Johannesburg - Thousands of prospective voters hoping to hear Joburg mayoral hopeful Herman Mashaba speak at the DA elections manifesto launch were left disappointed as the multimillionaire snubbed the gig to play truant tourist in China.
The DA bused in about 20 000 supporters to the Rand Stadium in Joburg, which all mayoral candidates and senior party officials attended.
Mashaba was conspicuous by his absence after apparently missing his flight back from China.
Even Western Cape Premier and former political journalist Helen Zille, who had shied away from attending DA events since stepping down as party boss last year, flew from Cape Town to attend.
Mashaba has been running a vigorous campaign over the past few months, visiting communities around Joburg and assuring residents they would receive world-class municipal services if they vote for him as the next mayor of South Africa’s richest city in the municipal elections on August 3.
On Saturday, Mashaba, who made his millions on the back of his haircare products company Black Like Me in the 1980s, was billed to give a vote of thanks at the launch, according to the official programme. But the author of Capitalist Crusader wasn't at the stadium on Saturday. Instead, he was still on the Asian continent, raising suspicions that he had snubbed the event in his own backyard.
Speaking to The Star a few hours after landing at OR Tambo International Airport on Sunday morning, Mashaba said while he was “devastated” that he missed the event, “it was not really my function” in the first place. It wasn’t his fault that his connecting flight from Beijing had been delayed by 24 hours, he said.
A flight information desk attendant at OR Tambo said there were two flights from China daily between 7am and 7.30am. On Sunday, a Cathay Pacific flight from China had landed at the airport at 6.37am.
Mashaba left for China two weeks ago to attend classes on city and infrastructure management in Shanghai and Beijing. He was expected back in the country on Saturday morning, when the party launched its election manifesto.
On Sunday, the self-made entrepreneur stood his ground, saying he did not know what the fuss was about.
“I launched my election manifesto for Joburg three weeks ago already.”
Mashaba said Saturday’s event was a national programme and the party had known about his trip three months ago.
“The trip was organised by myself. I’m a businessman. I’m spending my own money and time to know as much as possible about running a city properly.
“I‘m doing this in my own personal time and capacity. I visited Shanghai and Beijing. Three weeks ago I was in London,” said Mashaba.
Political analyst Dr Somadoda Fikeni said that depending on Mashaba’s explanation, some voters might begin to think he wasn't prioritising the party. “It would have been nice if he was there, considering that all other mayoral candidates were present.”
Analyst Prince Mashele said it wasn't “a big deal”, as Mashaba had already launched his manifesto in Alexandra. “But as Joburg's mayoral candidate, he should have been there.”
DA spokeswoman Phumzile van Damme said Mashaba had intended to be at the launch. “His flight got delayed, it was beyond his control.”
@luyolomkentane
The Star