{{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 = Shadow Minister of Correctional Services | term_start = 15 May 2009 | term_end = 31 December 2021 | predecessor = Hendrik Schmidt | leader = Athol Trollip<br>Lindiwe Mazibuko<br>Mmusi Maimane<br>Annelie Lotriet (acting)<br>John Steenhuisen | deputy = Werner Horn<br>Lennit Max | office1 = Chairperson of the Democratic Alliance Federal Council | leader1 = Tony Leon<br>Helen Zille<br>Mmusi Maimane<br>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 | 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 | spouse = Sheila Selfe | party = Democratic Alliance | relations = | children = Stephanie, Chloe and Emma Selfe | alma_mater = University of Cape Town | occupation = | profession = | signature = | website = | footnotes = }}
'''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.<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 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. 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.<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.<ref name="auto"/> In 2004, he was re-elected to 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.{{citation needed|date=March 2022}} He had served in the post for almost two decades under the leadership of Tony Leon, Helen Zille and Mmusi Maimane.{{citation needed|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.<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 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 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}}
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{{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
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