Tony Leon

Last updated

The Honourable
Tony Leon
Tony Leon in 2021 (cropped).jpg
Leon in 2021
Ambassador of South Africa to Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay
In office
September 2009 –October 2012
Spouse(s)Michal Leon
(née Even-Zahav)
(m. 2000)
Children2
Alma mater University of Witwatersrand
Occupation
  • Politician
  • diplomat
  • businessman
  • columnist
  • activist
ProfessionLawyer

Anthony James Leon (born 15 December 1956) is a South African politician who served as leader of the opposition from 1999-2007 as leader of the Democratic Alliance (DA). He led the DA from its inception in 2000, until his retirement from leadership in 2007. Before that, he led the Democratic Party from 1994. He is the longest-serving leader of the official opposition in parliament since the advent of democracy in 1994. Although still a member of the DA, he served as the South African Ambassador to Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay under the African National Congress government from 2009 to 2012.

Contents

Since 2012, Leon has been serving as Executive Chairman of Resolve Communications (Pty) Ltd - a South African-based advocacy for reputation management and strategic communications consultancy, and a consultant to various international companies. Leon is also a contracted columnist to Arena Holdings Ltd, with his columns appearing weekly or monthly in Business Day , Sunday Times , and BusinessLive. He is also the author of five books.

Early life

Leon was born and raised in Durban [1] during the apartheid era. He was educated at Clifton School (Durban) and Kearsney College near Durban. His father Ramon Leon was a High Court Judge. [2] Both his parents were active in the liberal, anti-apartheid Progressive Party (which later became the Democratic Party). He is Jewish. [3]

Political career

In 1974 at the age of 18 he became an organiser for the Progressive Party, one of the two opposition parties represented in parliament at the time. After this, he qualified as an attorney at the University of the Witwatersrand, where he was President of the Law Students' Council and Vice-President of the Students' Representative Council, and became a lecturer in the Law Department in 1986. He has accredited Harry Schwarz and Helen Suzman as his biggest inspirations. [4] In the same year he was elected to the Johannesburg City Council for Yeoville. When the results for the election were released, it was announced that the National Party candidate Sam Bloomberg had won. However Harry Schwarz, his political mentor, uncovered that this was untrue, and Leon was declared the winner. He became leader of the opposition in the city council. [5]

In 1989 he was elected to Parliament for the Houghton constituency, representing the Progressive Party's successor, the Democratic Party.

From 1990 to 1994 he chaired the DP's Bill of Rights Commission, and as such was an advisor to the Convention for a Democratic South Africa (CODESA) and a delegate to the multi-party negotiations that led to the end of apartheid and the establishment of a non-racial democracy in 1994.

At the 1994 general elections, Leon was again elected to Parliament in the first democratic National Assembly, as well as leader of the Democratic Party. At the time, the Democratic Party was perceived as merely a minor party of white liberals, an oddity in the first non-racial democratic government of South Africa. Yet between 1994 and 1999 its seven members managed to become the most vocal, active and involved legislators. [6]

In 1998, Leon published his first book on the eve of the second democratic election, entitled Hope & Fear: Reflections of a Democrat (Jonathan Ball, 1998). With the second democratic elections in 1999 and the New National Party only retaining 28 seats (down from 82 in 1994), he became Leader of the Opposition as the DP took 38 seats, showing a growth of over five-fold.

After the 2004 general elections, the DA under Leon had a vote increased by 2.8%, as did the ANC with an increase of 3.3%. These gains came at a cost to three of the five minor opposition parties, with only the Independent Democrats – a newcomer in the elections – also attracting support.

Leon built a high media profile as opposition leader by criticising the ANC government under Nelson Mandela but more so under his successor, President Thabo Mbeki.

Post Politics

On 26 November 2006, Leon announced that he would step down from the leadership of the DA in 2007, and would not accept nomination for the leadership of the party at the party's congress in May 2007. He officially stepped down at that conference, and Helen Zille was elected to be the new party leader on 6 May 2007. [7] [8] Leon, nevertheless, kept his seat in Parliament until 2009, when its term expired.

One of South Africa's leading political commentator, Justice Malala wrote about him: "Every South African should wake up today and say a little thank you to Tony Leon ... he was fearless when many were fearful, vocal when many had lost their voices, openly critical when many would only speak in whispers ... the man has done a remarkable job."

