Joe Seremane

Wetshotsile Joseph Seremane (born 26 August 1938) be former South African politician den federal chairperson for de main opposition party for de country, de Democratic Alliance (DA).

Seremane start ein career as school teacher for Bekkersdal insyd Gauteng region for South Africa, till dem stop am from teaching because of ein involvement for politics. From 1963 to 1969, apartheid government hold am as political prisoner for Robben Island, then dem deport am go de black homeland called Bophuthatswana. Dem still detain am without trial from 1976 to 1978, plus several other times between 1982 den 1984.

He serve inside civic organisations first for advocacy work, then later for mediation plus conflict resolution. He be Director of Justice and Reconciliation for de South African Council of Churches, den after democracy come for 1994, he serve as Chief Land Claims Commissioner.

Insyd 1994, he join Democratic Party (DP), wey be de party before DA, den by 1998, dem elect am as Member of Parliament. For March 2000, he get elect as federal chairperson for de DP, wey make am become de founding chairperson of de Democratic Alliance (DA).

Seremane start first as member of de Pan Africanist Congress of Azania (PAC), wey be one radical black consciousness movement, but later he reject race-based politics, den people see am for long as de most prominent black figure inside de multi-racial DA.

After former DA leader Tony Leon announce sey he go retire insyd May 2007, people see Seremane as possible person to take over from am.

On 26 February 2007, he announce sey he go contest for DA leadership. But for 6 May 2007, he plus Athol Trollip lose de election give Helen Zille.

Seremane be DA ein candidate for president during de 25 September 2008 parliamentary vote to choose successor to Thabo Mbeki.

He retire for 2010, den Wilmot James take over from am as DA federal chairperson.

 References 

 External links 
 Parliament portfolio for Joe Seremane at parliament.gov.za
 Joe Seremane profile at DA website
 Mail & Guardian - Last black man standing
 Chaaban wanted DA's Seremane, tape reveals IOL

Category:1938 births
Category:Human
Category:South African people
Category:People wey komot Randfontein
Category:South African Tswana people
Category:Pan Africanist Congress of Azania politicians
Category:Democratic Party (South Africa) politicians
Category:Democratic Alliance (South Africa) politicians
Category:Members of de National Assembly of South Africa 1999–2004
Category:Members of de National Assembly of South Africa 2004–2009
Category:South African prisoners den detainees
Category:Inmates of Robben Island
Category:20th-century South African politicians
Category:21st-century South African politicians