In later years, he was a founding member of the United Democratic Front, and he served as deputy provincial chairperson of the ANC's Eastern Cape branch from 1994 to 1996.
[2] He joined the African National Congress (ANC) at an early stage of the anti-apartheid struggle after moving to Port Elizabeth in his youth.
[2] When he returned to South Africa in 1964 to carry out an MK operation in Soweto, he was arrested by the Security Branch and sentenced to 11 years' imprisonment on Robben Island.
[2][3] Upon his release from prison in 1976, he was subject to a banning order which prohibited him from participating in political activities and banished him to the Ciskei bantustan.
[4] In 1997,[2] Masala joined the National Assembly, the lower house of the post-apartheid South African Parliament, where he filled a casual vacancy.