Leon was voted 16th in the TV channel SABC3's Top 100 Great South Africans. [9]

From September to December 2007, Leon was a Fellow at the Institute of Politics at Harvard's John F. Kennedy School of Government. [10] [11]

On 29 November 2007, Mr. Leon was a guest at the prestigious Yale Political Union, keynoting a student debate on the topic "Resolved: The Nation Should Not Be Tied To Ethnicity." After a vigorous debate, the motion passed.[ citation needed ]

In 2008, Leon released his autobiography On the Contrary. The book was favourably received, The Economist describing it as "eloquent, funny and rich... an important record of South Africa’s young democracy, witnessed from the other side of the fence". [12] [13] The book was also serialized by the Johannesburg Sunday Times . [14] The book won the Recht Malan Prize in the Via Afrika Book Awards for the best work of non-fiction in 2009. [15]

In the last quarter of 2008 Leon was a visiting fellow at the Cato Institute Center for Liberty and Global Prosperity in Washington DC. His research paper: "The State of Liberal Democracy in Africa - Resurgence or Recession" was published in May 2010. [16]

Leon published a series of articles in Business Day from the campaign trail of the 2009 South African general election. [17]

After Leon completed his over 20 years as an MP, he was invited to write two weekly columns in leading South African Sunday paper Sunday Times and in leading daily paper Business Day , winning excellent reviews for his writing and analysis even from previous political opponents.

Since 2012, Leon has been a contracted columnist to Arena Holdings Ltd with his columns appearing weekly or monthly in Business Day, Sunday Times, and the Business Live, respectively.

South African ambassadorship and return to South Africa

In August 2009, President Zuma appointed Leon as Ambassador to Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay. [18] After receiving diplomatic training, Leon took up his post in September. Leon followed many DA and Democratic Party members who became ambassadors, such as Harry Schwarz, Zach de Beer, Douglas Gibson and Sandra Botha.

On his return in January 2013, he was awarded a fellowship at the Stellenbosch Institute for Advanced Study (STIAS). He wrote a paper entitled "Where in the World is South Africa?", which was subsequently published in the South African Journal of International Affairs, 2013, Vol.20, No.3,447-457. Leon also published a memoir of his ambassadorial life titled The Accidental Ambassador: From Parliament to Patagonia (Pan MacMillan, 2013). The book received critical acclaim with Business Day, where it was said to be "fascinating... Leon is an excellent writer and recounter... eloquent and heartwarming." (Sue Grant-Marshall). The Cape Times described the book as "intelligent, engaging and incredibly funny" (Shaun Swingler). [19]

Nelson Mandela

Shortly after former President Nelson Mandela's death in December 2013, Tony Leon published another book, this time concerning Mandela's presidency and leadership from the perspective of the parliamentary opposition. Opposite Mandela: Encounters with South Africa's Icon was published in May 2014 by Jonathan Ball Publishers. Sue Grant-Marshall in Business Day wrote: "It is no surprise that in the year after Mandela's death a cascade of books by those who know the international icon are flooding the shops and bookshelves. Leave space for this one - it's written from Leon's particular perspective as Mandela's political opponent. It does not disappoint in this, his fourth book, for he tells fascinating tales with characteristic frankness and vigour." [20]

New Book: Future Tense, Reflections of My Troubled Land, 2021.

In March 2021, Jonathan Ball Publishers released Tony Leon's latest book: Future Tense - Reflections on My Troubled Land. Drawing from his vantage points of years in active politics and his subsequent career as an opinion former and columnist, this book captures and analyses recent South African history, with a focus on the squandered and corrupted years of the past decade. It also provides an insider view, for the first time, of the power struggles within the Democratic Alliance and plots the country's likely future trajectory. The book was favourably reviewed by Niall Ferguson.

