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Roger Jardine
Roger in a portrait photograph
Anti-apartheid Activist, Businessman
Personal details
Born (1965-09-13) September 13, 1965 (age 59)
Riverlea, Johannesburg, South Africa
Parent(s)Bill Jardine and Anne Jardine
EducationHaverford College, Wayne State University
OccupationBusinessman, Corporate Leader, Anti- Apartheid Activist, Philanthropist

William Rodger “Roger” Jardine (born 13 September 1965) is a South African business executive, former government official and leader of the political party Change Starts Now.[1][2][3][4][5][6]

At age 29, Jardine became the Director General of South Africa's Department of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology,[3][7] surpassing the previous record held by Niel Barnard.[8] He contributed to policy work on nuclear disarmament in South Africa.[9] [10] 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.[11]

Jardine formerly served as the Chairperson of FirstRand,[3][12][13][14][15] a financial institution, and formerly also Chair of the Centre for Development and Enterprise, a South African think tank.[16][17][18][19] 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".[3][20][21][22][23][24]

Early life and education

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Roger Jardine was born in Riverlea, Johannesburg, to Bill Jardine and Anne Jardine. He has three brothers[25][7] His father, Bill Jardine, was involved in anti-apartheid activism and contributed to sports unification in South Africa.[26] 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).[3] He earned his BSc in Physics from Haverford College in 1989 and his MSc in Radiological Physics from Wayne State University in 1991.[27]

Public sector and policy work

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After returning to South Africa in 1992, Jardine worked as the National Coordinator of Science and Technology Policy for the African National Congress (ANC). In 1995, despite having no direct experience, the ANC appointed him director-general of South Africa's Department of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology at the age of 29.[28] His responsibilities included reviewing science councils and addressing funding issues. Jardine has been vocal against corruption and leadership issues in South African politics[29][30][31] and has spoken at the University of Witwatersrand (Wits) Business School.[3][32][33]

Corporate leadership

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Jardine transitioned into the private sector, serving as CEO of Kagiso Media, Aveng Group, and Primedia.[34][35][36] He was the chairperson of FirstRand, a financial institution that offers a range of financial services in South Africa and other African countries, between April 2018 and November 2023.[37][38][39][40][41][42]

Jardine has also served on the board of the Centre for Development and Enterprise.

Change Starts Now

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In December 2023, Jardine founded the political movement Change Starts Now,[1] to contend in the 2024 national elections. Jardine launched the movement in Riverlea, in Johannesburg West.[43] He formed the movement alongside former UDF leader and speechwriter Murphy Morobe, editor and activist Mark Heywood, Nicole Fritz of the Helen Suzman Foundation, and anti-apartheid activist and Nelson Mandela's former doctor, Dr Aslam Dasoo.[44]

Willie Esterhuyse, who played an important role in the negotiations leading up to the transition to a democracy in South Africa,[45] remarked in an interview published in Die Burger newspaper on 15 February 2024 that "From political history we learn that countries are saved by organized middle groups. But then you have to have the right leaders." and "maybe" 'Roger Jardine with his Change Starts Now party is the man who could lead such a "revolt" of the non-racial middle class. But Esterhuyse emphasizes that ideally three or four strong leaders should emerge. "They will have to convert the anger of the middle class into strong support at the ballot box. And then they will have to put practical plans into action."[46]

In response to the launch of the party's Change Charter election manifesto launched in Kliptown on 19 February 2024, the CEO of Sibanye-Stillwater, one of South Africa's top four private sector employers, Neal Froneman said “It is one of the most credible plans I have seen for realising South Africa’s potential… I for one would be prepared to pay taxes that are needed to support the reconstruction and growth fund with real confidence that the money would be used meaningfully to secure a prosperous future. Implementation of the CSN Charter would build a national unified identity that we can all identify with” [47]

Some journalists speculated that private funders may have offered the members of the 'Moonshot Pact Coalition' one billion Rand to take Jardine as their presidential candidate.[48] In response, one critic called it "a brazen attempt by a small group of very rich people to buy political influence".[49]

Change Starts Now Funding

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The party's funding declarations to the Electoral Commission of South Africa, in accordance with now defunct local party funding transparency laws, show donations totalling R35 820 000 (from three donors) to finance campaign operations for the period 2023/2024.[50]

Philanthropy and community involvement

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Jardine supports various charitable organizations and formerly served as the Chairman of the Centre for Development and Enterprise.[51][52] He has also been involved in initiatives aimed at combating racism and xenophobia in Gauteng province.[53]

Aveng

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Roger Jardine was the CEO of Aveng Group between 2008 and 2013.[54] During his tenure, the company faced allegations of collusion surrounding events that predated his appointment.[3][32][55][56][57][58] Jardine stepped down after the completion of regulatory investigations.

