Fatima Chohan
South African politician From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
South African politician From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Fatima Ismail Chohan (formerly known as Fatima Chohan-Kota[2]) is a South African politician and activist who is currently deputy chair of the South African Human Rights Commission.[3] A member of the African National Congress (ANC), Chohan was formerly a member of the National Assembly of South Africa, where she served from 1996 to 2019.[4][5]
Fatima Chohan | |
---|---|
Deputy Minister of Home Affairs | |
In office 1 November 2010 – 29 May 2019 | |
President | Jacob Zuma |
Succeeded by | Njabulo Nzuza |
Personal details | |
Nationality | South African |
Political party | African National Congress |
Alma mater | University of Witwatersrand Rhodes University[1] |
From 2010 to 2019, Chohan served as Deputy Minister of Home Affairs under President Jacob Zuma. A Muslim South African, Chohan is a former member of the Executive Committee of the Muslim Student Society.[6]
Chohan completed her schooling in Laudium, Gauteng. She attended the University of Witwatersrand, where she received her B.Proc. degree. As a student, Chohan was a member of the Black Students Society from 1987 to 1990 and served as a member of the Executive Committee of the Muslim Student Society.
In 1998, Chohan was admitted to the Side Bar. Chohan was a legal advisor to the Gauteng Legislature and chairwoman of the Western Cape's Provincial Committee on the Magistrates Commission. She later became deputy head of Metro Legal Services in Greater Johannesburg.[6]
In 1996, Chohan became a member of the National Assembly of South Africa.[6] During the presidency of Thabo Mbeki, Chohan was considered a "rising star" within the ruling African National Congress (ANC).[7]
Chohan was appointed Deputy Minister of Home Affairs in November 2010 and was reappointed in May 2014, serving in the position until May 2019.[8] In this role, Chohan was an outspoken supporter of liberal refugee resettlement policies.[9] In the 2019 South African general election, Chohan served as a surrogate for the ANC's outreach into Muslim communities.[10] However, as a result of the party receiving a reduced majority in the election, Chohan lost her seat in parliament.[5]
In 2021, Chohan was recommended for the position of deputy chair of the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) by the parliamentary committee on justice and correctional services.[11] Since taking office, Chohan has advocated for an increase in funding for the SAHRC, arguing that budget constraints hinder the commission's activities.[3]
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