Personal life

In 2000, Leon married Michal (formerly Even-Zahav) from Israel, the mother of his two stepchildren, Noa and Etai Even-Zahav.[ citation needed ]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New National Party (South Africa)</span> 1997–2005 political party in South Africa

The New National Party (NNP) was a South African political party formed in 1997 as the successor to the National Party, which ruled the country from 1948 to 1994. The name change was an attempt to distance itself from its apartheid past, and reinvent itself as a moderate, mainstream conservative and non-racist federal party. The attempt was largely unsuccessful, and in 2005 the New National Party voted to disband itself.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Democratic Party (South Africa)</span> Political party in South Africa

The Democratic Party (DP) was the name of the South African political party now called the Democratic Alliance. Although the Democratic Party name dates from 1989, the party existed under other labels throughout the apartheid years, when it was the Parliamentary opposition to the ruling National Party's policies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Democratic Alliance (South Africa)</span> Political party in South Africa formed in 2000

The Democratic Alliance is a South African political party and the official opposition to the ruling African National Congress (ANC). The party is broadly centrist, and has been attributed both centre-left and centre-right policies. It is a member of Liberal International and the Africa Liberal Network. The DA traces its roots to the founding of the anti-apartheid Progressive Party in 1959, with many mergers and name changes between that time and the present. The DA ideologically shows a variety of liberal tendencies, including social liberalism, classical liberalism, and conservative liberalism.

Liberalism in South Africa has encompassed various traditions and parties.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Helen Zille</span> South African politician (born 1951)

Otta Helene Maree, known as Helen Zille, is a South African politician. She has served as the Chairperson of the Federal Council of the Democratic Alliance since 20 October 2019. From 2009 until 2019, she was the Premier of the Western Cape province for two five-year terms, and a member of the Western Cape Provincial Parliament. She served as Federal Leader of the Democratic Alliance from 2007 to 2015 and as Mayor of Cape Town from 2006 to 2009.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joe Seremane</span> South African politician

Wetshotsile Joseph Seremane is a former South African politician and federal chairperson of the country's main opposition party, the Democratic Alliance (DA).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Harry Schwarz</span> South African activist and politician

Harry Heinz Schwarz was a South African lawyer, statesman and long-time political opposition leader against apartheid in South Africa, who eventually served as the South African Ambassador to the United States during the country's transition to majority rule.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2009 South African general election</span>

General elections were held in South Africa on 22 April 2009 to elect members of the National Assembly and provincial legislatures. These were the fourth general elections held since the end of the apartheid era.

Celia-Sandra Botha is a South African politician, who served as South Africa's Ambassador to the Czech Republic. She is the former Leader of the Opposition, on behalf of the Democratic Alliance and its leader, Helen Zille, in the National Assembly of South Africa.

Although the Democratic Alliance of South Africa in its present form is fairly new, its roots can be traced far back in South African political history, through a complex sequence of splits and mergers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Politics of the Western Cape</span> Local government

The politics of the Western Cape differs from that of most other provinces in South Africa, because, unlike the other provinces, the African National Congress (ANC) does not dominate the political landscape. The Western Cape's political landscape is also notable for the presence of a relatively strong local devolution and independence movement.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lindiwe Mazibuko</span>

Lindiwe Mazibuko is a Swazi-born South African academic, former politician, musician and the former leader of the Official Opposition. Democratic Alliance (DA). She was elected DA Parliamentary Leader on 27 October 2011, beating incumbent Athol Trollip in a tight race, becoming the first person of colour person to lead the official South African opposition in Parliament and Democratic Alliance in Parliament.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Athol Trollip</span> South African politician

Roland Athol Price Trollip is a South African politician and provincial chairman of ActionSA in the Eastern Cape. He was previously a member of the Democratic Alliance (DA), serving as the Federal Chairperson of the DA from 2015 to 2019 and the Executive Mayor of the Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality, serving from 2016 until he was unseated in a vote of no confidence in 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bonginkosi Madikizela</span> South African politician

Bonginkosi Success Madikizela is a South African politician.