Sports and rugby

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The Jardine family has been involved in rugby. Roger Jardine served on the board of Sharks Rugby Union for over a decade.[59][60]

Personal life

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Roger has been married to Christa Kuljian for 32 years (1991). In the 1980s Kuljian worked for Senator Edward Kennedy and in the early 1990s moved to South Africa to work for the Mott Foundation.

Kuljian is also a writer and author of Sanctuary (Jacana, 2013) and Darwin’s Hunch(Jacana, 2016), which was shortlisted for the Sunday Times Alan Paton Award for Nonfiction in 2017.[61][62] Christa is currently a Research Associate at the Wits Institute for Social and Economic Research (WiSER).[63] Her writing has appeared in many publications including the Mail and Guardian[64] and The Johannesburg Review of Books.[65] Christa was a Ruth First Fellow in 2010[66] and gave the Steve Biko Bioethics Lecture in 2023.[67] They have two adult children.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Change Starts Now". www.changestartsnow.org.za. Retrieved 2023-12-13.
  2. ^ "Primemedia gets new CEO". News24.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g "Moves to establish Roger Jardine as a credible presidential candidate". News24/City Press.
  4. ^ "Firstrand's chair for life". BusinessLive.
  5. ^ "Banker, former civil servant, academic: Roger Jardine raises his hand to be president". DailyMaverick.
  6. ^ "WITS Business School Advisory Board".
  7. ^ a b Haffajee, Ferial (24 October 2023). "Banker, former civil servant, academic: Roger Jardine raises his hand to be president". Daily Maverick.
  8. ^ Barnard, Niël (2015). Secret Revolution: Memoirs of a spy boss (Kindle ed.). South Africa: Tafelberg. ISBN 978-0624074571.
  9. ^ Iqbal, Saghir (2018-07-31). Nuclear Apartheid: Bullying, Hypocrisy and the Double Standards on Nuclear Weapons. Saghir Iqbal. ISBN 978-1-9839-1041-8.
  10. ^ "Why South Africa Gave Up the Bomb". Foreign Affairs.
  11. ^ Marais, Hendrik C; Pienaar, Magdal (2009). "The evolution of the South African science, technology and innovation system 1994–2009: An exploration". African Journal of Science, Technology, Innovation and Development. 2 (3): 82–109 – via Sabinet.
  12. ^ "FirstRand promises climate risk disclosure roadmap in 2020 - Just Share". justshare.org.za. 2019-11-28. Retrieved 2023-10-27.
  13. ^ "FirstRand CEO steps down, with big changes at FNB". Daily Investor. 4 October 2023.
  14. ^ "FirstRand Bank announces Board member Roger Jardine as next Independent Non-Executive Chairman". Talent4Boards. 1 December 2017.
  15. ^ Mchunu, Sandile (1 December 2017). "Roger Jardine chosen to take the helm at First Rand Limited". Independent Online.
  16. ^ "State can't meet SA's social and economic needs, says FirstRand's chairperson – Moonstone Information Refinery". 2022-10-17. Retrieved 2023-10-27.
  17. ^ "William Rodger Jardine "Roger"". Bloomberg.
  18. ^ "CHANGE TO FIRSTRAND BOARD AND NEW SENIOR EXECUTIVE APPOINTMENTS" (PDF). Sharenet.
  19. ^ "Management and Board". Firstrand.
  20. ^ "Big changes for FNB – new CEO announced in major leadership shuffle". Business Tech. 4 October 2023.
  21. ^ "FirstRand appoints first Black woman CEO". Jacaranda FM. Retrieved 2023-10-27.
  22. ^ https://senspdf.jse.co.za/documents/SENS_20231004_S480713.pdf
  23. ^ Ntsoane, Lethabo (2023-10-04). "FirstRand's Board Reshuffle: New Leaders, New Horizons". Rateweb - South Africa. Retrieved 2023-10-27.
  24. ^ "ShareData Online - JSE listed company SENS". www.sharedata.co.za. Retrieved 2023-11-08.
  25. ^ Beckett, Janice (2 August 2018). "Honouring the legacy of Bill Jardine". Soweto Urban.
  26. ^ "Honouring the legacy of Bill Jardine". Soweto Urban. 2 August 2018.
  27. ^ "William Jardine Net Worth (2023) – wallmine.com". wallmine.com. Retrieved 2023-10-27.
  28. ^ Lawson, Mark (February 1995). "ANC adviser takes over at science ministry" (PDF). Nature. 373 (6516): 651. doi:10.1038/373651b0. PMID 7854432. S2CID 1699001.
  29. ^ "South Africa: Political rows cause Jardine to resign". All Africa.
