imported>Jevansen: Removing from Category:Members of the National Assembly of South Africa has subcat using Cat-a-lot

2024-11-25T03:53:12Z

Removing from Category:Members of the National Assembly of South Africa has subcat using Cat-a-lot

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{{Short description|South African politician (1955–2024)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2020}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific-prefix =
| name = James Selfe
| honorific-suffix =
| image = James Selfe, Member of Parliament.jpg
| caption = Official portrait, 2009
| office = [[Official Opposition Shadow Cabinet (South Africa)|Shadow Minister of Correctional Services]]
| term_start = 15 May 2009
| term_end = 31 December 2021
| predecessor = [[Hendrik Schmidt]]
| leader = [[Athol Trollip]] [[Lindiwe Mazibuko]] [[Mmusi Maimane]] [[Annelie Lotriet]] (acting) [[John Steenhuisen]]
| deputy = [[Werner Horn]] [[Lennit Max]]
| office1 = Chairperson of the [[Democratic Alliance Federal Council]]
| leader1 = [[Tony Leon]] [[Helen Zille]] [[Mmusi Maimane]] [[John Steenhuisen]]
| term_start1 = 24 June 2000
| term_end1 = 20 October 2019
| predecessor1 = ''Position established''
| successor1 = [[Helen Zille]]
| office2 = [[Member of the National Assembly of South Africa]]
| constituency2 = [[Western Cape (National Assembly of South Africa constituency)|Western Cape]]
| term_start2= 29 April 1994
| term_end2 = 31 December 2021
| birth_date = {{birth date|1955|08|23|df=yes}}
| birth_place = [[Pretoria]], [[Transvaal Province]], [[Union of South Africa]]
| death_date = {{death date and age|2024|05|21|1955|08|23|df=yes}}
| death_place = [[Cape Town]], South Africa
| nationality = South African
| spouse = Sheila Selfe
| party = [[Democratic Alliance (South Africa)|Democratic Alliance]]
| relations =
| children = Stephanie, Chloe and Emma Selfe
| residence =
| alma_mater = [[University of Cape Town]]
| occupation =
| profession =
| religion =
| signature =
| website =
| footnotes =
}}

'''James Selfe''' (23 August 1955 – 21 May 2024) was a South African politician who was a Member of [[Parliament of South Africa|Parliament]] for the opposition [[Democratic Alliance (South Africa)|Democratic Alliance]] (DA), and the party's [[Democratic Alliance Federal Council|Federal Council Chairperson]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.politicsweb.co.za/politicsweb/view/politicsweb/en/page71654?oid=115570&sn=Detail|title=DA initiates court action to enable South Africans living abroad to vote}}</ref> He was also the party's Shadow Minister of Correctional Services. Selfe resigned from [[Parliament of South Africa|Parliament]] and as the Shadow Minister of Correctional Services with effect from 31 December 2021.<ref name=":2" />

== Education and early career ==
Selfe was born in Pretoria, and attended Bishops ([[Diocesan College]]) and the [[University of Cape Town]].<ref name="auto">{{cite web|url=http://www.whoswhosa.co.za/Pages/profilefull.aspx?IndID=3359 |title=Mr James Selfe |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090307095813/http://www.whoswhosa.co.za/Pages/profilefull.aspx?IndID=3359 |archivedate= 7 March 2009 }}</ref> 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 (South Africa)|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.<ref name="auto"/>

== Parliamentary career ==
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 of South Africa|Constitution]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=James Selfe|url=http://www.pa.org.za/person/james-selfe/|access-date=2021-12-14|website=People's Assembly|language=en}}</ref> In 1999 he stayed in parliament, but moved to the [[National Assembly of South Africa|National Assembly]].<ref name="auto"/> In 2004, he was re-elected to [[Parliament of South Africa|Parliament]] and became responsible for the Member of Portfolio Committee on Justice and Correctional Services<ref>{{Cite web|title=WATCH: State capture inquiry hears more Parliamentary oversight evidence {{!}} eNCA|url=https://www.enca.com/news/livestream-state-capture-inquiry-hears-more-parliamentary-oversight-evidence|access-date=2021-12-15|website=www.enca.com|language=en|archive-date=15 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211215135243/https://www.enca.com/news/livestream-state-capture-inquiry-hears-more-parliamentary-oversight-evidence|url-status=dead}}</ref> in addition to being chair of the Democratic Alliance's Federal Council.<ref name="auto"/>

