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| Roger Jardine: Gallo Images |
Roger Jardine, a former banker, civil servant, and academic, is set to enter politics when he leaves FirstRand chairperson. With an MSc in Radiological Physics and an interest in running a complex economy and government, Jardine believes he can better handle the country's future. His campaigners confirmed that he thinks it is time to stop talking and get stuck into politics.
Jardine is the former CEO of Kagiso, Primedia, and Aveng and was the country's youngest DG of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology in 1995 at 29 years old. He studied in the US and graduated with an MSc in Radiological Physics. He returned to public service and followed Eric Molobi into business when he started Kagiso Trust Investments, an empowerment company that emerged from anti-apartheid stalwarts.
Jardine's passions include ensuring an equal balance of power between Parliament and the Executive, the economic crisis, and setting out priorities for fixing the state. He will likely start a political party and enter into talks with coalition pacts with similar values.
Jardine has used his annual Chairman's Report to take a stand on issues, with his impatience becoming more palpable since 2018. In 2018, he noted some "early signs of positive change" in changes made to SOE boards and President Cyril Ramaphosa's election. In 2019, he set out his confidence in business as a government partner and highlighted the need for reforms.
In his 2022 Chairman's Report, hints of his decision to move into politics were contained in his letter, stating that the state currently possesses neither the financial nor human resources to meet the social and economic needs of South Africa.
Jardine's chances in politics are limited, but many business leaders are excited by his chances. He is among the young professionals who have grown tired of talking about what is wrong in South Africa and now want to enter the arena to fix it.