  30. ^ Staff Reporter (2013-10-11). "Skills crisis curbed Aveng's reprisal". The Mail & Guardian. Retrieved 2023-10-27.
  31. ^ Moneyweb (2022-10-13). "FirstRand chair slams 'glacial' pace of Ramaphosa's infrastructure programme". Moneyweb. Retrieved 2023-10-27.
  32. ^ a b "'The biggest scandal in post-apartheid SA'". www.onlinetenders.co.za. Retrieved 2023-10-27.
  33. ^ Lowman, Stuart (2018-10-04). "FirstRand chairman Roger Jardine urges ANC to shun populism". BizNews.com. Retrieved 2023-10-27.
  34. ^ "Roger Jardine - Director of Fisker Inc | FSR". Macroaxis. Retrieved 2023-10-27.
  35. ^ Mochiko, Thabiso (21 January 2014). "Roger Jardine appointed group CEO at Primedia". Bizcommunity.
  36. ^ "Business Leaders". Market Screener.
  37. ^ "Roger Jardine chosen to take the helm at FirstRand". Retrieved 2023-10-27 – via PressReader.
  38. ^ "Management and Board". FirstRand.
  39. ^ "FirstRand to disclose fossil fuel assets". Legalbrief. 27 October 2023.
  40. ^ "| South Africa's First National Bank (FNB) To Start Operations in Zambia …". 2010-12-02. Archived from the original on 2 December 2010. Retrieved 2022-04-23.
  41. ^ "allAfrica.com: South Africa: RMB Rejig Will Give Investors a Choice". 2011-06-29. Archived from the original on 29 June 2011. Retrieved 2022-04-23.
  42. ^ "FirstRand Ltd". 2012-06-07. Archived from the original on 7 June 2012. Retrieved 2022-04-23.
  43. ^ Njilo, Nonkululeko (2023-12-11). "Change Starts Now aims to woo ANC stalwart Mavuso Msimang". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 2023-12-12.
  44. ^ Davis, Rebecca (2023-12-10). "'We have to fix the balance sheets of SA Inc,' says presidential hopeful Roger Jardine at launch of Change Starts Now". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 2023-12-12.
  45. ^ "'Willie Esterhuyse'". SAHistory. Retrieved 2023-02-22.
  46. ^ Freoneman, Johannes (2023-02-15). "'Ek het steeds hoop'". News24 (in Afrikaans). Retrieved 2023-02-22.
  47. ^ Marrian, Natasha (2024-02-22). "'Natasha Marrian: Is Change Starts Now the new Purple Cow?'". Financial Mail. Retrieved 2024-02-22.
  48. ^ Merten, Marianne (9 December 2023). "The billion rand question: can a president like Jardine be parachuted-in?". Daily Maverick.
  49. ^ Pithouse, Richard (17 December 2023). "Democracy sold down the river". Archived from the original on 23 December 2023.
  50. ^ Mahlangu, George. "PUBLISHED DECLARATIONS REPORT 2023/2024" (PDF). Electoral Commission of South Africa. Retrieved 22 July 2024.
  51. ^ Import, Pongrass (2015-04-15). "CEO Sleep Out helps the homeless". Sandton Chronicle. Retrieved 2023-10-27.
  52. ^ "CDE Advisory Board". Centre for Development and Enterprise. 22 November 2017.
  53. ^ "Social cohesion policy support (2019) | GCRO". www.gcro.ac.za. Retrieved 2023-10-27.
  54. ^ "Roger Jardine, CEO, Aveng Group: Interview - South Africa 2013 - Oxford Business Group". 2013-09-17. Retrieved 2023-10-27.
  55. ^ "Tender transparency needed to avoid collusion". Mail & Guardian. 9 September 2013.
  56. ^ "On collusion in the construction industry". Politicsweb.
  57. ^ "Collusion scandal was painful". EyeWitness News.
  58. ^ "Collusion is just a nice word for corruption". MoneyWeb.
  59. ^ thembavukeya (2018-08-02). "Honouring the legacy of Bill Jardine". Soweto Urban. Retrieved 2023-10-27.
  60. ^ "In the scrum with Jardine on his lekker addictions". Independent Online. Retrieved 16 November 2007.
  61. ^ "About – Christa Kuljian". Retrieved 2023-12-22.
  62. ^ "Christa Kuljian – Writer. Editor. Teacher". Retrieved 2023-12-22.
  63. ^ "Christa Kuljian | Wits Institute for Social and Economic Research". wiser.wits.ac.za. Retrieved 2023-12-22.
  64. ^ "Christa Kuljian, Author at The Mail & Guardian". The Mail & Guardian. Retrieved 2023-12-22.
  65. ^ "Remembering Myesha Jenkins, a revolutionary in politics, poetry and jazz, by Christa Kuljian and Makhosazana Xaba". The Johannesburg Review of Books. 2020-10-08. Retrieved 2023-12-22.
  66. ^ https://wits.journalism.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/CMC-Salon-article-Dec-2010.pdf
  67. ^ Christa Kuljian Steve Biko Bioethics Lecture 2023, retrieved 2023-12-22
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