The South African Party was a small political party in South Africa from 1977 to 1980.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Agang South Africa</span> Political party in South Africa

Agang South Africa is a South African political party, first announced by anti-apartheid activist Mamphela Ramphele on 18 February 2013, and founded on 22 June 2013, the date of the party's first official congress.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nqaba Bhanga</span> South African politician (born 1977)

Bennet Mzwenqaba Bhanga, known as Nqaba Bhanga, is a South African politician. He is the former Leader of the Official Opposition in the Eastern Cape Provincial Legislature, the former Provincial Leader of the Democratic Alliance (DA) in the Eastern Cape, a former Mayor of Nelson Mandela Bay, a former Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) for Human Settlements in the Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality, a former member of Parliament, and the DA's former Shadow Minister of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Theuns Botha</span> South African politician

Theunis Louis "Theuns" Botha is a retired South African politician of the Democratic Alliance. Previously, he served as the Western Provincial Minister of Cultural Affairs and as the Western Cape Provincial Minister of Health. He also served as a Member of the Western Cape Provincial Parliament from 2004 to 2015. He was Leader of the Opposition in the Provincial Parliament from 2004 to 2009 and Leader of the Democratic Alliance in the Western Cape from 2002 to 2012. Botha was also Deputy Provincial Leader of the party from 2012 to 2015.

Douglas Harvey Monro Gibson is a South African retired attorney, politician and diplomat who served as South Africa's ambassador to Thailand between 2008 and 2012. Previously, he had served as chief whip of the opposition from 1999 to 2007, as chairperson of the federal council of the Democratic Party between 1997 and 2000, and as a Member of the National Assembly of South Africa between 1994 and 2008.

Izak Jacobus "Sakkie" Pretorius is a retired South African politician from the Western Cape. He served in the National Assembly from 1994 to 2004, representing the Western Cape constituency. He was later elected as a local councillor in the City of Cape Town.

References

  1. ↑ sahoboss (17 February 2011). "Anthony James (Tony) Leon". South African History Online. Retrieved 19 October 2018.
  2. ↑ Canvassing with a Nat out of Tatler and an assertive DP yuppie Sunday Times. 23 July 1989
  3. ↑ Jewish Insider's Daily Kickoff: December 15, 2017
  4. ↑ Rothenberg, David. "South African Jewish Involvement in the Anti-Apartheid Movement" . Retrieved 19 October 2018.
  5. ↑ "Tony Leon : Leader of the Democratic Alliance". Democratic Alliance. Archived from the original on 6 October 2006. Retrieved 27 November 2006.
  6. ↑ "Dear Lord, have mercy on 'Kortbroek'". M&G. 7 August 1998. the real leader of the opposition is Tony Leon of the Democratic Party. Seven DP MPs make their National Party counterparts look like 80 feather dusters
  7. ↑ Monare, Moshoeshoe (4 May 2007). "DA to change strategy as Leon steps down". IOL. Archived from the original on 8 April 2021. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
  8. ↑ "Helen Zille". Democratic Alliance . Archived from the original on 8 April 2021. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
  9. ↑ Great South African list-topper no surprise IOL. 27 September 2004
  10. ↑ Tony Leon: Back to South Africa, still sharp, still not shy Daily Maverick. 11 October 2012
  11. ↑ Tony Leon profile Harvard University Institute of Politics. Fall 2007. Retrieved 26 December 2012
  12. ↑ The other side of the fence The Economist. 14 August 2008
  13. ↑ Launch of the Honourable Tony Leon's Biography "On The Contrary" [ permanent dead link ] IFP. 19 August 2008
  14. ↑ How DP came to Fight Back [ permanent dead link ] Sunday Times. 3 August 2008
  15. ↑ "2009 Via Afrika Awards Winners | Books LIVE". book.co.za. Archived from the original on 23 July 2012. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
  16. ↑ "The State of Liberal Democracy in Africa: Resurgence or Retreat?". 26 April 2010.
  17. ↑ Zille does the Mitchell s Plain shuffle to lure key Cape votes Business Day. 19 March 2009
  18. ↑ Leon, Skweyiya, Balfour earmarked for diplomatic posts Mail & Guardian, 3 August 2009
  19. ↑ "How Tony Leon was thrown into the deep end as an ambassador." Review: Shaun Swingler: Cape Times. 26 April 2013, p.32
  20. ↑ Sue Grant-Marshall Book Review: Opposite Mandela, Business Day, 3 June 2014 - http://www.bdlive.co.za/life/books/2014/06/03/book-review-opposite-mandela
Political offices
Preceded by Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly
1997–2007		Succeeded by
Party political offices
Preceded by Leader of the Democratic Party
1994–2000		Succeeded by
himself
as Leader of the Democratic Alliance
Preceded by
himself
as Leader of the Democratic Party		 Leader of the Democratic Alliance
2000–2007		Succeeded by
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.