James Selfe


James Selfe is a South African politician, a Member of Parliament for the opposition Democratic Alliance, and the party's former Federal Council Chairperson. He is also the party's Shadow Minister of Correctional Services.

Education and early career

Selfe was born in Pretoria, and attended Diocesan College and the University of Cape Town. 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.

Parliamentary career

Selfe was elected to the Senate - later National Council of Provinces - in 1994. In 1999 he stayed in parliament, but moved to the National Assembly. He has remained a member of parliament since then, and is currently the party's correctional services spokesperson, in addition to being chair of the DA Federal Executive.
In April 2009, Selfe filed the DA's founding affidavit in the Pretoria High Court for a judicial review of the National Prosecuting Authority's decision to drop charges against presidential front runner Jacob Zuma.
He is a member of the parliamentary committee for Social Affairs.

Offices held