Minority Front

Political party in South Africa

The Minority Front 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

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

National elections


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	1	in opposition
2004	55,267	0.35%	2 / 400	1	in opposition
2009	43,474	0.25%	1 / 400	1	in opposition
2014	22,589	0.12%	0 / 400	1	extra-parliamentary
2019	11,961	0.07%	0 / 400	±0	extra-parliamentary

Provincial elections


Election^[6]	Eastern Cape		Free State		Gauteng		Kwazulu-Natal		Limpopo		Mpumalanga		North-West		Northern Cape		Western Cape
Election^[6]	%	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


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

Head office

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

Women's League

Youth League

National Assembly

Leadership

Amichand Rajbansi: Founder and past leader of the Minority Front (1993–2011).
Hon. Shameen Thakur-Rajbansi: Leader of the Minority Front (2012-current).

Events

The late Mr A Rajbansi receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award from the India International Friendship Society in New Delhi (2008).
MF Women's League at the 2019 Election Manifesto Launch in Chatsworth.
MF Leader, Hon Shameen Thakur-Rajbansi pictured with supporters at their 2019 Election Manifesto Launch in Chatsworth.
Opening of the Acaciavale Primary School Sports Facility in 2009 by Former MEC of Sport 2009, the Late Mr A Rajbansi

References

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

Political parties in South Africa

National Assembly
(with number of seats held)

National Council of Provinces
(with number of seats held)

Other parties

Communist & Socialist	African Content Movement Azanian People's Organisation Bolsheviks Party of South Africa National People's Ambassadors Socialist Revolutionary Workers Party South African Communist Party Workers International Vanguard Party Workers and Socialist Party United Congress
Social Democrats	African Congress of Democrats African Democratic Change Afrikan Alliance of Social Democrats Agang South Africa Patriotic Alliance Power of Africans Unity Rise Mzansi
Pan-Africanist	African People's Convention Abantu Batho Congress Black First Land First Pan Africanist Movement
Minority Rights	Africa Muslim Party Cape Muslim Congress Compatriots of South Africa Minority Front National Coloured Congress
Liberal & Libertarian	ActionSA Capitalist Party of South Africa Democratic Liberal Congress Free Democrats
Agrarian	Civic Warriors of Maruleng Land Party
Christian Democrats	Christian Democratic Party Christian Political Movement Economic Emancipation Forum Kingdom Governance Movement United Christian Democratic Party Uniting People First
Environmentalist	ECOPEACE Party Green Party
Single Issue	African Security Congress All Things Are Possible Alliance for Transformation for All Dagga Party Forum for Service Delivery New South Africa Party Operation Dudula Referendum Party South African Maintenance and Estate Beneficiaries Association Women Forward
Local Issues & Regionalist	Better Residents Association Cape Independence Party Dabalorivhuwa Patriotic Front Gazankulu Liberation Congress Karoo Gemeenskap Party MAP16 Civic Movement Plaaslike Besorgde Inwoners Sterkspruit Civic Association
Conservative	African Covenant International Revelation Congress National Party South Africa
Afrikaner Nationalist	Afrikaner Self-determination Party Boerestaat Party Herstigte Nasionale Party National Conservative Party of South Africa
African Traditionalist	African Mantungwa Community African Renaissance Unity Party Dikwankwetla Party of South Africa National People's Front National Religious Freedom Party South African National Congress of Traditional Authorities
Uncategorised	African Change Academy African Congress for Transformation African People's Movement Alliance of Citizens for Change Democratic Independent Party Independent Civic Organisation of South Africa The Peoples Independent Civic Organisation People's Movement for Change South African Political Party South African Rainbow Alliance Spectrum National Party Team Sugar South Africa uMkhonto we Sizwe United Independent Movement Xiluva Ximoko Party

Defunct parties

Communist	Socialist Party of Azania Workers Party of South Africa
Socialist & Social Democratic	Labour Party (1910) Labour Party (1969) New Labour Party United Independent Front
Liberal & Progressive	Democratic Party (1989) Democratic Party (1973) Democratic Progressive Party Democratic Reform Party Dominion Party Federal Alliance Independent Democrats Independent Party Liberal Party of South Africa Progressive Federal Party Progressive Party (1890) Progressive Party (1959) Progressive Reform Party Reform Party South African Business Party South African Democratic Congress South African Party (1896) South African Party (1910) Union Federal Party Unionist Party
Conservative	Christian Democratic Alliance Christian Front Christen Party/Christian Party Federation of Democrats Herenigde Nasionale Party Het Volk National Conservative Party National People's Party (1981) National Union New National Party New Republic Party Solidarity South African Party (1977) United Party
Afrikaner Nationalist	Afrikaner Bond Afrikaner Eenheidsbeweging Afrikaner Party Afrikaner Volksfront Conservative Party Front National National Action National Party Orangia Unie Purified National Party South African Gentile National Socialist Movement Volksparty
Miscellaneous	Abolition of Income Tax and Usury Party Ciskei National Independence Party Keep It Straight and Simple Party Khoisan Aboriginal and Others Movement National Alliance National Democratic Convention National People's Party Peace and Justice Congress Pro-death Penalty Party Transkei National Independence Party Ubuntu Party Universal Party

Politics of South Africa

By province

Political
movements

Ideologies	African nationalism Afrikaner nationalism Anarchism Anti-war Black consciousness Environmentalism Federalism Feminism Liberalism Libertarianism Pan-Africanism Non-racialism Trotskyism
Political parties	see South Africa political parties
Other political organisations	AfriForum Afrikanerbond Afrikaner Weerstandsbeweging (AWB) Congress of Traditional Leaders of South Africa (CONTRALESA) Congress of South African Students (COSAS) Earthlife Africa Keep Left Khanya College Koeberg Alert Lesbian and Gay Equality Project (LGEP) People Against Gangsterism and Drugs (PAGAD) South African Liberal Students' Association (SALSA) South African Students Congress (SASCO) South African Wine Initiative Zabalaza Anarchist Communist Front (ZACF)

