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Businessman and activist Roger Jardine has officially launched a political movement called Change Starts Now, aiming to build national political structures in South Africa. The campaign has been the subject of speculation in political circles. Still, Jardine insists that this is not the case and that the announcement of his political party launch followed a lengthy consultation period with "the community, civil society and business."
Jardine has spent the last 25 years in high-profile private sector roles, including being at the helm of engineering and media companies. He moved into business after being one of the youngest department directors-general in Nelson Mandela’s government, one who cut his teeth in political activism while still a student. His family background has steeped him in political consciousness, with his grandmother working for unions alongside the mother of former Judge Albie Sachs.
Jardine's candidacy has been the subject of feverish speculation in political circles in recent weeks, but in other respects, it has seemingly come out of nowhere. There is, thus far, little distinct difference in view between his political principles and those of multiple existing opposition parties: the DA, Rise Mzansi, and Build One South Africa. Those parties have the advantage of working on the ground towards the 2024 polls for months longer than the Change Starts Now movement will have at its disposal.
To join an existing party is to buy into an existing platform, Jardine says. He is not a career politician. Given the situation's urgency, they are very open to talking to other parties and structures. What they would like to see is South Africans coming together so they can shape a progressive political party. Citizens want something new, and through the listening tour we are about to embark on, we can hopefully find some ideas.
One factor in Jardine’s favour is the team members he is succeeding in assembling around him. They include veteran activist (and outgoing Maverick Citizen editor) Mark Heywood, outgoing Helen Suzman Foundation head Nicole Fritz, the Progressive Health Forum’s Dr Aslam Dasoo, and — perhaps most notably — former UDF leader and Thabo Mbeki speechwriter Murphy Morobe. These highly respected individuals have all been convinced to leave fairly significant roles to throw their lot in with Jardine – a fact that has to count for something.
Asked if he has one pick for the South African figure he would most like to join his movement, Jardine laughs. “I want to recruit everybody!” he says.
In conclusion, Roger Jardine has launched a political movement called Change Starts Now, aiming to build national political structures in South Africa. He has spent the last 25 years in high-profile private sector roles, including being at the helm of engineering and media companies. His political principles align with existing opposition parties, such as the DA, Rise Mzansi, and Build One South Africa. He is open to talking to other parties and structures.
The Daily Maverick originally published this interview. Click here to read the original article.
