political party ActionSA.
Biography: Herman Mashaba 
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Full Name: Herman Samtseu Philip Mashaba |
Place of Birth: GaRamotse, Hammanskraal, Gauteng |
Date of Birth: 26 August 1959 (Age - 66) |
Occupation: Entrepreneur, Politician |
Political Party: ActionSA (Founder/President since 2020) |
Net Worth: $100 million (R1.8 billion) |
Spouse: Connie Mashaba (married -1982) |
Children: 2 children (Rhulani & Khensani) |
Nationality: South African |
Early Life and Education
Herman Mashaba was born as Highman Samtseu Philip Mashaba on 26 August 1959 in GaRamotse, a small village section of Hammanskraal, north of Pretoria. He changed his name to Herman citing that friends and peers laughed at him for his name Highman which he was given at birth by his grandfather.
Growing up, Mashaba’s childhood was hard and lacked basic necessities since his father died when he was 2 years old. He was raised by his sisters while his mother was away working as a domestic worker to support her children.
However, Mashaba did not back down as he went on to obtain his matric at Hans Kekana High School. Here at Hans Kekana High, he also met Connie Mashaba who had come for beauty pageant competition. The two began dating and eventually got married in 1982.
After obtaining his matric Mashaba went on to enroll at the University of the North (now University of Limpopo). Unfortunately, he dropped out after his studies were disrupted by political unrests when apartheid police began cracking down on political student activists. However, Mashaba did not back down from his pursuit for higher education as he went on to obtain a degree in accounting from the University of South Africa (UNISA).
Career of Herman Mashaba
Founding Black Like Me
After this, Mashaba quit his job and started selling his own hair products from the boot of his car which he had bought while still working at SuperKurl. To establish his company further, Mashaba and his wife Connie borrowed R30,000 and invested it in their company. By 1993 their company had risen to a market valued of R10 million with its main factory situated in Mabopane township, North of Pretoria.
Building his factory in Mabopane was his only choice since the apartheid laws didn’t allow black people to buy or rent land in industrial area. Unfortunately his business was burned down November 1993. After two weeks he moved his business to Midrand, north of Johannesburg but took him two years to come to full production.
Investments Business Ventures
In December 2009 Herman Mashaba founded and established Lephatsi Investments which was a consolidation of Leswikeng and Phatsima Groups. The company diversify in sectors such as mining, real estate, financial services, aviation and information technology.
The following year in May, the investment company acquired 30 percent shares in Safintra Investments.
Herman continued to expand his financial portfolio when Lephatsi Financial Services (a joint initiative between businessman and Mashaba’s Lephatsi Investments (pty)) acquired 35% stake in Grant Thornton Capital (GTC) in December 2012.
Political Career of Herman Mashaba
In 2012 Mashaba developed interest in social justice, democracy and politics, and joined Free Market Foundation (FMF). He stepped down in 2014 and joined South Africa’s main opposition party the Democratic Alliance (DA). After joining DA he was castigated by many people who looked up to him calling him a traitor for joining a party which perpetuates white privilege. He defended himself by saying that the party is “not perfect but they represent my value system”.
In 2016, he became the first non-ANC Mayor of Johannesburg since 1994, leading a multi-party coalition following the municipal elections. During his tenure, he prioritised clean governance and service delivery.
However, in 2019, he resigned from both the mayoral position and the Democratic Alliance citing ideological differences. After that, in August 2020, he founded ActionSA, a party that is meant to put action ahead of political rhetoric. As of early 2026, Mashaba has announced his intention to compete for his party’s nomination in the Johannesburg mayoral race in the upcoming municipal elections.
Personal Life and Publications
Herman Mashaba got married to businesswoman Connie Mashaba in 1982 after they had met at Hans Kekana High School in Hammanskraal. After years in marriage, the couple was blessed with two children; their son Rhulani and daughter Khensani.
In addition to his business and political career, he is also an author. He published his autobiography, Black Like You, in 2012, followed by Capitalist Crusader in 2015, both of which reflect on his life experiences and economic philosophy.
Biography Controversy
In 2023, author Prince Mashele released a biography titled The Outsider, which was initially marketed as “unauthorised.” However, the book sparked controversy when it emerged that Mashaba had personally funded the project with R12.5 million. Consequently, the publisher withdrew the book, raising questions about its classification and transparency.
Net Worth in 2026
Herman Mashaba’s net worth is estimated to be approximately $100 million (R1.8 billion). This fortune was primarily built through his trailblazing entrepreneurial career, most notably as the founder of the haircare giant Black Like Me in 1985. Beyond his success in the beauty industry, his wealth is sustained by a diverse investment portfolio including in real estate, mining, aviation, and information technology. Mashaba has long maintained a policy of financial transparency, famously declaring his assets upon taking office as the Mayor of Johannesburg to ensure public accountability.
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