Trade unions and
Social movements

see South Africa trade unions

Equal Education
Mandela Park Backyarders
People Against Suffering, Oppression and Poverty (PASSOP)
Poor People's Alliance
Reclaim the City
Social Justice Coalition
Treatment Action Campaign
Unemployed Peoples' Movement

Law

see South African law

Political culture

(Don't) touch me on my studio

Freedom Charter

Proudly South African

Ubuntu

White monopoly capital

Xenophobia

Slogans	"Amandla Ngawethu!" "No Land! No House! No Vote!" "Dubul' ibhunu" (Shoot the Boer) "One Settler, One Bullet" "Each One, Teach One"
Books and periodicals	African Communist Amandla ANC Today Biko I Write What I Like Long Walk to Freedom Molotov Cocktail No Land! No House! No Vote!

Other

Category

Political history of South Africa

Defunct polities

Kingdom of Mapungubwe (c. 1075–c. 1220)
Dutch Cape Colony (1652–1806)
Mthethwa Paramountcy (c. 1780–1817)
Ndwandwe Kingdom (c. 1780–1819)
Cape Colony (1795–1910)
Zulu Kingdom (1816–1897)
Natalia Republic (1839–1843)
Natal Colony (1843–1910)
Orange Free State (1854–1902)
South African Republic (1856–1902)
Griqualand East (1861–1879)
Griqualand West (1870–1873)
Goshen (1882–1883)
Stellaland (1882–1885)
Nieuwe Republiek (1884–1888)
Upingtonia (1885–1887)
Klein Vrystaat (1886–1891)
Orange River Colony (1902–1910)
Transvaal Colony (1902–1910)
Union of South Africa (1910–1961)
Transkei (1976–1994)
Bophuthatswana (1977–1994)
Venda (1979–1994)
Ciskei (1981–1994)

Events

Pre-colonial	Bantu migrations Battle of Salt River
1652–1815	Dutch settlement French Huguenot settlement Khoikhoi–Dutch Wars Xhosa Wars Battle of Muizenberg Battle of Blaauwberg Anglo-Dutch Treaty of 1814
1815–1910	Mfecane 1820 Settlers Great Trek Boer Republics Transvaal Civil War Mineral Revolution Witwatersrand Gold Rush South African Wars South Africa Act 1909 (National Convention)
1910–1948	South West Africa campaign Maritz rebellion Rand Rebellion Great Depression 1946 African Mine Workers' Union strike Bantustans
Apartheid	1948 general election Apartheid legislation Pass laws Internal resistance Coloured-vote constitutional crisis Defiance Campaign Congress of the People Freedom Charter Women's March 1956 1957 Alexandra bus boycott Sharpeville massacre 1960 republic referendum International isolation UN Resolution 1761 UNSC Resolution 591 Academic boycott Disinvestment Constructive engagement Tar Baby Option Sporting boycott Olympics Rugby union Rivonia Trial Durban Moment Border War Israeli alliance Israel–South Africa Agreement Soweto Uprising Weapons of mass destruction Project Coast Church Street bombing 1983 constitutional referendum Langa massacre Rubicon speech Operation Vula Dakar Conference Transkei coup d'état Ciskei coup d'état Venda coup d'état Third Force CODESA Storming of the Kempton Park World Trade Centre Bisho massacre 1992 apartheid referendum Saint James Church massacre Bophuthatswana crisis Shell House massacre Mafeje affair
Post- apartheid	1994 general election Government of National Unity Reconstruction and Development Programme Truth and Reconciliation Commission Arms Deal Floor crossing Soweto bombings African Renaissance Travelgate Xenophobia Attack on Kennedy Road Marikana massacre 2012 Western Cape farm workers' strike Nkandlagate Racism 2014 platinum strike #RhodesMustFall protests #FeesMustFall student protests Tshwane riots 2019 service delivery protests 2019 Johannesburg riots COVID-19 pandemic 2020 Phala Phala Robbery 2021 unrest Lady R incident

Political culture

Defunct
organisations

Civic and political organisations	Afrikaner Bond Afrikaner Broederbond Afrikaner Party AITUP APO AVF BPC Black Sash Boerestaat Party CDA CNIP CTEG COD Congress Alliance COSG CP DLF Dominion Party DP (1973–1977) DP (1989–2000) DPP DSM ECC FA FD Genootskap van Regte Afrikaners GNP Het Volk HNP (Herenigde) HNP (Herstigte) IDASA ID IP ISL Jeugkrag Johannesburg Reform Committee Labour Party (1910–1958) Labour Party (1969–1994) Liberal Party (1953–1968) NA NCP Natal Indian Congress NLP NNP NP NPP NRP NUSAS Occupy Orangia Unie Oranjewerkers Orde Boerevolk PAVN PFP Progressive Party (Cape Colony) Progressive Party PRP Radio Freedom Reform Party SABP SADECO SAIC SASO SAYCO SAYRCO South African Party (Cape Colony) South African Party (1911–1934) South African Party (1977–1980) TNIP Torch Commando UFP United Party Unionist Party Volksparty Workers Party WOSA
Trade unions and social movements	APF BCM BLATU CNETU CTSWU FCWU FNETU FOSATU ICU IWW MUSA NEUM NURHS PAWE SAAPAWU SACTU SAIF SARHU SATUC Die Spoorbund UDF Umkosi Wezintaba
Paramilitary and terrorist organisations	APLA ARM AWB BBB Boeremag Greyshirts MK Ossewabrandwag Orde van die Dood PAGAD SANF