By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Image Supplied.
Former FirstRand chair Roger Jardine officially launched his political movement at the Riverlea Empowerment Centre on Sunday afternoon.
Change Starts Now is poised to bring about a profound shift in the political landscape of South Africa.
It is not merely an organization voicing discontent; it has ambitious plans to register as a political party and throw its hat into the ring for the 2024 elections.
Jardine has met with DA leaders to talk about the possibility of becoming the face of the Multi-Party Charter For South Africa and the sixth president of democratic South Africa.
He previously held positions with Kagiso Primedia and Aveng.
Jardine said he will not be bullied into backing down from active politics ahead of the 2024 general elections.
He was speaking at the launch of his newly formed movement in Riverlea, Johannesburg.
“This government has become the face of corruption, the face of an uncaring, self-absorbed and incompetent state.
“There is another way. It is time for people from all walks of life, from all political formations, and from all sectors of society, to work together to form broad coalition that will bring political change,” said Jardine.
“As South Africans there is a lot that we can disagree about, but most of us can agree on one thing – we cannot continue like this.
“We cannot continue to give power to those who are meant to restore the dignity, but instead on a daily basis, they are taking our dignity from us.”
Jardine added that the South Africans can either choose to vote for the ANC to remain in power or vote for change.
“We have keenly observed and examined the increasingly chaotic meandering of a government without a plan, a state without ideas, a public service without leadership and a political establishment with no store of imagination. All of these today seemingly are unable to find a way back to the path of progress. In 2024 we will be faced with a choice to continue down a path that we are on. Either by continuing to place faith in a party that has abandoned its principles, its missions and our people by standing on the sidelines or we can try to change the road that we are on.”
Change Starts Now symbolizes a new wave in South African politics, offering an alternative to the ANC’s long-lasting supremacy.
Jardine who comes from the ANC said he is looking to reshape South Africa’s political landscape.
His initiative could potentially end the ANC’s dominance and bring about a much-needed change in South Africa’s political arena.
Jardine said his movement will consist of anti-apartheid and social justice activists, as well as business people, and will seeks to remind South Africans that politics does not only belong to political parties.
Two prominent figures in civil society Mark Heywood and Nicole Fritz have already confirmed they will be working with Jardine.
Murphy Morobe – an ANC stalwart and one of the student leaders involved in the 1976 youth uprisings is also set to join the outfit. Jardine has also confirmed that he is speaking to several parties – though nothing concrete has come from it yet.