ANC in trouble? Former Banker launches ‘Change Starts Now’ political party

Former banker and all-round businessman Roger Jardine has become the latest influential figure to form a political party with hopes to overthrow the ANC at next year’s general election.

ABOUT THE LAUNCH OF ‘CHANGE STARTS NOW’ POLITICAL PARTY

Launched this past weekend (Sunday, 10 December) in Riverlea, Johannesburg, Change Starts Now, debuted its presence in the South African political landscape, with almost 300 people eager to learn more about the party’s offerings.

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However, one key objective from Jardine is for a change of political power, come 2024.

The message from the party:

1. Our Constitution entitles our people to certain basic human rights. Rights we want and deserve.
2. We want and deserve to live in a safe country with a capable, compassionate, corruption-free, and accountable government with leaders we can trust and count on.
3. We want and deserve to live safely and with dignity, with decent jobs, adequate food, and better hospitals, schools, roads, and bridges.
4. We want and deserve clean drinking water, access to working toilets, reliable electricity, and a safe and sanitary environment.
5. We want and deserve a better life for ourselves and a brighter future for our children.

“CHANGE STARTS NOW seeks to help us achieve the South Africa we all want and deserve. Change starts with me. Change starts with you. Change starts with us. Change Starts Now.”

Jardine

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WHO IS ROGER JARDINE AND HIS STANCE WITH THE ANC

About Roger Jardine.

According to Wikipedia, William Rodger “Roger” Jardine was born in Riverlea, Johannesburg, to Bill Jardine and Anne Jardine. He has three brothers. His father, Bill Jardine, was involved in anti-apartheid activism and contributed to sports unification in South Africa. During his high school years, Jardine was involved in anti-apartheid activities, including boycotts and protests against the tricameral parliament, and was an activist in the United Democratic Front (UDF).

At age 29, Jardine became the Director General of South Africa’s Department of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology, surpassing the previous record held by Niel Barnard. He contributed to policy work on nuclear disarmament in South Africa and the first White paper on science and technology in 1996, which contributed to the later establishment of new research facilities and infrastructure such as the Southern African Large Telescope, Technology Innovation Agency and South African National Space Agency.

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Prior, he earned his BSc in Physics from Haverford College in 1989 and his MSc in Radiological Physics from Wayne State University in 1991.

Jardine formerly served as the Chairperson of FirstRand, a financial institution, and the Centre for Development and Enterprise, a South African think tank. He stepped down from FirstRand in November 2023 and announced at the time “he wishes to explore options to best serve South Africa and this will require his full attention”.

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