DA stalwart James Selfe dies after battle with illness
Former DA federal chairperson and stalwart James Selfe has died, the party confirmed on Tuesday.
He died after a long illness at the age of 68.
"James departed us peacefully, surrounded by family and loved ones, following a lengthy battle with illness. James Selfe led a quietly influential life in contemporary South African political history, having made an immense contribution to South African democracy ,” said DA leader John Steenhuisen
Selfe served under three DA federal leaders, Tony Leon, Helen Zille and Mmusi Maimane.
He was the force behind some of DA's successful legal challenges and most groundbreaking legal judgements including the President Zuma spy tapes, Nkandla saga, to blowing the whistle on state contracts awarded to Bosasa.
Steenhuisen described Selfe was a pioneer in opposition politics in South Africa.
"Through his service to three Federal Leaders as the party’s first Chairperson of the Federal Council, James operationalised the establishment and fortification of the DA as South Africa’s formidable official opposition.
"James Selfe helped finetune the party’s systems and processes, tightening its Federal Constitution and turning the fast-growing DA into a modern, internationally-renowned African liberal party of rules and fairness.
"James Selfe is one of the unsung heroes of South African democracy, having dedicated his life to the liberation of the South African people, and the betterment of our country as a newly-realised democracy.”
He is survived by his wife and three daughters.
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