James Selfe
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Official portrait, 2009
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| 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 | (1955-08-23)23 August 1955 Pretoria, Transvaal Province, Union of South Africa |
| Died | 21 May 2024(2024-05-21) (aged 68) Cape Town, South Africa |
| Political party | Democratic Alliance |
| Spouse | Sheila Selfe |
| Children | Stephanie, Chloe and Emma Selfe |
| Alma mater | University of Cape Town |
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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]
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