Tired of all the same old politicians crowding the scene this election? In our series of interviews with young activists from various parties taking part in the May 7 elections we give you a heads up on some people who may one day be our country's leaders, in our parliament and our legislatures.
Jordan Griffiths
Age: 24
Jordan Griffiths, 24, got his first taste for political activity when his father ran for local council in 2000.
“I was only ten then but I remember all the hype,” he said.
“I’m lucky that I grew up in a political family. I was very active in the Democratic Alliance from quite a young age and that conditioned me.” With a fascination for local contemporary news, politics and governance Griffiths has set his sights on a political career.
Currently Griffiths’ goal is to become a council member in the Tshwane Metro before the 2016 local government elections.
“You have a direct effect on peoples’ lives and you can see it. When you can actually hand over the keys to someone’s house, or see electricity lines that are running to a community. Those are really cool projects to be a part of. It’s what keeps you motivated.”
His path to becoming a full-time politician began in earnest in 2010 when he enrolled at the University of Pretoria for a degree in political science and economics. One of the first things he did was join the Democratic Alliance Students Organisation.
“That year they put me in charge of the election campaign. I got very active in student politics, then youth politics and then national politics as well. That’s pretty much how it started.”
Griffiths met many like-minded people while tackling the business of student politics. Talking with them and sharing ideas pulled him into the active enjoyment of being part of a political party.
“There is a camaraderie. You want to realise that you all identify with the same kind of ideology. I enjoyed spending time debating ideas with fellow members. It’s really cool being a part of something that is way bigger than yourself and getting to share in the success of it. It’s fun to play that role,” he said.
In 2012 he was selected for the DA Young Leaders Programme where he said he got full exposure to the Western Cape government and how it works. “We also learn about local government and its challenges,” he said.
Griffiths has continued to rise up the ranks: in mid-2012 he was elected Gauteng Provincial Youth Chairperson for the DA, catapulting him into national level politics.
Griffiths explains that a lot of the YPL graduates are now getting into parliament.
“One of my classmates from 2012, Bongani Baloyi, is now the mayor of Midvaal,” he said.
When Griffiths was elected to head the Student Representative Council of the University of Pretoria last year he also began to feel he was making positive changes in people lives.
“You can’t help all of them but you can help some. The only way to make an active change, and if you are serious about helping people, is through politics.”
Griffiths, who has shaggy black hair and rides a behemoth of a motorcycle, is currently an intern at Consultancy Africa Intelligence. He is also a gym instructor at Planet Fitness and likes listening to live music.
You have a direct effect on peoples’ lives and you can see it: young political activist
Tired of all the same old politicians crowding the scene this election? In our series of interviews with young activists from various parties taking part in the May 7 elections we give you a heads up on some people who may one day be our country's leaders, in our parliament and our legislatures.
Jordan Griffiths
Age: 24
Jordan Griffiths, 24, got his first taste for political activity when his father ran for local council in 2000.
“I was only ten then but I remember all the hype,” he said.
“I’m lucky that I grew up in a political family. I was very active in the Democratic Alliance from quite a young age and that conditioned me.” With a fascination for local contemporary news, politics and governance Griffiths has set his sights on a political career.
Currently Griffiths’ goal is to become a council member in the Tshwane Metro before the 2016 local government elections.
“You have a direct effect on peoples’ lives and you can see it. When you can actually hand over the keys to someone’s house, or see electricity lines that are running to a community. Those are really cool projects to be a part of. It’s what keeps you motivated.”
His path to becoming a full-time politician began in earnest in 2010 when he enrolled at the University of Pretoria for a degree in political science and economics. One of the first things he did was join the Democratic Alliance Students Organisation.
“That year they put me in charge of the election campaign. I got very active in student politics, then youth politics and then national politics as well. That’s pretty much how it started.”
Griffiths met many like-minded people while tackling the business of student politics. Talking with them and sharing ideas pulled him into the active enjoyment of being part of a political party.
“There is a camaraderie. You want to realise that you all identify with the same kind of ideology. I enjoyed spending time debating ideas with fellow members. It’s really cool being a part of something that is way bigger than yourself and getting to share in the success of it. It’s fun to play that role,” he said.
In 2012 he was selected for the DA Young Leaders Programme where he said he got full exposure to the Western Cape government and how it works. “We also learn about local government and its challenges,” he said.
Griffiths has continued to rise up the ranks: in mid-2012 he was elected Gauteng Provincial Youth Chairperson for the DA, catapulting him into national level politics.
Griffiths explains that a lot of the YPL graduates are now getting into parliament.
“One of my classmates from 2012, Bongani Baloyi, is now the mayor of Midvaal,” he said.
When Griffiths was elected to head the Student Representative Council of the University of Pretoria last year he also began to feel he was making positive changes in people lives.
“You can’t help all of them but you can help some. The only way to make an active change, and if you are serious about helping people, is through politics.”
Griffiths, who has shaggy black hair and rides a behemoth of a motorcycle, is currently an intern at Consultancy Africa Intelligence. He is also a gym instructor at Planet Fitness and likes listening to live music.
Click here learn about another young activist
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