# James Selfe > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/James_Selfe > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/James_Selfe.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Selfe > Source revision: 1349962094 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) **James Selfe** (23 August 1955 – 21 May 2024) was a South African politician who was a Member of [Parliament](/source/Parliament_of_South_Africa) for the opposition [Democratic Alliance](/source/Democratic_Alliance_(South_Africa)) (DA), and the party's [Federal Council Chairperson](/source/Democratic_Alliance_Federal_Council).[1] He was also the party's Shadow Minister of Correctional Services. Selfe resigned from [Parliament](/source/Parliament_of_South_Africa) and as the Shadow Minister of Correctional Services with effect from 31 December 2021.[2] ## Education and early career Selfe was born in Pretoria, and attended Bishops ([Diocesan College](/source/Diocesan_College)) and the [University of Cape Town](/source/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](/source/Progressive_Federal_Party), the forerunner to today's [Democratic Alliance](/source/Democratic_Alliance_(South_Africa)). 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] ## Parliamentary career Selfe was elected to the [Senate of South Africa](/source/Senate_of_South_Africa) – later [National Council of Provinces](/source/National_Council_of_Provinces) – in 1994 and participated in the [Constitutional Assembly](/source/Constitutional_Assembly) which drew up the democratic [Constitution](/source/Constitution_of_South_Africa).[4] In 1999 he stayed in parliament, but moved to the [National Assembly](/source/National_Assembly_of_South_Africa).[3] In 2004, he was re-elected to [Parliament](/source/Parliament_of_South_Africa) 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](/source/Tony_Leon), [Helen Zille](/source/Helen_Zille) and [Mmusi Maimane](/source/Mmusi_Maimane).[citation needed] In February 2021, Selfe appeared before the [Zondo Commission](/source/Zondo_Commission) to testify on [Bosasa](/source/Bosasa)'s catering contracts for the [Department of Correctional Services](/source/Department_of_Correctional_Services_(South_Africa)).[6] Selfe told the commission that his "many calls over many years" that [Parliament](/source/Parliament_of_South_Africa) should investigate [Bosasa](/source/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](/source/Parliament_of_South_Africa) from across the aisle praised Selfe for his contributions to South Africa.[7] ## Death Selfe died in his house in [Cape Town](/source/Cape_Town) on 21 May 2024, at the age of 68.[8] ## References 1. ["DA initiates court action to enable South Africans living abroad to vote"](http://www.politicsweb.co.za/politicsweb/view/politicsweb/en/page71654?oid=115570&sn=Detail) 1. Joubert, Jan-Jan (2021-11-09). ["BOWING OUT: DA's James Selfe to retire from Parliament after 43 years in politics"](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2021-11-10-das-james-selfe-to-retire-from-parliament-after-43-years-in-politics/). *Daily Maverick*. Retrieved 2021-12-14. 1. ["Mr James Selfe"](https://web.archive.org/web/20090307095813/http://www.whoswhosa.co.za/Pages/profilefull.aspx?IndID=3359). Archived from [the original](http://www.whoswhosa.co.za/Pages/profilefull.aspx?IndID=3359) on 7 March 2009. 1. ["James Selfe"](http://www.pa.org.za/person/james-selfe/). *People's Assembly*. Retrieved 2021-12-14. 1. ["WATCH: State capture inquiry hears more Parliamentary oversight evidence | eNCA"](https://web.archive.org/web/20211215135243/https://www.enca.com/news/livestream-state-capture-inquiry-hears-more-parliamentary-oversight-evidence). *www.enca.com*. Archived from [the original](https://www.enca.com/news/livestream-state-capture-inquiry-hears-more-parliamentary-oversight-evidence) on 15 December 2021. Retrieved 2021-12-15. 1. Gerber, Jan. ["Zondo commission: 'Many calls' to probe Bosasa 'fell on deaf ears', claims DA's James Selfe"](https://www.news24.com/news24/southafrica/news/zondo-commission-many-calls-to-probe-bosasa-fell-on-deaf-ears-claims-das-james-selfe-20210202). *News24*. Retrieved 2021-12-15. 1. Gerber, Jan. ["National Assembly greets DA's James Selfe who retires as MP after 27 years"](https://www.news24.com/news24/southafrica/news/national-assembly-greets-das-james-selfe-who-retires-as-mp-after-27-years-20211210). *News24*. Retrieved 2021-12-14. 1. ["OBITUARY: James Selfe found common ground where others couldn't resist conflict"](https://www.businesslive.co.za/bd/national/2024-05-22-obituary-james-selfe-found-common-ground-where-others-couldnt-resist-conflict/) (in en-ZA). *BusinessLIVE*. Retrieved 2024-05-29. --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [James Selfe](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Selfe) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Selfe?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.