Aishah Cassiem
Aishah Cassiem (born 1992 or 1993) is a South African politician and former investigative journalist who has been a member of the Western Cape Provincial Parliament representing the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) since 3 February 2023.[1] Cassiem is also the Provincial Treasurer of the EFF in the Western Cape.
Aishah Cassiem | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of the Western Cape Provincial Parliament | |
| Assumed office 3 February 2023 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1992 or 1993 (age 30–31) |
| Political party | Economic Freedom Fighters (2013–present) |
| Spouse | Nazier Paulsen |
| Children | 1 |
Background
Cassiem worked as an investigate journalist for Independent Media before she became active in politics. In 2018, she established a mobile pop-up library in Cape Town. Cassiem was cited by Mail & Guardian as one of the "Top 200 Young South Africans" for her work in Arts, Entertainment, Film & Media in 2021.[2] In an interview with Independent Online in February 2023, Cassiem revealed that she is currently in her third year of studies for a Bachelor of Arts in Government, Administration, and Development Studies from UNISA.[3]
Political career
Cassiem joined the Economic Freedom Fighters in 2013 after interviewing the party's Western Cape convenor Nazier Paulsen whom she married a year later.[3]
By 2022, Cassiem was a Cape Town city councillor for the EFF.[4] She was elected treasurer of the EFF's provincial structure in the Western Cape in October 2022.[5]
After the two EFF representatives in the Western Cape Provincial Parliament, Melikhaya Xego and Nosipho Makamba-Botya vacated their seats in the provincial parliament in January 2023 after losing their positions at the party's provincial conference in October 2022, party insiders speculated that Cassiem was one of the two candidates who would be selected to represent the party in the provincial parliament.[6] She was sworn in as a member of the provincial parliament on 3 February 2023.[7]
References
- "Hon Aishah Cassiem | wcpp". www.wcpp.gov.za. Archived from the original on 6 February 2023. Retrieved 6 February 2023.
- theethicalagency (24 June 2021). "Aishah Cassiem, 28". Mail & Guardian 200 Young South Africans. Retrieved 8 February 2023.
- Sinxo, Zolani. "'Without land, we have nothing and can do nothing'". Retrieved 14 February 2023.
- Charles, Marvin. "DA councillor Nora Grose recuses herself from disciplinary committee probing mayco member". News24. Retrieved 8 February 2023.
- siyamtanda.capa. "Revolutionaries must be willing to kill, Malema tells EFF delegates". Retrieved 6 February 2023.
- Nel, Brandon. "EFF duo resigns from W Cape Parly". Retrieved 8 February 2023.
- @EFFSouthAfrica (3 February 2023). "EFF Deputy Chairperson Thembile Klaas and Provincial Treasurer in the Western Cape Aishah Cassiem, were today sworn in as MPLs. This is part of the organisational decision to align the leadership of the EFF in its structures with the leadership in governance. #EFFTurns10" (Tweet). Retrieved 8 February 2023 – via Twitter.