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Minority Front

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Minority Front
LeaderShameen Thakur-Rajbansi[1]
Founded1 November 1993 (1993-11-01)
Preceded byNational People's Party
Headquarters13175 Peak Street,
Arena Park,
Westcliff,
Chatsworth,
Durban
IdeologyIndian minority interests
SloganYour Choice and Voice All the Way
National Assembly seats
0 / 400
KZN Legislature seats
0 / 80
Website
www.minorityfront.org

The Minority Front (MF) is a political party in South Africa. The party represents all minorities of South Africa, however, its support comes mainly from the South African Indian community. Its voter base is in the province of KwaZulu-Natal. The eThekwini district (Durban) is the cultural and demographic centre of South Africa's Indian community. The party was founded in 1993 and led by Amichand Rajbansi until his death in December 2011.

History

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Amichand Rajbansi: Founder of the Minority Front
Amichand Rajbansi: Founder of the Minority Front

The Minority Front was formed as a successor to the National People's Party (NPP), which was an important party led by the late Mr. A. Rajbansi in the Indian-only House of Delegates in the Tricameral Parliament.[2]

Rajbansi's widow and colleague in the KwaZulu-Natal Legislature, Shameen Thakur-Rajbansi, was voted in as leader in January 2012.[3] A leadership and family battle erupted when an attempt was made to replace Thakur-Rajbansi as leader, with Amichand Rajbansi's son, Vimal, and first wife, Asha Devi Rajbansi, asking her to step down, and a breakaway conference (not recognized by the IEC) elected Roy Bhoola, who Thakur-Rajbansi had attempted to remove from public office.[4][5] Thakur-Rajbansi was declared the undisputed leader in December 2013, after the parties settled their disputes in a confidential agreement.[1]

Election results

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The party contested each election from 1994 until 2019, winning national representation in 1999, 2004 and 2009, and provincial representation in KwaZulu-Natal each time. It is not contesting in 2024.

National elections

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Election[6] Total votes Share of vote Seats +/– Government
1994 13,433 0.07%
0 / 400
extra-parliamentary
1999 48,277 0.30%
1 / 400
Increase 1 in opposition
2004 55,267 0.35%
2 / 400
Increase 1 in opposition
2009 43,474 0.25%
1 / 400
Decrease 1 in opposition
2014 22,589 0.12%
0 / 400
Decrease 1 extra-parliamentary
2019 11,961 0.07%
0 / 400
Steady ±0 extra-parliamentary
2024 endorsed ANC
0 / 400
Steady ±0 extra-parliamentary

Provincial elections

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Election[6] Eastern Cape Free State Gauteng Kwazulu-Natal Limpopo Mpumalanga North-West Northern Cape Western Cape
% Seats % Seats % Seats % Seats % Seats % Seats % Seats % Seats % Seats
1994 - - - - - - 1.34% 1/80 - - - - - - - - - -
1999 - - - - - - 2.93% 2/80 - - - - - - - - - -
2004 - - - - - - 2.61% 2/80 - - - - - - - - - -
2009 - - - - - - 2.05% 2/80 - - - - - - - - - -
2014 - - - - 0.07% 0/73 1.02% 1/80 - - - - - - - - - -
2019 - - - - - - 0.52% 1/80 - - - - - - - - - -

Municipal elections

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Election Votes %
1995–96
2000 0.3%
2006 84,785 0.3%
2011[7] 113,195 0.4%
2016[8] 13,407 0.03%
2021[9] 8,304 0.03%

Organisation and structure

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Head office

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The Minority Front's primary office is at 13175 Peak Street, Arena Park, Westcliff, Chatsworth, Durban.

Women's League

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Youth League

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Minority Front Leader Youth League

National Assembly

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Hon. Sunklavathy Rajbally, Minority Front National Assembly representative.

Leadership

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Events

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References

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  1. ^ a b Noelene, Padavattan. "Thakur Rajbansi declared MF leader". www.iol.co.za.
  2. ^ Sapa, Benita Enoch And. "Rajbansi: Bombastic, thick-skinned and controversial". www.iol.co.za.
  3. ^ "Shameen Thakur-Rajbansi appointed new MF leader". Archived from the original on 2 December 2013. Retrieved 25 November 2013.
  4. ^ Soobramoney, Viasen. "Minority Front factions causes friction". www.iol.co.za.
  5. ^ Naidoo, Mervyn. "Rajbansi is ousted as head of Minority Front". www.iol.co.za.
  6. ^ a b "Results Dashboard". www.elections.org.za. Retrieved 11 May 2019.
  7. ^ "Results Summary – All Ballots 2011" (PDF). elections.org.za. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
  8. ^ "Results Summary – All Ballots 2016" (PDF). elections.org.za. Retrieved 11 August 2016.
  9. ^ "Results Summary – All Ballots 2021" (PDF). elections.org.za. Retrieved 24 November 2021.