In June 2019, Selfe announced his retirement as chair of the Democratic Alliance's Federal Council.{{cn|date=March 2022}} He had served in the post for almost two decades under the leadership of [[Tony Leon]], [[Helen Zille]] and [[Mmusi Maimane]].{{cn|date=March 2022}}

In February 2021, Selfe appeared before the [[Zondo Commission]] to testify on [[Bosasa]]'s catering contracts for the [[Department of Correctional Services (South Africa)|Department of Correctional Services]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|last=Gerber|first=Jan|title=Zondo commission: 'Many calls' to probe Bosasa 'fell on deaf ears', claims DA's James Selfe|url=https://www.news24.com/news24/southafrica/news/zondo-commission-many-calls-to-probe-bosasa-fell-on-deaf-ears-claims-das-james-selfe-20210202|access-date=2021-12-15|website=News24|language=en-US}}</ref> Selfe told the commission that his "many calls over many years" that [[Parliament of South Africa|Parliament]] should investigate [[Bosasa]] "fell on deaf ears".<ref name=":1" />

After 43 years in politics, Selfe announced his retirement in November 2021 due to deteriorating health.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|last=Joubert|first=Jan-Jan|date=2021-11-09|title=BOWING OUT: DA's James Selfe to retire from Parliament after 43 years in politics|url=https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2021-11-10-das-james-selfe-to-retire-from-parliament-after-43-years-in-politics/|access-date=2021-12-14|website=Daily Maverick|language=en}}</ref> On 10 December 2021, the National Assembly bid farewell to long-serving Selfe in its final sitting of 2021.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|last=Gerber|first=Jan|title=National Assembly greets DA's James Selfe who retires as MP after 27 years|url=https://www.news24.com/news24/southafrica/news/national-assembly-greets-das-james-selfe-who-retires-as-mp-after-27-years-20211210|access-date=2021-12-14|website=News24|language=en-US}}</ref> During this sitting, members of [[Parliament of South Africa|Parliament]] from across the aisle praised Selfe for his contributions to South Africa.<ref name=":3" />

== Death ==
Selfe died in his house in [[Cape Town]] on 21 May 2024, at the age of 68.<ref>{{Cite web |title=OBITUARY: James Selfe found common ground where others couldn't resist conflict |url=https://www.businesslive.co.za/bd/national/2024-05-22-obituary-james-selfe-found-common-ground-where-others-couldnt-resist-conflict/ |access-date=2024-05-29 |website=BusinessLIVE |language=en-ZA}}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}
{{commons}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Selfe, James}}
[[Category:1955 births]]
[[Category:2024 deaths]]
[[Category:Politicians from Pretoria]]
[[Category:South African people of British descent]]
[[Category:Democratic Alliance (South Africa) politicians]]
[[Category:University of Cape Town alumni]]
[[Category:Members of the National Assembly of South Africa 2004–2009]]
[[Category:Members of the National Assembly of South Africa 2009–2014]]
[[Category:Members of the National Assembly of South Africa 2014–2019]]
[[Category:Members of the National Assembly of South Africa 2019–2024]]
[[Category:Members of the Senate of South Africa]]
[[Category:Members of the National Council of Provinces]]
[[Category:Alumni of Diocesan College, Cape Town]]
[[Category:Members of the National Assembly of South Africa 1999–2004]]

{{WesternCape-politician-stub}}

James Selfe - Revision history

imported>Jevansen: Removing from Category:Members of the National Assembly of South Africa has subcat using Cat-a-lot