James Selfe | |
---|---|
Shadow Minister of Correctional Services | |
In office 15 May 2009 – 31 December 2021 | |
Deputy |
Werner Horn Lennit Max |
Leader |
Athol Trollip Lindiwe Mazibuko Mmusi Maimane Annelie Lotriet (acting) John Steenhuisen |
Preceded by | Hendrik Schmidt |
Chairperson of the Democratic Alliance Federal Council | |
In office 24 June 2000 – 20 October 2019 | |
Leader |
Tony Leon Helen Zille Mmusi Maimane John Steenhuisen |
Preceded by | Position established |
Succeeded by | Helen Zille |
Member of the National Assembly of South Africa | |
In office 29 April 1994 – 31 December 2021 | |
Constituency | Western Cape |
Personal details | |
Born | Pretoria, Transvaal Province, Union of South Africa | 23 August 1955
Died | 21 May 2024 Cape Town, South Africa | (aged 68)
Political party | Democratic Alliance |
Spouse | Sheila Selfe |
Children | Stephanie, Chloe and Emma Selfe |
Alma mater | University of Cape Town |
James Selfe (23 August 1955 – 21 May 2024) was a South African politician who was a Member of Parliament for the opposition Democratic Alliance (DA), and the party's Federal Council Chairperson. [1] He was also the party's Shadow Minister of Correctional Services. Selfe resigned from Parliament and as the Shadow Minister of Correctional Services with effect from 31 December 2021. [2]
Selfe was born in Pretoria, and attended Bishops ( Diocesan College) and the University of Cape Town. [3] After earning a master's degree, Selfe worked between 1979 and 1988 as a researcher for the Progressive Federal Party, the forerunner to today's Democratic Alliance. He became the party's communications director in 1988, and a member of the President's Council a year later. In 1992 he became an executive director of the party. [3]
Selfe was elected to the Senate of South Africa – later National Council of Provinces – in 1994 and participated in the Constitutional Assembly which drew up the democratic Constitution. [4] In 1999 he stayed in parliament, but moved to the National Assembly. [3] In 2004, he was re-elected to Parliament and became responsible for the Member of Portfolio Committee on Justice and Correctional Services [5] in addition to being chair of the Democratic Alliance's Federal Council. [3]
In June 2019, Selfe announced his retirement as chair of the Democratic Alliance's Federal Council.[ citation needed] He had served in the post for almost two decades under the leadership of Tony Leon, Helen Zille and Mmusi Maimane.[ citation needed]
In February 2021, Selfe appeared before the Zondo Commission to testify on Bosasa's catering contracts for the Department of Correctional Services. [6] Selfe told the commission that his "many calls over many years" that Parliament should investigate Bosasa "fell on deaf ears". [6]
After 43 years in politics, Selfe announced his retirement in November 2021 due to deteriorating health. [2] On 10 December 2021, the National Assembly bid farewell to long-serving Selfe in its final sitting of 2021. [7] During this sitting, members of Parliament from across the aisle praised Selfe for his contributions to South Africa. [7]
Selfe died in his house in Cape Town on 21 May 2024, at the age of 68. [8]