Joe Seremane
Encyclopedia
Wetshotsile Joseph "Joe" Seremane is a South African politician and federal chairperson of the country's main opposition party, the Democratic Alliance (DA).
Seremane started his career as a school teacher in Bekkersdal in the North West province
of South Africa
, until he was barred from teaching due to his involvement in politics. He was a political prisoner on Robben Island
from 1963 to 1969, before being deported by the apartheid government to the then black homeland
of Bophuthatswana
. He was further detained without trial from 1976 to 1978, and several times between 1982 and 1984.
He has served civic organisations in advocacy and later, mediation and conflict resolution. He was the Director of Justice and Reconciliation for the South African Council of Churches
, and Chief Land Claims Commissioner after the 1994 advent of democracy in the country.
In 1994 he joined the Democratic Party
(DP), the predecessor to the DA and was elected Member of Parliament in 1998. In March 2000 he was elected federal chairperson of the DP, and subsequently became the founding chairperson of the DA.
Initially a member of the Pan Africanist Congress of Azania (PAC), a radical black consciousness movement, Seremane now rejects the politics of race and is seen as the most prominent black figure in the multi-racial DA.
After the announcement of the former DA leader Tony Leon
that he intended to retire in May 2007, Seremane was regarded as a possible candidate to succeed Leon.
On 26 February 2007 he announced that he would stand for election as leader for the DA. He together with Athol Trollip
were, however, defeated by Helen Zille
on 6 May 2007.
Seremane was the DA's candidate for President in the parliamentary 25 September 2008 vote to elect a successor to Thabo Mbeki
.
Seremane started his career as a school teacher in Bekkersdal in the North West province
North West (South African province)
North West is a province of South Africa. Its capital is Mafikeng. The province is located to the west of the major population centre of Gauteng.-History:...
of South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, until he was barred from teaching due to his involvement in politics. He was a political prisoner on Robben Island
Robben Island
Robben Island is an island in Table Bay, 6.9 km west of the coast of Bloubergstrand, Cape Town, South Africa. The name is Dutch for "seal island". Robben Island is roughly oval in shape, 3.3 km long north-south, and 1.9 km wide, with an area of 5.07 km². It is flat and only a...
from 1963 to 1969, before being deported by the apartheid government to the then black homeland
Bantustan
A bantustan was a territory set aside for black inhabitants of South Africa and South West Africa , as part of the policy of apartheid...
of Bophuthatswana
Bophuthatswana
Bophuthatswana , officially the Republic of Bophuthatswana was a Bantustan – an area set aside for members of a specific ethnicity – and nominal parliamentary democracy in the northwestern region of South Africa...
. He was further detained without trial from 1976 to 1978, and several times between 1982 and 1984.
He has served civic organisations in advocacy and later, mediation and conflict resolution. He was the Director of Justice and Reconciliation for the South African Council of Churches
South African Council of Churches
The South African Council of Churches is an interdenominational forum in South Africa. It was a prominent anti-apartheid organisation during the years of apartheid in South Africa. Its leaders have included Desmond Tutu, Beyers Naudé and Frank Chikane....
, and Chief Land Claims Commissioner after the 1994 advent of democracy in the country.
In 1994 he joined the Democratic Party
Democratic Party (South Africa)
The Democratic Party was the name of the South African political party now called the Democratic Alliance . Although the Democratic Party name dates from 1989, the party existed under other labels throughout the Apartheid years, when it was the Parliamentary opposition to the ruling National...
(DP), the predecessor to the DA and was elected Member of Parliament in 1998. In March 2000 he was elected federal chairperson of the DP, and subsequently became the founding chairperson of the DA.
Initially a member of the Pan Africanist Congress of Azania (PAC), a radical black consciousness movement, Seremane now rejects the politics of race and is seen as the most prominent black figure in the multi-racial DA.
After the announcement of the former DA leader Tony Leon
Tony Leon
Anthony James "Tony" Leon is a South African politician who served as leader of the opposition from 1999-2007 as leader of the Democratic Alliance. Although still a member of the DA, he currently serves as the South African Ambassador to Argentina under the ANC government.-Early life:Leon grew up...
that he intended to retire in May 2007, Seremane was regarded as a possible candidate to succeed Leon.
On 26 February 2007 he announced that he would stand for election as leader for the DA. He together with Athol Trollip
Athol Trollip
Athol Trollip is a South African politician, who has served as member of the National Assembly for the opposition Democratic Alliance . He served as Parliamentary leader of the opposition between 2009 and 2011, on behalf of the DA and its leader, Helen Zille...
were, however, defeated by Helen Zille
Helen Zille
Helen Zille is the Premier of the Western Cape, a member of the Western Cape Provincial Parliament, leader of South Africa's opposition Democratic Alliance political party, and a former Mayor of Cape Town.Zille is a former journalist and anti-apartheid activist, and famously exposed the truth...
on 6 May 2007.
Seremane was the DA's candidate for President in the parliamentary 25 September 2008 vote to elect a successor to Thabo Mbeki
Thabo Mbeki
Thabo Mvuyelwa Mbeki is a South African politician who served two terms as the second post-apartheid President of South Africa from 14 June 1999 to 24 September 2008. He is also the brother of Moeletsi Mbeki...
.