Meet parliament’s young guns
● Liam Jacobs, 23, will probably become the country’s youngest MP next month.
Jacobs, federal leader of the DA Students Organisation (Daso), is number 60 on the DA’s national parliamentary list. He first got involved in politics in 2019 in his hometown of Kimberley, then began his studies at the University of Pretoria, where he joined the DA.
He became a faculty house chair in his first year. “That experience of taking part in key decisions on transformation and fighting against financial and academic exclusion led to my current post as Daso federal leader. You’ve got to look at your values and what you stand for, and the DA is the party that shares my vision for a prosperous country.”
He values the DA because he does not feel overlooked when he makes contributions to discussions, and he is always consulted on key decisions.
“I am a member of the DA federal executive and federal council. Those are the two highest decision-making structures in the party. I never feel overlooked as just another young person. My ideas, opinions and inputs are taken seriously, even in complex matters such as coalition agreements.
“I think when young people aren’t allowed to speak their minds, they are in the wrong space.”
Jacobs will likely lock horns with the ANC’s youngest candidate, 26-year-old Palomina Jama, when the new parliament is formed. Jama, a gender activist and champion of the queer community, believes the ANC is way ahead in promoting equality for all.
“I would hate to be in a political party where I’m constantly calling out members for making homophobic remarks, or having to make the case for abortion and social security rights. In the ANC, we don’t have those problems.”
Jama caught the activism bug at university.
“I grew up pretty middle class, to the extent that even my mother was against applying for NSFAS (National Student Financial Aid Scheme), because she said those funds were for people who needed it, while we could brave it out without burdening the state. Things went downhill when my mom lost her job, and by the time I went to varsity things were very different in my life — and that’s when the blinkers came off. When I realised there was a harsh reality beyond my cushioned life, I joined Sasco (South African Students Congress) to fight for those who could not afford tuition fees and accommodation costs.”
Jama said she was proud of having fought over the past 10 years for progressive ideals that the ANC “jealously guarded”.
With the ANC Youth League having been disbanded, Jama and others found a home in the ANC Women’s League, which established a young women’s desk.
She is a member of the national executive committee and is on the party’s parliamentary list at No 78.
“The young women’s desk became a really good vehicle to align to. It meant that I could focus on issues that are closest to me, intersectionality politics, women and queer politics,” said Jama.
She said public office would not stifle her or prevent her from making contributions to activist debates, but would inspire her to work towards finding solutions to the country’s problems.
“There are things I thought I knew a lot about. When I was younger, I used to be very outspoken and critical of the ANC. But now I’ve come to understand what causes the difficulties. People say the longer you are in a space, the more subdued you become, but I say being in that space makes you more mature.
“You are in touch with where the challenges are, and parliament will be a good opportunity for me to show what I’ve learnt, having come from the activist end and having worked on the implementation end in government. I will understand what the activists on the ground want, and I will understand where the difficulties lie in implementation and as a legislator I will be able to find solutions to bridge that gap.”
The IFP’s Dalsy Manganyi, also vying for the National Assembly, said it was important to do away with discrimination against women, and that women and young people should not be tossed into positions “to decorate an executive”.
“It should not be that we say the space must accommodate women as though they are lesser. Our inclusion is not for affirmative action purposes. Women are capable and should be equally tasked with championing policies,” she said.
The 35-year-old is No 9 on the IFP’s parliamentary list.